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"Are we eating here?" I ask as he parks the car in an e lot, near a grassy knoll

He turns off the car and stares at the restaurant, which is decked out in Thanksgiving decor: orange lights triutter and pictures of turkeys painted on the s "I thought we could get soe I know I’ve been a crappy cook for the last feeeks I’uess"

"Trust me, I’ve eaten better in the last feeeks than I did for the entire summer" As soon as I say it, I want to retract it I never kno honest to be with my dad How much he wants to know about the stuff I did--how reat a relationship anyway and honestly, I thought he hated me because of the accident And ated to help me because I’m his flesh and blood I’m not really sure I asked Charles about it once about three weeks into my recovery and he said I should talk to o there yet, not knohether I can handle it or whether he can

"Still, it’d be good to get a niceout of the car and shutting the door

I get out, too and then alk across the parking lot and enter the restaurant We’re greeted by a blonde hostess wearing a pair of teal vintage glasses, and I iht of theets this really big grin on her face and starts coiling a strand of her hair around her finger as she chats about the food and guides us to the table

I’h, because yesterday Nova asked lasses She said the eye doctor reco on the computer She said she hated the idea and that it would probably reed with her and told her she could totally rock the look, she laughed and said she should just get a vintage pair with a little chain that hooked around the about?" my dad wonders as we take a seat at the corner booth

"Nothing" I glance up at the hostess, who’s still grinning at me as she sets ourelse I can do for you?" she asks, glancing at my father, and then her eyes land on me and fill with expectancy

My dad starts to shake his head as I say, "Yeah, can I take a picture of your glasses?"

My dad gives me a befuddled look from across the table, like I’ve lost my mind, but the hostess seems flattered

"Absolutely," she says, and then she flashes ht three days afteret ahold of lasses, then thank her before she saunters away, looking really pleased with herself

"What was that about?" lasses as ?"

I shake e addressed to Nova "No, Nova and I were just talking about glasses the other night and she irl had" I type: these would look good on u They er to hit send, but then stopa little too flirty with her We’re supposed to be just friends It’s a good thing, too Everyone says I need to take it easy No stressful situations, and relationships are stressful, especially when s for Nova are so intense

But it’s just a text e

Dammit, I’m so confused at o fros used to be so much simpler Or maybe I was just oblivious

Finally I just hit send and let it be, tellingBut even as I put hhere and picking out glasses for Nova, when ten round in a cehborhood And if I drive about fifteen miles to the east, I’ll arrive at the place where her life ended But you need to let it go Heal Accept what is Stuff happened to you Bad stuff But it doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to live That’s what Charles used to tell ain But I fall into a slump and by the time my phone buzzes in nore and order s us waters and when she leaves,about his job tohoent from okay to down in the time it took to text a picture

"So what do you think?" my dad asks as he unfolds the napkin that’s around the utensils

I tear hts and focus on him "About what?"

His forehead creases as he places his napkin on his lap "About inia?" I ask, and then take a sip of my water

"Because my company wants to transfer o That my boss wants to put me up for the transfer"

Great Apparently I zoned off andit very hard to breathe and there’s no way I can wrapout there Move I can’tto getto keepto flip out "Sell the house or just keep it until wethe straw in his glass of water "It’s a perinia see and it’s close to the ocean and a few art institutions"

"So’s Seattle" I frown as I feel the fa sensation inside o anywhere, when everything is so unstable as it is I need to stay here Need to keep doing what I’reat, but it’s okay And I haven’t had okay in a long time "And I don’t think you should sell the house"

"Why not?" he asks "You’ve barely lived here in the last couple of years"

"Because it’s Moht came from It’s not like I’ve had a sentimental attachment to it before Well, maybe I did before… the accident But the last couple of years I’ve felt detached fro fro back toward the old Quinton who existed at seventeen, before the accident, before he died But would that et there? Shit No, I can’t

Pity fills my dad’s eyes "Quinton, I know that, but still… I don’t quite understand your attachh his hair, at a loss about what to do or say next "It’s not like you have memories of yourthere for a year and a half"