“So, what part of it doesn’t he know?”
“The part where I went to prison for my brother.” The words came out in a little bit of a rush.
Harlan nodded slowly. “I see. And why haven’t you told him?”
“It’s notmystory to tell. Not without Gavin saying it’s okay, at least.”
“It sounds like that’s very important to you.”
“Well,yeah.” Thad looked down at his hands. “I mean, things are starting to get better between Gav and me, and I don’t want to do anything that would jeopardize it. But I am also starting to feel—feel like maybe it’s getting between Graham and me now.”
“And how does that make you feel?”
“Frustrated. Stressed. Worried I’m gonna fuck up a relationship. Like,eitherrelationship.” Thad swallowed hard, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Has something prompted this feeling recently?”
“Yeah.” Thad sighed. “A few days ago, Graham and I went out on a date. I made some off-hand joke about how Gavin was pretty rebellious growing up, and Graham got all confused. He said he thought I was the one who was always in trouble.”
“How did you respond?”
Thad shrugged. “Kinda blew it off. Made a joke about how we both got up to some shit when we were kids, then changed the subject.”
“Did Graham accept that at face value?”
“Yeah. Which maybe makes it worse? Like … Graham is a trusting person. If I tell him something, he believes it because he’s not the kind of guy who lies and so he assumes everyone else is like that too.”
Harlan nodded.
Emotion made his voice tight. “That’s the thing, he’s agoodperson.”
“Do you think you’re a good person?”
“I’m okay.”
“What makes you okay when Graham is good?”
“I don’t know,” Thad said. “I … I’m not …” He shrugged again because he didn’t really have the words to explain it.
When Harlan remained silent, Thad said, “Graham is the kind of guy who, if he was in my shoes, would have figured out a way to save his brother and himself instead of lying to everyone and making them believe he was the one who—who committed the crime.”
“You don’t believe he would sacrifice himself for someone he cared about?”
“What? No. I don’t mean that. I am sure he would. He’s … he’s smarter than me. He would have found a better way.”
“Why do you believe he’s smarter than you?”
“Well, he has a fucking college degree.”
“And you were denied the opportunity to pursue one because of your incarceration.”
“I … true.”
After he fell silent, Harlan said, “Do you believe higher education is the only type of intelligence out there?”
“No,” Thad admitted. “I know I’m way more street smart than a lot of people. Graham wouldnotdo well in prison. But I mean, you’ve said it yourself, how education opens doors.”
Harlan nodded.
