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"I'm happy for you, man.” Inodded.

"She has personally invited you tonight, so you havetocome."

"Listen, man, give me a few days okay." I didn't recognize the desperation in myvoice.

"You sure you're okay?” Heasked.

"Yeah, I just need a break. Asmallone."

"Tuesday,then."

"Tuesdaywhat?"

"You meet us at Crush onTuesday?"

It was three days away. He wasn't going to leave me alone until Iagreed.

"Okay, Tuesday. I'll see youthere."

I finished the chair and stood back to admire it. I would never use it with anyone else, but I loved it anyway. I might have to change its name toBrooklyn.

I cleaned up and headed over to my apartment to get some sleep. My goal was to throw myself into my work. I'd power through Tuesday and let my friends know I needed to step back from the community. It didn't have the same hold over me as before. I needed some distance, and at some point in my lifetime, I would stop pining over a particular unavailablewoman.