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My non-crying only lasts two and a half minutes before there is a noise, and then my shed door creaks open I liftinside “Toby …?”

I sit up “Lee?”

“I didn’t know you were, uh …” My stepbrother co back tonight”

“Me neither Wasn’t planned I’ve had uess” I lift a tired eyebrow “Is dad still gonna kill me?”

“No He’s been weird since Thanksgiving Emotional and … I dunno Not himself Heh It’s just weird” Lee invites hirunt, then looks atwith that weird girl?”

I chuckle “Her nao to her You wouldn’t believe me if I told you where I’ve been”

“Huh Vann’s? Did you go to Vann’s?”

I deflate a little at the et back …” I sigh, then shake my head

“I had a bad girlfriend ot in ure out what I wanted ‘til I ended things with her” He picks at his fingernails “I dunno if Vann’s like that, but … ood you ended it”

“Maybe” I bite my lip “He said the ball’s in my court”

“Huh Alright Oh, by the way, all Thanksgiving break while you were gone, Marly and Dad were having heated discussions late into the night, like, every night, and it was super annoying, so … I kinda came and slept in here a couple times”

I rollover my old bedrooms whenever I leave them for five seconds?”

“No,” he snaps defensively When he realizes I was kidding, he clears his throat and softens his tone “I et away, too It’s been a weird week”

“It has And it’s fine,” I add “I don’t mind you slept in here”

Lee nods slowly, lip hanging open “And, uh … also heads-up, Dad reement with his boss”

“Oh” I experience a genuine pang of sympathy for Carl It’s quickly wiped ahen I reht

“So you think Biggie’s has any job openings?” asks Lee