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He and Patrick excused the to the diner’s long counter

“Sit down, Nic What’s up?”

Nic took the seat across froratulate you”

“For what?”

“For winning” Nic’s face darkened

Sylas saw sadness in his eyes Nic looked like he’d lost twelve rounds in the boxing ring “What the hell are you talking about, Nic?”

“I’ about Ashley, Sylas What else? It’s over You win, Sylas She’s all yours”

“All et it, do you? She o what she wanted, and I believe what she still wants and needs” Sylas could see that he was about to lose his friend again, but this ti that would turn Nic around He leaned forward “That’s both of us, Nic Can’t you see that?”

“You sound just like her”

“Nic, what do you mean by that?”

“I went to her apartht, after our date”

“You what?”

“You heardto help her with her studies for the bar exas in ain that I could once and for all get you out of her mind But it didn’t work”

Anger welled up inside hi with you?”

“Everything, apparently”