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“You don’t need to go to any trouble,” I said “It’s just us, right?”

“Well, the neighborsI wanted to ask you Are you bringing your new girlfriend along?”

I froze I couldn’t re my mom about Julie, but I knew I must have My mom waited silently for my answer

“No,” I said “Julie and I aren’t seeing each other anymore”

“Oh no,” Mom said “What happened?”

Telling s more complicated My mom, who adopted me when I was just a baby, was already nervous about my relationship with my brother When Josh first trackedhiical family would somehow steal me away from her

“It’s not worth talking about,” I said My voice eak It took all“We just didn’t work out That’s all”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Mom said “I could tell you really liked her”

“You could?” I asked

“Well,” Moirl to me since that horrible ex of yours I knew this oneme about her”

“Yeah” I sighed “She is pretty special”

“Then—” Moan, but I stopped her quickly

“I have to get going,” I said “Work is just nonstop right now, Mom”

“Okay,” Mom said “I understand”

“I’ll see you for Christmas,” I said “Love you”