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Then—a full fifteen seconds after I ask the question—he says, “Nah, not really”

Nah? Not really? “That doesn’t sound like a definitive ‘no’”

He peers over his shoulder at ether “Why aren’t you datin’ any dudes lately?”

The abrupt shift of the spotlight throws me “Huh?”

“It’s been a whole year since I’ve seen you with any guy And that last boyfriend of yours lasted all of a week before you said—as it?—‘He reminds ”

My eyes turn into two bitter slits “So glad I could amuse you, Master Pussy Hunter It’s a wonder our dor door”

“There are plenty of dudes in Spruce now, ever since Billy andup everywhere”

“Oh, now look who’s playing matchmaker”

“I heard guys are even co out like popcorn in Fairview That isn’t that far to travel, y’know”

“I don’t got a car”

“I’ll drive you I’ll be your suuard”

“Ji the subject on irl problems”

“I don’t got any girl problems”

“Sure, you do You’ve got too ot so irl’ you ith for over a month back at South Wood”

“I didn’t dump her”

He turns and glares at the TV with a grunt

I blink “Wait What?”

“She duid “Had stronger feelings for some idiot in her chem class”

Soh at it this time, his eyes full of dejection and bitterness

The Strongs are all hard on each other, I noticed When one of them is down, they poke each other’s buttons until their ies exchanged; just sassy eye-rolls, offhanded re of fresh-squeezed leh

My family, however, is sensitive, coet it fro a soft-spoken sort of ritty-handed, around-the-town honey-dos he pulls off

Over the years, Jiher, and harder Myabout it I never listen