CHAPTER 77

  I pad into the kitchen around one am, unable to sleep tonight and clammy with it. It’s unusually hot, and even with aircon, I am stifling.

  Elisa went home hours ago after hiding in my room all day and avoiding Dane and Tyler. She has no courage to face whatever it was he wanted to say. Luckily my mom came home around noon to work, which meant the boys made no attempts to come near us. Dane had the sense to keep his head down around her, especially with a face that looks like he has gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson.

  I don’t bother turning on the lights, seeing as we have nighttime downlights over the counters casting a subtle glow, and I quickly get myself some milk and heat it in a pan on the stove. It takes a minute, and I decant it into a mug before clearing up my minimal mess.