e?" Ava' s voice t

y constructed co

aptop! My parents j

o tears, loud,

u grabbed for it!" she wailed, sinking

und like Ava h

ushed forward,

ht to Chloe, kne

?" Ethan asked, his

, glaring at Ava. "Why are you yell

t the laptop. They hadn't

inct was to protect

l was a phy

rand-new laptop without asking, refused to gi

at the mangl

ce shaking but firm. "My dad installed cameras

hem to see.

! It was my fault, all my fault! I' ll pay for it, Ava,

Ethan' s shoulder, her

asterful p

from guilt, but from th

king responsibility. There' s no need to make a b

ent. "She said she' d pay for it. What more do you wa

a l

ciple. It was the constant, blatant disre

nd. So utterly,

nation settl

point? They w

d, her voice fl

e sound of Chloe' s muffled sobs and th

her departure for Yale,

her only

re-graduation barbecue,

ight? You guys are going to rule th

ntly. The assumptio

each other. Triple trouble!" Kevin, a footba

ts were les

s it gonna be? Ethan or Jax? Or are you planning

as laced w

placid. "Just focusing

sumptions, slid off he

, and Chloe mad

d by them, laughing up at something Jax sai

a unit. Th

rything Ava already knew, a public

Ava died down as

Looks like the choice mig

to the drinks table, fetching a sod

he top of Chloe' s can

er a chair

ntion absolute, pointedly ignori

ass in passive-ag

of detachment washing over he

tarted a game of

as ro

ruth or

e said, her

, Ethan, and Jax go to UCW, are you finally going

Jessica'

ic smile playe

ly in the sudden lull of conversation. "Some t

nd Jax, who were watching her,

. A wa

ing certainty, they would