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Probably because I’d been too worried about gettingelse had mattered Not

There was no way Oren could find out who I was now This was so freaking e And I had no one to blame butinto the kitchen with the ’s newspaper rolled up and tucked under his arm He skidded to a halt in front of her in his socks as he lifted and waved the newspaper roll "You’ll never guess what?"

"What? Are you okay? Where’s Colton?"

"He’s fine We’re all fine This isso totally different" Brandt shooed away her concerns before he flicked off the rubber band holding the newspaper together and opened it across the top of the table and right over my breakfast plate "Sarah just texted me with the news"

"What news?" I asked, curious to knohat he was babbling about

Aspen, on the other hand, ave a soft smile and sat one hand on his shoulder and the other on her heart "You know, I think it’s so a that you’ve befriended Mason’s little sister"

"Yeah Whatever" Totally distracted, the fourteen-year-old waved her quiet "Check this out" He flipped pages until he ca of obituaries Then he paused and pointed "There That guy"

Aspen and I leaned in "Roger Martin Rowan?" Aspen read slowly, her eyebrows pinching in confusion When she glanced ather know I had no idea who he was either

"Yes!" Brandt announced proudly, his grin spreading from ear to ear "He’s dead"

"Ued, still clueless why it was such good news to see someone dead

I arched ot that partbecause of the whole obituary thing"

"He was an English teacher at Ella his eyes as if that was obvious to us, which it ht’ve been if we’d actually read his obituary But we hadn’t "Sarah said she was scheduled to take his class next year when she pre-enrolled for high school"

Aspen cooed sympathetically "Oh, no Did she know him well? Poor Sarah"

Brandt’s shoulders sluuy before in her life That’s not the point"

"Then what’s the point?" I de to one already

"The point is that they’re going to need a new fucking English teacher there next year"

"Brandt" Aspen instantly frowned "Language, please I know your older brother curses all the ti like that in" Her scolding trailed off as his words seemed to finally take root in her brain "Wait Did you just say--" She snagged the paper and brought it closer to her face to read Roger Martin Rowan’s obituary in aze fro for an English teacher at the Ella for an English teacher!"

The paper went flying as she literally jumped up and down I’d never seen her hop before It was kind of strange but really aed him into a happy circle After that, she pulled me from my chair to envelop et this job," she declared, looking so certain and jubilated that I felt et this job It’s likeI think it was meant to be Oh my God I feel so awful But I’ve never been so happy to see soan to streauilt, excitement, jittery nerves or maybe a mixture of all three

Clearly overwhelmed, she babbled and sobbed some more "I need toI need to update my resume Oh my God I don’t even knohat I did with my interview suit Excuse ly waved her from the room, and she followed rinned at each other, and all the irritation I’d felt at hias Aspen so happy

"So, what’re the chances that she’ll actually get the job?" he asked