Page 23 of Lyrical

“Something wrong?”

“You just look really grown-up, that’s all. I haven’t figured out how to deal with it yet.”

He laughed. “Yeah, you’re a little weirder about this stuff than Dad.”

“Howisit going over there, by the way?” It was nice to have the time to talk to him, however brief. He’d been gone a lot that week, seeing Mike, visiting friends, going on his interview Tuesday that turned out “decent enough.” But we planned to do more catching up the following week.

“It’s been cool hanging out with him. Candace hasn’t been around much. She mainly stays in her room. But Dad and I went out a couple times, shot some pool and watched a few spring training games. He’s getting us tickets for opening day.”

Dammit. I wanted to take him. Stephen already planned to get tickets through work. As long as the weather cooperated, we’d tailgate first and then sit in the luxury box. Just like we used to do.

“That’s nice,” I said.Grrr….“Is Candace feeling all right?” I remembered Mike saying she wasn’t well the previous weekend.

“I think so. It’s hard for me to look at her too long. Her lips creep me out.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. Candace had lips that defied physics. Like a bumblebee’s wings, they should’ve been too heavy for her to function. Yet somehow, she was still able to open her mouth. Would it be inappropriate to laugh since she was the one who kept inflating them? It wasn’t as if she was born that way. Hmm… probably still wrong, since Daniel never liked her too much to begin with. I was supposed to be mature and gracious.

Why should I stoop to Mike’s level, even if he was probably saying shit about Chase? God, I wanted to ask Daniel so badly what Mike had told him already. I could just imagine, and it made me sick. No, unless Daniel brought it up first, I’d refrain from that too.

And besides, who was I to make fun of her collagen addiction when I’d blasted my boobs all to hell?

“You said after the interview, you’re going to see Jason for a while?”

“Yeah, but I’ll be back later tonight.”

“If you’re drinking, I don’t care how little, do not drive home tonight. Understood? I’m fine without a car in the morning.”

“Not a problem since I don’t drink.”

“At all?”

“Nope.”

“Well, then… good for you.”

I tapped my fingers on the wheel.Wait a minute.“What about weed?”

“Mom.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“No, Mom. Except for the occasional hit of meth, I’m clean.”

I jerked my head towards him and he started laughing. Humph. We joked a bit after that, and it felt like time went way too fast. Before I knew it, we’d arrived.

“I remember seeing this place before,” he said. “But I didn’t think it was a school. It’s tiny.”

“Definitely not what you’re used to, but it’s great. Would you like to come in with me a sec? Say hi to Chase?” They hadn’t talked since family dinner night.

“No, I really should take off. I want to grab some breakfast on the way.”

“There was food at home.”

“I know. I wasn’t hungry then.”

“Okay.” I handed him the keys. “Good luck. I can’t wait to hear how it goes.” I pulled the I-Pass out of the console and stuck it on the windshield. “Don’t forget about this. It’ll save you lots of time.”

“I know, Mom. Thanks. It hasn’t been that long.”

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