Chapter 4

And so, she was pretty sure that eleventh’s birthday party had the last piece of cake she ever ate. Birthday or not, holiday or not, strange gathering that her mother insisted upon or not—if there was cake tonight, Ivy knew now she was never going to have some.

“Never mind,” Vale said, shrugging. “I think I might be mistaken. I will be right back with your meal.”

“Thanks,” Ivy mumbled, but Vale was already gone. With a sigh, Ivy clicked on her phone. Only ten minutes had passed. Though her stomach grumbled, she drank the water that another server soon brought over to her table and waited on her food by disappearing into her grading once again. It wasn’t long before three papers had passed and the same server who had brought her the water now brought out her sandwich and nachos.

“Here you are. Enjoy,” the young man said. His smile was wide, revealing a space between his front teeth. “Is there anything else I can get you?”