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He scoffed and wrapped his arhs

Before I could co flipped back over and dropped gently into the plastic kiddie pool filled with cold, dirty water I gasped as the water coveredup at him in disbelief

“I think we’re even now,” he said, grinning “Allies?”

Ignoring the way his smile made my stomach explode with butterflies, I scowled at him

“Oh,” To like a hyena “Looks like the little cheater met her match!”

“You’re supposed to havewater ineffectually at him “Where’s the loyalty?”

“This is war, Rose,” he said seriously “Every man for himself”

“I don’t think that’s hoorks,” Mack muttered with a chuckle

I cli wet and pointed at him “What did you say to me? Payback’s a bitch?” I smiled as his eyes widened “Remember that”

“You think you’re gonna get me in that pool?” he asked in amusement

“I don’t have to,” I replied sly “I’ll remember this”

“Ah,up behind me with a towel “You should probably just sit your ass down in the pool and be done with it She’s not kidding One ti payback You never knohen it’s going to happen, and then BAM!”

“I’ll takemine

“Thanks,” I said to my brother as he handed me the towel

“Molly thought you ht need it,” he murmured with a chuckle

After one last glare at Mack, I wrapped the towel aroundnoise with every step

Later that night, I was curled up on the couch, the reality of ehaain

I wasn’t a person that needed people aroundhome to my empty apartment had felt lonely And I didn’t handle lonely very well

I’d gone fro a room with Lily in Connecticut while she went to Yale, so when I’d rented my apart fantastic at first I’d stayed up all night and left lights on whenever I felt like it, and stunk up the place with takeout But it hadn’t taken long before I realized that I didn’t like living alone