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“This isn’t his restaurant It’s his dad’s I like his dad just fine And France was different It was temporary” She sniffed “This is per me”

“So coed “I’m sure there are wineries near Newport Can’t you find a job out there too?”

Ellie sighed “I can’t I’m stupidly attached to Abelard It’s always been my dream to work there”

“I understand It’s holass “It’s hard for me to leave home too”

“Are you having second thoughts?” Ellie’s eyes widened

“No, not exactly I’lanced at a table to our left, where a fa a fiftieth anniversary “Actually, it’s nothing Nerves”

She eyed imlet “Except that’s not your nerves face That’s your I’-the-truth face”

I tried to hide behind ed “I’uy”

“The neighbor?”

“Yeah But that’s why it’s better that I’ht?”

Ellie studied me with pursed lips “I don’t know I ht?”

“Right” I sat up taller and toldsilly He’s just really cool, and we have a good tiether But it’s not serious”

“Are you guys seeing a lot of each other?” she asked casually

“Not really” I looked left again Someone had tied balloons to the backs of their couple’s chairs—one said “50 Years” and the others were shiny gold hearts “Just the nights he doesn’t have the kids or work”

“Every night he doesn’t have the kids or work?”

“Um, yeah So far” I picked up my martini and sipped “But we’re still just friends with benefits”

“It’s just that you’re really digging those benefits?”

I laughed “Yeah”

“Well, uy in Rhode Island who can offer you all those benefits but coh if you fall in love with hi”

“How are you even going to collect if I live in another state?”

“You’ll coht? You’d never stay away fro”

“Maybe I won’t tell you about falling in love with the hot Rhode Island guy,” I said teasingly