Page 112 of Movers and Shakers

“Dad said you were in a bad mood,” Max said in between sips of his drink. He looked up at me with innocent eyes. “Wanna talk about it?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Even doing it a little can help. You don’t have to tell us thedetails,but we’re here for you, Uncle Barry.”

I looked at Tom.

“Does he get this open nature from you?”

“I’m pretty sure he gets that from Selena,” Tom said. “Not us.”

“You’re nice too, Dad. You wouldn’tbelievehow much he talks about his feelings.” Max looked at Tom and then back at me. “And when I was mad at him, us talking really helped.”

“You were mad at him?”

“For lying and not telling me who he was for a bit. It sucked.”

I blinked. That was almost exactly my situation. “And you got over it?”

“I did. I mean, they should have told me from the start, but they also wanted to protect me.” He shrugged. “We all make mistakes when we care about people. It’s what we do afterward that makes the difference. You can stay mad or you can see if they won’t do it again. And as far as I know”—his eyes slid to Tom—“you haven’t done it again, right?”

“I mean, there’s some stuff Ican’ttell you.” Tom eyed me. “But that’s only because I really can’t.”

“What did you say it was again?”

“Nondisclosure agreements.”

“Yeah, that sounds super legal. But you told me that might happen not too long ago. And I get it.”

I leaned back in my seat, thinking about Max’s words and my situation. He was right, but I wasn’t sure I was ready to hear it.

“You’re a really smart kid.”

He perked up. “Thank you.”

“I tell you that all the time,” Tom interjected.

“Yeah, but it’s cooler hearing it from myfununcle.”

“I’m the fun uncle?” I asked. “Do you have another one?”

“Knox, but he’s thesmartone.”

“I like being the fun uncle.”

“You know what would make you thesuperfun uncle? If we hung out more. That way, Uncle Knox doesn’t dethrone you.” He raised an eyebrow and he looked so much like a happier, younger version of Tom—I had to laugh.

“You know what? I’ll have to take you up on that. Once I figure out what the hell to do with a twelve-year-old.”

“I like pretty much anything. I’m an easy kid.” He shrugged. “I like Centennial Park, pop music, and roller skating.”

“That’s a new thing,” Tom said. “He’s pretty good at it.”

“We’ll have to figure out something different, though. I want our hangouts to be special.”

“That would besocool. As long as you can hold up your promise, though. I’ll be waiting.”

I let out a huff of a laugh. “Can you believe this?”

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