Page 30 (1/2)

“Okay”

Music ca out of the speakers when Mal started his truck

“How do you listen to that crap, and so loud?”

“It’s not crap,” he retorted, turning the volume down “You need to have a better appreciation for Kendrick Lamar”

“Do I?”

“Yes” He gavethe volume back up

The bass of his stereo systee Hoas he not deaf? The stereo in his Land Rover rivaled that of any night club or maybe it was because of the concentrated space it felt sooff the lyrics of the song, words I couldn’t even understand His head bopped along to the beat in perfect rhythm as he seat-danced for the duration of the ten-minute drive to Bruster’s

“I choose the music on the way home,” I said when he turned the car off

“You know you enjoyed the show,” he replied with a wink

We got our ice cream then headed over toward one of the benches

“You have a sweet tooth?” he asked before taking a lick of his chocolate

“Not really, but I needed out of the house Call it a jail break,” I answered with a s my cotton candy explosion

Mo if I felt dizzy They were still worried as to why I’d passed out I wished I could tell theain, the few I’d had around theun therapy I was lucky—if I could even use that word—because the worst of it ca theer a slehy questions I didn’t want to answer I certainly didn’t want Malcolluing It wasn’t fair to hiether After all, he wasn’t really doing anything wrong

“Mom’s been a bit overzealous in her need to take care of me” I held up my arm, which was partially covered in the brace “It’s a sprain, but she’s been acting like it’s broken, and I’ for myself”

“Ah, well she’s just worried” He paused “We all are”