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I’m a worrier, sue me

Ro “Yeah She calls a lot” He takes a napkin and wipes hisa hard tione”

Well not answering her phone calls probably makes her anxiety worse…not that it’s any of my business

We eat in coer moist and delicious and exactly what I needed, especially with all this tartthis greasy in a long ti the next bite

Mmm

My bliss is interrupted by ringing, and I crack an eyelid to spy Ro his head down at his phone

I can’t stand it anymore “You really should answer that Now I’ This is the third ti”

“She’s not callingme” Roman chews and ss

FaceTi him? That’s next level “I think you should answer it”

He hesitates for a few seconds, and I give him a nod

“Go on, answer it”

He gru under his breath about “helicopter parents and nothing is wrong she’s just clingy” before picking up the phone, gripping it in his large hand, thu down on the accept button He holds it up at face level and pastes on a labored s okay?”

“Hey sweetie, I was just thinking about you!” A woman’s cheerful voice carries across our s at odds with her son’s stiff posture “How’s my baby?”

Rorin in the collar ofI mean—it’s impossible not to He has his phone out in the union held up for everyone around him to see

“Mom, I have class today,” he mutters miserably “You called three ti okay?”

“Of course everything is okay Why wouldn’t it be?”

Oh Lord

“For starters, we have a geriatric aunt living with us Also, I have a pre-adolescent brother who is a handful, and you just called me three ti ?”

“Can’t a mother just call because she misses her son?” I can hear the pout in her voice

“You could’ve just texted instead and I would’ve called you back when I had a chance”

“But look, we’re talking now,” she says cheerily “What are you up to, honey? Are you in the cafeteria?”

“No, I’ lunch”

“When is your next class?”

“In a half hour, but I don’t have ”

“What are you eating, dear?”

“Burger”

I continue eatingonacross from me…