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Banks laughs like that’s wholly untrue, and now I really want to test out kicking his ass I’m about to ask how much he can bench-press

But Akara tellsbean”

Banks goes to wrap an aroes in—and their forearether

They glare at each other Hands drop to their sides

Quickly, I add, “I also don’t like Akara versus Banks—that is the fucking worst matchup” While they’re on either side of me, I curve one ar them closer to me

They ease

“We’re cool, Sul,” Akara assures me

Banks nods

I touch their lower backs, and their gazes roa hot out here I retract hten the knot of my jacket on my waist And I reroute to the other topic “Just let Farrow and Moffy do their thing”

“Well, I have to,” Akara sighs “They’re not budging no ave uys back in Philly” Heto Quinn and Donnelly

“What’s the word?” Banks asks

While they talk, I study the hiking trail guide on the corkboard My finger travels the line to The Bitterroot Buttress

No part of me wishes to return to the rock face The path there is cursed And I don’t want to replay the cougar attack every tioal unfinished

Incomplete

Safety is more important, and I need to be completely focused Not halfway back in the past And anyway, I’ve beco new ones It’s not that devastating

Moffy not being able to run the Chile ultra-marathon helped me take small bumps and hiccups in better strides Shit happens

Fuck it all and start again

I tap a finger to the next rock faceroute is dubbed Rattlesnake Knuckle

“I don’t reether either,” Banks says to Akara My ears pick up mid-conversation

“Who?” I ask

Yeah, I’ nosy Maybe because I over-share my life, and it feels like everyone else under-shares