Page 12 of Man of Honor

“Hey, Loretta.” I leaned down, dropping a peck on her cheek as I guided Ivy across thethreshold.

She'd grown up with Boone, or so she said, and began working for his family right out of high school.Once Boone opened up the foster program, she'd taken over as both housekeeper and matron for the kids.The woman was an absolute firecracker, and she made the best fried chicken I'd ever tasted.

She led us down a long hallway, wiry curls bouncing with every step.As we entered the north wing, the shift from stately mansion was subtle but noticeable.The family heirlooms disappeared, and the furnishings became more practical.Still cozy, probably even high-end for most kids, but designed to be sturdy enough to survive a pack of teenagers who hadn’t learned how to keep their hands to themselves.

“You’ll be back here with the rest of the kids,” Loretta said.She gave Ivy a soft look, but her tone was all business.No sugarcoating. “You’re our first girl.They're all good kids, but they can get rowdy.I put you in your own room right next to mine.It has a nice solid lock, so you’ll feel safe."

Ivy’s arms were crossed tight over her chest, like she thought she could shrink herself out of existence, but her eyes were huge as she took in the luxe surroundings.The main floor consisted of a small kitchen, an office, and a living area crammed withoverstuffed furniture, board games, and electronics.A brand new console was hooked to a big screen television, and two boys sat hunched in a set of matching beanbag chairs, tethered to the screen by their controllers.

“Go, go, go!” yelled a kid with fluffy hair, mashing buttons like his life depended on it.“Revive me!Revive me!”

“I’m trying!”

They were so focused on the flashing screen they didn’t even notice us.I couldn’t help but smile, remembering how many days I'd spent exactly like this as a boy.The graphics might have improved, but some things never changed.

“I’m dead!” Luis yelled as his character went down.“Goddammit!”

“Stop cussing for fuck’s sake!” JJ barked, still focused on the game.

Loretta cleared her throat loudly and nudged his beanbag with the toe of her sneaker.“JJ!”

With almost comedic timing, both boys jumped and spun around.

“My bad,” JJ muttered, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish grin.

Luis stretched out in his beanbag and laughed.“Sorry, Loretta.”

“You will be sorry if Gideon catches you,” she warned, raising one eyebrow.

That shut them up quick. JJ scrambled to his feet, wiping Cheeto dust from the corners of his mouth, and begged, “You won’t tell him, right?Not when we peeled potatoes for you first thing thismorning?Out of the goodness of our hearts?And we cleaned up the bedroom for the new kid?—”

“Hey, is that her?” Luis craned his neck to catch a glimpse of Ivy, hiding behind me and using me as a human shield, all while somehow looking down her nose at the boys.

JJ’s eyes widened as he took her in from head to toe.“Well, well, well. New blood,” he said with a shit-eating grin."Newbies do all the chores, you know."

“First time we’ve had a girl here,” Luis cut in, scuttling around me to stick out a hand.“What’s your name?”

I felt a tiny fist clench in the back of my shirt.When I glanced down, Ivy was glaring daggers at Luis through the crook of my elbow.

“Whoa, easy.” He raised both hands in mock surrender, looking amused.“We’re just making conversation.”

“Yeah,” JJ chimed in with a smirk.“No harm in asking.”

“You’re scaring her.” The voice came from a quiet kid standing in the doorway.He was the youngest and had white-blond hair shaved so close he looked bald.I’d never learned why the other boys called him Worm, but it seemed affectionate.An older boy stood beside him with his hands shoved deep in his pockets.Worm met Ivy’s eyes and said softly, “They’re just curious.We don’t get visitors.”

“She’s not a visitor,” I clarified, letting Ivy cling to my uniform as long as she needed.“She’ll be staying for a while.”

“Not for long,” Ivy interrupted, lifting her chin and glaring at Luis again.She seemed to have taken a set against him inparticular.In less than sixty seconds, he’d done something to mortally offend her.

Luis grinned, undeterred. “Everyone says that when they first get here.”

“Yeah, they all try to leave, but this place is like a black hole.Just sucks everyone back in,” JJ said, nodding along so hard his hair flopped around on his forehead like a piece of limp broccoli.“Even Gage. I’ve been here the longest, so I’m the only one who remembers him.He thought he got out but look what happened.Schwooop!”He made a sucking sound and gestured dramatically.“Black hole.”

Ivy flinched just a little at the mention of Gage’s name.I couldn't say I'd never done the same, so I had some sympathy."Yeah, well, I'm almost aged out," she muttered, but she ruined the effect by tightening her fingers around a fistful of my uniform.

“She’s like a mouse,” JJ commented, unable to resist another jab to fill the silence.

Without missing a beat, Ivy whipped around and snapped, “Better than looking like a llama, big mouth.”

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