could have earned respect honestly.”

“I tried.”

“No,” I said quietly. “You tried to be admired. That’s not the same thing.”

He stared down at the table.

“What happens now?” he asked.

“That depends on whether you keep lying.”

He let out a bitter laugh. “You sound like Granddad.”

“Good.”

Ethan closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, they were wet.

“Did he continue reading …