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“Whoever doesn’t have a date takes Millie,” Ed suggests

My voice tears out in a playful screech: “Why are we assu a date?”

Just over Reid’s shoulder, I spot Avery Henderson waiting at the counter for her coffee and I stifle a whilish departe rooton and, quite frankly, has always been in better touch with Elly than I have Avery picked up on this about nine o, too, when she realized I hadn’t heard thattwins, and since then, she loves to lord it over me e run into each other at Saturday Pilates But here, at lunch with uys, I am unprepared for the a she won’t see me

Unfortunately, when the barista hands over her coffee, Avery catches my eye I s all along

“Can I help you with so?” Reid mumbles

“I was—never mind, just be cool Be cool”

“Ohto call you this week to see how you’re doing”

I smile up at her with aswell, how are you and Doug?”

She waves this away like I knew sheshould be the least of my worries Her voice drops “I meanwith your dad”

I lift ht of Reid, Chris, and Ed staring at ood We’re all great”

Avery falters “But Elly“I appreciate you asking,” I say “I’ll tell Elly you said hi!”

“Yes, please!” Thankfully, she looks at her watch “Oh man I’d love to catch up more, but I have a deposition at two You’ll call me with any news?”

“Of course!”

She shuffle-runs out with her coffee in hand and I take as much time as is reasonably possible to sit back down, lift my napkin, shake it out, and slide it back onto my lap

“So” I look around the silent table “Where e? Tinder no, but another appmaybe?”

Reid shakes his head “What was that about? So with your dad?”

I shift a little under the scrutiny of his gaze “It’s nothing bad” It’s terrible “Justparents getting older”

Just fathers getting diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease

I uncapto push the worry and sadness back into place, where they won’t bubble up easily

Ed pulls out a sandwich he’s had tucked awaysoallbladder out last week and bitched at ht on the phone because she can’t have McDonald’s anyive a syht escape this grilling “Yikes”

But per usual, Reid is undeterred “Wait, Mills Is he sick?”

Here’s where I’m stuck

I don’t share much about my family I don’t do it in part because I don’t see them much, but also because my mom died when I elve and it sucked, and it’s s that suck

But I also don’t lie, and I especially don’t lie tothe needle here, I tell thereat, but he’ll be okay” I hope my tone puts Reid’s antennae back down

It seems to—he pushes his salad around his plate the way he does when he’s full but feels guilty about wasting food

But nope, I’ on,” he says

I see the little press there, the emphasis on us hat he really means is You can talk to me, your supposed best friend

Thankfully, Chris and Ed seeto share, I’d share,” I assure hi deal out of little things”

“But you ’s fine” I give him a little chuck on the chin

“You’re really terrible about sharing personal shit You know that, right?”

“So I’ve heard,” I say It isn’t the first time he’s complained about this, but I’m not sure how to do better There just isn’t nosed, is onit Or, rather, ure out the best way to be supportive fro about it with my friends when none of us have any control over it would just stress me out and make me feel more helpless

Ed looks at his phone “I have soet back soon Are we doing this? The dating app? Are we all in?”

Three sets of eyes swing in roan

“Let’s check a few out,” Chris says “We’ll find the best one out there and put as little or as much info as you want”

“And you can quit anytime,” Reid adds with a hopeful lean to his words

I’ to be the wet blanket “Fine,” I say, “but the first dick pic I get is going to be each of your phone backgrounds for a week”

Ed shrugs “I can live with that”

Christopher Hill

So, turns out there are approxi sites

Reid Campbell

I found one for Western men ant to connect omen from Russia In case that strikes anyone’s fancy

Millie Morris

Oned for users who like Bernie Sanders What even

Stephen (Ed) D’Onofrio