Page 49 of The Design of Goodbye
I’d never sounded more unconvincing.
“Really?” My dad chuckled. “I had to store my bike in the neighbor’s shed.”
Liam bit back a laugh. To hide my embarrassment, I took a rather large sip of my drink and, of course, choked. My dad slapped my back a few times while I sputtered.
“Anyway, Liam,” said my dad once I’d recovered. “I noticed the flat. Did you need help with getting that replaced?”
“No,” said Liam, overwhelmed at the attention. “It’s okay. Madison and I need to keep working.”
“We can take a break,” I said. “Your bike is like your only mode of transportation.” I pointed outside, where there were areas still snow-packed from our latest storm. “Which is kind of ridiculous. You live in Michigan. What happens when we get a lot of snow? Do your parents drive you?”
My dad and I waited expectantly for Liam’s answer.
“No,” said Liam, “but I can still bike if the snow’s not too deep.”
“And if it is?” I prompted.
“I figure it out.”
“Well, then,” said my dad, “we definitely need to get you a new tire. We have a bike shop a few miles away. I can take you there right now.”
Liam nervously fumbled with his glass. “I need to ask my dad first.”
“You can call him right now,” I suggested.
I handed Liam my phone, but he didn’t take it. Instead, he stared at it, as if it were a bomb and his touch would detonate it.
“I need to wait,” he said. “Thanks, though.”
“Are you sure?” asked my dad.
After Liam nodded, my dad focused on Liam so intently it made me uncomfortable. Liam must’ve felt the same because he excused himself to the bathroom.
“Hey, Mads?” said my dad once Liam disappeared down the hallway. “I need to go out for a bit.”
“Forget something?” Whenever my dad had a big meal planned, it was common for him to forget ingredients and take multiple trips to the store.
“Something like that.” He grabbed his jacket and, when he got to the garage door, said, “I’ll be back.”
Ever since July, my dad said those three words to me whenever he left to go anywhere: work, the gym, down the street to the mailbox.I’ll be back. I didn’t know if he did it on purpose, but it meant everythingto me. It lessened my fear and sparked a bit of hope. Maybe hewouldn’tleave me. Maybe hewantedto stay.
When Liam came back, he glanced around the kitchen. “Where’s your dad?”
“Another errand.” While I’d been waiting, I’d gotten the best idea. I lowered my voice and asked, “Can you keep a secret?”
“Of course.”
I grabbed my hidden stash from the pantry and placed the supplies on the island. “Have you ever dipped Oreos in marshmallow fluff?”
“Can’t say I have.”
“I thought you’d say that.” I opened the marshmallow fluff, grabbed a Double Stuf Oreo, dunked it into the jar, and handed the amazingness to him before making one for myself.
He put the entire cookie in his mouth, and marshmallow fluff stuck to his lips. “Wow.”
“Right?” I took a more delicate bite of mine. “Don’t be shy. You know you want more.”
He grabbed another Oreo.
