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"Work," Jude murmured

Whatever sense of calone again He was tapping his foot and looking at everything butabout Jude's energy level was different It had a franticness about it He always seemed so… unsettled It pained me to see him like this

"It's Saturday," I pointed out "You sure you don't want to take it easy today?"

Jude merely shook his head He didn't even need to consider my words I suspected Jude really didn't kno to take it easy

I knew I should just let hi my mouth shut, I said, "Do you like basketball?"

My question see back and forth between the ts of the SUV and instead looked at me "What?" he asked

"Do you like basketball?" I repeated

"Watching or playing?"

"Well, either, I guess," I said "But for the purposes of this conversation, playing"

"Yeah, I do Both"

I nodded "There're always pick-up gao check one out?" I could see it was on the tip of his tongue to say no so I added, "Corab a quick bite to eat afterwards and then you can still go in to the office if you want"

I foundmy breath in anticipation as Jude considered est of wins I , "Good," but inside I was doing a victory lap even as I called out the new destination to the driver

Sotoo emotionally invested

Chapter 12

Jude

"Okay, now?" Nikolai asked