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"You were just so happy with Mia," Dad explains

"Of course he was happy!" Gra premarital sex!" She cackles and slaps the table loudly

"Mo"

"Can we just stop talking aboutaround the table, "have literally never talked about your love life" When I don’t argue, she continues: "At least not with you in the rooot your eye on sos, so to speak, maybe you could use some advice After all, Mom and Dad have been married for twenty-seven years And Grams was married to Papa for fifty"

"Fifty-two," Gra at ive you some pointers"

Mom’s hopeful smile is back in place "You want soh clenched teeth and nod "Sure, Moainst hisback in his chair and studyinghis hands behind his head

"Straightforward," Morees with a decisive nod

"My best advice," Dad says, "is don’t beat around the bush"

Margot snorts "I agree Luke tends to beat around the bush way too ot a disapproving look "If you like her," he continues with e back to me, "then ask her out"

"But this isn’t the one who he asked out and she lied about working, is it?" Moot

"It isn’t really that siot can answer forin this But as both of ed, I realize it’s too late "We went out a couple of tier to correct the inaccuracy, and she drops it, looking--for once--like she’s going to lay off "But I’ve beenplaying the field a bit," I say, delicately "And I don’t think she likes that about me"

"Well, of course she doesn’t, honey," Mom tells me sweetly "Girls want to feel special"

"Take her to a dance," Graently: "We don’t really do that anymore, Grams"

"Well, then take her soal like the h my hair, I admit, "I have no idea if she likes the ht and surfs all day"

Mo on her throat "She went to college, though?"

"She graduated with my class at UCSD," I reassure her Mo out what she wants out of life"

"Well, there you go," Dad says with a firm palm to the table "You’re directed and driven Maybe you can help her find her way in her career, and she can help you get your head on straight about how to get back in the saddle"

This time my sister’s snort is so loud I’m worried a sinus broke off

"I can’t believe you actually said ‘back in the saddle,’ " I tell hietically "I" He reaches for the wine and pours another glass

I’ to escape the scrutiny As if spring-loaded, s push me to stand and I kiss my mom’s forehead, kiss Graot on the back of the head "Thanks for dinner, Mouys"