Page 7 of If You Say So

“Your parents apparently paid for this for two years,” Gabe rumbled, sounding tired. “You’re

lucky…they would’ve confiscated it all next month if you hadn’t come back.”

Lucky.

Right.

I should feel lucky, shouldn’t I?

I mean, I did return home when his son didn’t.

But I didn’t feel lucky.

Far from it.

“There’s a job at the police station if you want it,” Gabe continued.

Did I? Want it?

No.

But should I take it?

Probably.

“Thank you,” I said. “That’d be good.”

Lies.

All fucking lies.

It wouldn’t be good.

It’d suck.

Everybody would look at me, judge me, find me lacking.

But I would not hide.

I didn’t hide.

At least, I thought I didn’t hide.

“Let’s get all this shit moved to your place,” Gabe said. “I have to meet Ember for dinner later,

and she might very well cut off my balls if I don’t get there on time.”

I did laugh at that.

I’d met Ember and liked her.

“Can’t have that,” I said as I picked up my first box. “Can’t have that.”

***

I stared at the box of shoes that I hadn’t unpacked.

Why had I not unpacked them?

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