Chapter 9. Smart Aleck

As I walk around our room, I say, "That was..."

Mark makes a joke: "Weird? Unexpected? Telling?"

"No help," he says. I look at him very seriously. He raises his hands as a defense. "What do you think?" I stop staring at you as soon as I ask.

Some people would find it rude and annoying to be told, "Try on the clothes. Your sisters are here. Start getting to know your mom in a new way. Do whatever you want." In no way. It was more like, "Don't let anyone tell you what to do. Do what you want." At least, that's how I understood it. I'm no longer sure whether or not that sounds better.

"Okay, but how do I do it?" I go to the bed and lay down with him.

He gets up to go to the bathroom. "I'm not sure. You'll figure it out. Just go with your gut." "It's almost night. If you're still worried when you wake up, we'll talk again," he says with a smile before going into the bathroom.

I get dressed quickly and jump into bed. I'm almost asleep by the time he co