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“So, Brian said you used to be a porn star”

In retrospect, it was a hell of a way to start a conversation

After I realized he wasn’t answering, I looked up and saw that

“Breathe,” I suggested, s at him

As soon as he did, he sucked hot coffee down the wrong hole, burned his throat, and started coughing Maybe air was overrated

I got up to get hiave him a pat on the back as I walked by, and when I returned, placed a tall glass down in front of him “Sorry”

His eyes were huge, and as I took my seat back down across from him at the table in the crowded diner, I noticed, like I didn’t usually, that his lireen eyes were the prettiest color I had ever seen in my life I was also a fan of his short, closely cropped curls and his thick, perfectly curved brows Normally, I didn’t really see the individual parts of the man, but instead, the whole that was my friend

I saw Charlie’s face when he smiled, heard his voice when he yelled atbeside me in my truck I are of him peripherally, but I didn’t focus on hi at him Today I noticed the fluid way he moved, the delicate cut of his features, and how fine-boned his hands were The scrutiny had been brought on by so Brian had said

My old high school friend was back in town to see his family and had looked me up just to have drinks and dinner Or so he had said initially I didn’t know he neededout of the office when Charlie was on his way in from another job site There were ten men, plus oing through the office at all hours The only person who never left the office was Alison Reynolds, Ali, who looked like she was sixteen but was actually ten years older than that So I had waved, and Charlie had waved back, and Brian had been flash-frozen beside me, suddenly unable to move When I walked around in front of him, he had pointed

“Chaz,” he stated

I pointed to“Actually, it’s Leo”

“No,” he choked, sing hard, finally turning his head to look after Charlie “Chaz That’s Chaz Ryder”

“Charlie Ryerson” I suess”

“No, no, no,” he exhaled “That’s Chaz Ryder; I’ve seen all his movies”

“His movies?”

“Holy shit”