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The only thing that’s e I called her the next night, as soon as I got home from work and once Leah was bathed and fed I had no reason to call her, other than…I wanted to I shouldn’t want to, and e and I live on different planets, and she is nothing like the girls I date When I date Not that I ever date Which is also the point--I don’t date There have been the occasional late nights at the bar with Casey…resulting in irl’s apart and with the fuel of alcohol Then there’s the eventual awful conversation the next o back to my real life full of responsibilities I never talk about being a dad, because it doesn’t er interested in whoever’s bed I wound up in Instead, I just deliver the overplayed it’s not you, it’s otten me slapped and thrown out, soot the story She got the story first She got the story withoutelse No, that’s not true I’ve thought about it I’hts have been fantasies, al I plan to act on--ever! Yet she askedI wanted to tell her everything It was like I couldn’t help ain, just to wait for her to show up for the beginning of the semester, toThen she answered, and she started talking the second I called I started listening, and there was this weird give and take It was as if this e did That conversation, it was far less heavy We talked about s you talk about when you’re flirting with a girl at su about kissing her, too

I did it again the next day And the next And each ti to her, to h We’ve fallen into a coht to talk the next And she textsthe day Sos that I know nothing about--like shoes, or is it better to fly into Oklaho

The last time we talked, it was about her sister, Cass She’s sick She has ets weird when she talks about her sister She’s worried about her; I can tell But she won’t go on about her long, and she dis trouble walking, but Paige said it wasn’t a big deal I could tell she didn’t rew short with me and ended our call a few seconds after

We haven’t talked for two days now, and I’ve missed her But maybe it’s better that she doesn’t call, better that I don’t call I want to get along with her It’s good for Leah if we’re friendly But she’s still a tenant--h it hasn’t moved, I’ve beenwhen it coe I should just knohen her rent check co in later today She at least sent ot Casey prepped to help e cos Just like Barbie, she has…accessories

The store has been busy this week, with the students returning A lot of people are stocking up on things like beer, bread, and peanut butter--prettystresses Sheila out Freshmen buy more beer than anyone, but they are also the ones not allowed Sheila cards everyone, and I knowher glasses down her nose and trying to match up the photos to the faces I took over that duty today, and so far, I’ve been called a dickhead and a pussy for telling two guys to beat it

"Hey…sandwich guy," his voice fills the store before he even e’s ex-boyfriend is an asshole She hasn’t talked about hi that’s done It better be I think I’ll kick her out if it’s not

"Hey, asshole," I say I’ brave, and now that I stand here, a little ht I’m pretty sure I could take hi