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He tugged on his collar again “And you chose your first time in ten years to be in a bar…why…?”

“Bucket list,” she said siht stand and then ditch the guy after”

Frowning, he eyed her “Who gave you this bucket list?”

“Brian” She traced the rilass “An old friend A best friend”

His face softened “Is he…?”

“Yes Cancer” She twisted her lips and turned away, the fa her in the heart “A little under a year ago”

Brian had been more than her best friend He’d been her only friend They’d rooe, and he’d never let her down

And she’d been there for him, too, all the way to the end

If only he hadn’t had to go so soon

He shifted and rested a hand on her knee, squeezing It was a reassuring thing A gesture of comfort But even so, it set a fire ablaze within her that she didn’t want to feel, so she pulled away, her heart racing at the soft touch His ain and took his confusing touch with him “I’m sorry”

She wasn’t sure if he apologized for resting his hand on her knee, or expressed sy to be done for it For Brian

Sometimes, life sucked

And sometimes, it sucked a lot

At her continued silence, he cleared his throat “What else is on this list of yours?”

“Lots of things, all meant to make me live and be adventurous, since I suck at that” She took another sip of the god-awful scotch he’d given her She preferred brandy, but since he’d stereotyped her, she had to prove hi “Fall in love Break a heart Have n city”