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“Do you need help deciding?” Mom asked, digging around in the fridge and emerging with a box of leftover General Tso’s Chicken.
“Nah. I think I’m going to head out in a few minutes.”
“Pictures?”
“I need to take some film in to be developed, and I want to buy some new clothes.”
“I just got you those shirts and—”
“I know. I want to choose some for myself.”
Her brows furrowed slightly as she opened a drawer and shut it again. “No clean forks.”
“In the dishwasher.”
She winked at me. “You’re a good boy.”
“It was Dad.”
“That’s why I married him.” Fork achieved, she kissed my forehead on her way out and said, “I forget you’re grown now. You probably have your own ideas about fashion. Let’s have dinner tonight, okay? A family dinner.”
I shot her a skeptical look. “Like we all eat together? At the same time?”
Mom smirked. “Alert CNN! Mandel family spends quality time together.”
I had to smile just a little. “Are you going to cook?”
“Let’s not get carried away. Your father’s going to pick up takeout on his way home from work. Okay?”
“Sure.”
“Enthusiasm noted.” With a wink, she disappeared. Forbidden love on the prairies awaited.
I stood to throw Adam’s letter in the trash, but stopped myself. Taking it out of the envelope, I folded it carefully and shoved it into my back pocket. I might want to read it over again later. Especially if it was the last one I ever got from him. It’d be good to remember him happy in Rome, thinking of me, instead of angry and disappointed, breaking up with me.
Which I was sure he’d do as soon as I agreed to take his phone call.
At least then we wouldn’t be lying anymore. Adam could be with Leslie and there’d be no more hiding or pretending. He could dedicate himself to her. She deserved that. Even if it hurt, I’d find a way to be happy for her…and for him.
Robert was, just as I thought, eager to give me the day off. He was also suitably distraught for me over Harry’s death and strangely excited by the idea of meeting my folks. They’d brought it up again, and I didn’t see any way out of it.
He clapped his hands eagerly. “It’ll be my pleasure, Sweetie! I’ll tell them what a genius you are with the sequins.”
I snorted, unable to summon the spirit to truly laugh. “They’ll be so glad to hear about that. So many career opportunities.”
He was already off to another thought. “Do you think they want to meetme? Or Renée?”
As tempting as it was to see my father flail in the face of Renée and watch my mother give in to her intrigue, I told him they should meet Robert first.
I must have sounded depressed about more than just Harry, because Robert asked, “Sweetie, you aren’t still feeling bad about the other night, are you?”
I sighed, toying with the phone cord. “Adam was pretty pissed off when I talked with him about it. I think he might break up with me.”
“Oh, the possessive type, huh? Why am I not surprised?” Robert clicked his tongue. “Helikes to play around, butyouhave to keep your cute little cock all for him, huh?”
“It’s not cute, and it’s not little.”
“Pardon me.” Robert laughed. “Your ugly mammoth cock, then.”
