ke's

throat burning, with a rust

ston's shouts, I limped toward the gift s

ntered, the room scented with

e beverage fridge at

as I reached for the large

memory, my hand automatical

e-he always got drowsy driving

black tea for Hiram-

lue sports dr

g water, because an hour ago she'd

aisle, hugging five co

n at the pil

and bleeding, soak

doned me in an observ

rammed me into a gar

wn money, fussing over their

laugh caught

bottles back on the shelf, and se

the cap, and drank half the bottle in three

n my empty stomach finall

gift shop into the

wing platform, the four of them were c

zie a fresh berry smoo

g on large waffle cones loa

n't wait

n't look

eats and settled into thei

sat on had exac

om for anyone e

ps of the gift shop porch, took

r the visitor center; the

an email I had sta

l College London-Graduate Re

gineering: full tuition waiver, living stip

d for through four

e in March, I had

moving to London would "der

ean, since the family needed me nearby to manage Mom

airs, "playing high-society elite" i

hesit

mittee asking to defer my de

e offer and confirm my student visa

d at th

nt blue button: "Accept Of

up from

rip of ice cream from Kenzie's lip with a napkin, and

d Avery's shoulders, poi

hey were a co

partner, or their sis

r lives-the one who picked up the tab and c

ack down a

e for half a beat. It s

ation popped up

s been received. Your enrollment guide and interna

breath fill

n six months, my che

er long swig

a wheeled bin past, emptying the r

om the st

ed, but my legs had

y empty bottle, and looked up at

tdown ha

on this trip. Then I would fly h

cond of those seventy-two ho