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“Are you hungry?”

She groans. “Starving.”

Propping my knee under the steering wheel, I open my center console with my left hand and grab out one of the pouches I keep in there.

I hand it to Kota with a “Here.”

She eyes the applesauce before taking it and draining the whole thing in seconds.

She wasn’t lying.

“Want to swing by a drive-through on the way home? My treat.”

“I can afford your chicken nuggets, Kota.”

“How dare you.”

I give her a double take. Is she for real right now? Did the applesauce not do its job? Do I need to try the chocolate?

She shocks the hell out of me by saying, “I was going to order a burger.”

As we both smile, some of the tension eases.

“Seriously though, I can cover it. I have money.” Not as much as Seraphina Rhodes. Probably not as much as her daughter either. But some. Definitely enough to buy my girl fast food.

“Why does your dad always act like you don’t?”

“Habit.”

That silence returns.

“You don’t think he…suspects…anything…”

I wait for her to finish that herself.

“About us?”

I shake my head. “No.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive. He’s oblivious.”

Although the lie tastes like shit, it’s ultimately for the best.

“Where do you want a burger from?” I ask Kota while keeping the disappointment from my voice. This is our first time going out to eat and it’s to a drive-through.

“I probably shouldn’t have fast food.”

“Why?”

“It’ll be a hundred herkies for me if my mom finds out.”

Fucking Sera, drill instructor wannabe bitch.

“How would she?”

“She checks my bank account.”