Looking like she’s been crying, Laiken walks up to the bar. “Can we talk?” I take a deep breath, knowing this is going to break me…and her. “Not right now.” My tone comes out clipped. Dismissive. And I can barely look her in the eye when I see her wince. “Please? Just for a minute?” she begs. I’m so frustrated it has to be obvious to everyone in the room. “I said no.” I walk out from behind the bar and go over to clean up one of the tables, trying to put some distance between us, but she follows me. “Hayes,” she presses. “It’s just a couple minutes of your time. Don’t I deserve at least that?”
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