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“What else?” Sadie is shrieking at Josh, drowning out Marie “What else?”

“She used to litter the bathroom with her creams and crap” Josh frowns distantly at the h this thicket of pots It drove me mad”

“What a pain!” says Marie, overbrightly “Anyway-”

“It was the little things Like the way she used to sing in the shower Ievery bloody day? And she didn’t want to open her , not interested in the saht her this book of Williaht we could talk about it or whatever But she just flipped through with zero interest-” Josh suddenly notices Marie, whose face has al politely “Shit Marie I’m sorry!” He rubs his face with both hands “I don’t knohy Lara keeps popping intoelse”

“Yes, let’s do that” Marie s to tell you aboutone from Seattle? You remember?”

“Of course I ree his lass of fizzy water instead

“Soup? Excuse me, miss, didn’t you order the soup? Excuse me?”

Suddenly I realize a waiter is standing by my table with a tray of soup and bread I have no idea how long he’s been trying to get my attention

“Oh, right,” I say, quickly turning to him “Yes, thanks”

The waiter deposits my food and I pick up a spoon, but I can’t eat I’ Josh just said How could he have felt all this and never , then why didn’t he say? And as for the photography book, I thought he’d bought it for himself! Not for me! Hoas I supposed to know it meant so much to him?

“Well!” Sadie bounces up toNow you knohere it all rong I agree about the singing,” she adds “You are rather tuneless”

Doesn’t she have an ounce of sympathy?

“Well, thanks” I keep aze ? He never said any of this stuff to my face None of it! I could have fixed it! I would have fixed it” I start cruiven me a chance-”

“Shall we go now?” She sounds bored

“No! We haven’t finished!” I take a deep breath “Go and ask him what he liked about me”

“What he liked about you?” Sadie gives ?”