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           Thefridgekeepsitdrier."Heshrugged.

           "Thanks,"Irepeated,butwithfeelingthistime."Iwasrunningoutofnewwaystofixfish,andhe’sboundtobringhomemoretonight."

           "Fishingagain?"Billyaskedwithasubtlegleaminhiseye."Downattheusualspot?MaybeI’llrunbyandseehim."

           "No,"Iquicklylied,myfacegoinghard."Hewasheadedsomeplacenew...butIhavenoideawhere."

           Hetookinmychangedexpression,anditmadehimthoughtful.

           "Jake,"hesaid,stillappraisingme."Whydon’tyougogetthatnewpictureofRebeccaoutofthecar?I’llleavethatforCharlie,too."

           "Whereisit?"Jacobasked,hisvoicemorose.Iglancedathim,buthewasstaringatthefloor,hiseyebrowspullingtogether.

           "IthinkIsawitinthetrunk,"Billysaid."Youmayhavetodigforit."

           Jacobslouchedbackoutintotherain.

           BillyandIfacedeachotherinsilence.Afterafewseconds,thequietstartedtofeelawkward,soIturnedandheadedtothekitchen.Icouldhearhiswetwheelssqueakagainstthelinoleumashefollowed.

           Ishovedthebagontothecrowdedtopshelfofthefridge,andspunaroundtoconfronthim.Hisdeeplylinedfacewasunreadable.

           "Charliewon’tbebackforalongtime."Myvoicewasalmostrude.

           Henoddedinagreement,butsaidnothing.

           "Thanksagainforthefishfry,"Ihinted.

           Hecontinuednodding.Isighedandfoldedmyarmsacrossmychest.

           HeseemedtosensethatIhadgivenuponsmalltalk."Bella,"hesaid,andthenhehesitated.

           Iwaited.

           "Bella,"hesaidagain,"Charlieisoneofmybestfriends."

           "Yes."