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He looked at his watch and then his eyes met mine "It’s time to pick her up Do you want to coain, her eyes curious

"No, I’ll wait here," I replied

Kat stood "I’ll go I a to the hospital sounds fun at this point See ya, Maggie"

I sot into the car, the s so hard to hide flood to the surface

I was glad Mrs Carpenter was co hoer as much I’d been with him from sunup to sundown for three days But now that the house was back in order, I was certain his talk froraduation would come into effect I could still hear him…

I wanted to let you know I’ less So if you can forgiveout so

He’d be busy hanging out with Kat and his friends fro Because I was seriously, undeniably attached Way more than friends

I opened two cans of chili and dumped them into a pot, then put the pot on the stove While the food heated, I made sure for the tenth time that Mrs Carpenter’s new bedroo was flawless, I stood in the , breathed in ser pulled up, I forced a sot out of the car and opened Mrs Carpenter’s door Her voice carried to er, I’ll just--"

"There’s no need for the wheelchair yet," Bridger said He leaned into the car and lifted Mrs Carpenter out, carrying her like a baby Mrs Carpenter’s pale cheeks warer’s neck

"If I kneould take a wolf bite to get a young ot bit years ago You’re a strong boy," she said

"You hardly weigh a thing, Mrs C," Bridger said with a laugh

He carried her into the living rooently laid her on the love seat I stacked pillows beneath her leg Kat came inside with the wheelchair and sniffed the air

"Do I ser chucked his keys at her, which she snatched out of the air without blinking

"If you have a probleet dinner solared at her brother "Why are you so grouchy? I never said anything rong with canned chili And besides, it’s not like ere invited to eat dinner here"

"Kat, you and your brother are invited to eat dinner with us whenever you are available," Mrs Carpenter said with a sly look in rinned at er didn’t disappear from my life, like I’d assu Thursday --without Kat--before Mrs Carpenter woke On Thursday night, he and Kat drovefriends until the end of , Bridger and I went er, Kat, and I played a card ga found Bridger andOn the brand-newhers

With narled tree roots and rocks and round leveled out, I sighed with relief

Bridger and Kat sat shaded in so trailwater frolue," Bridger was saying, glaring at his sister

"I’ you out of trouble Better safe than sorry," she said, a self-satisfied grin on her face I pulled my bike up beside them and yankedhands

Bridger wiped the glare froers

"What are you doing?" I asked, plopping into the weeds beside Kat

"Counting We’ve gone biking seven ti the brakes like a five-year-old every tiht you’d catch on by now, but don’t you know that you’re supposed to go faster on the downhill?"

"He’s right," Kat said, yawning "You’re slow We’ve been sitting down here for at least half an hour"

"I’ fast," I explained, a completely reasonable fear The look of consternation that filled Bridger’s eyes irl who sprints faster than the speed of light?" he said around a ! Don’t you know that cruising down a ?"

"No, there is a freaking huge difference," I argued