Page 125 of What I Like About You

“We’re here,” Dad says. “Just—processing.”

“No,” Mom says. “No way, Oliver.”

“I kind of love it here. Did you know I made varsity baseball? That I’m the only sophomore on the team?”

“Well, that’s wonderful. But—”

“No,” Ollie says. He’s so worked up, face all red and blotchylike he’s going to explode. “Middleton is home now. I have friends, I have a girlfriend. I have Gramps. Please let me stay.Please.”

“A girlfriend?” Dad asks.

“Not the point,” I say, though I can’t help but be curious about when exactly Talia became Ollie’s girlfriend and why I didn’t know about this. I thought—well, I thought Ollie and I were back on track. Am I seriously still that checked out?

“It’s okay, Mad,” Gramps says. “Ollie and I have talked this through, and I’d love to have him stay. It’s no trouble at all.”

Silence.

“I think we need a beat,” Dad says.

“Let us think on it, okay?” Mom says. “It’s just … the idea of losing both of you? It’sa lot.”

“It’s notlosingme,” Ollie says.

“We’ll discuss it, okay? We love you,” Dad says. “Congrats again, Hal.”

“Love you too,” Ollie and I say in unison.

The line disconnects.

“Well.” I stare at the phone. “That went well.”

Ollie covers his face with his hands. “I didn’t mean to co-opt your college news. Ugh.”

“You’re an awkward Levitt at heart,” I say.

“Not your best moment, Oliver,” Gramps admits.

He’ll get to stay, I think. I hope.

Ollie storms upstairs to his room, mutteringughhhhhhunder his breath with every step.

I’m trying to start a new YA romcom, but I’m too distracted by the dreams-coming-true swoon.

So I drop the book on my night table and text Nash, because it’s time to put the plan in motion. I almost want to blurt it out right now. But Nash is at a track meet in Hartford. And after everything, hecannotfind out via text. This is one thing I have to do IRL.

Hey

4:37 PM

Nash Kim

Hi.

4:39 PM

Why didn’t I skip this meet?

4:40 PM

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