Inside, Kat is trying to feed Barney another one of Nico’s amazing ribs. Barney protests that he’s already had enough, but the way he’s looking at the plate Kat’s holding makes it obvious he hasn’t. Ethan and Chris are lounging on the sofa in the living room, playing a video game and insulting each other with good-natured name-calling, while Kenji sits to one side, examining his manicure and looking bored.
I don’t see Grace or Brody anywhere.
“Okay, A.J., I’ll wash, you rinse,” says Nico. He’s standing in front of the kitchen sink. One side is filled with fluffy white bubbles; beside the sink on the counter is a stack of plates and a mess of cups and silverware from all the food we devoured for lunch.
I lead A.J. to the counter. He follows with one hand resting lightly on my right shoul
