"So what are we doing tonight?"

My phone sat on the dresser next to my mirror, Gavin's voice blaring through the speaker. "Actually, I have plans tonight."

"With who? I'm your only friend."

I rolled my eyes. "Nate wants to cook for me."

"Nate as in creepy Nate?" Gavin's mouth was full of food. "As in six-years-older-than you Nate? Your boss?"

"Yes, Gavin." I said, shuffling through my makeup bag. "He's been inviting me out forever and I finally decided saying yes wouldn't hurt. We're just hanging out."

"But he's so old."

"He's only twenty four."

"Only twenty four." Gavin scoffed. "My grandpa's only seventy six."

"He's older and mature and has his life together, alright."

"He manages a convenience store."

"Look, if you're gonna be an asshole about this-"

"No, no. I'm sorry, Ana, just-" He sighed. "Call me if you need anything, okay? I mean it, I'll come. I don't care what time it is-"

"I'll be fine, Gavin, okay." I said softly. "I promise."

--

"You know I was surprised that you said yes to tonight." Nate commented as he led me through his house. "Considering the fact that you've somehow found a really nice way to reject me every other time."

My cheeks heated up. "Sorry."

Nate grinned. "Don't worry about it. It's hard to be mad at someone who's so sweet."

I let out a giggle. "You have an amazing house."

"Correction," Nate took me into the kitchen, pulling out a chair at the table for me. "My dad has an amazing house. He has a few; he just lets me stay at this one. He's been absent pretty much since the summer. Out traveling the world."

"Gavin lives in this great apartment on his father's dime. His dad's never around really either. At least, I've only met him once."

"You and Gavin are close." Nate had his back to me, facing whatever was on the stove. "I thought he was your boyfriend at first."

I wrinkled my nose. "Nope, he's my best friend. I went through a lot this year with my mom and an ex-boyfriend and he was just a really good friend through it all. He's really awesome. I think you two would get along if you got to know each other."

"I hope we get that opportunity." I hear the smile in Nate's voice.

"This smells delicious." I said when Nate brought a pot to the table.

"Old family recipe I dug up." He replied. "Do you want a glass of wine?"

I hesitated. "Um," Nate raised an eyebrow in my direction. "Sure, pour me some."

"You know, it's easy to forget that you're only eighteen." Nate said when he sat down across from me. He knocked his foot against mine. "You seem so much older."

"I've um, I've been through some stuff that has made me feel a lot older than I am." I watched the red liquid swirl in my glass. "My mom and I were never close. Like I always cared a lot more than she did. But then one day, I just stopped. Losing her, though, it's still rough. I dunno, I just feel like I had a lot more to say to her."

Nate coughed. "My mom and dad split when I was twelve and she just took my older sister and left. I still talk to my sister sometimes but I haven't talked to my mom in years. I've gone twelve years without her; I think I can go the rest of my life."

"How did you start managing the store?"

"I started working there my sophomore year of high school. My grades got really shitty and I just didn't care anymore. I didn't get into any colleges and I barely graduated. So I just never quit work. And I finally got promoted. I don't want to quit because I worry that it may be the only job I can find."

"I don't think it's too late for you. You're only twenty four. You could always start going to school now and work your way up. What did you want to be when you were growing up?"

"An English teacher." Nate smiled. "I always thought I'd be really good at guiding kids, you know? Be the role model I never had." He laughed. "I'm being really corny."

"I think that's great." I said seriously. "I don't think it's ever too late to turn your life around. There's always a loophole. You just have to have the motivation."

"I'll make you a deal."

"Oh?"

"I'll follow your advice if," He raised an eyebrow. "You do too. I think you're a lot better than a few community college classes a week and then working a cash register for hours. I'll get on the right path if you get on it with me."

My stomach flipped. It was the sweetest thing I'd heard in a while and it wasn't coming from Dad or from Gavin. "We have a deal, then." I laid my hand out, hooking my pinky in his.

