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"Don't you want to spend Thanksgiving with your fa for the catch "What about--"

"Don't worry" Arriane tweaked Luce's nose "It was Mr Cole's idea We've got to keep up the ruse that you're still just down the road froo about it"

"But when he texted me yesterday, all he said was--"

"He didn't want to get your hopes up until he had every little thing taken care of, including"--Arriane curtseyed--"the perfect escort One of them, anyway Roland should be here any second"

A knock on the door

"He's so good" Arriane pointed to the red dress still in Luce's hand "Throw that baby on"

Luce quickly shimmied into the dress, then ducked into the bathroom to brush her teeth and hair Arriane had presented her with one of those rare Juh? situations You didn't bother with questions You just leaped

She e to see Roland and Arriane doing so on top of her suitcase while the other tried to zip it up

But it wasn't Roland who had knocked

It was Steven and Francesca

Shit

The words I can explain forue Only, she had no idea how to talk herself out of this situation She looked to Arriane for help Arriane was still tossing Luce's sneakers into the suitcase Didn't she know the kind of major trouble they were about to be in?

When Francesca stepped forward, Luce braced herself But then the wide bell sleeves of Francesca's cri "We came to wish you well"

"Of course, we'll ue in cheek refer to as the Dinner for the Displaced," Steven said, taking Francesca's hand and prying her away from Luce "But it's always best for a student to be with family"

"I don't understand," Luce said "You knew about this? I thought I was grounded until further notice"

"We spoke with Mr Cole this rounded as punishment, Luce," Steven explained "It was the only e could ensure you'd be safe under our charge But you're in good hands with Arriane"

Never one to overstay her welco Steven toward the door "We hear your parents are anxious to see you So up a freezer with pies" She winked at Luce, and both she and Steven waved, and then they were gone

Luce's heart swelled at the prospect of getting home to her family

But not before it went out to Miles and Shelby They'd be crestfallen if she went home to Thunderbolt and abandoned them here She didn't even knohere Shelby was She couldn't leave without--

Roland stuck his head through Luce's open door He looked professional in his pinstriped blazer and crisp white collared shirt His black-and- gold dreads were shorter, spikier,

"Is the coast clear?" he asked, shooting Luce his faer-on" He nodded at so in hand

Miles

He ashed Luce a wonderfully unee of her bed An ih Luce's mind He'd take o his baseball cap, shake both of their hands, coh Luce's mind He'd take o his baseball cap, shake both of their hands, compliment her mom's half- nished needlepoint

"Roland, what part of `top-secret mission' don't you understand?" Arriane asked

"It'sover hereand I forced it out of hiuy heard the words Luce and Georgia"--Roland jerked his thumb at Miles--"it took him about a nanosecond to pack"

"We kind of had a Thanksgiving deal," Miles said, looking only at Luce "I couldn't let her break it"

"No" Luce bit back a smile "He couldn't"

"Mmm-hmm" Arriane raised an eyebrow "I just wonder what Francesca would have to say about this Whether someone should run it by your parents rst, Miles--"

"Aw, come on, Arriane" Roland waved his hand dismissively "Since when do you check in with authority? I'll look out for the kid He won't get into any trouble"

"Get into any trouble where?" Shelby barged into the roo across her back "Where are we going?"

"Luce's house in Georgia for Thanksgiving," Miles said