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She shrugged, stared at her glass for a few aze to Evelyn

"He distracts easily, loses his focus He can be such a great driver, but half the ti a race And when he isn’t racing, he’s partying it up with the guys I mean it’s not like he’s steppin’ out onon me I’d bean him over the head with a crankshaft or carburetor or soy, and I’d be out of here faster than the track in Talladega It’s not that It’s just that he’s sounfocused and undecided about his direction

"We’ve talked about it, but it’s like he’s keeping secrets We’ve been together since ere in high school I wanted to stay in college He kno important my education is, but he wanted me with him Foolishly, I followed"

"Is that what you wanted, or are you with him this season because it’s what he wanted?"

"A little of both, I think He needs me I help him stay focused And Iand he doesn’t come home all that much So part of this is me and how much I want to be with him Part of it is he can’t concentrate without me If I’ about hi-term relationship, so she couldn’t relate to this But she knew one thing, and that was a wo for a man "But shouldn’t a relationship be able to thrive even during those tiether? Surely you can work so out so you can finish your education It’s important you be able to stand on your own and not sacrifice what you want in order for Donny to be happy"

"Believeand hard about that I’ve taken a few online courses in the spring and fall so I don’t lose out on my status at my school"

"And what does Donny do to sacrifice for you?"

Stacie didn’t have an answer for that

"Shouldn’t this be a tay street? Shouldn’t he be able to do without you for a little while, focus his attention on his racing so you don’t have to worry about hiree to good use by helping him out Seems like a in for both of you, with a little sacrifice along the way"

She sighed "You make it sound so simple Love is never simple When you love someone, you don’t want to be separated from theiving up a part of yourself for someone else’s happiness I don’t think that willrun

Do you?"

"You know, Evelyn, for soo, I’ve sure shared a lot about ed "I have no idea Maybe I’ood advice I like you"

She sive this soht And try not to bash Donny’s head in when I find him"

"Please don’t bash his head in, Stacie I need hi near the door

"Oh, hi, Gray," Stacie said, slipping out of the booth to toss her can in the trash and put her glass in the sink "Thanks to Evelyn, here, I’htly pissed off, but I have a little perspective now" She turned to Evelyn "Thanks for the chat"

Evelyn smiled "Anytime"

"Ciao," Stacie said, and left

Gray frowned after Stacie, then looked at Evelyn "What was that about?"

"Relationships"

"Oh, God I’lad I wasn’t here, then Did you solve all her problems with Donny?"

"Not really I think she just wanted soo back to school"

He grabbed a beer froerator "She probably should She’ll be a ree And he needs to learn to suck it up and stand on his oithout his girlfriend holding his hand"

Evelyn stared at him "I’m kind of shocked"

He tipped the beer to his lips, then paused "Yeah? Why?"

"I was prepared to have you yell at ured you’d tell me I should have minded my own business and stayed out of Stacie’s relationship with Donny"

"Some parts of their relationship are none ofDonny he needs to stop irl She’s smart and she needs to finish school I think he’s afraid if he isn’t watching her every second, she’ll run off with the first guy she sees"

"I don’t think real love works that way"

"I don’t think it does either, but I wouldn’t know"

"Neither would I"

He took a seat across from her "Never been in love, Evelyn?"

She looked down at her laptop "Not really Not that all-consu me about The kind where you can’t bear to be apart from the person you’re crazy about"

"Yeah, me either Half the time I think it’s just a bunch of bullshit you see in the movies and read about in books and that love like that doesn’t exist"

When he didn’t say anything else, she uess I just haven’t found the time to meet that person who makes me wish I could be with the s of his beer "Too busy with career to fall in love?"

"My career has been etown"

"On a career track, are you?"

"Yes Very much so I intend to end up at the White House"

His lips curved "As president?"

"It’s possible Right now I’d be content working for someone in that position"

"If my father makes it to the vice presidency, you’ll be close"