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Lucas: One more for me, friday Then work See you saturday

"Mindi’s last final is ton around an equation in her notebook

"I heard her dad is sitting in the hall during all of her finals," Maggie said

I’d heard the same rumor "I can’t blame him, if that’s true"

We watched Erin, who knew the truth between fact and ca back, except to testify She’s transferring to soret in her eyes was bottoht I can’t believe I just left her there"

Maggie sat up "Hey We left a lot of people there It wasn’t our fault, Erin"

"I know, but--"

"She’s right" I oes On him"

I finally told my parents about Buck I hadn’t talked to the left out of order in the pantry, Mouess she wanted to er hadn’t broken into the house and un-alphabetized her grains and condiments, so I had to fess up

"But… you toldher that she’d come to that conclusion by herself--that I’d only mentioned Erin once, that she’d never bothered to verify what I was actually doing over Thanksgiving break--I lied It was easier for both of us that way

"Co deal"

She started jabbering about the things we needed to do over the break--I was due for a dental appointistration would expire in January "Do you need an appointment with Kevin, or have you found a stylist there?" she asked

Instead of answering her question, I blurted it all out--Buck’s assault in the parking lot, Lucas saving , the upco it, once it started

At first I thought she hadn’t heardall of that, if she’s too da for her party to listen to me for ten seconds

And then she choked out, "Why didn’t you tell me?"

She knehy, I think I didn’t need to say it They hadn’t been the best parents; they hadn’t been the worst, either

I sighed "I’ you now"

She was silent for another strained h the house They were hosting their annual catered holiday party on Saturday, and I kne control-freak and anal Mo up, I’d learned toup to that party

"I’ in to firnized the sound of her dragging her wheeled suitcase out froaped into the phone for ato life "No--no, Mom, I’m fine I’ll be home in less than a week"

Her voice shook when she answered, shocking me further "I’h she was trying to find soh the phone "I’ht, she’s crying? My mother wasn’t a crier "And I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you when you came home You needed me and I wasn’t here"

Alone in my room, I sat on my bed, dazed "It’s okay, Mom It’s not like you knew" She’d known about o, too "You raised ood" I realized as I said it that it was true

"Can I--can I set up an appointment for you, with my therapist? Or one of her partners, if you’d rather?"

I’d forgotten Monosed with an eating disorder when I was really young I didn’t even knohat it was--bulimia, anorexia? We’d never really talked about it

"Sure That would be good"

She sighed, and I thought I heard relief I’d given her so to do

After we finished several cartons of Chinese takeout and a conversation about hoe chose our respective majors, Lucas fished his iPod from his front pocket and handed me the earbuds "I want you to hear this band I just found Youon the floor with our backs tome as I listened

His eyes locked withoutside of it, couldn’t see anything but his eyes onscent of hime at a leisurely pace that so He tasted like the wintergreen Tic Tacs he’d been sucking on

Handing me the iPod, he pickedbled into the next, and the next When he pulled back to trace a finger over the edge of my ear, I removed an earbud and handed it to hith of which only just accoether, i he chose was so for us to discuss musically