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Brennan’s stepping down into his boat to find the tool I look at Ezra His pale face is twisted in pain “We don’t have to get it out here,” I tell hiency room and let them do it?”

He shakes his head "No"

He holds the hand up towardout on either side of his nail The tip of the finger is so dark it’s almost purple Two rivulets of blood stream doard his knuckle

"I can get it out,” I say “I' sos, but he’s not in that ether, and his chest puffs out on a deep breath

"You should sit down" There are two chairs on the dock I put a hand on Ezra's back and nudge hiives his hand a look and says, "I' Dad!" He and Pipsa dash off as Marcel hands Ezra a large, silver flask "Chug it, bro"

Eight

Josh

Ezra chugs from the flask His left hand is propped on his bare knee, palaze ulps the liquor down I’m distracted by Brennan, who crouches on the outside of Ezra’s left leg and arches his brows at me

Okay We can do this

I’s I’m on my knees between them, so close I can feel the heat of his skin as I ot the flask up near his mouth Da just a little

"Ever passed out?" I ask He ansith a grunt that I think means "no"

"Bren, you think you can get a grip on it from down at the base?"

Ezra holds his trehtly for us and I catch a whiff of liquor in the warm breeze He tips his head back Takes a deep breath As Brennan takes Ezra’s hand in both of his, Ezra’s right hand grips his knee, fingertips pinching the hem of his shorts

I want to reassure him, to tell him it’ll be over in a second, but I stop myself Because he’s an asshole We’re not friends

Brennan passes me the pliers I need to snip the hooks as close to the tip of his finger as I can, before Brennan pulls I s before taking Ezra’s thick, squared wrist in one ofat the palm side of it

“Hold it sideways, Ezra If you have to, hold onto your wrist to keep it still And don’t look”