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           "Thatdoesn’tsoundsocomplex,"hedisagreed,buthewassuddenlysympathetic."Whendidthathappen?"

           "LastSeptember."Myvoicesoundedsad,eventome.

           "Andyoudon’tlikehim,"Edwardsurmised,histonestillkind.

           "No,Philisfine.Tooyoung,maybe,butniceenough."

           "Whydidn’tyoustaywiththem?"

           Icouldn’tfathomhisinterest,buthecontinuedtostareatmewithpenetratingeyes,asifmydulllife’sstorywassomehowvitallyimportant.

           "Philtravelsalot.Heplaysballforaliving."Ihalf-smiled.

           "HaveIheardofhim?"heasked,smilinginresponse.

           "Probablynot.Hedoesn’tplaywell.Strictlyminorleague.Hemovesaroundalot."

           "Andyourmothersentyouheresothatshecouldtravelwithhim."Hesaiditasanassumptionagain,notaquestion.

           Mychinraisedafraction."No,shedidnotsendmehere.Isentmyself."

           Hiseyebrowsknittogether."Idon’tunderstand,"headmitted,andheseemedunnecessarilyfrustratedbythatfact.

           Isighed.WhywasIexplainingthistohim?Hecontinuedtostareatmewithobviouscuriosity.

           "Shestayedwithmeatfirst,butshemissedhim.Itmadeherunhappy...soIdecideditwastimetospendsomequalitytimewithCharlie."MyvoicewasglumbythetimeIfinished.

           "Butnowyou’reunhappy,"hepointedout.

           "And?"Ichallenged.

           "Thatdoesn’tseemfair."Heshrugged,buthiseyeswerestillintense.

           Ilaughedwithouthumor."Hasn’tanyoneevertoldyou?Lifeisn’tfair."

           "IbelieveIhaveheardthatsomewherebefore,"heagreeddryly.