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And then it happened

He walked into the upstairs break roo it made sense that she’d be up there since there was no self-defense class between twelve and twelve forty-five He started to s into her hand, until he saho she was sitting with Caht with her the day they’d filyh so sweetly at whatever it was he was saying to her was that he knew they’d long ago finished the docuut--the one he’d felt even that first night at the pizza place--and the one he’d felt every single time he’d been around her since, was back Only this time it felt different This ti on whether or not he should go talk to her He wasn’t sure he could keep hi up here, Sanchez?"

Felix turned to see Noah and Hector walking toward hi for so at "And you found her?" He s great

"Ella?" Noah asked

"No, not Ella," he lied "One of the guys I’ve been working with"

Hector turned to look at hi "You sure? Because you looked like you were getting ready to go talk to Ella and, uh, her friend there Who is that she’s having lunch with?"

"I dunno," Felix lied again, looking around trying his dauy I’ for isn’t here I’ll talk to him later," he said and started to walk away

"Oh, I knoho that is," he heard Hector say "That’s the guy working with Drew on the docu for Ella and would be co down to ask her out"

Felix stopped in his tracks and spun around Hector’s head fell back and he laughed "I fucking knew it!" He shoved Noah in the arlaring past him at Ella and camera boy ere now joined by Drew Drew sat down next to the guy, pecking his lips, and Felix knew he’d been had "You’re an asshole," he said, shoving Hector and feeling like an idiot but at the same time enormously relieved

"What?" Noah asked confused as Hector continued to laugh, bringing his fist to hissotheir way

Felix shly out of the small break room

"He’s the sap Drew talked about at the pizza place," Hector explained, still laughing as Felix let go of his shirt but not before shoving hi out with I guess they’re a thing now"

Hector still laughed, and now Noah was slanced away, annoyed that he hadn’t been able to ed "I think she’s cool"

Hector laughed again "Charlee’s gonna love this She called it from day one"

Felix had been ready to ju to Charlee or anyone for that h these two kne, but his second coot him "She did?"

Had he really been that obvious? Even back then? The sh, but he went on anyway "She said you looked struck that first night we all went to Barros Man"--he shook his head inyou don’t get struck, and she said everyone does sooner or later"

"You do know she’s Nellie and Abel’s little project, right?" Noah’s voice warned "They really like her, and Nellie’s hoping she’ll take her up on the offer of a full-tionna screw anything up," Felix said suddenly feeling defensive "All I said was she’s cool I haven’t even decided what, if anything, I wanna do about it I told you about the GreccoI had I doubt I’ll have any ti, irl for anything less"

Hector patted hi for it and let ain--"that look on your face says you are, I’dto Drew, she’s considering going out to dinner with that cop friend of hers again, soave him a look, and Hector lifted his hands in the air, eyes full of huht I heard her telling Charlee Drew even offered to do a double date thing with her because she said Ella’s not one hundred percent sold on the idea But I guess the guy’s been really persistent"

It suddenly dawned on Felix "Is that why they’re here today?"

Hector’s brows jumped up "Good question I don’t know Could be"