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He and Beck were reclined on the couch They’d clearly been waiting for her As she dropped her purse on the coffee table, Beck pressed a button on the re blank

"I don’t knohat happened between you and Jase," West said, "and honestly, I don’t want to know"

"But we’re not stupid," Beck added "We can guess"

Lied to a chair and eased down Their words could nificantly "He’s freaking out right now, isn’t he?"

West inclined his head "He ca Wokeback Red Bull and pacing We talked, and for hours he watched the clock, waiting for thesnapped inside hiet some supplies in town He beat feet"

Good A freak-out meant some part of him cared for her more than he’d realized--he just didn’t want to admit it "Has he never done a relationship before?" she asked

"One," Beck adether for two years"

Hate her already "Why’d they break up?"

West propped his feet on the coffee table, saying, "Jase will have to give you those details"

Even as curious as she was, she liked that they were unwilling to share details about their friend Proved their loyalty But she needed intel, dang it "What will you tell ot some decisions to ot a chance for a future, or if I should just throw in the towel now, before either of us gets hurt" And by either of us, she totally hed and said, "He’s had a hard life Been betrayed by everyone he’s ever loved Including us"

She blinked in surprise "How did you--"

"Again, those are details he’ll have to give you," Beck interjected

She nodded in understanding--or, pretend understanding--then motioned for West to continue