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Eliza falls into the chair beside h, and I steal a square of cheese fro enough to be honest when it matters most”

I nod, chewing S “I cannot believe I haven’t started crying yet But for real, I’ve done so good” I steal ood look for me I tend to avoid it at all costs”

That ain so she can finish prepping linner She fusses around the kitchen, opening this cabinet and that, taking things out of the fridge

“Do you want help with anything?”

My old roouest” Her eyes roam my face “You need a stiff drink, but all we have is soda, juice, and water What’ll it be?” She wants my order as if she were a bartender at one of our favorite bars don

“Water—pour me another”

“Just water? It’s Saturday and it’s five o’clock somewhere”

“Ha Yeah, I’ht and still feel like shit”

A little liquid nuht but sure didn’t dowhen I went to practice

“One water coht up”

More cheese

A se

“Okay—what’s up with all this food? Are you having a party and I wasn’t invited?”

Eliza is filling a glass with ice at the freezer before holding it under the faucet for water “Jack and I have a new rooht it would be nice to have food set out in case there were a bunch of people co in and out to help him out Turns out it’s just him and a few boxes, so…eat up”

“Don’t mind if I do!”

Yum

Free food tastes so good, especially food I don’t have to prepare myself—I’m not the best cook in the world

“Who’s the new roommate?”

Eliza rearranges the sandwiches she’s already arranged on a plate “He is a friend of Ashley, Jack’s brother” Pause “Well, maybe not a friend, but so on campus and now needs a place to rent”

“Oh—like a local?”

“I think he’s local, yes I think his parents are in North Liberty?”

Never heard of it “Where is that?”