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Her lawyer ramps up his objection, but Teddy squeezes his arm to stop him. Good friend, that one.

Gavin’s eyes are wide. He knows my father will go fucking nuts. But she was going to cost us a fortune in legal fees to contest the prenup before we even got to the settlement. And we probably only had a fifty-fifty chance of keeping it in place anyway, so fuck it. Let’s blow the fucking prenup up.

I grin at Gavin, and he slides me the simple agreement that was first proposed. He and the asshole across from us X out all items related to assets and property. And then show us where to sign. I pick up a pen, and Laura hesitates.

I lean over the table, and big and bold, I start singing. “Set me free, why don’t you babe…”

Teddy laughs loud and long, then joins me in the chorus.

I stand up and shake my lawyer’s hand. I don’t need her to ruin my really great day.

“Anthony. You can’t leave, we have more to discuss.” Laura’s voice slices the room.

Teddy stands in my way, and I walk around her. I don’t even say goodbye. This morning with Makenzie is enough to float out of here in a good mood. Although saying ‘no’ to Laura is pretty great too. And I’m free. My wallet and bank account aren’t free yet, but I am.

mak

“Why are you never home?” We’re getting closer, and he’s prying. Every moment that’s not working, studying, in class, or with practical labs is his. Not sure how I let all of this happen, but it’s coming to a point where I won’t be able to keep it all to myself.

“Because I work. I think you do too sometimes,” I say while I hide my books. As close as we’ve gotten, I don’t want him to know about the pre-med thing yet.

“Switching. I want to see that sassy smirk not just hear it.”

I panic.

“I’ve just got out of the shower.”

That was fucking smooth. I usually have a whole set up for FaceTime when my parents are asleep or I call from my rec center office. But I panic because I’m in my weird sunroom/bedroom. He can’t see this.

“Then I’m absolutely FaceTiming you.”

“Just wait. I’ll call you back.” I formulate a plan.

“Are you dripping and wet?”

“Only for you.”

I hang up. I don’t know what we’re doing, but it’s fun. It’s been eight months of television and late-night calls, and mutual orgasms. We always schedule the video calls. But I want to see him so badly. He thinks I’m in LA. I should get a backdrop of a sunny window with a view of palm trees to carry around with me. I keep thinking he’s going to get bored of talking to me or remember how I hurt him. So, I keep pushing off telling him the truth.

I shove my books around and hold up my phone. I realize if I sit at the tiny table in the corner of my room it could look LA sunny. There’s a patio out back that connects back to the main rec building, but right here in this corner, it doesn’t look too Nevada or elderly community.

I jog to the front of the house. My parents are parked, literally parked in their all-terrain scooters, in front of that America game show hosted by the guy who has been in everything, but no one knows his name.

“Yo. Slugs. How about you hit the chairs? Why are you still on your hogs?”

My dad laughs. “We’re going to Bess and Jack’s tonight. Seemed easier to park than transfer. What’s up, Leech?” They can both transfer without assistance, but old habits die hard.

“I’m jumping on a call with school and wanted to make sure you didn’t need anything.”

My mom holds up a bucket of chicken and a bottle of water.

I freak out, “Mom. You can’t eat that.”

She howls, “Gotcha!” She tips the bucket towards me, and it’s filled with salad. My father shows me his bucket of salad as well. They’re actually not incapacitated, just lazy.

My mom is working on losing weight for mobility, but she’s in pretty great health these days. My dad is a long string bean like me, but I often wish I had a little of my mom’s curves. I love that my dad is eating salad in solidarity. He does have a heart issue, but he’s never found as much comfort in food as my mom did. We go to therapy together on Tuesdays, and then we get pedicures. I kind of love Tuesdays.

“Are you pregaming dinner with salad?”