Currently, the feeling is not mutual.
“What do you mean?” Kenji says to Warner, taking a pull on his straw. “It’s snack time. We always use this room for snack time.”
“Um, I thought we weresupposedto be here,” says Winston. “Aren’t we supposed to be here?”
Warner’s exhale is slow and controlled. “No.”
“Oh.”
“Hey,” I say, nodding up at him.
Warner turns to look at me with a cool, inscrutable expression, and suddenly he’s not my oldest brother, my mentor, my role model, the guy I’ve been living with for ten years. Right now Warner embodies every inch of his reputation, and I swear my life flashes before my eyes.
Aaron Warner Anderson is a living legend.
Sometimes I forget how terrifying he can be. His eyes are a surreal pale shade of green, so piercing it’s sometimes difficult even to hold eye contact with him.
“Get up,” he says quietly.
My eyes widen. “Uh—what?”
“Now,” he says. “We’re leaving.”
“Leaving?” I look around. “But—”
“Yeah, I’m gonna get out of here,” says Adam, zipping up the backpack. “See you guys tomorrow?”
Kenji stands to give Adam a hug, clapping him on the back as he pulls away. “Hey, can you bring those fruit rolls tomorrow? The chewy ones with the jokes printed inside the wrapper?”
Adam grins. “Yeah.”
Winston shakes his empty juice box. “Kiss the kids for us. I’ll swing by around noon tomorrow. Tell Roman we’re building robots this weekend.”
“Will do,” says Adam, still smiling. “He’ll be thrilled.” He nods at Warner, then tosses him something. “As promised.”
Warner catches the offering, then looks up. “Thank you,” he says quietly.
“Hey, I didn’t know you liked jelly beans,” Kenji says, peering over his shoulder. “You’ve been holding out on us. You should join us for snack time—”
“They’re for my wife,” Warner says sharply.
“What? You have awife?” Kenji throws his arm around Warner and squeezes. “You’remarried? Congrats, man. I had no idea.You literally never mention it.”
“Shut up.” Warner shoves away from Kenji, who only looks delighted to have pissed him off. Then, out of nowhere, Kenji chucks his empty juice box at my head.
“Ow, what the hell—”
Get up, he mouths.
I look up to see Warner watching this exchange, studying me impassively as he pockets the candy. He tugs up his shirtsleeves, then crosses his arms.
He’s wearing lavender.
He’s the only guy I know who can wear a lavender crewneck and still be terrifying.
“So, we’ll see you guys for dinner next week?” Adam glances at Warner as he heads toward the door. “Alia was hoping to check in on Juliette.”
Warner nods. “She’d love that. James is cooking.”
