I might soak in the tub tomorrow after everyone leaves, but I'm fine other than that." Tell us about your trip," Mom asked.I spent the next twenty min...tes telling my family about my stay in Beverly Hills. I didn't get downstairs to my bedroom until 10:45 PM. I was in time to catch the tail end of the Sugar Bowl.I was shocked when I saw the score. Georgia Tech was up 31-21 with ten minutes left in the game. The odds-makers had #14 GT set as a 14 point underdog to #4 ranked Florida. Florida had. ”They said goodbye, and Helen sat back down as Claire showed herself out, then she addressed the others.“Speaking of weird stuff about being back in America, did you know that I apparently CAN’T go into any corner store, grab a carton of my brand, say ‘Invia la fattura al Castillo,’ and walk out with them? At least, in Oregon, anyway. When did this shit start? But seriously, I know Troy’s question is going to totally kill the mood, so Julie, did you have one?”“Well, of course I’m thrilled to. You agree, and go with to meet the family. Unusual wife. Beautiful daughter.” I smiled at his silliness, and pointed to myself in mock surprise. Paul mimicked my surprise and pointed back. “But at the time, you figure it might be pre-effects of the beer you haven’t had yet; after all, you’re fairly famous for completely NOT being into kids. Get me? Ok.”“I am not a kid!” I protested.“Bzzzt! I’m sorry, that answer is incorrect.”“A ‘kid’ is like, two.”“Possibly from your perspective. From. One minute I was about to die, the next, Dmitri was dead and I was fleeing with Thomas. Dmitri’s men, chasing us, ran right into a trap. They never realized they were going to die, that death incarnate, a real Monster, waited for them in that bar.When Kisa and I were wrapped in Thomas’ arms, I knew that I had everything I needed. That I belonged with Thomas and his friends. After he took us to his boat, I watched him silently pour every bottle of alcohol into the sea, and I knew he did it for.