“Andrew still has plenty of other well-paying job options.”

“Not as high-paying as doctor. Why not give yourself the optimal start? A fighting chance? The best of relationships can’t survive when money is an issue.”

“And relationships aren’t worth having if they’re with the wrong person,” I said quietly.

“You’re still young; only fools believe in love.”

I tried not to dwell on what that implied about his relationship with my mother.

“Love can grow,” he continued, “but only if you have life’s necessities to support the roots.”

My voice was still small. “I think you’re wrong.”

He turned away from me and stared at the empty white wall. “Sometimes I don’t think I know you.”

You don’t.

“Please tell me if you’re sick,” I begged.

He didn’t answer, and his eyes didn’t leave the wall to meet mine as I eventually left, out of options. My heart couldn’t take any more.

Drew CHAPTER 36 FALLEN

Chloe was silent at dinner, pushing her wontons around listlessly.

Perhaps it was because of how we’d obtained them. Or, more likely, because of how the talk with her father (which I knew from experience could be hella scary) had gone.

I knew she was going through a lot (like, more than most people by this age), and I wasn’t sure how to best support her. Did she want space? Did she want me to help somehow? As Andrew or Drew?

“These are actually really good,” I said, biting into a fourth wonton. I’d made them earlier as a joke, but it turned out the Kuos had access to some top-notch frozen Chinese food.

“Thank you for making them,” Mrs. Wang said for the third time.

And again I nodded, even though her thanks felt over the top; all I’d done was boil some water and plop these bad boys in.

Mrs. Wang had been perfectly pleasant to me while Chloe was upstairs talking to her father, but it had been mostly quiet, with the only words exchanged revolving around how the wontons looked and smelled.

“And thank you for getting them in the first place,” Chloe said, a hint of a smile on her face, finally.

I hovered a palm over her knee, unsure what she needed right now. My hand (and heart) warmed when she reached up and interlaced her fingers through mine. I squeezed, hoping the small gesture could say some of the things I wasn’t saying out loud: I got you. It’ll be okay. I’m on your side.

“Are… are you okay?” Mrs. Wang asked me, not looking up from her soup. “Your eye, I mean.” She slurped loudly.

“Yes, thank you.”