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"Working on a ranch?" I can practically see my mom’s lip curl with disdain "That’s not a life, not for a Covington"

"It was good enough for grandpa" I stroll over to the s and rest raduation, and all my parents’ bullshit The minute my last paper was done, I traded my birthday BMW in for a pick-up truck, threw so, and hit the road Eleven hours down the coast with nothing to do but think, but so away fro

"My father was a fool," Mo to do forto support this foolish plan"

"I don’t want anything from you" I state firmly "Grandpa left me the land, and so horses," there’s that fa from We had it all planned out: Yale, then law school--"

"I never wanted to go to law school," I interrupt, clenching er you with her own plans until it’s easier to go along with it all

But not this tih

"Then business school,"with your dad We’ve been talking, and there’s a seat opening up on the board--"

"No, s out, harsh, and there’s silence

"I’m sorry," I bite backho the firm This is it,away all your potential You’re not a kid anyain, but it’s late, and I’ot o another ten rounds with oup, and take a deep breath, gazing out at the dark fields It’s quiet out there, unnervingly so This e but the chirp of the crickets in the grass Back at college, lights blazed everywhere, and noise too; late night parties in the dorhettos I could always find a distraction, sohts, but here, the nearest property is over a et another beer and flip the TV on to drown the quiet So, Cool Hand Luke, but I can’t concentrate As two beers turn into four, and five, I slip into a sleepy haze and theThe way I knew they would; the way they always do

"Bet you ten bucks"

"Dude, raduation check burning a hole in your pocket" I laugh, passing Jace the blunt to smoke "Or should I call it the down payment on your soul?"

"A, h, s out over the dock He looks at the joint "This is good stuff, where’d you find it?"

I shrug "Soe the subject I can’t believe you’re signing up to play dad’s lapdog coood-naturedly "I won’t even be in his department, I bet I won’t see him at all"

"Except for lunch, and client dinners, and weekends playing golf at the club…" I tease, only half-joking "I’ in that place is like a death sentence They’ll have your naton and Son"

"Sons," Jace correctsfor you too Just a ain "You ever think what it would be like if eren’t… us?" I ask, wistful The ocean is dark and limitless beyond the harbor, and I wonder for the hundredth tiular kids, I ton bullshit to deal with"

Jace looks at ular Joe? We’re lucky We can do anything ant"

"Anything hs "You’ll see You’ll grow up soon, and you’ll realize people don’t get breaks like us We can run this whole daressman Governor "

"Why stop there?" I remark, sarcastic "Why not rin so cocky I have to toss a bag of chips at him

"Douche"

"Asshole"

"Dickwad"

Jace launches hi the e’ve done ever since he was old enough to get rips--four years older is a lot in kid wrestling terms--but ever since I filled out and iven him a run for his money

This time, I nearly have him, until Jace flips me out of nowhere, and I wind up slaet it, dude," I protest, sla the boards in defeat "You’re still in shape--for an old man"

"Watch it, kid" Jace offers a hand to pull me back up "I can still take you here, or out there" He nods at the dark water

"So put your ives o talk to that waitress you’ve been drooling over"

I tense "What are you talking about?"

"Don’t give me that" He punches my arm "I’ve seen you The jailbait one at Mrs Olson’s, she keeps dying her hair all those crazy colors"

I shrug, as if I don’t knoho he irls in this town"

Jace isn’t fooled "Whatever, dude I’ve heard people talk, she could show you a real good time"

"Don’t say that" My reply comes out harsh, and Jace raises his eyebrows in surprise

"See, I knew you liked her"

"I don’t," I answer autoossip, is all We don’t know her"