Chapter 33

Yesterday Derek mentioned Chinese for dinner, but we had pizza instead. He used to love Chinese, and never liked to settle for half-assed takeout. No, he’s back home at his old stomping grounds, which means he probably has a hankering for the best.

Suddenly it dawns on me where we’re going to eat dinner. “We’re going to the Pearl.”

His smile returns. “If it’s still there. I used to love their spring rolls. No one else even comes close to doing them right.”

“I think it’s still there,” I say. “At least, I never heard that it closed or anything.”

“You haven’t been there lately?” he asks.

I shake my head. “Riley doesn’t like Chinese.”

Derek pretends to be shocked. “What? What’s there not to like about Chinese? It’s rice and meat and veggies. Everyone likes that.”

“Riley doesn’t.”

“Riley’s weird.” Then he shoots me a sideways glance, as if worried I might be upset he said that.

But I agree with him. “You’re right, she is. She’s also six.”