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I frown “Don’t they have to acco disability, no?”

“I mean, sure,” Gray says “But you also have to likedo your work every once in a while”

“Ah,” I say, feeling ht I can see how that would be part of the bargain”

“Yeah Anyway,” Gray continues, “people are going to think what they want to think about you, right? So I just kind oflet them think it It’s a better story, in any case”

“But don’t you ever want to set the record straight?” I dipcautiously Not bad

Gray shrugs “Sure, soive a shit about But ht? What do I care?”

“I guess,” I say slowly “Where are you headed next year, do you know?”

Gray groans, pretending to upend his plate of pancakes and slither onto the floor underneath the booth—only then he al plastic cup at the last second His reflexes are iive him that much

“Uh-oh,” I say with a laugh “Sorry Touchy subject?”

Gray sighs, scrubbing a hand over his face “Both ht? Or actually, it’s worse—one of them is a lawyer, and the other one is a law professor And both of theo there and play lacrosse, because they donate a ton of uaranteed to get in even though I’m an idiot”

“Stop saying that,” I tell hi to do it “You’re not an idiot What do you want to do?”

“Paint,” Gray deadpans, his face heartbreakingly serious for a rin “No, I’o at all, honestly I had to volunteer at this after-school program in Fall River for co that everything you heard aboutwas a lie”

“Laundry detergent?” I ask, raising my eyebrows

“I didn’t tell anyone to eat laundry detergent!” Gray says, sounding outraged “Like, Jesus, I’h not to eat soap”

I snort “Fair enough”