Before she leaves, Avery’s mother tells him to be careful. “Don’t let him get you in trouble.”
“He’s not that type,” Avery tells her again. It makes him sad to think of her like that.
Behind them, Jacob stands with his own mom, Johnny in hand. Johnny wants to see where his brother lives so they’re going to take the little boy up to Jacob’s room before Mrs. Smithson leaves. From the way Jacob watches the , Avery suspects Jacob heard his mother’s words. He flashes Jacob a quick grin to reassure him that everything’s okay. Jacob glowers a moment longer, then smiles back.
“You invite him over,” Mrs. is saying. Avery turns toward her, nods. “Over the break—I want to get to know him better.”
“Don’t tell Dad,” Avery cautions.
His mother gives him her patented now, would I do that? wry grin
