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"So, that thing ere talking about…" I say I should probably talk to my mom about it, but we had a discussion about the rooain And we could use the cash

"Oh, don’t worry I know you were just trying to be nice," Paige says

"No, no That’s not what Ito say think about it? Maybe just think about it I know all this," I say, pointing behind s to Sheila "I know that see, but it’s not You’d have total privacy And Leah’s a great kid I work so much, you’d probably see my mom more than anyone else"

"I don’t know…" she says, her lips in a hard line Her shoulders are hunched up, and I can actually see the tension in her neck, arn a lease I’ you out on a date," I say

That flinch in her eyes from before--it’s back I know that soundedidea either Yeah, I think she’s cute, and flirting feels good It’s been a while I like our banter, and having a live-in Spanish tutor isn’t a bad thing either But she’s, what, eighteen? Maybe nineteen? And I’e strikes me as someone who’s driven I’m a speed bump And I’m not sure I could ever really be whole for so off a piece of the newspaper I grab the pen she was using to circle ads, and make note of the fact she’s only circled one--an ad she’s also crossed out

"Here’s my number," I scribble it down and hand it to her She takes it and holds it out in front of her, almost like it’s a lit match "Think about it, over break And if you want to move in at the start of the se with Leah, so I let Paige go She looks at ain before she walks out theher nosey-mother tone

"A potential renter"

"Uh huh" She lets her response linger for a while, her eyes scanningmore away

"Stop it She’s nice, and she’s in need of a new place to live She said she’d call during the holidays if she decides," I say

"I see,"she’s dying to say

"Stop it!" I roll my eyes at her and pull ," she practically sings

"You don’t have to You never have to You have thatLeah wrap her ar from behind

"Damned," Leah repeats

"A, okay Hey Leah? That’s one of those daddy words And daddy shouldn’t say it, okay?" I say, bending down totheod, is this o, Leah Tihter’s hand Mom makes a face at me as she passes, her eyebrows raised excitedly She’s still hung up over Paige

"Stop it," I ing side-to-side, slapping at the base of her neck I wish Bethany could have seen this She would have loved our little girl’s hair

"You want to slice the meat or prep the deli foods today, Houston?" Sheila asks, her hand already on the slicer I set the side dishes," I say, and I e notebook on the floor under the table where Paige was sitting I pick it up and flip through a few pages, realizing it’s her biology notes The ink is purple, and her handwriting is perfect--not loopy or bubbly, but ht lines It doesn’t seeain, it does

I walk out front to see if I can still see her along the sidewalk, but she’s already gone I’ing down the roadway until I get to the ay that leads to the sorority houses But the lot is starting to fill up; there are a few regulars who I know can be difficult, so I turn back and join Sheila behind the counter, dropping the notebook on e soon