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By 10:36 Tyler had textedin particular but revealing so ht, or should I be worried that you’re soht, like a vampire or bat?

I meant bat like the anietyou another book if you need one

And my favorite, butof you

I’d responded with a lot of yeses, got its, nos, and thanks but no thankses But I’d learned three very interesting things fro track ofor sweet

His flirting skills sucked

He’d definitely gotten under e and I was sure ere done for the night, I set the phone aside and left my room in search of leftovers As usual, the house was quiet at this hour; and just like every night since I’d been back, my mom had left a plate for me, another of ht the food tastednot quite right I picked at it for a few minutes, choked down a few bites, and ultie disposal so my mo anymore

As I stood in front of the sink, I peeled the curtains apart and peered outside I didn’t really expect to see Agent Truman and his cop-mobile out there, but I couldn’t rule it out either Not after he’d shown up at the softball field the way he had

He had definitely gotten under ood way

On low of a night-light spilled out from the open door to "my brother’s" room I took a wary step forward, curious about this kid as supposed toto me

His room was the exact opposite of what it had been the last time I’d been in there, when it had been filled with IKEA office furniture, and filing cabinets stuffed with my mom’s work files, and bookshelves jam-packed with my trophies and teas were now, but it seemed likely they’d been banished to the saone That, or throay Remnants from another life

Noas a nursery, co chair and colorful letters on the wall that spelled out LOGAN Even the smell was different, somewhere between sweet and too-sweet, like a noxious combination of floral air fresheners and baby powder Since I’d seen the kid wearing diapers--so that made me further question his develop the toilet by now?--I guessed that the air fresheners werein your pants

I approached the crib as quietly as I couldto wake the kid

As much as I hated to ad, asleep than he ake He sucked his thu him even when no one was around

But since no one could hear hts, I supposed it was safe to confess there were good things about him too That his skin was so sirl in her right mind would envy him And his expression was so peaceful and relaxed, and he slept so soundly, that I envied him He had soft curls that peeked around froht was that I wanted to pet hih those downy, feather-like curls and to pinch his plump cheeks

I was such a cliché I couldn’t afford to watch hi snapshots of hiers if I could see pictures of their kids That’s what grown-ups did They pretended to be interested in the photos of other people’s kids just so they’d have an excuse to show off their own

I knew, because iant buttons of rade picture made, and he wore his everywhere he went I found love box the day she explained that she didn’t need to wear my face on display to carry an had taken up , you know?" The hushed voice startledcasually against the door frame, his arms crossed over his chest He had on a plain white tee and flannel paja to have this conversation Not here, not with him Maybe not ever

I tried to brush past hih, just fir’s different now, but it wasn’t like we did it on purpose Things justchanged We want you to be part of our fa to help, but his words--the way he said we and our, like I was just supposed to accept his were now-- too," I said, and jerked rip

When I reached ainst it to bar et easier? When would I feel like I belonged somewhere, that I was part of a home or a family, or that someone really understood the person I was now?