43- Lincoln

“Lincoln, slow down please. This isn’t the Solano Creek Grand Prix.” Mom’s voice carried all the annoyance and irritation she’d had for me all day, and I knew that I should have cancelled our post-birthday lunch plans, given my crappy mood.

We’d been arguing through most of the meal, Mom trying to get me to talk about Hannah, about feelings, about life—and me trying to forget seeing the clear evidence of Hannah moving on without a second thought.

I knew my life experience had been limited. I knew I wasn’t the most emotionally savvy of guys. But it still hurt to have the evidence of my own shortcomings thrust painfully in my face, and the last thing I wanted to do was chat about it with my mother—or with El’s mom, who had mysteriously joined us for lunch, though I sure didn’t remember inviting her.

And I thought lunch had been bad, but at least I’d survived the prying questions and then the irritable silent treatment Mom had given me as we’d finished up. Robin, who had never even heard