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She cries harder, and I flip throughto think of an excuse to send her home “Tell you what Why don’t you take the day, and maybe you’ll feel better tomorrow”

“No!” She wails shaking her head Mascara is s to look pretty bad “It’s so n”

“Settle down, now” Walking around the desk, I put n, I won’t stop you At least stay and train your replacement”

All the bone-headed mistakes I’ve put up with from her, she can do that much

“I don’t know,” she sniffs “As long as I don’t have to see them”

Considering this, I figure we can et a replacement this week, it shouldn’t be a problem Will that work?”

She nods still looking down, still wobbly fro here”

Patrick’s lines drift through my head, but I don’t have it in me to lie to her “You’ve been here a while we’ll miss you, too”

It’s not a lie Patrick will miss her, and I know Melissa was her friend, whether that still counts, I’m not sure Nikki’s reaction to my words comes out of the blue

“Oh!” She ju me around the neck “I always kneere friends, even if you are a hard ass at the office”

“Take theher ar it off my neck

“It’s okay,” she sniffs, straightening up and wiping her eyes “Let ” She’s at my office door when she stops and looks back “How’s Melissa and Dex?”

Doing my best not to wince, I open ”

She pauses for ain her eyes

?