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“Clichés are a thing for a reason” Yes, I know

“Exactly Now, stop trying to resist him and let him love you You could be a duchess or a nanny or a waitress Whatever you are, it doesn’tas you have love”

43

Alexander

“I don’t suppose you’ve seen Holland, have you?” I hate to ask Hate to open another can of worms or annoyance as I pass Van at the bar

“Did you blink, and she disappeared?” He slass

“What are you drinking?” I lean against the lass “Vodka?”

“Yes” He sighs “Sometimes, it helps me think”

“And sohts of stairs,” I reply, thinking back to our student days “Stay away frohher way” Divorce A custody battle A h it together It’s e do

“Yes Trouble,” he repeats pensively “But what are you going to do about your trouble, Aleksandr

“Crush it” I flick ht do it A tender look A kiss to the cheek I thought that even ht’ve helped—completely spontaneous—as at the end of our dance Jessica had offered to take arden to blow more than my mind

I’d declined, of course And I haven’t been able to find Holland since, despite doing a couple of laps of both inside and out

I signal to the bar to absently druainst the wood

“Your sister’s husband is no good”

“TellI don’t know”

“He’s embroiled her in much trouble”

“Also, not news,” Iback to the loss of her trust fund, and God only knohat else God, and our lawyers as of next week

As my drink appears in front of me, I lift it to my lips

“If you’ll excuse lass down

“Are you all right?” He’s in a weird mood Then he often is these days

“Yes, of course” As he passes, his hand claspsto do And you,a little more physical to look forward to” I stiffen at the i his ardens”

No

Just no

Roorotesque caricatures as my mind swims from scenario to scenario