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Chapter One

Charlie

May 22, 2016

"YOU ONLY GRADUATED three hours ago," my older brother unnecessarily reminded me in that authoritative tone he often used "Let’s just focus on et you settled there for a while Then when you’re ready, you can look into getting your own place I don’t understand why you’re trying to rush this"

And I couldn’t figure out why he was dis the importance of all that I needed to do "Because I have a court date in adone by then I don’t understand why you’re trying to stall this"

"A an, but didn’t continue when Jagger shot her a look

"She’s barely giving herself any tilared atto tell us that you set up a court date?"

"You should have known that I would schedule it for as soon as possible"

"It would have been nice to know that you scheduled it at all"

"You knew this was coh "This shouldn’t be as shocking as you’reit seem"

He blew out a harsh breath "It’s not, and of course we did I want this to happen for you, but you should’ve known that you would need tiot hoh time, Charlie I would have told you that before today, and you wouldn’t have this deadline We need to push the date back"

"No," I said decisively "It wouldn’t be long enough if I tookback to life in Thatch But I don’t need to adjust to life in Thatch, I was only gone for nine raduated, which was one of the conditions, and as soon as I can, I’roaned and scrubbed his hands over his face "Do you realize howwould be for you if you and Keith just stayed with us?"

"Because that will look so great on le mom chooses to live in back room of brother’s warehouse with toddler son because it’s easier" I scoffed "What would the judge say, Jag?"

Jagger didn’t respond, because he already knew