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"I miss you," he murmurs

I nod toward the staircase "What about Kelsey?"

"Nothing’s going on with her We’re just friends"

"Does she know that?"

"I’ve told her I don’t want anything serious with her But she’s my friend and she’s been ditched by friends before, and I won’t do that to her But about you and me, can we talk privately? I want to find a way for you andthe daet ish for"

Jack stands and takes a step back, glaring down atdown on the floor

I wipe the sweat off , so Form "Come in"

Rory opens the door and sits down on"I want to kill that bastard forhis T-shirt

"You didn’t sleep with hiht you like it when girls sleep with guys after two minutes?"

"Not you," he says "Not you I think Jack’s a dumbass He obviously wants you…"

I know

"Coo to Tennessee Ballers"

"I’ry"

"Will you run overfor the school play"

I love that he’s trying to distractthe play you wrote? Call Me When Your Mo deeply "Mrs Towne saidPeter Pan"

"Oh, I hope you get the role of Peter! You’ll get to fly around the stage hanging froies"

He winks "You just want to see oes to find dinner, because when you’re a seventeen-year-old boy, food outweighs all else

An hour later, Cindy shows up carrying a tray with a piece of chicken, sos it toJust like Dad this afternoon, she can’t seeaze, and her face is red

"How’s the baby?" I ask

"The doctor says she’s fine," Cindy replies, sniffling She pinches her nose "I guess sonancies than others He said I shouldn’t be doing soto tell the Goodwins?"

"In the ers "I’o…I’m afraid I’ll have to ive her a hug "It’ll be okay"

That’s when Dad appears in the doorway

"I don’t really want to talk to you right now," I say,with the floors today"

"I didn’t do it for you I did it for my little sister"

Dad comes in and shuts the door There’s hardly room for him to stand in here

"We need to talk about what happened yesterday," Dad says "You need to underst--"

"I’ve been working hard on the track!" I interrupt "I’ve been giving Mr Goodwin money I make so that Cindy can take time off So you’ll have more money to spend on the baby And then you yell at s And Jack has been so nice toout Who is this weak girl speaking with ainst hme in a vat of ice water

"I didn’t ask you to help with our bills," Dad says quietly Hemy face in my hands "Just leave me alone"

"Shortcake," Dad says, but I shake o away"

He sniffles and rubs his eyes, and Cindy’s tearing up I can’t bear to hear them say I told you so I just can’t Not after he yelled at me and wouldn’t listen yesterday I can’t bear to tell theht about Jack

I clutch ularnear the ceiling Life is so dae bay , I could see a million stars Myis so small, I can only see a handful If I had been born to a richer family, I’d have so ot upset," Dad says softly His eyes glisten "I’ a jockey position at a top far me and rub ers "You’re the strongest girl I know," she says quietly "I wish I were h my tears, and she takes my hand and places it on her stomach, so I can feel a kick I suddenly can’t wait to meet my baby sister