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They’d sit up late talking in hushed voices about their ex-husbands and speculating about new boyfriends, while the kids played Trouble and Sorry in the next room

Richie had started as one of those stories It went like this:

Herwhile the kids were still asleep They didn’t have a car back then either

(Her h school) Well, Richie would see heron his drive to work One day he stopped and asked for her number He said she was the prettiest woman he’d ever seen

When Eleanor first heard about Richie, she was leaning against their old couch, reading a Life in banana daiquiri She wasn’t exactly eavesdropping – all herEleanor around

They liked that she watched their kids without co, they said she ise beyond her years If Eleanor was quiet, they sort of forgot she was in the room And if they drank too much, they didn’t care

‘Never trust a man, Eleanor!’ they’d all shouted at her, at one point or another

‘Especially if he hates to dance!’

But when herday, they’d all sighed and asked her to tell them more

Of course he said she’s the prettiest woht She undoubtedly is

Eleanor elve, and she couldn’t i her mom over worse than her dad had

She didn’t know there were things worse than selfish

Anyway She always tried to leave Park’s house before dinner – just in case herout her welcome – and because, if Eleanor left early, there was a better chance that she’d beat Richie ho out with Park every day had reallyroutine (A fact she was never ever going to tell hiot)

The only safe tiht after school If Eleanor went over to Park’s house right after school, she had to hope that Richie would still be at the Broken Rail when she got hoht And then she had to take a really fast bath because the back door was right across from the bathroom, and it could open at any ti washer mom nervous, but it wasn’t exactly Eleanor’s fault She’d considered taking a shower in the locker rooerous: Tina et al

The other day at lunch, Tina had athe C-word The c-u-n-t word (Richie didn’t even use that word, which iree of filth)

‘What is her problem?’ DeNice asked

Rhetorically

‘She thinks she’s all that,’ Beebi said

‘She ain’t all that,’ DeNice said ‘Walking around here looking like a little boy in a ,’ DeNice said, still looking at Tina ‘She needs to wake up a little earlier and try to decide whether she wants to look like Farrah Fawcett or Rick James’

Beebi and Eleanor both cracked up

‘Iit ‘Pick One’

‘Oh, girl!’ Beebi said, slapping Eleanor’s leg

‘There’s your lass wall Park alking by with a few other guys He earing jeans and a Tshirt that said ‘Minor Threat’ He looked into the cafeteria and sled

‘He is cute,’ DeNice said Like it was so certifiable

‘I know,’ Eleanor said ‘I want to eat his face’

They all three giggled until DeNice called them back to order

Park

‘So,’ Call said

Park was still s past the cafeteria

‘You and Eleanor, huh?’

‘Uh … yeah,’ Park said

‘Yeah,’ Call said, nodding ‘Everybody knows I mean, I’ve known forever I could tell by the way you stare at her in English … I was just waiting for you to tellout with Eleanor’

‘Why didn’t you tell ured you knew’

‘I did know,’ Call said ‘But, you knoe’re friends We’re supposed to talk about these things’

‘I didn’t think you’d get it …’

‘I don’t get it No offense Eleanor still scares the crap out ofit – I want to know about it I want the whole freaking report’

‘This, actually,’ Park said ‘This is why I didn’t tell you’

CHAPTER 35

Eleanor

Park’s mom asked him to set the table That was Eleanor’s cue to leave The sun had almost set

She rushed down the steps before Park could stop her … and al in the driveway

‘Hey, Eleanor,’ he said, startling her He wasin the back of his truck

‘Hey,’ she said, rushing past hinuot used to

‘Hey, wait, co in her stomach She stopped and stepped toward hi tired of asking you to stay for dinner’

‘Okay …’ she said

‘What Iinvitation You’re just … welco her uncomfortable Way more uncomfortable than she usually felt around him

‘Okay …’ she said

‘Look, Eleanor … I know your stepdad’

This could go a ht All of the, one hand on his truck, the other on the back of his neck, like he was in pain ‘We grew up together I’hborhood, and I’ve put in one to see his face

Eleanor still wasn’t sure what he was getting at

‘I know that your stepdad isn’t an easytoward her ‘And I’, you know, that if it’s easier to be over here, then you should just be here That would make Mindy and I feel a lot better, okay?’

‘Okay,’ she said

‘So this is the last ti to ask you to stay for dinner’

Eleanor smiled, and he smiled back, and for a second he looked a lot more like Park than To his hand Across fro hi everything his usting like liver and onions …

They were always together, and it still wasn’t enough

He still hadn’t found a way to put his arh opportunities to kiss her She wouldn’t go to his room with him …