Page 169 of The Friend Scheme
“Huh, I guess that’s true.”
He turns off the engine.
There’s slightly awkward silence.
“So,” he says pointedly. He wants things to go back to normal between us.
I take a bite of my burger. There’s this warm feeling in my chest.
I let Luke know who I really am. If I knew it’d feel this good, I would’ve done it ages ago.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Luke and I are parked out front of our place. Dad’s car is still here, so I know that he’s home.
“What are you waiting for?” he asks.
Good question. Courage, I guess?
There’s never going to be a perfect time for these hard conversations. It’s better to just get it over with.
“You sure he’s not going to lose his shit?” I ask.
“No, I’m not. But tell him about school in California.”
I have no idea how school will make a difference. But whatever.
“You’ve got this,” says Luke. “Just do what you did with me, and you’ll be fine.”
On that note, we both get out of the car.
Inside, Dad is behind the closed door of his office.
I rap my knuckles against the wood.
“I’m working.”
“I know. Can I come in? I’ll be quick.”
He mumbles something that sounds like an agreement.
I open the door. The walls of his office are dark wood. The floor is cream carpet, and there’s a lattice window at the back. He’s seated at a desk facing the window. On his desk are a laptop, a notebook, expensive pens, a clipboard, and a few stacks of paper. To his left is a lazily stacked bookshelf.
I hardly ever come in here. It’s always been implied that Luke and I are not allowed.
“What do you need?” he asks.
“A word, if now’s a good time.”
“It’s not, but you’re already here. So go on.”
“Um,” I say.
This is definitely way harder than telling Luke. I can barely get myself to form a sentence.
“I’ve been meaning to tell you something for a while,” I say.
“Tell me what?”
