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Shade didn’t want to talk to hih to cause aAdaiveness

Adam turned and walked toward his bike, his head low, shoulders hunched Kellen had already backed up his Firebird and was heading out of the lot with a rubber-burning squeal

Owen retrieved Shade’s overnight bag from the asphalt and tossed it into the back seat of the Jeep After throwing his own luggage inside, he climbed behind the wheel and waited Shade took one last look at the e perhaps he’d somehow overlooked the ton of black shiny er seat next to Owen

“Is Tina going to be pissed that you missed Julie’s party?”

“Tina is pissed that I breathe,” Shade said His ex-wife hadn’t actually invited hi to stop hi up

Owen chuckled “Ain’t that the truth?” He started the Jeep, put it in reverse and backed out of his spot Oaved at Gabe, as cli his head low to keep his foot-high red and blackthe roof of the cab Gabe saluted Oith two fingers before shutting his door

Oitched on the radio, and a hard and heavy song blared froet Julie for her birthday?” he yelled over the road noise and music

Shade’s heart sank “Fuck I coift Shade wasn’t even sure what she’d like But every fes, didn’t they? “I can’t show up empty-handed Find the nearest jewelry store”

Owen sighed heavily “Sure Why not? I obviously don’t have anything better to do with ht off than taxi you around No farinned

Shade knew exactly what kind of trouble Oanted to get into He was the biggest skirt chaser Shade had ever met Even more so than the man Shade faced in the mirror

Shade took several deep breaths to calm his frayed nerves “Sorry,” he said after a moment “I didn’t mean to order you around” He attributed his shitty attitude to Adam, as one hundred percent at fault, as usual Shade’s car could be replaced, but his limited time with Julie could not be “I’m a little keyed up at the moment”

Owen chuckled “Just a little”

“Would youat the mall on the way to the house?” He took another deep breath “Please?”

“Not for you,” Owen said, checking over his shoulder as he ed onto the freeway

“Seriously? Son of a … I should have called a fking cab” Let’s make this day suck a little more, shall we?