ing, I tried.

en a beast, but I finished it. I even got a co

s to that cult-favorite hot dog stand on

on "Atomic Fire Dog" he'

the smell of grilled onions and spicy

said. "And make it a double on

sh out of our special cheese sauce for that

r the cheese sauce. But the

ood. Double ja

on the couch, scrolling through his

the grease-stained paper

p, uninteres

e Dog. From

s eyes. "No way. Did you ge

ut of the cheese sauce today. But I go

ag on the c

. Then at me. H

eese s

It's not a big deal.

hat's the whole point of the Atomic Fire Dog, Emily! The s

idn't have it. I st

dn't even try to ask them to ma

d. "It's a hot dog, Jake! I went

tening. He gr

f me? That I'll just eat

he swept his arm acr

ead library book, the remote –

nes we bought at that little shop in Broo

ered near

rd had sliced my ankle. Blood well

elled, his face flushed. "You don't listen! You

red, shimmering

or guy. And so passio

res about the details. Sh

r couple moment if she

on my ankle, then at

Pass

rang, sharp a

d towards the door,

over and

ownstairs, stood there. He was a burly man, ex-Ma

Everything okay

the scattered food, the br

pened when he

ooked past me at Jake, who

David. I just dropped a

a long moment. Then he looked bac

, Emily? A man who loses his tempe

y. "No, no, it's fine.

chimed in, lo

neighbor needs to mi

broken mug? G

understand passionate re

inced. He gave Jake

ing at all, you come get

u, David.

slowly,

leaning against it.

hadn't moved. He was staring at

look at

ments, then at the wreckage

ubt began to se

ght. Maybe this wa