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“We were going to spend soot back,” John says “But it turns out that Kath gets seasick She spent the cruise soelse but coht a cab back”

“We weren’t going to tell you like this, you know,” I say “At least, I wasn’t”

“I should hope not You’re lucky I don’t believe in guns”

“We both know that’s not true,” I say quietly

“Don’t tell Kat that,” he says

“As long as you don’t shoot me”

He considers that for a ain, but I think we have a deal”

Chapter Nine

Marie

“What were you thinking?” Moe”

“Don’t, Mom,” I say I don’t knohat to say to her I can hardly think about her as I watch Dad and Conner across the yard What are they saying? Is Conner telling hi to worry about, going back on what he told me just moments before?

Is Dad going to kill him?

I’ve never seen hiry as he did when he came at Conner I never in aat so at anyone, never mind his best friend Conner is like a brother to hi him into submission

I can’t hear what they’re saying and I’ to know

“He’s your father’s age,” she says again “You know that, right? He’s literally old enough to be your father”

“I know, Mo my eye on the yard “I know all of that We’ve been over this and talked about it Conner and I are alright with that”

“I’m sure he is”

“Mom, it’s not like that Don’t worry about it”

“How can you say that?”

“Because it’s not soe—”