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I try and fail at keeping the es And one has no place with the other

"You can’t fault her for being co instinctively, Richard That’s how you do business, and she’s just eo, it’s a set up to And people talk, I happen to know for a fact that several of the councilors’ kids have been in trouble for far worse They’ll understand"

"Yes, but I hold Dylan to a higher standard She’s better than other kids her age,

"And she’s met that standard for years without any issues She’s not an ehter"

Dad lays down his knife, and it clangs against his plate He frowns down at the food that he’s only really been pushing around since the conversation began

"So what do you propose I do? Let her off without any forn up for the Renew Project that the university is sponsoring, the one where students are repairing hoed and elderly in town It’s three days a week until school starts, and then every Saturday through the end of Septeood way to channel ive back"

"There," Mom says "That sounds like a perfectly respectable way to redeem her actions"

Dad frowns, but says, "Fine I suppose that works"

Under the table, I unclenchon my palms With that settled, Mo Dad questions about his trip, telling him about the few days she spent without him and how miserable she was

And for the first time, I look at the two of them and wonder if they love each other Or if they’re just like Henry and I werea good fit

I think then about my birth mother I never think about her There’s not much point since she died before I was put in foster care But I can’t help but wonder no different my life would have been with her Would I know myself better? Would I even be e anything anyway That part ofready to leave and head back to my apartment an hour later, Dad wraps an arm arounddisappointed in you"

Soging ht, that one sentence is the worst ht

"I don’t, either"

Even after he letsaround me, like there are these bands that are always there, but now they’ve gotten just a little bit tighter, a little bit et about them all the way home, try not to feel thes I’et, and I can’t seeht

I so badly need to breathe

Chapter 13

Silas

Brookes is in the kitchen when I head downstairs in the et up this early in theFootball is one of them Dylan is apparently another

I walk past hi out a couple of protein bars for breakfast Dylan should be here any uess you’re not co to practice," Zay says

I look down at the old jeans I’d pulled on instead of athletic clothes