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Chapter 1

EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHT WAS OUT AND THE DOOR WAS SHUT, so with my real parents three weeks, and I had never seen Alder’s door open, but every time I passed by the white painted ith the pastel wooden letters that spelled ERIN, so inside me told me to open it

I won’t, I promised

My second evening at the Aldermans’, Julianne had sat with s of co She askedI liked andnearly every day

The doorbell rang, and I trotted down the wooden stairs, trying not to h I knew Sam and Julianne were awake and in the kitchen

After wading through boxes, I opened the door, grinning when I saw Weston jerk his head to the side to get his bangs out of his face His hair was still wet, and his eyes were a bit puffy We’d been up late on the phone the night before

“Sain,” Weston said, leaning over to peck my lips

“Morning,” I said when he pulled away

His eyes fell to the floor, scanning over the different-sized boxes “More stuff?”

“More stuff,” I said, casting my eyes over the dusty cardboard in awe

“Weston!” Julianne called “There is a plate piled with bacon in here!”

He passed htly colored hallway and turned to the right, under an arched doorway Julianne was fond of pale colors and lots of natural light, which made sense, because she embodied sunshine The entire house was decorated in mostly whites or shades of white, pale blues, and sheer curtains

On the stove was a pot full of white pepper gravy, and as pro dish full of crispy bacon

“Are you hungry?” Julianne asked, cheerful She earing a yellow-and-blue plaid apron over her pink angora sweater and jeans Her russet hair bounced and shined like it always did

Weston looked toto him

“I’ her, but I’d never eaten breakfast that I could res Gina hadn’t cooked for h to make a sandwich, and sleep and the walk to school took priority over cooking eggs, even if Gina had ever bothered to stock the cabinets or fridge with breakfast foods, which she hadn’t

Julianne shrugged, trying to ht of it “Just take a couple of pieces on your way out, sweetie”

“Did youhis chin as he took in the savory smells

“And sausage,” Julianne said, her eyes bright again

Weston looked to ot time”

I let ently to the floor, and I took a stool at the bar that protruded out from the island “Yes, we do”

Julianne flipped around, scooped two biscuits off the aluminum sheet pan, and then cut theravy

Weston sed, already salivating

“Doesn’t your mom make breakfast?” I asked

“Sometimes,” Weston said “But she doesn’t cook as well as Julianne I don’t know if anyone does”

“Aw,” Julianne said “Flattery will get you everywhere in this house”