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He wraps his arms around me. “I have got you.”

I hug him back. “Now I am feeling like I am using you.”

“I am the one who’s using you so that you will give me a permanent job when you own W&S.”

I push back, laughing. “They’ll be lucky to have you.”

“I am holding you to that.” He ruffles my hair before he hops on his bike. The sound of the revving engine echoes in the air as he leaves, and I remain there, waving, until he disappears out of sight.

Then I tiptoe to the entrance because Dad will totally have my ass for being late and riding on a bike.

My shoulders hunch when I open the front door.

Right. Dad is not here anymore. I think I am still in denial about it all, because every day, I wake up thinking I’ll find him in the kitchen or that he’ll be banging on my door, telling me I am late for school.

In my mind, my dad’s still here. He’ll come back, because that is what dads do. They stay.

They do not leave like moms do.

My dad will not abandon me like she did.

“What time is it?”

I ju