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“This is blackmail.” I forlornly eat another pepperoni.
“I owe you. The money you earmarked for me, that’s not really mine. It’s for us to start new lives. I’ve started mine. You should start yours.”
“I did. You’re the one who crashed into my new life.”
“I shouldn’t have done that,” he admits, sheepish.
“I didn’t mean it. I love having you back.” I smile. “I’d like you to stay like this.” Before the moment turns sappy, I add, “But with better furniture.”
“I don’t want to be the reason you and Nate aren’t together,” Walt says, sincere concern in his expression. “You two have a real shot. You deserve a man in your life who won’t let you down like Dad and I have.”
“You didn’t let me down.” My lip trembles. “You couldn’t let me down.”
He drops his pizza slice and wraps me in a firm hug. I hold on to him and lecture my tear ducts not to leak on his shirt.
“I’m here for you too, you know,” he says into my ear. “Let me take care of you. Just this once.”
I pull away and swipe my eyes, crying anyway. I’m a freaking sprinkler system lately. “You don’t have to take care of me. I can—”
“Take care of yourself. I know, I know. You can still take care of yourself and love Nate as much as he loves you, can’t you? I don’t think those two things are mutually exclusive.”
“When’d you get so smart?” I ask, swiping my nose on a napkin.
“Meditation.” Walt taps his temple and then picks up his pizza.
