Going to G&J with Sam
 
 Me
 
 I was hoping you’d say that
 
 Caroline
 
 See you there if I’m still alive
 
 Me
 
 Alive?
 
 Caroline
 
 On a ladder right now
 
 Me
 
 On a ladderand texting me?
 
 Caroline
 
 Taking down some decorations in my committee office
 
 Me
 
 Need me to come spot you?
 
 Caroline
 
 Doing just fine thank you
 
 Me
 
 Fair. If you weren’t so short you wouldn’t need the ladder.
 
 Caroline
 
 And if you weren’t so tall, you could fit in my car like a normal person.
 
 Caroline
 
 What are you, anyway? 5’8?
 
 Me
 
 Try 6’4
 
 Caroline
 
 Now you’re just showing off
 
 Me
 
 Just happens naturally
 
 I knew this was supposed to be fake, but nothing about the way I felt when she was around felt fake. I wasn’t even trying to deny it at this point. I wanted her—not just to help my sister, not for anyone else. Just for me. Now I just had to hope she’d start to see it too.