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Wrinkles line his eyes as he tries to answer s “Don’t worry about it” He walks back over to ood to you?” he asks, narrowing his eyes and changing the subject He doesn’t want to talk about work, the people he works for, or the things he does It’s soul sucking for him, I can tell

I snort a laugh “Yeah, Dad, he’s good”

If he wasn’t, Dad wouldn’t do a da about it Not that he wouldn’t want to, he can’t

“Good” He pulls away, peeking into the living roo pictures of Auden in her princess costume What seventeen year old dresses up as a princess for Halloween anyway?

He chuckles when he sees her, then stalks to the fridge to grab a beer He’s been drinking o for this job Before that, we lived in North Carolina where he still worked a ot him home on time for dinner

I don’t say anything as he cracks the top and takes a chug from the can

“You driving Auden to her party?”

“Unfortunately,” I mumble

“Hey,” he co a hand on my shoulder “You know, I used to hate my brother We were always on each other’s cases—”

“And now you’re best friends” I cut him off with a smile “I know, Dad You tell me this story all the time”

He grins “And it’s still true One day, you’ll regret that you weren’t close when you were young Don’t push her away”

He presses another kiss tothere in the kitchen, waiting on my little sister

I don’t talk as we ride froe Rover They don’t talk to hway and Beckett druer side door The rhythm of itthis is a bad idea

These boys are not my friends

At least… not anymore