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Emerson frowns. “But surely?—”

I shake my head. “I’ll email and ask, alright?”

“Swear?” My brother does not let things go. It’s one of his most annoying traits. He holds out his pinkie.

I slap his hand. “I swear, idiot.” Even if we pinkypromised last week, he should know better than to do it in front of anyone else.

“I’m really proud of you. I mean it.”

“And I’m impressed,” Easton says. “I really want to come see you too. I’m a great clapper.”

“A greatclapper?” Elizabeth frowns. “Why are you being so idiotic?” She turns to me. “He’s not usually this corny, I swear. Actually, the only time I’ve ever seen him act this dumb was when I brought my friend Andie over and. . .” She freezes, and then she turns very slowly. “No freaking way. Do youlikemy adorable sister-in-law?”

7

EASTON

“Likeher?” I force a laugh.

I’m going to kill Elizabeth.

I don’t think they can take my business away for murdering someone. I can hire someone to run it while I’m in prison, surely. Right? I can’t believe she’s bringing up her stupid friend Andie from high school.

“I mean, it doesn’t matter whether I do or not,” I say. “Because when I asked her out, she turned me down.”

Elizabeth’s laugh is a little unhinged. “Holy Kibbles and Bits.”

I don’t know another adult in the world who uses mock swears that revolve around dog food and cat treats, but that’s Elizabeth. “If you don’t shut up, I’ll shove kibble into your big mouth.”

“I better get going,” Bea says. “I should practice for Tuesday.” She ducks out of the door so fast that I’m worried she might get whiplash.

“I think my sister might like you too,” Emerson says. “I’ve never seen her act quite so startled.”

“You must be kidding. She turned me down.”

He shrugs. “That’s just Bea. She turns down everyone. That’s why she never goes out on any dates.”

“Wait, you need to explain,” Elizabeth says.

“When we were like seventeen, my friend Holden asked her out,” Emerson says. “She said no, and he was pretty upset. When I asked her about it, she said he was clearly kidding.”

Elizabeth frowns. “But he wasn’t?”

Emerson shakes his head. “I told her he was serious, and she said she could tell he wasn’t really serious. Not really.”

My sister frowns. “Does she have low self-esteem?”

“What do you think?” Emerson asks. “Her mom ignored her half her life, and then her grandfather criticized everything she did, including being quiet.”

“So she never dates?” I hate myself for asking, but I can’t help it. “And she’s not dating anyone right now?” It did occur to me that she might have turned me down because she’s already got a boyfriend. The idea makes me feel vaguely ill, but I’d rather know.

It’s always better to know, right?

“No way.” Emerson shakes his head. “She’s a really great person, but I don’t think she’s ever really dated anyone. I mean, she’s had a few dates here and there, but no guy ever took her out more than a handful of times, and almost all of those were setups.”

“How is that possible?” I can’t believe that’s really true. She looks like a goddess.

“Honestly, I blame Jake. He’s not big on sharing, and he’s a little off-putting. Add that to her propensity to think no onereallylikes her, and you have someone who’s impossible to take out.”

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