46

Aunt and Uncle barely come home for the entire week. They usually change their clothes, fill the fridge with food, and then they’re off again. I hate the house when neither of them is here — especially when it goes on for consecutive nights like this. It’s frigid and… cold. Kim spent a few nights with me — and Kir. We studied, binge-watched the last season of Lucifer, and we goofed around to Coldplay. Although she has more electic taste in music than me, we agree on Coldplay. For the past week, I somehow managed to convince Kim to sit with me at the football team’s table. I was both shocked and proud of her when she sat at the same table as Xander and pretended he didn’t even exist. “You sure you can’t stay? It’s Friday night.” I ask from the doorway as she sits on the steps to tie her shoes. “I’d love to, but I can’t let Kir down.” “I know.” Her dad returned from his endless diplomatic trips and her mother is finally out of the studio. They promised Kirian a family dinner a few months