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“Well, it’s his loss,” Bobby says.

I don’t know about that. It definitely feels like it’s my loss.

****

After another two weeks, I am beginning to get on top of my workload. Maybe I’ve just gotten used to the pace. Whatever it is, I no longer wake up every morning dreading the workday ahead. I’ve been able to streamline some of my own process and it helps that the boss seems to like and trust me, so I’ve been given a little more free rein and don’t have to check every single thing with her anymore.

I’ve also mostly caught up with the work I have to do for Dad’s shop, so when Bobby comes for the fourth weekend in a row, third since I’d last seen Joe, I don’t actually weep when I see his haul.

“You need to be the one to tell Dad you don’t want to do it,” Bobby says.

“It’s okay. I can handle it.”

“You get no time off,” Bobby says.

“It’s better than it used to be,” I say. “Work isn’t so awful anymore, so I can do some cleaning and cooking during the week.”

“This is no way to live, Lizzie.”

“You’re the one bringing me extra work. I can’t stop now, because you won’t have an excuse to see Trey if I don’t.”

Bobby runs his fingers through his hair. I don’t see him in the hat anymore. “I know,” he says. “I’ll figure something out if you stop doing accounting for Dad.”

“You know, you could tell them you’ve met someone in Madison,” I say. “You don’t have to specify who it is. You’d be telling the truth.”

“I can’t tell them anything. They’re going to start planning a wedding. Part of the reason why Mickey isn’t getting married is so they’d stay off his case.”

“I don’t think Mom and Dad are Mickey’s problem. He just can’t make up his mind about Emily.”

“You’re wrong about that. Emily is it for him.”

“So, what’s he waiting for?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. I think he might want to jump ship. Like you.”

“Mickey? Are you fucking serious?”

He nods.

“Now I feel even worse for having left.”

He shrugs.

“You’re making me all depressed again,” I say. “Why are we talking about this?”

“I have no idea.”

“All right, enough depressing talk of Mom and Dad and everyone jumping ship. I know you are dying to go see Trey. Go! Have fun. I’ll go out with Roxie.”

****

Roxie and I do go out, and two guys come over and sit with us. Roxie and one of them are currently at the bar, flirting hard, and I’m pretty sure she’ll take him home. I’m at the table with his friend, who looks like a more approachable version of my brother Mickey.

“You remind me of my eldest brother,” I say to the guy. “Only you seem way nicer than him.”

“Thanks, I suppose.” He smiles and rolls the bottle between his fingers, but doesn’t look me in the eye.

“This isn’t really your scene, is it?” I ask.