Page 92 of The Friend Scheme
That’s not true. He totally is, at least physically, but I want to change the subject.
“And what is?” she asks.
I’ve never talked about this. With anyone.
I glance across at a waiter. He’s got black hair, cut neatly, and has scruff on his cheeks. I noticed him, like, the second I walked in here. There’s also a tattoo poking out from under his shirt, running down his beefy forearm. I tilt my head toward him.
She grins. “Oh, honey. You, me, and the rest of the male-lovingworld like that. Trust me, they’re a bad idea. Fun, for sure, but definitely a bad idea.”
“Noted.”
We have a few more dumplings.
“Hey,” I say. “Can I ask you something?”
She nods. The restaurant is so loud, I figure we can talk, as long as I keep my voice down.
“What do you think of the Friend Scheme?”
“The plan of the Donovans’, you mean?”
I nod.
“I guess… I dunno. A part of me thinks it’s risky, but also it’s kind of genius? Even now that it’s been found out. Like, I have this theory that the whole point of it might’ve been to freak us out.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, ever since we found out about it, everyone has been super paranoid. And your dad has closed ranks, Mom told me. Some of the big meetings have changed to be Millers only, and Mom’s been left out of some stuff. She says she gets it, but I can tell she’s pretty upset. If you look at it that way, it’s genius.”
Ever since he was shot, meetings have been taking place in Dad’s hospital room instead of at Jimmy’s. It’s not ideal, but Dad paid the hospital a lot of money in order to ensure privacy. I haven’t been invited to these meetings, but Luke’s been to a few.
“Right.”
That actually does make sense.
If we’re fractured, not as strong as we used to be. Maybe that was a big part of their plan, and we played right into it?
I should talk to Dad about this as soon as possible.
But after I’ve watched Jason play baseball. I’m not going to miss that for anything.
“What are you thinking?” she asks.
“Just that you might be sort of brilliant.”
“Sort of? I’m offended, Matt.”
“Okay, you’retotallybrilliant.”
“Thanks,” she says, and she grabs another dumpling with her chopsticks. “I know.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
My phone lights up.
It’s a text from Jason.
You’re still coming to the game, right?
