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He was running his hand through his hair again Did thathi break next week?" Alex asked, apropos of nothing He also seemed to be very interested in his shoes While they were cute - so

"I have to go to Washington to spend the holiday with Senator and Mrs Harper"

"Senate Majority Leader Senator Harper? Why?"

Because my life sucked "Heʼs randfather?" Alex sounded impressed

"Technically"

I only see my motherʼs parents once a year They always fly et attacked by stylist and posed in different activities with the Harpers to ensure there are enough pictures of their All-A and itchy sweaters are nothing compared to the painful conversations I have to endure Mrs Harper can wax on for hours about how I am nowhere near as pretty as my mother, while the Senator likes to lecturea politicianʼs granddaughter and the necessity of applyingmade me a little wrist-slitty

My distaste for the whole situation must have shown on randparents, are you?"

"My grandparents blame my motherʼs death on my father They see him as a murderer, and ed my birthday or sent me so much as a Christmas card The only time they contact me is when it benefits them in some fashion

So, no, Iʼm not fond of the born" Alex studied my face as I tried to appear nonchalant about the whole ordeal "So, why do you go see thes you could be doing" There were about a o see Dadʼs mom, who makes the best Derby Pie on the planet, or his dad, whose Derby Pie coo to Rebeccaʼs faao down to the Base and have Thanksgiving with Jaseʼs bio dadʼs parents, who have always treatedbecause it involved seeing Charlie

But I wasnʼt going to do any of those things I couldnʼt

"I go because she would want et the whole story out of me I told him about how the doctors had realized there was a problenancy for her oell-being; about how she decided thather own; about how she held ht decision; and about how she died with me in her ar I do so she will be proud ofI would never be worthy of her sacrifice

I spilled uts in a way I never had before Iʼ questions, and I kept answering them, a bit too honestly