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"I was drunk Drunk out ofIf it makes any difference, you should know I didn’t even f ind her attractive"

"It doesn’t," Phoebe snapped "That’s completely irrelevant"

Clark lowered his head "I’m sorry"

She so badly wanted to believe hi drunk doesn’t excuse that kind of behavior"

"You’re right, it doesn’t, but maybe it’ll help you understand why it happened I eak and--"

"What guarantee do I have that you won’t be…weak again?"

Phoebe asked

"Because it would kill ive you ly "Listen to Clark Every word is sincere He couldn’t be more repentant Let him have one more chance That’s all he wants, all any of us want"

Phoebe turned to Clark, one look that would’ve softened the hardest heart Despite everything, Phoebe found herself on the verge of surrender She was about to capitulate when the waiter arrived with their reeing to yet another chance, nearly overwhel was vital to Clark; she couldn’t knohether he meant what he said or just needed to re her to take him back

Clark see because he reached for her hand, intertwining their f ingers He held on to her while the waiter served thene?" he asked her "Tellto celebrate"

"Not yet," she whispered

Her mother leaned forward "Phoebe, please It would ed again"

As if on cue, Clark took the solitaire dia from his suit pocket and set it on the table next to her bowl "I’ve carried it with me from the moment you dropped it off," he confessed brokenly "I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve looked at this dia to me"

"Unless you’re drunk," she added She knew she sounded bitter and angry, but didn’t care

"If it’ll help, I’ll quit drinking You say the word and I swear I won’t touch another drop"

Phoebe pulled her hand away "Why would you do that?"

Clark enjoyed his drinks To the best of her knowledge he rarely overindulged

"If that’s the only way I can have you back, then I’ll give up alcohol for good"

"Why are you trying so hard?" she demanded She needed proof that this was , more than his desire to be in control of their relationship He blinked as though he didn’t understand the question "You don’t know?" he asked softly "You honestly don’t know?"

"Tell her," Leanne urged "Tell her what you told me"

"I love you," Clark stated emphatically "It’s as simple as that I want to spend the rest of ether and e’re old and gray, you’re the one I want at my side"

A lump f illed her throat No woman could listen to those words and not be affected "I…I have to think"

Clark’s gaze held hers, f illed with triumph at the f irst crack in her defenses She suddenly realized it hat he needed, what he’d been hoping to achieve

"I’ht back?" her o with you?"

"Don’t be ridiculous"

Reluctantly Clark slid out of the booth and she followed, leaving her raincoat behind Taking her purse, she hurried across the restaurant to the restroo herself inside a stall, she leaned against the door and closed her eyes

The f leeting look on Clark’s face just then She’d seen it--that small display of satisfaction that he could manipulate her He assumed he’d won her back…and he almost had He’d almost done it, but now that she ay from his inf luence, away fro her own actions, Phoebe left the stall and hurried out of the restaurant Thankfully there was a taxi parked at the curb With rain beating down on her, she cliave the driver her work address Not until she was several blocks away could she breathe easily again She felt like so and faltered Only now, safe from Clark, did she feel secure