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I stuck my hands into my pockets and said softly, “August,forty-three years from now. And violently.” Jason had come into the worldviolently. He would leave it the same way, being the good Samaritan he was.Nothing I could say would change that.

He tsked and gave me a single shake of his head as he toed arock at his feet. “Figures.”

“Marry her.”

“I plan to.”

“And try to grow out of this asshole phase you’re in.”

“If you’ll try to grow out of your bitch phase.”

“Bitch?” I asked, only slightly offended.

“I forgot to tell you the other day, nice punch.”

“Thanks. Is my haircut really that bad?”

“Not as bad as your face, but yeah.”

“It’s a delicate balance.”

I watched Halle try to get Flower to shake with her. Itwasa delicate balance, as were most things in the universe.

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