n Mon

der's voice rang through the

e bridge of my nose.

he continued, his voice t

Ever since I saw her with Becca Jones that day,

earing, almost. But this wasn't something h

someone else! Someone you don't even know!" Evander's d

h for me," I argue

ng her tail in agitation. She was a big dog with an even bigger heart, alway

out to scratch behind h

d of the lin

you there?" I asked,

e, mimicking Brownie Brown, a comedian we used

"Stop making a jok

just a second. Even though Evander tried to act serious all

you," I

from an accident. The only 'transport-related accident' you've ever had was when you w

an blow my cover is you. And since you lov

t happens if the real guy, the actua

. "Don't

nd her and say, 'Hey, I was so desperate to win your heart that I even

eyes brief

her past," I murmured. "Maybe... it was me.

Then he hesitated. "...Wait. You

as starting to see my logic. "We c

. "Still... I don't f

couch. "Just sit back and watch over your little brother. If thi

n. There are plenty of fishes in the sea, but what if

I cut in. "No. If it ever c

g rang through the p

ell was tha

his voice distracted. Rustling noises

Remember to party.

and let me live mine," he said

yed on the line longer, I would have drag

had muted it earlier to focus on the c

t," I m

I had carelessly left on the sofa. It topple

n!" I g

cing around like the

from Seraphina would fi

ue, my pho

n, and my heart nearly

aph

up imme

e receiver, smooth and warm, sending a

Parker. To what do

just wanted to check i

t too great unt

laugh. "Che

service

was a full, genuine laugh that sent

funny,"

sed, carefully shifting my f

can," she resp

inning. "Where ar

insisted on getting some, and

ened. "

l. My son.

le in my b

y seat, my heart poundin

words. "I...I didn't

id smoothly. "I found out you planted h

od ran

e actua

ind

re I wasn't the

cellent memory. There were no medical

n with my brother earlier a

came through the receiver again, this t

I wanted to car