“Well, your grandma is getting a lot older now and since she’s living alone down there in Florida, it’s about time your father and I went to stay with her.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine, baby. It’s just her hip is bad, you know. Now that you kids are out of the house, there’s nothing to really keep us here. We’re gonna get more than three times what we paid for this place. And with your father being off work now a few months, it’s not looking like he’s going to be able to go back.” The last sentence streams by, like getting it out fast will make it hurt any less.

“But he’s going to be okay, right?” A get a flash in my head, a memory of when I was young and he used to lift me up and fly me around like Superman. He was so strong, I thought he could never be anything else.

“He’ll be all right. Now don’t be worrying about us. We’ll be okay. He’s gonna have to take early retirement, but that means we’ve got to cut back. I already called Annabel and let her know. I need you kids to come by soon and get some of your stuff. Scott will let you store a few boxes at his place, right?”

“Uh.” Shit. More lies. But she’s stressed enough, I can’t go making it worse. “Yeah, I’m sure it’s no problem.” Jude has a garage. There’s got to be somewhere for me to keep a few boxes. If not . . . well, I’ll figure something out.

A few minutes later, we hang up and I turn away from the sink to find Reese still sitting at the table, watching me.

I had forgotten she was there.

“Is everything okay? With your dad?”

She heard my whole conversation. And I’m a little annoyed she’s asking. Now she wants to be cordial?

I swallow back the harsh retort that wants to escape.

“He’s fine,” I say instead, and then I leave her to her studies.

Twenty-four hours later, the crowd at Jude’s is once again near capacity. It was Reese’s turn to make dinner: macaroni and cheese with cut-up hot dogs. Not exactly a gourmet meal from the person who tried to use the fact she could cook as a bargaining chip, but the food is filling enough. We haven’t talked since the night before, since our days are full of classes and schoolwork, and I spent what was left of my afternoon pounding out my frustrations on the all-weather track next to the football stadium.

Track has never been something I’ve loved, but I’m good at it. All you need is heart. Determination. Nothing else really matters. It was my ticket to getting an education and helping my parents.

But now they’re moving anyway.

After I eat and shower, I head out to the backyard. On my way, I pass Beast in the living room, notebook in his hand, silent amongst a crowd of arguing frat-boy types while they place their bets.