RI

pace considerably when I entered the living room and got the stink eye from Et

um is flipping through stations and nursing a glass of wine. I plo

said. I swung my eyes to Ethan just in time t

ep in place

ace of

g my hu

went so still. His eyes narrow

'm kidding dad. Sheesh,"

d. He opened his mou

very first real friend. We'd live on the same street in the future and our kids would be best friends. Not to skip ahead or anything, though. God, I was blowing this o

uge dining table. But we preferred all our meals here. The kitchen was big and cozy and bright.

e is Ben

y?" father

e of us chorus,

enteen" he

to look down my shirt. I will, of

look

le 'new friend' bubble" dad gla

of the side of her mouth. But I could

alk around. Or som

dad stood

feet back into my sneakers. I wished I had my bicycle. What I'd give to ride around the neighborhood. Mrs. Da

admitted her into the hospital. Mum used to be a bartender at a hole in the wall diner in New York. Dad would stand nearby and scowl at anyone who talked to her and sta

t rebellion I'd done was telling my parents I

d. Like getting a tattoo. O

Dad would

Dad would n

end. Little

. Dad would

I didn't even wa

me. I wondered how he'd like being treated li

thing. I frowned.

ly filled with a heady scent. I leaned forward and sniffed. Thi

es. The aquiline nose and scruffy jaw. The wide shoulders were new, th

So I used it now. His scowl didn't leave, leaving me to w

ne corner. Great. He tho

s your

"He s

" are you lying? Why did

wasn't mistake. I knew because my mum is always trying out new accents. It was really amusing to me. But for some reason, it never m

t precious

head?" he as

, g

standing just past what I can now correctly say is his house. It's bigger

meet you-

inked. Okay, that was weird. I didn't know whether to think Ros

n a closer look, even his fence was so high. The house looked sort of like a castle. Older and more classic than other of the neighboring houses

need som

e. Looking very unhappy to see me. I blinked

back the way I came. Unfortunately, I knew the mystery of Rose and the Italian suits woul

promise, I knew I w