Oh, Neil!" Andrew wiggled his cigarette at Neil in greeting. "Hello." "Can we talk?" Neil asked. "Today's not a good day," Andrew said. "Try again tomorrow." "I wouldn't crash your birthday party if it wasn't important." Andrew grinned. "Sarcasm from Neil? Your repertoire of talents is ever-expanding." "Two minutes," Neil said. "So persistent.

Jean turned on Kevin and spoke in quick, furious French. "What the hell is this?" "His antagonism is a personality flaw we're learning to live with," Kevin said.

There has to be a better way." "You could occasionally grow a spine," Andrew suggested. "I know it's a difficult concept for someone whose kneejerk reaction is to run away at the first sign of trouble, but try it sometime. You might actually like it." "What I'd like is to put this phone through your teeth." "See, that's more interesting." "I'm not here for your entertainment," Neil said.

They don't feel right," he said. "A tear for your discomfort," Andrew said, completely unsympathetic. "And you said I have no team spirit," Neil muttered. "Never claimed I did either." Andrew grinned and shrugged. "You're the fool who gave him your game. Reap what you sow or burn the field down, the choice is yours. Be smarter next time, would you?

Speaking of, one of these days I want you to tell me how you roped her into it." "I asked," Neil said. "There goes that 'asked' thing again," Matt said. "Does it mean something different where you come from?" "Most of the time, yes," Neil said. The unexpected honesty startled a laugh from Matt.

Instead he said, "Our game is over now, isn't it?" "It's still my turn," Andrew pointed out. "But after that?" Neil asked. "I have no secrets left to trade." "Come up with something else." "What would you take?" "What would you give me?""Don't ask questions you already know the answer to," Neil said. Andrew slanted a bored look at him, unimpressed with having his own words tossed back in his face.

He waited a beat to make sure Neil understood, then let go. The next time he raised his cigarette to his mouth Neil took it from him. Neil broke it between his fingers and let it fall to the asphalt by their feet. Andrew watched the halves roll away from each other and turned an unimpressed look on Neil. "Ninety-one percent," Andrew said.