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“No,” she said and just that quickly, he saw her anger drain away She put her elbows on the table, leaned her forehead against her fists “No,” she said again, “neither do I”

Tears rolled down her cheeks Caleb rose, tore a paper towel froave it to her

“Sage,” he said softly, squatting down beside her, “I’m sorry”

She took the towel from him, blew her nose loudly

“No, it’s not your fault I dropped this thing on you like a—like a brick I know you’re—you’re trying to process it”

Caleb pulled his chair next to hers, sat, reached for her hands and clasped thehtly in his

“Look, we’re both new to this”

“The understateh

“But we’ll learn” He so of one of her hands so he could tuck a stray curl back from her temple “Heck, look how much I just learned No caffeine Honey Herbs I uy who thinks that all you need in a kitchen is a coffeepot, a couple of stale bagels, soreen and a stack of takeout menus”

She laughed It was a real laugh this ti so it was in front of her

“Cory? Shall Ito eat?”

“Caleb—”

“No? Okay Just the tea, then—”

“Caleb” She put down theto talk …”

“Yeah” He sat back “We do”