What was it that Mamou wouldn’t say out loud?
“I love you, Mamou.”
“I love you too, Darioush-jan. Bye.”
I wished Dad could’ve stayed longer.
I wished he could’ve told me what to do about Rose City. About everything.
But instead, I got a minute to say goodbye before he drove to the airport Monday morning.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Come back soon.”
“As soon as I can.”
He held my face between his hands. The circles under his eyes had darkened again.
I would’ve done anything to erase those circles.
“Love you.”
“You okay?” Chip asked me as we walked out of the locker room Monday afternoon.
“Yeah. Why?”
“You keep playing with your tassels. You do that when you’re nervous.”
I dropped my tassel.
I didn’t know it was the kind of thing people had noticed.
I didn’t know Chip was the kind of guy who would notice it.
“You want to hang out or something? Evie really likes it when you come over.”
“Can’t.”
“Oh.”
Chip ran a hand through his hair.
“I’ve gotta go to work.”
“Oh. I thought maybe you were still mad at me.”
“I’m not. Just...”
“Just what?”
“I don’t know.”
Chip leaned against the bike rack and looked at me.
He didn’t say anything.
