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“What about Eli?”

“I’ll send him home.”

I laughed. “Don’t do that. It’s fine. Really. I’m fine.” No, I didn’t feel fine right now. But I would be. It wasn’t like this was the first time I was dateless at the Sadie Hawkins dance. It was four times in a row now. Homecoming was the first and only dance I’d had a date to. And it hadn’t even been real.

Sophie gave me a sympathetic smile. “Well, you can stand next to me for pictures still.”

“Thanks, Soph.” It would certainly be more bearable that way.

I let her pull me out into the living room. All the parents were trying to get their kids to line up.

Sophie pulled me right into the middle of the group and I laughed.

“Grandkids!” Mr. Nigel yelled. “Grandkids, get into the picture.”

Parker grabbed RJ’s hand and pulled him off the couch.

Axel tucked his hands into his leather jacket and walked over and stood right next to me.

“Why does Mr. Nigel call you his grandson now?” I asked.

Axel shrugged. “Because I said he could.”

“But...why?”

He laughed. “Because he wanted grandkids. So...why not?”

“But he has two daughters. He’ll probably have some grandkids eventually.”

“Why wait when you can have what you want right now?” He looked down at me in that way that confused me. One of the looks that I’d read too much into it.

I cleared my throat. “Well, that’s nice of you, I guess. Still confusing though.”

“Speaking of confusing... Anyone care to tell me why Parker is going to this dance with RJ?”

“Because she asked,” RJ said, deadpan. “And she’s a manipulative little...”

Parker kicked him.

Axel laughed.

I was glad he was laughing and not beating up RJ.

Jacob walked over with Olivia. They stood on the other side of Axel. It was strange. For someone to feel like your whole world and then suddenly they barely even spoke to you.

“These outfits aren’t authentic,” Mr. Nigel said. “You should have seen me in the 50s.”

“You weren’t alive in the 50s,” my dad said.

“That’s what you think,” Uncle Rob said with a laugh.

My dad looked very confused. And I agreed. What were Uncle Rob and Mr. Nigel talking about?

“He means his 50s costume,” Mr. Tanner said. “And no one wants to see that, Nigel.”

Mr. Nigel shrugged. “One of my best eras.”

“I think everyone looks perfect.” Aunt Brooklyn lifted her phone for a picture. “You know, I dressed like Sandy for Halloween one year, Sophie.”