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“I’ym”

“Anytiot keys”

I turn to leave, but hi back

“Get some sleep, Luca You look like shit”

“Fuck you, Abe,” I throw over my shoulder, then shoot him a bird the same way

His deep laugh follows me all the way out the door

CHAPTER EIGHT

Luca

I LAST FOR A WEEK AND a half Ten days I ithout seeing Jules, because it wasn’tdays that nearly drovefor her to coh it made me a bastard of the worst kind to want that, but selfishly not caring If I couldn’t see her in person, I at least wanted some form of her, even if she did always look scared or in pain and beggedI still didn’t understand

Ten days I went to work and tried to keep my mind off her Ten days I left work and had to force ht down Tenth Street toward home instead of left toward the hospital Only two of the nine nights she visiteddrained and exhausted I slept restlessly and couldn’t help but feel disappointed for the rest of the day, which put me in a piss-poor mood People noticed, especially Ella

“What in the fuck is your proble inthe door closed

“Leave me alone, Ella,” I rumbled, as I stood behindpen

She put her hands on the hardwood surface and leaned over it, her voice dropping, but no less abrasive “You’ve been a dick for days, Luca Either fix what’s bothering you or stay in your fucking office and let Jazz and shells around you”

I stand to lower at her “I said, leave me alone”

Baring her teeth, she gritted out, “Too fucking bad You’rebothers you, it botherson”