I turned to Nate when he walked me out to my car. "I had a lot of fun tonight, thank you for having me over."

"I hope we can do this again. I'd really like to see you outside of work, if that's okay."

I let him press a kiss to my cheek. "That'd be more than okay." I smiled, stepping back. I didn't want this going any forward. Not tonight.

--

Dad was sitting on the couch when I quietly stepped in. I jumped when he said my name.

"Oh, I thought you were asleep." I pressed a palm to my chest.

"I should be, and so should you." Dad snapped. "Where have you been? It's almost one."

"Out with Gavin," I shrugged. "It's not like I haven't spent nights there before. It's not a big deal."

"It is when I don't know where you are for hours." He rose from the couch to approach me. "You smell weird. Did you drink and drive?"

"No, Dad." I rolled my eyes. "God, I'm eighteen not eight. Back off, alright?"

"Don't you dare, Anastasia. You're eighteen living under my roof-"

"Stop acting like using my full name is gonna scare me."

Dad sighed, rubbing his eyes. "For months, you've been walking around here either like a zombie or you've taken your emotions out on whoever comes across you first. I understand you're frustrated-"

"I'm not-"

"But it's starting to take effect on everyone else. And we need to figure something else before things start getting worse. Get upstairs and go to bed, now."

My hands clenched at my sides. "I hate you." I snapped like a child, stomping my way upstairs. I didn't miss Dad's defeated face as I turned. I'd never said anything like that to him before. I would have never even thought to. The very idea would have disgusted me. But my pride stopped me from going back to apologize.

As I walked past Richard's room, I heard him let out a heavy sigh. I popped my head in, watching him scratch the back of his head anxiously. There were duffle bags spread out on his bed.

"Everything okay, Uncle?"

He jumped at my voice, turning around. "Oh, yeah kiddo." He's never called me kiddo a day in my life. "There was just something I misplaced that I can't seem to remember where I put. But hey, come here. There's some stuff I want to talk to you about."

I nodded, stepping inside the room the sit on his bed. The duffle bags were packed with clothes. "Are you sure you're doing all right? Maybe you need to see a doctor." I could see the bags under his eyes from here.

"Don't worry about me, Justin. I'm fine, really. Hey, how's your book going? The one about the cars."

"Oh, uh, it's fine. I'm almost done. But the author has a few more books I'm going to check out when I'm done."

Richard smiled and the corner of his eyes crinkled in a way that was warm. I wanted to cry. "That's nice. Look, I know it seems like you didn't get much for Christmas but, uh, that's because I was waiting on the delivery of your big present."

"Huh?" I got some new clothes and a new pair of headphones. Not much different from the small things I get every year. My expectations were never really high when it came to gifts.

Richard handed me a folded piece of paper. I took it and stared at it in confusion before unfolding it. It was a picture of a big black truck. The same truck I'd had a picture of on my wall since February. I looked down at it before looking up at Richard, who was grinning slightly.

"It should be here by next week. I tried to get it here earlier but it was pretty hard to find. I hope you appreciate it."

"Appreciate it?" I laughed in shock. "Uncle, it's amazing, thank you." I shot up, pulling him into an awkward, one-armed hug. "I'm so happy."

"I'm glad." He patted me on the back. "Look, I need to ask you something."

Good things never lasted. "Okay."

I sat back down but Richard stayed standing. "I have to go away for a few days and I need to know if you're going to be okay here for a few days."

"Um, what? Where?"

"Arizona, it's for work. I wouldn't go if it weren't absolutely necessary."

I raised an eyebrow up at him. I wanted to be smart about this. "Do you think it'd be okay if I came?"

Richard wasn't expecting that response. "It's going to be boring, Justin. You won't have anything to do there and-"

"I'm bored enough here, Uncle. I'd like a change of scenery." I challenged. "Besides, you promised you'd stop keeping me in the dark about everything. I'm not a child anymore."

Richard sighed. "I supposed you're right." He placed a hand on my shoulder. "Alright, start packing then. We leave tomorrow morning."