Page 18 of Clause & Effect

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Without the clause there can be no effect. Family motto.

Of course it is.

Me

Convenient.

Stetson

Sometimes… there’s a great weight that comes with all of this… responsibility.

I allow his words to sink in. Yes, I guess there is inevitably a great weight with having all the privilege he clearly enjoys and the heavy burdens that come along with it. I joke, but just because a person’s rich doesn’t mean problems immediately evaporate. If anything, they just get more complicated when you realize the people around you might be there to destroy you or to take advantage of you. Nothing in this world is free and pain doesn’t discriminate.

Stetson

Will you sign it, Charlie?

Something about the way he says my name in the text makes me pause. It’s not necessary, it’s almost old school as if he were speaking to my face or writing me a letter not a text. He’s being purposefully respectful and acknowledging who I am and what this is. I’m not reading into that.

Me

You’re asking me to blindly agree to what I don’t even know I’m agreeing to. You purposefully left out a lot of details.

Stetson

Yes.

Me

I’ve made a lot of concessions over the years and the red flags haven’t been blowing as hard as yours.

Stetson

I like to blow.

Me

Are you being cute now?

Stetson

Just honest, thought you liked honesty?

I sigh and don’t respond back, at least not yet.

I nearly drop my phone when it starts ringing.

“It’s Stetson!” I announce to the pillows, awesome, at this rate I’m going to start talking to the walls.

I take a quick breath and answer it.

“Hi.”

I inwardly cringe.

“Hey,” His low voice cracks. “Am I making you nervous?”

Oh. Dear. God. My jaw drops. “Um, define nervous?”

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