Page 52 of Shoot Your Shot

Chris: I don’t want her tocome. I want you to come see me. By yourself

Dad: Your mom doesn’t like tostay by herself

Chris: I just wanted to say Iwant you here. And I don’t want Mom here

It’s up to you to decide what todo about that

Dad: She’s your mother

Chris: I know. But she doesn’tseem to know that

And I think I’m done trying toremind her

I want you and me to have arelationship independent of her

And I want to be able to do stufffor Ximena and her family

Dad: I don’t know what tosay

Chris: That’s fine. You do whatyou gotta do. Think about it

Dad: Of course I want to bepart of your life

Chris: Good

So I am not coming home forThanksgiving. Or Christmas

But I would love it if you’d comeand spend some time with me when you can

Dad: OK. I will

You know I love you son

Chris: I do. And I love youtoo

****

September

It’s been a month since San Diego.Roxie and I are at Liz and Joe’s for the first time since we cameback. It’s late September, still quite warm, and Joe insists ongrilling and sitting outside until it becomes absolutely impossibleto do so. A few other people will join us soon, but for now it’sjust us four.

The meat is on the grill when Joeasks me to help him bring out some extra lawn furniture.

“How’ve you been?” he asks as soonas we are inside the house. “Haven’t heard from you in ages. Likeyou’ve fallen off the face of the Earth.”

“Uhm. Good, I guess.”

He smiles. “You seem cagey.”

I run both hands through my hair.“Man, I’m so fucked.”

“Why? What’s going on?”

I hold his gaze while I tilt mychin toward the backyard. His eyes widen when he realizes what’sup.

“Oh!” He smiles. “I see. I guessthat answers why Roxie’s been MIA, too.”

I tell him about visiting myparents, how Roxie was okay pretending to be my girlfriend to gowith Dad’s assumption, how we’d fucked probably a dozen times inless than two days.