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I didn’t know if I had the energy for this now It was one more layer of e day

“I was called out of town for work, and I thought I’d be back and be able to call, but it didn’t turn out that way I was in e didn’t help and when I could call I knew you were asleep”

“Time zone? Where were you?”

“Ger but it turned into a full week I would have eed that I’ you ahead of ti”

I looked into his eyes “You were in Germany all week?”

He nodded “Yeah, dick ht at theyou out for the weekend Dinner Aat six”

I crossedmyself to accept his excuse

“When I heard your voice on the phone I thought I just better come over You didn’t sound like yourself”

“I-I don’t know, Vaughn My life is chaos right now Complete chaos”

I’d heard stories like this before It echoed ones of lost cell phones, or grandmothers who had suddenly fallen ill I didn’t knohy he would make it up, I didn’t care I had to take care of myself

“I brought you soed back inside and returned with a box

I looked at him, stunned “What is it?”

“Not ive me and let me take you out”

I peeled back the gold paper and stared at the writing in German on the front of the box

“Each chocolate is full of a liquor shot,” he explained “I thought it ht be fun And you like chocolate”