Page 7
He chuckles, rubbing his chin. “What’s wrong with hoping for the best?”
“No, no, hoping for the best is different. You believe in everything. Hoping and believing are very different.”
“I still don’t see the issue.”
Maybe there isn’t an issue with that. I shrug.
“I think believing is the only way to get through life.”
“Maybe I need to be more like you.”
“Maybe you do.” He leans into me with a smirk. “Start thinking, what would Sean do? And then you’ll always have a good answer. Let’s practice.”
“Practice?” I roll my eyes.
“If you’re in a scenario where…let’s say Peyton comes up to you and spills his energy drink on your favorite shirt—what do you do?”
“Well, it’s Peyton, so I yell at him and then go home and probably cry about the fact that your most unlikeable friend has just ruined the shirt that makes my waist look slim.”
“Wrong,” he says, shaking his head.
“What?” I thought that was a pretty reasonable answer.
“You stay calm and think about it from a positive view. He just ruined your favorite shirt, sure, but now you can see it as an excuse to buy a new one. Maybe one you’ve had your eye on for a while.”
“Ahh.” I raise my brows. "I see what you did there.”
He nods as if to say, now you’re getting it. “Let’s try another,” he insists.
“Fine.” I give another eye roll that only makes his smile spread.
“Your mom comes home from work and tells you that you’re adopted.”
That feels out of left field compared to the last question, but sure. I’ll go with it.
“That’s an easy one,” I say. “I technically already am.”
“Wait, what?” His laugh has subsided and his face is now curious.
“I have a stepmom. Technically she never officially adopted me, but I already have a blended family.”
“That’s right. I forgot you lived with her. You live with your actual dad though?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for this to take a turn.”
“Don’t apologize. I don’t mind talking about it.”
“Isn’t she…terrible?”
“That word doesn’t even cover it.” I laugh.
“That’s why you’re like this.”
I reel back, my feet stopping in place. “Like this?” I choke out.
Sean turns around, his eyes wide. “No, no. I didn’t mean that in a bad way.”
