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Rick huffed out a bitter laugh “Nope I get to work the sales shack But it’s soo crazy Besides, working the dock means I’m around if my mom needs me”

Finally, To time that Rick had toofor so with his… is that going to be a problem on Saturday?”

“I don’t always drink myself stupid,” Rick said dryly “I do kno to have a few and lock it down I just choose not to most of the time”

Toive Rick the benefit of the doubt, especially if he was finally looking for a job and trying to get his act together “I’ll back you up You can tell Jack that”

“Thanks, man”

“Yeah, well, life’s a hell of a deal, isn’t it? We can all use all the help we can get” He got up and took the glasses off the top of his head, putting theot a few sodas in the fridge and some leftover pizza from Gino’s We can sit out on the deck and watch the fish jump”

For over an hour they sat on To as the sun went down and the water of the cove ray They ate To the quiet night work its hts went from Josh and Erin back to Abby

Abby was about as different froh there was that, too Shehim to fix her house but she didn’t need hi-willed Sweet, but at the sa that she alwaysstand in her way

He thought of Erin buckling to parental pressure over the de such a thing h

“What’s so funny?” Rick asked, swilling the last bit of soda from the can

To about people”

“Anyone in particular? That Foster woman, maybe?”

No one ever said Rick was stupid Tom threw the crust of the last piece of pizza back into the box

When Tom didn’t answer, Rick leaned forward and put his hands on his knees “Talk around town is that she’s fixing that place up to sell it Doesn’t look like she’s going to be around for long”

There was an unspoken warning in Rick’s words “Yeah, I’d be stupid to start so there, wouldn’t I?”