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I frown at the screen Da in that house with that creep But every tiether, Sabrina brushes it aside And she’s been kind of distant ever since Mom flew back to Texas

I lovehonest I get that she’s worried about e is a terrible idea, but I didn’t like the way she interrogated Sabrina Not just on that first day, either The whole visit was riddled with passive aggressive remarks and veiled criticism I think Sabrina felt defeated by the time Mom left, and I’m not sure I blame her

I send another text

Me: Honestly? Don’t like the idea of u being around drunk dudes Ur due date is in 4 days U need 2 B around responsible adults

Her: Don’t worry Nana’s sober as a judge She doesn’t drink, re there with her

"Oooooooh! I’h I can’t stay here for one et his nut off

Shoving my phone and wallet in my pocket, I stomp out of the apartment and take the elevator down to the lobby It’s past nine, so the August sun has already set and a nice breeze tickles my face when I step outside

I walk down the sideith no destination in mind, other than not my apartment With the part-ti back and forth from Sabrina’s, I haven’t had a chance to fully explore hborhood yet Now I take the tiinally thought

I pass several cafes with quaint outdoor patios, sos, a handful of nail salons, and a barbershop that I make a mental note to visit one of these days Eventually I findthe redbrick facade, the sreen awning over the door

The sign is old and dated and slightly crooked It reads "Paddy’s Dive", and when I step past the creaky wooden door, I find a dive, all right The bar is bigger than it appears fro in here looks like it was built, bought, and operated in the seventies

Aside fro counter, the place is eht In Boston I’ve never been to a bar, anywhere, that hasn’t been jaetcha?" the man behind the counter asks He’s in his early to late sixties, with a shock of white hair, tanned wrinkled skin, and exhaustion lining his eyes

"I’ll have a…" I pause, realizing I’m not in theon the edge, are ya, son?"

Chuckling, I sit on one of the tall, vinyl stools and foldthis counter The wood is so weathered that I’ot a splinter

I absently pick the sliver of wood out of my thumb as I wait for the bartender to make my drink When he places a cup of coffee in front of lance around the rooht?" I ask

He smiles wryly "Slow decade"

"Oh Sorry to hear that"

I can see why that is, though Everything in this bar is outdated The jukebox is the kind that still requires quarters--who even uses coins any that I don’t think a dart could ever embed into the board The booths are tattered The tables are crooked The floor looks like it could cave in at any second

And there aren’t any TVs What kind of bar doesn’t have a TV?