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"Tell me what this business with Nikolai is about" No more time for relationship talk It’s Saturday We have a smallof time before the next custo me I’m sure he still sees me as the fat little kid who ca pieces of ha "We need to sell a car Stefan" His voice drifts off with a sigh, the displeasure in his face evident

I don’t have to ask what he race to Done out and stolen a car He’s a few years younger than me I knew early on that he was short half a deck of cards He has a penchant for theft and has caused Dmitri and his son, Nikolai, probleaze levelsRust could help us get rid of it"

I ask what Rust is going to ask "You can’t just wipe it clean and ditch it?"

"What is that saying? When you are given les "I could use soather The bell announces an elderly couple and the end to our conversation "I’ll talk to Rust We’ll sort this out for you, I promise"

He places his hand over his chest and then holds it outward A sign of respect and love Sooodbye My heart instantly ware of ht into Rain

Chapter 12

CLARA

"You used, like, four ingredients You’re telling me that if I do exactly what you just did, ood, just because I’m not Italian?"

I lick the to it into the sink "Sounds about right"

He chuckles froranite, where he’s been sitting since we got back "That’s bullshit"

"Fine Next e’ll do this at your place I’ll sit on my ass and watch you cook for oes well tonight

His eyes drop down at the mention ofthe sauce down to a low sitheI could do inchores, helping my mother make this staple in our household As odd as it uess I should be paying more attention, then, shouldn’t I?" Luke slides off his stool and co a sleeve up over a defined forear over ainst my shoulder

I pretend not to notice

Just like I pretended that his hand on the small of my back as alked home fro pot "My buddy’s girlfriend’s sauce sood as this"

"Is she Italian?"