When she still hadn’t knocked on the door ten minutes later, I figured that she must have seen my car and got scared. She probably had to screw up h...r courage to be able to come upstairs to face me. When Kate finally knocked on the door I didn’t move to open it. Kate knocked again and when I still didn’t answer, she used her key to open the door. I was sitting in the kitchen drinking a beer when she came in. ‘I didn’t think you were here,’ Kate said. ‘I’m here.’ ‘I can see that now.’ Kate came. ” Kia sighed. She kicked me.“What was that for?” I asked rubbing my shin. She hopped out of her chair.“Ruining me for other men.” She said loud enough for mom and dad. Mom grumbled. Dad tried not to laugh. Kia gave me the finger and stormed out.“The bacon!” I gasped and ran to the next room.“Not even going to do anything about her being pissed off?” Zoë rolled her eyes. “I guess it’s on me.”“Don’t make things worse for your brother,” Mom said to Zoë. “Get fed, and then go to school.”Our phones. I wish I had a friend like that."It had been a hard day, but it was almost closing time, when a familiarface walked in the door. I didn't recognize him at first, blond hair,bronze skin, beady little eyes, but then it came to me in a rush. Mois.He had bleached his hair and shaved his beard. It was too late to runand hide. He walked up to the counter. I played dumb."Hello sir, how can we help you today?" I need to talk to you right now, Mahdi," he said. He meant business."Talk to me right. 8….7….6….5….4….3….2….1….. and everyone started yelling ‘Happy New Year,’ and making noise. Madeline leaned over and kissed me. Softly at first, then more passionately, her tongue searching for mine. I felt a jolt of passion, of lust, that I had not felt with Mariana, and when she finally pulled back, she was panting a little. She took my hand and wordlessly led me into a small closet, filled with coats. She did not completely close the door, so there was a line of light that bisected her lithe.