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He humiliated ain

I buryto commit the rest of his appearance to memory

“Katelyn?” Luke says

I say nothing

I can’t talk Can’t look Can’t do anything to alert Ice Man that I’m here

He walks closer, walks by our table

I allow htly in relief—

“Have we met?”

I go numb That’s why he’s Ice Man Not just because he freezes his urine, but because he turns me to ice

It’s his voice His eyes His very essence

I say nothing

“Have we ain

“Can I help you?” Luke looks up and aze

“I was speaking to the lady”

“Katelyn?” Luke says

“Katelyn Is that your name now?”

“Now?” Luke asks

“You’vebehind the menu

“Excuseto have dinner here”

“I mean no disrespect,” Ice Man says

Yeah Right

“I’m sure we’ve met,” he continues “Maybe on…vacation? In the tropics?”

The tropics The island He has to ulp it down “I don’t think so”

“I’m sure we have”

“The lady says you’re mistaken,” Luke says

“The lady is the one who’s mistaken”

Luke stands then He’s taller than Ice Man but with a slightly leaner build “Take a hint She’s with me”

“For now” Ice Man saunters away, as cool and confident as ever

I assume he takes a seat at another table I don’t know I don’t have eyes in the back of my head, and I don’t dare turn around

“Katelyn,” Luke says as he takes his seat across from me

“I don’t know him”

“I believe you” Though his words lack truth I can tell by his tone He doesn’t sound harsh or anything But still I know

He doesn’t believe me

Why should he? I’

“Hey” He gently removes my menu from my hands “It’s okay”

It’s not okay How can it be okay? My past is coht I was finally free of

Ice Man can’t hurt me He wouldn’t dare Would he?

Maybe he’s changed

No, he hasn’t Once a sicko always a sicko

“Can we go?” I ask Luke

“Uh…yeah Sure Let me pay for the drinks and—”