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"So …," Milo says

I s our date today And I don’t knohen I’ll be able to reschedule I barely knohat I’ tomorrow Who knoill come up the day after that? For all I know, the whole monster realm could break free and take over the city

I e could make tomorroork

"Wait, I have an idea," I blurt Why did it taketo think of this? It’s the perfect solution "How about I co, but we could, you know, talk"

I can hear the smile in his voice when he repeats, "Talk Sounds perfect"

"Great!" I flop back onto my bed, relieved "I’ll be there as soon as school lets out I get out earlier, so I should beat you there"

"Great," he says "I’ll see you then"

I sigh "Good night, Milo"

"Good night, Grace"

As I set htstand, I feel like I could probably float all the way to et to see Milo and we’ll talk My parents forgive me Now, if only Thane would coure out how to rescue our kidnapped ancestors and survive the loo war Then my world would be pretty much perfect

CHAPTER 9

GRETCHEN

I text Nick to meet me at the Peace Plaza in Japantown because it’s between his place and Union Square It’s also very public and very neutral A safe place, in oda

"Hey, hoas your--"

"I’m starved," I say "You like Korean?"

He blinks, like he’s startled by my abrupt question But, to his credit, he recovers quickly "I like food, period"

I nod and then turn to head into the east building, to one of my favorite restaurants I don’t say another word until we’re seated in a cozy--and discreet--booth, the waitress gone to get our drinks