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"Panaht as well have said Tessa was from the moon

"That’s where I’ve been," he explained, like he’d been on an extended vacation "I brought Tessa back to study here"

Cynthia frowned as she took it all in, and then a look of horror crossed her face "You guys aren’t--"

"No," he said in exasperation From Tessa’s innocent expression, she thankfully hadn’t picked up on the insinuation "Why does everyone keep thinking that?"

"Probably because they kno you are," Cynthia retorted

"I’ve got linore Mae’s I told you so look "Tessa’s father is a friend ofto stay here with you"

Cynthia’s face went still "I see And I don’t suppose you thought to check with me first? Just like you didn’t bother to check when you had raded in front of my coworkers?"

"What the fuck is the proble at all like he’d expected "You should be grateful This place is like a palace"

"Grateful? Grateful?" Justin worried Cynthia ain, and if past events were any indication, his great protector was just going to keep leaning against the counter "Justin, I was on the verge of a post-prio back to school My intervieas today!"

He relaxed a little "So? You don’t need the grant now I’ll cover it The universities are better here anyway"

Soer faded out of Cynthia She looked tired, and just a little sad "You really don’t get it, do you? You’re the saodda behind Justin He turned and saw a boy standing in the kitchen’s doorway

"Quentin," said Justin, surprised at how ht "Do you remember me?"

Quentin’s face said he didn’t "This is your uncle Justin," Cynthia explained

Recognition lit the boy’s features "The arrogant bastard who ran out on us"

"That’s the one," she said She looked quite proud of her son’s excellent memory

Justin scoffed "No question that you’re part of this fah, Quentin’s features said ed to He looked just like Cynthia, froh cheekbones to the alreen, an unusual recessive variation His hair was all plebeian, though: the dark, almost black shade of brown that Justin, Cynthia, and their o," said Mae "It looks like you’ve got a few things to sort out" She ht face as she delivered that understatehtened up, displaying that exquisite posture she’d acquired in her caste or the s started It was very nice to meet you All of you"

Mae had taken two steps toward the door when Justin realized so?"

Mae’s face was perfectly neutral "Here, I suppose This was the only address they gaveit for the first time "This is Cynthia’s place Cornelia promised me a place of my own"

"Hey, don’t look at me I didn’t set this up" Mae turned pensive as she s over "You asked for a nice place And you asked for a nice place for your sister You didn’t specify that they be different"

She’s right, said Horatio And that’s an interpretation Cornelia would love exploiting

Justin couldn’t forht away "But I…no! I can’t live with my sister Do you kno not cool that is? I can’t live in the suburbs I’m supposed to have a place in the city"

Mae wasn’t sy her poker face back, he was pretty sure she was laughing at him on the inside "You should’ve been clearer Besides, it’s an easy corateful This place is like a palace," said Cynthia, lee, she actually liked this turn of events far ether, she’d probably have a very different opinion

"Talk to so," Mae told hiet this fixed"

Justin nodded in acceptance, knowing there was nothing she could do anyway He could lay other grievances at her feet, but not this one Maybe it was just as well that this hiccup had occurred He could choose his own place instead of having some adave Mae a reluctant thank-you and let her leave He watched her walk away and then quickly turned when he realized he was ads