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It's a question that wouldn't have bothered

Maybe

Fuck, I don't know

I suess"

That's the truth Too much shit in my head

"There's a fresh pot of coffee I just o," she says with a nod toward the kitchen

"And soht over," Aiden adds with a s back to peer at some reports in his hand

"Or," Josie says with hope in her voice as she watches rab some lunch over at Jason's Deli in about an hour if you want to go with us"

Lunch with Josie and Aiden while they discuss teenage pregnant rape victims? I'd rather have my chest hair plucked out one hair at a time

"No, thanks," I say lightly "I'o meet Marek for lunch"

That actually wasn't on the agenda, but I a to call hi Gracen and Lilly here He chose to put them up in his house, and now he's sequestered with a woman he used to love but is pissed as hell at, and a toddler he knows nothing about I talked to hih I definitely need to get hiive him a chance to vent

"Good for you," Josie says brightly "He needs his friends more than ever now"

"Agreed," I return solemnly

"Warm milk," Aiden says as his head pops up fro He looks at me expectantly

"Excuseto hi the rush of caffeine

"Warrin that slightly irritates etting Just personal experience"

Yeahtotally irritates me I'm worried about Josie and Marek and he wants to tell me to drink warm milk Aiden was seriously okay in enius to figure out I'ression his way

"Or, thewould be to down a couple of shots of bourbon," I say blandly as I take a sip of my coffee and stare at him over the rim of the cup He doesn't seem to be offended, but Josie's eyes narrow at me

"There's that," Aiden says with an easy laugh, and he's either way too laid back to be offended or knows I'ives me anyway "I wouldn't know, since the last few years I had to have waret to sleep, as bourbon was in short supply in Yemen"

I take another sip of coffee and forcehero who saved lives during a ed country, doesn't deserve my malice

My gaze darts over to Josie, and she's still looking at le me And that pisses me off that she's pissed at me when Aiden clearly isn't

"Well, I'ht now," Aiden says in a school professor sort of tone "There have been a lot ofphysical abilities, and I know the hunt for the Cup is iest he see a professional counselor, possibly with both Gracen and Lilly"

Aiden keeps talking but I tune him out Instead, I let my eyes drift slowly over to Josie, and they harden when they make contact

She can read my irritation loud and clear You told Aiden about Marek and his personal problems?

Josie flushes with guilt, and that pisses me off further I feel like that was a confidence that she was fortunate to have because she was ht to know so so personal

I set the cup down on the counter and walk into the living rooet a shower," I mutter

"Reedwait," Josie says as she pushes up out of her chair, but I don't pause If she forcesto lose my shit

I've had too , I'm pissed and frustrated with myself that I even have doubts Reed Olson is confidence personified, and the fact that Josie hasmy temper to boil It's best I remove myself from her presence until I can calm down

I walk out the door and shut it quietly behindscene

Down her steps, up ha cup of coffee, since I only got two sips at Josie's house I barelyinroom toward me

"What the hell is up your butt?" she fumes at me

"Classic deflection," I rab a cup from my cabinet

Josie comes to stand on the other side of the counter island "I'"