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I reached out and laid my hand over his Lincoln didn’t even flinch

“I’m sorry honey I know she’s a friend”

“A friend? She’s also , when it was just the two of us,” he sighed “She’s seen everything Been with …”

Brody shook his head sympathetically “That sucks man It really does”

“I just gave out Christmas bonuses…”

By now Lincoln had lost all interest in his food He looked down at the reports again, as if hoping they’d change As if begging the other than what they did

“That’s it then”

He slipped out of the booth and stood up,into his pocket, he dropped some cash on the table

“I’uys later”

Brody nodded and extended his hand Lincoln shook it, then leaned down to kiss oodbye

“Thank you,” he croaked “Without you, I would’ve never known This would’ve gone on and on I would’ve kept on believing everything she said…”

He let the last sentence trail off I could see the hurt in his eyes The grave disappoint him

“Lincoln,” I offered as he walked away “Do you want me to—”

“No,” he said sadly “It has to be me”

Thirty-Eight