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“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, we’re fine here.”

“I know.”

“We don’t mind staying.”

“I know that too.”

She looks at me for another second.

“You saw Ross.”

It is not a question.

“Yes.”

Her expression changes immediately.

“How bad?”

“I’m fine.”

“That wasn’t what I asked.”

I look away.

“He’s around.”

“How around?”

“Too around.”

My mother sighs.

“Did you think about what we talked about?”

I know exactly what she means.

“Mom.”

“I’m not pushing,” she says.

“You are a little.”

“I’m reminding.”

“I don’t need reminding,” I quip.

She lowers her voice.

“He deserves to know eventually.”

“I know what you think,” I say.

“I know what you think too,” she replies.