Page 121 of The Even Odder Couple

The mayor purses her lips. “Yes, I believe it was, Spencer.” She turns back to Tess. “Isn’t that a relief?”

Tess nods slowly. “Fortuitous.”

“Indeed.” Mrs. Lockhart clacks over to the sink, still in yesterday’s heels. After filling a glass with tap water, she sets it down and clacks out of the kitchen.

“Guess she wasn’t thirsty after all,” I say. Off to the right, the side door to the kitchen begins to rattle. The lock turns, and Clive comes barging in. He takes a beat to assess the scene.

“Well. Looks like the gang’s all here.” He grins. “Who’s ready for some breakfast?”

Tess exhales. “I could eat some pancakes.”

I shrug. “I’ll take mine with blueberries, if you’ve got ’em.”

* * *

An hour later, when I pull up to my parents’ house, I’ve got a gut full of raw nerves and an even number of blueberry pancakes. I don’t often skip my morning run, or stay up all night to talk to someone. Still, that conversation was worth sacrificing both exercise and sleep. Tess and I are on the cusp of something brand new.

Together.

My plan is to climb into bed and catch a few winks before my library shift. Mondays are almost always busy, with people who took the weekend off, even though our doors are open. Their books go overdue. Or something on their waitlist comes off the hold list and is ready to be picked up. My point is this: I need sleep now so I can fire on all cylinders at work, then still bring my A game back at camp.

For Tess.

So when I come through the front door, the last thing I want to see in the living room is Frank. He’s on the couch, staring straight ahead. He doesn’t even glance my way. Man. As good as I feel? That’s how bad my brother looks. His eyes are hollow and red-rimmed. Has he been crying?

“Whoa.”

My mother’s on the love seat across from him. She waves at me and mouths,Don’t start!

I lift my shoulders like,who me?

She frowns.Yeah. You.

“Well.” Frank finally lifts his eyes. “Look who the cat dragged in.” He tries for one of his signature smirks, but it looks more like a flinch. He must be really hurting about Alice. This is a strange turn of events, to be on the threshold of a new relationship while he just ended his.

A year ago, I might’ve been tempted to rub this in. Now I don’t have the heart to give my brother even a little bit of a hard time. Instead I cross the room, lean over the couch, and give Frank Crane the world’s most awkward hug.

“Awww,” my mother says. “My boys.”

Frank snarls. “Knock it off.”

“I will,” I say, ruffling his hair. “But it had to be done. And I really am sorry about you and Alice, man.”

“I’m fine,” he grumbles. “No, I’m better than fine. In fact, I’m over her already.”

I come around the back of the couch and drop onto an armchair. “In that case, I’ve got something to confess.” I don’t want to make Frank feel any worse, but he’s going to find out about Tess and me eventually. And if I admit I lost the bet, maybe that will help him feel better now.

“You’re confessing something tome?” His sarcasm is thicker than syrup. “Gee. I can hardly wait.”

“The thing is you can’t tell anyone yet.”

“Dude.” He rolls his eyes. “You’re not that interesting.”

“Fair enough.” I lean forward, hands on my knees. “I’m kind of involved with Tess.”

My mother gasps. “Tess McCoy?”

“Yes.” I nod. “That Tess. But until camp is over, and we’re not working together anymore, this has to stay between us.”

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