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I crack a s with his band in the late nineties They fell hard and fast, and after a few ot knocked up alht a house, and tried to put down roots That’s when the trouble started My nant My dad resentedstory short, they split when I was born

When e with my dad, and the rest of the year with , always throwing jabs at each other’s expense, but h she’s had more boyfriends than Cher and Taylor Swift combined

“Anyway, I wish I could be there, but we both know it’s best that your ot a birthday slash graduation present waiting for you here I’ll give you a hint—it has four wheels and it’s sitting in e”

A car!? I flop backwards ontomy excitement

“Can’t wait to have you here per I ever did I love you”

I s he was here, but in just a few short weeks, I’ll be staying with hioes silent for a second and I think he’s hung up, but then I hear hiain

“Oh, I al what’s cos, his raspy voice obnoxious and loud “Happy birthday to you Happy birthday, dear Allie Happ—”

His singing stops abruptly, followed by a curse, and my heart nosedives into the pit of my stomach It all happens in a split second—the sound of tires skidding, uished screa in my ears

“Dad!”

I shake theIt’s been eight months since the accident For the first couple ofI an University, and the few friends I did have dropped rief to give

a shit about h they had been divorced for years—and quickly jumped headfirst into a new relationship

Whento Haith her latest victim, another one of those fun little unexpected moments, I kneas time to move on—as if I had a choice in the matter

I tie off the thread before holding up the jacket to inspectit overonto the handle of my suitcase, I take one last look at s, and lyrics plastered on every surface ofmoments my dad spoke of The only question is, will I sink, or will I swim?

“LATE NIGHT?” MY SISTER, LO, asks, arching a brow atIt felt like I had only just passed out when she barged into the roo I come have breakfast at Blackbear—the bar slash restaurant where she works—so we could hang out before I leave Still half-drunk, I grabbedand followed her out to the car

Lo dumps a bucket of ice into the ice bin, and the sound hasher head

“No ht” It was Sully’s birthday and e for a while Co to ride hts, no parties, and no drugs In a nutshell, no fun

“Where’s your friend?”