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Justin raises one slouchy shoulder "She got a call from her lawyer and had to take off I’ll catch the bus ho divorced Like, really divorced Forget being in the same room--they can’t even be on the same conference call His mother’s bitter and his father’s a dick They’re both totally self-absorbed and astoundingly uninterested in anything that has to do with their son
Which is likely how he ended up hacking into an international banking computer system in the first place, because Smart Kid + Shitty Parents = Trouble
And even with his trial co up in just a few days, their heads are still completely up their own asses It’s sad
"Your case has been assigned a new prosecutor" I look at the file on uy, but I’ll be scheduling awith him to discuss a plea deal"
Justin nods, hands folded across his waist "Probation, right? Because this is ht And because you didn’t spend any of the money you took I don’t want you to worry, Justin You won’t even see the inside of a courtroom, okay?"
"Thanks, Brent" He lets out a breath and leans forward "Really If I haven’t mentioned it before, you’re likea superhero to ht ave it to me in the hospital--after the accident that took the lower half ofIt was a Superman no 1--worth almost a cool million at the ti that ensured its value and we read it together
Because, he said, being able to read it with me orth so much more to him than a million
I became an avid reader after that--and a collector In those earlyto focus on besides the pain and all I’d lost And--between you and ot where they were co terrible--awful--happen to them And they came out the other side, not just okay, but better because of it
And that’s hoanted to be too How I decided to look at the loss ofthat would make me better--more--than I ever would’ve been if it’d never happened
So, though Justin has no idea how much those particular words mean to me, they mean a hell of a lot
"It’s what I’m here for, buddy"
• • •
Even when I was a kid--even after the accident--I had an overabundance of energy Growing up, the worst punishto do Used to e--batshit crazy
That trait followed me into adulthood It’s why I run tenset of push-ups and sit-ups It’s why I have a set of hand grips in my office drawer that I squeeze while I dictate a , rock-hard body and stamina to spare
Women really enjoy both, and boy, are they appreciative