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My mouth falls open, and I’m momentarily stunned.

What?

Dillon

“You can’t miss this one, dude. It’s resurrection day! Plus, my parents want to meet you.” Warren knocks his arm into mine as we make our way to our bus. I hike my bag up on my back and look over at my new friend. He’s been asking me to go over for a while now, but it’s been rough at home. I haven’t wanted to leave Morgan.

“My sister—”

“Just bring her,” he says, shrugging like it’s no big deal. I think that’s why I like Warren so much. He notices a lot but never pushes to understand. He listens when I want to talk and talks over my thoughts when I don’t want to. Plus, he’s cool.

“We’ll see, dude. I’ll ask.”

I didn’t ask. Dad was gone, like he normally is anymore. Mom picked up an extra shift at work. Clint Bennet, Warren’s dad, picked Morgan and I up in a beat-up Chevy. Sunday at five thirty sharp, and we’re all sitting around the long Bennet dinner table. There is barely elbow room around all the food and plates on the table. An odd array of choices. Pizza, cheeseburgers, donuts, brownies, Fritos, sour gummies, mashed potatoes and gravy. Even a big bowl of chili and tacos.

Honestly? The Bennets are weird.

Clint has a bird on his shoulder. A creepy black thing that has an eye patch on.

Jo, their mom, has threatened almost everyone with a kitchen spoon. I don’t know where she keeps pulling them out from. But…despite all the weirdness, they’re all laughing.

Joking around with each other.

There are five Bennet brothers. Warren is thirteen like me, then there is Jesse, Ian, Zane and the youngest, Emerson.

I didn’t even question what resurrection day was. I thought maybe some religious thing.

But Emerson is wearing a tiara. Yeah, like a little princess crown, and it has the number two on it. He has a sash on that says, ‘didn’t die.’

I munch on a chip and watch them around the table.

“Wow,” Morgan mumbles next to me, watching with wide eyes as Ian puts Emerson in a head lock across the table.

“You cannot try to kill me on my own resurrection day,” the little boy cries out, jamming his elbow into his brother. Ian is laughing. Zane throws a cob of corn at Ian’s head. Jo rolls her eyes, a smirk on her face as she butters a roll.

“So glad you could come,” Warren says, leaning over so I can hear him over his brothers screaming. “It’s a really chill day.”

“Why the fuck are you here?” Warren says through gritted teeth.

I pocket my phone and ignore him, looking at the spread laid out on the table. Just as bizarre as every year. Nothing beats the resurrection day menu. Emery must really be liking sushi and ramen this year. And blueberry muffins?

“I know you hear me, asshole.”

I scratch my cheek with my middle finger, and Warren huffs.

I haven’t missed a resurrection dinner since the first one I came to. I contemplated not coming today, but Jo texted me to let me know she expected me to show up. I still considered, but I would be a fucking liar if I said I wasn’t swayed into getting in my truck knowing one pretty, annoying, brat would be here. He ran out on me the other night.

“Real mature.” He leans in closer before continuing. “Wanna tell me why you were all up in my baby brother’s personal space the other night?”

I hum, pretending to think. “Ah, I think that will be a fuck no. And fuck you.”

Warren narrows his eyes. “You think you’re going to get me back for fucking it up with your sister by messing around with Em? I didn’t think you were that big of a dick.”

“You cheated on her, Warren. You think I could hurt Emery that bad?” I pretend to contemplate that too, like the asshole he thinks I am.

“I didn’t—”

“Warren?”