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"I’e I just can’t sit here, next to you, for four hours I’ andto the very last row I can’t lean rooe did it again I’ home for a holiday where I’m supposed to be thankful for family--what irony

Chapter 24

Cass

The festivities were in full swing at the Owens’s house Mom likes to make the house s the California weather, which keeps things in the high seventies It doesn’t feel very much like fall outside, so my mom makes it seem like fall inside with batches of cinnas in planters and bowls everywhere I look

I used to love this when I was a kid Today, the s ht about my trip from the airport Ty was already settled in, so I could text him for the entire hour ride froe

I could tell she was nervous e got ho sure ry I was at her She’s probablythe beans on Paul Cotterotiations--break the nondisclosure clause She doesn’t like disappointing our parents

I’ll take care of the disappointment checkbox Soon, my dad is sure to find out I filed a police report I plan on telling hi to get walked on during irl who once got involved with a teacher I was going to be strong, talk back, stand up for ht now, all I want to do is escape to h they had twins, they never ether My room is all my own, a space just for me It’s always been my retreat--my walls covered in posters ofthe door, just to see how it feels, but I’oing to need soain to be able to pull off a slam

The soft knock onmyself Nobody is welcouest it is My mom has a fresh set of linens for me, and I know this is a setup, because she could easily have changed the sheets before we cae’s are done

"I’ll take the the sheets froh, wor

"So," she starts Great, we’re going to feign s to say what she really wants to say… "How’s the Cotterman situation? How’s your disabled boyfriend? Why couldn’t you just join a sorority or so?" she asks

Okay, I didn’t plan for that one

"Good," I say, with caution There’s a but co so and tucking, and says nothing else

"Okay, well, your sheets should be set I’ll wash the dusty ones and you can take the andto the door with ht before she pulls the door closed behind her "I’ well"

All I can do is blink She was neither fake nor genuine--and nothing about the conversation felt like a ht of sadness over this relationship I so under my freshly tucked blanket, I pull out h the few photos I have of Ty andto find my mom to show them to her

But I don’t Instead, I just pull out my ear buds and playfor naughty photos and good jokes

After an hour of noodling around onroo, and the sound of the local news rill, and he slides the patio door open and closed a few ti us all to the table

"What did he , both because I don’t know and because I still don’t want to talk to her