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My eyes cut back to the fan in front of n her jersey and pose for a picture I do that three lances back at Vale as she eats in solitude

When the last autograph is handed out, Max and Grant start for the door, but I stay pinned in place, indecisive One lance at Vale

"Hey guys, I'll catch up to you in a bit," I call out, and they both turn to look at me inquisitively "If I'm not there in fifteen, order without me"

I wait for the into the booth seat opposite Vale before she even notices et even a hint of recognition, but then she breaks out into an easy setting daggers

"Hey," she says as she sets her fork down on her plate

"Rabbit food for dinner?" I ask with a cut of ain

"Have to keep ure," she quips

I chuckle and stretch h so they don't touch her I don't think I could handle touching her

She looks at o ahead and put her totally at ease

"I' hers "I shouldn't have come on to you like that Shouldn't have been such an asshole and said those things"

"Oh," she murmurs in soft surprise, and I can see her shoulders relax a little

"And I' us to Tad," I say hat I hope is a char smile

She returns it hesitantly but says, "Todd"

"Whatever I'ht now"

Vale's eyes hold me for a moment, then drop to her plate She picks up her fork, toys around with a piece of lettuce covered in blue cheese dressing "Todd and I broke up Saturday night"

"Oh, fuck," I groan, actually sorry over the fact that I caused that Well, waitno, I'm not sorry, but I keep that to myself

Her face raises and she gives me a smirk "It wasn't because of you"

HmmmI don't like that either I kind of want to be the cause of her du the toad

"Actually," she says with sober eyes, "I just sort of realized he wasn't the one"

"Bad kisser, huh?" I say jokingly

"Good kisser," she says, and I wince internally "But he proposed to s in perspective"

My eyebrows raise sky high, as I had no clue things were that serious "Proposed? As in bended knee, ring, and e?"

"Well, he sort of blurted it out in the parking lot of my apartment, but in fairness to him, I think he was nervous"

For some reason, that makes me sad Sad that a man that wanted someone like Vale to spend the rest of her life with hiht confuses me somewhat, because I'm not sure why Vale holds any vested interest forto cause her undue stress while she's going through this stuff with Dave, I' within me

Vale takes a stab at her salad and an idea strikes e and corab a few beers after to celebrate our victory"

She gives me a sweet smile and shakes her head "Nah That's not my sort of scene anymore"

"So, what is your scene now?" I ask curiously, wondering exactly how ed

Her shoulders lift with silent laughter and her voice is dry "Nowadays, it's getting a good eight hours of sleep, which I'ht"