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Not like this

And I can’t cruer the baby So, I point my car in the direction of Noel’s house

I need her

I’ the bell incessantly when she finally comes to the door Her eyes widen when she sees ?"

"I just--" I shakefreely now "I just needed someone"

"Come on" She wraps her arm around my shoulders and leads me into the house "Are you hurt?"

"Just my heart," I blurt out as we sit on the couch I curl up in the corner and let the floodgates open, crying like I never have before

"I’er and righteousness "I swear to God, he’s a deadher play with my hair as I sob all of the disappoint day and an even longer month

When the tears slow, she passesaith a black tissue

"Ruined rees "Wanna talk about it?"

"Yeah I’ to have a baby"

"Holy shit!" She pullsme fiercely "Is this why you’re upset? Oh h despite myself "No, he wouldn’t do that But I told hiether"

"Good advice," she says with a thoughtful nod "But you need to tell "

I take a deep breath "Well, they settled the lawsuit"

"Handto my left I needed to coht without even one word froh as Dad dives back under his truck, tinkering away Nancy is sleeping on a blanket next to the front tire She’s never far away from my dad, and it s you over? Not that I’m not happy to see you, I’ hi

Suck it up, buttercup

"Can you co his hands on a towel and stands, watching me with eyes the same color as mine

"What’s up? Are you okay?"

"Oh, yeah" I s and nod "Yeah, I’oing to be a grandpa"

Dad’s eyes light up, and he wraps e

"Well, this is great news Where’s Jace?" He glances out the door toward my car, but I shake my head

"I’m not sure"

He frowns "Well, is he excited?"

"I don’t know that either," I ad in the ht when I told hiht?" He frowns and leads me into the house, then puts the kettle on for soht about?"

"I haven’t seen him, Dad" I sit at the kitchen table and rubon Noel last night "Since he went back to work last month, I’ve barely seen him"

"And?"

I uncover aged, and I haven’t seen his as he waits for the water to boil