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“Yes I thought for sure he’d recognize you He was at the coffee shop when—”

“Got it You don’t want them to knoe’re friends, huh?”

I put an avocado in the basket and shook o, I would have been mortified…no offense”

He grunted “None taken And now?”

“I genuinely like you…as a friend,” I added quickly “It’s just that I was hoping to explain our situation to Topher before I told everyone else Although I did tell Touilt It was eating me alive How do you feel about pine nuts?”

“Ued nuts, widening his eyes in shock “Those are fifteen fucking bucks Is it worth it?”

“Yes They’re fabulous” I tossed them into the basket and surveyed the corn, aware of hiht

“I don’t like that you felt guilty That kinda sucks, ’cause it was fun Both times,” he said softly

“It was, but—”

He put his hand up “It’s okay We don’t have to go over it again C’mon The chicken is this way”

“Right What about corn?”

“We don’t need corn Only weirdos like corn in their salad”

His teasing grincorn was easier than discussing past indiscretions

“Says theitself as lettuce,” I retorted, following him out of the produce section “Corn is perfectly appropriate in a salad It’s siies and of course, the dressing A nice vinaigrette…”

I talked while he nodded or rolled his eyes, brushing my arm as we traversed the market side by side Somewhere on aisle three, amid rows of dried pasta and a shelf of boxed croutons, I silently acknowledged that the understanding between us had becoer a form of penance

When I wasn’t blinded by irrational lust, I liked to think I was a good judge of character, and ood man I wanted him to do well and be happy because…I liked him

I liked that he was drawn to people ere diverse and a bit offbeat I liked that he was curious, intelligent, and open-minded And I liked that he didn’t take hiod complex; Blake was different