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"Uh, yeah…thanks for having me over?" I still wasn’t convinced my presence here was her idea

"Of course Nolan, you know Dylan, right?" she said, introducing us, her susted me

"Yeah, we’ve o

"Oh…" Millie said, looking around for so, she just turned to Sa That was it, my war

Dinner was stilted and aard Sa stories And despite my complete and utter disdain for the sport, if you could even call it that, I listened intently, hanging on every word Reed kept hold of led the few times he dropped food froifted athlete, he was shit with his left hand Thank God, his right one healed after the accident

We all headed to the sitting room for coffee after dinner, a tradition that seemed so bizarre to me I didn’t really like coffee, but I was just happy to not have been insulted over the last hour, so I sat there and grippedtiny sips of ar just to choke it down

Dylan and Reed were talking about Reed’s upco to put all of my focus on that when I felt Millie’s polished nails tap at my shoulder, almost like a chicken’s beak I looked up at her, a bit bothered and I think she was surprised by my boldness "I’ her hands back together and folding theht borrow you, just for aher hand out to point toward the door

I looked at Reed, as still involved with Dylan, and then looked back to Millie, whose face was growing full of i, I filled s and calmed my nerves I s back once more to catch Reed’s attention His eyes ide, and I just shook e how strange this was

We walked to Millie’s office, and she closed the door behindrade-schooler who had been sent to the principal’s office Out of instinct, I sat in the large leather chair facing her desk and waited for her to ad across fro with one leg propped atop, an alasses fro them next to her She looked down quietly for a few seconds, al for the words to her speech Oh God, was I going to get a lecture?

"Nolan, h," she slappedin My emotions betrayed me as my eyes watered at her words, but I held my breath and willed the tears not to slide any further

Millie sighed heavily, and I looked to see her looking down once again, pinching the bridge of her nose "That ca her head "It’s just that Reed has always beenAnd I had these plans for him Who he’d marry, where they’d live? But that boy, he is stubborn Well…you know this" She laughed a little, closing her eyes while she thought of Reed

"Like I said, rab a large folder froo He told ulped at her words, looking at ain for the daive you a scholarship," she chuckled a little to herself, more amusement at my expense "I explained that we have rules, and the scholarships, Nolan? They just don’t work that way"

Oh God, she was pitying rate into her carpet

"But my son? Well, like I said He loves you And let’s just say he gave, and was lost betanting to shirk it frohtly I was powerless, and I couldn’t get myself to look her in the eyes