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“Yeah?” Max’s voice trembled

“Absolutely Whatever you do, she would be so proud You’re a”

Max’s eyes glistened as he h on my promise?”

“Yes”

“When she died, I made all sorts of vows to her and God I don’t even know if I believe in God anyood Catholic”

“Is anyone?”

He laughed softly “Probably not so much My mom seemed perfect to me, but I know she wasn’t But law school was the plan for alears is scary I like plans”

“You can ht do?”

“I think I want to be a teacher”

“Oh, you’d be great at that That feels so right for you”

“Yeah?” Max’s shoulders relaxed, his face animated “I can see myself in a classrooation It doesn’t excitechoice”

“You’d probably have to wait a year to apply for teachers college, right? If you get into law school, you could defer Apply to be a teacher and give yourself the time to really think about it”

Max half laughed “I guess if you want to be logical and reasonable about it instead of wound up and stressed”

“It’s just an idea” Jere

“Thank you Guess we both needed to get out of our oay” He leaned back “I should look at the email, shouldn’t I?”

“You look at the email, and I’ll tell my parents that we’re more than friends”

He hadn’t planned on saying it—hadn’t even thought about telling his parents after his mother’s outburst But now that the words were out, he knew this hat he needed to do This wasn’t a phase He wasn’t going to hide, and if that meant his family cut him off, so be it

Max nodded “Deal Here goes nothing” He tapped his phone, his face lit by the harsh light He …” His spine zipped up straight “Whoa Aced it”

“Congrats?”