Chapter 52

“We’ll never be missed.” I’d been studying the dots-and-dashes system diligently and tapped Come onagainst his thigh just up inside the hem of his shorts.

“Yeah. But what if…?”

The door opened, and Mathias spun around. We both knew they weren’t coming, but the look of disappointment on his face every time someone walked in that wasn’t one of his parents, it was truly heartbreaking.

“My parents will find us if yours come. I promise.”

We made it to the kitchen and the rear exit. I had my hand on the doorknob, just about to turn it, and Mathias had two beers in his.

“Where you going?”

“Dad.”

We were both so startled I worried for Mathias’s shorts. My father looked stern, but then his eyes lightened and his mouth began to quiver.

“No more than one each.” He laughed. “And don’t let your mother see.”