Chapter 57

When he looks up, Marian stands in the doorway, drying her hands on a dish towel. She gives Evie a quick smile—the same grin Evie has, sunny and bright—and when she shifts her gaze to Gavin, her eyes widen slightly, as if she’s mentally saying, Here goes nothing.Then she turns to Brody, and her smile slips a little as she takes in the bleached hair and the blue bangs.

For a long moment, no one says anything. Brody isn’t even sure if he’s breathing or not. Relax,he tells himself. It isn’t like he’s meeting Gavin’s parents or anything. But he doesn’t realize how badly he wants Marian to like him until her gaze lingers too long over his hair, the piercings in his ears, and the dark clothing he wears.