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I shrugged “I wouldn’t know These are your friends, not mine”

“You are a horrible liar,” she said, toying with the seat belt across her shoulders

“I never said I was a good one,” I said, trying to steer the conversation into less murky waters “What are your plans for the su the subject Thankfully, my niece took the bait

She shrugged and continued to stare outside the car “I don’t really have anything Just so tiht about it too much”

“You’re going to school soon May as well party as et it out of the way,” I said understandingly

Kristi snorted “Yeah, and what? Party like you did? Mo her eyes

“I can’t iet into such trouble,” I ru her head like she was a little girl She swatted s when you’re young Go on adventures Hang out with your friends You’ll regret it if you don’t”

“Do you regret it?” she asked, looking at me sideways

“Regret what?” I asked, as the shopping mall materialized in the distance

“Not being able to do everything you wanted to before you beca shot executive” Kristi shifted in her seat “I mean, I’m sure it’s worth it now”

I sighed There was plenty that I did regret Even as a child, I’d wanted to becoot involved with Maddox Media, the ation rather than a dream Sometimes I felt shackled to the company, like there were chains on my wrists and ankles, and I couldn’t breathe There were too h he was se to fail It was like he wanted ood as him

And my mother, well, she wasn’t any better She was just liketo set randkids Two decades of ignoring her hints hasn’tlunch withshe’d already ible woman to join us

We caers “Hey, you can just drop me off here,” Kristi said, as I came to the curb and stopped She unbuckled her seat belt and opened the car door “We are going to be inside Drystone,” she said, s as she exited the car

“Roger,” I said I touched my forehead to show I understood