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I was frustrated So was Rich The long workday had netted us exactly nothing Rich fu him down like a heavy coat

“You want me to drive?”

My partner turned off the ignition and sighed, threw himself back into the seat

“It’s okay,” I said “Give me the keys”

“I can drive That’s not the problem”

“What is?”

“It’s you”

Me? Was heKelly?

“What did I do?”

“You just are, you know?”

Aw, no I tried to ward off this conversation by io there, Richie But the pictures flashed into ht in LA that had turned into a reckless, heated clinch on a hotel bed My body had been screa yes, yes, yes, but my clearer mind slammed on the brakes — and I’d told Richie no

Six months later, the memory was still with us inside theas the rain came down Richie saw the alarm on my face

“I’,” he insisted “I would never do anything — I’ what I feel to et it I just want you to know that I’ve got this arrow throughfor you”

“Rich, I can’t,” I said, looking into his eyes, seeing the pain there and not knowing how to ht

“Aw, jeez,” he said He covered his face with his hands, screa wheel a couple of tiain