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I doubt he thinks I’d even be capable of turning out like hiue the point, and not that I ever wanted to be

When we arrive, Dad charges straight across the lobby to the reception desk and I trail hiet past the reception area and anyone hanging out there The wonizes hih her expression re that she knoho I a here more difficult for Mom, where everyone knows, or will know--that she’s the mother of Reid Alexander She can’t be anonymous, any more than I can But at least my notoriety was/is my choice

The place is posh, no surprise, and Moile as always, also no surprise We are only allowed to meet with her in the counselor’s office for this visit, and frankly I’ this time will be the only one required of me

There are two sofas--one of the a low table The therapist, Dr Wee the file on her lap, giving us no direction on where to sit I sense a test, but I’ement she’d accept as positive, or if she perceives that I know she’s analyzing each of us and hoe relate to each other based on our choice By the tihsofa, mom next to him in the corner I plop down in the middle of the loveseat because that choice doesn’t require anything but sitting straight down Dr Weea cartoon of funny cats while waiting for us to stop playing musical sofas

"Mark, Reid, I’ood totherapist sreets her politely and leans up to shake her hand When she turns to look atforward, elbows on knees, ready to bolt out of here at the first opportunity I raiseher That’s the best I’ll do, and e it

She’s undaunted I doubt asshole adolescent ress in the last teeks" The heel of Marcie’s puh she’s actually playing dress up and wearing her mother’s shoes "I’m pleased that the two of you could join us so you could see for yourselves that your loved one is doing well, and so we can do a little work as a fa spoken about in the third person with an epithetical term rather than her naeneral I think they’re a pretentious group of people who believe they know your innere and what they trick you into saying Marcie is all that plus attributes from your least favorite, ers shake with the slightest tremor, barely perceptible, whenever she has to speak When she looks up, I try to catch her eyes--dark blue, identical to rab her hand and get the hell out of here But no, she’s determined to tackle the deeazines on either side And then she pushes her s questions and Dad’s careful inquiries

Marcie squints atunless asked directly, and even then, I’ What I don’t say: I don’t want to be here, I don’t want to contribute, and I don’t see why I have to when it isn’t me in rehab When the hour is up, I feel like I was just released frooodbye, my arms slide around her and I realize she’s even s," she says into my shoulder "I’m sorry I love you"

I close ood enough and better than nothing She gives o She walks into my dad’s arms and I turn towards theHe’s the worst kind of hypocrite--pretending this level of give-a-shit nohen she’s spent years flying along behind hi to stay airborne

E on E an atypical welcome I stroke his silky back and scratch behind his ears

Emily closes her bedroom door, where two sexy-beautiful close-up posters of Reid are attached with double-stick tape (Emily’s mom has two rules for posters: double-stick tape, not thuraded hio on the closet door, visible all the tio to the back of her bedroom door Quinton’s is still on the closet door, and has in fact moved to the number one spot: face level above the door knob

"It didn’t seeht to have Reid in a prominent spot when you two are practically a couple I can’t cheat with uy Even theoretically"

"So he’s like a brother to you now"

"Don’t be crazy," she answers "Look at hilares at h

"I found a few pics of Graha a pillow and propping her head at the foot of the bed so we can see each other over the luh more in that intense, introspective sorta way, rather than Reid’s all-American look My coworkers would be all over him"