Chapter 123

The contract was handwritten, in strokes defiant and sharp–clear signs that the girl who penned it wasn’t in the best of moods.

Everard’s initial thought was that the kid had pretty good handwriting, not too delicate, but with a certain firmness to it. Then he focused on the content.

  1. Hold hands once a day. If I don’t initiate, you keep your hands to yourself.

  2. One kiss per week, on my terms. Other than that, don’t even think about it or dream about it.

  3. No inviting yourself over to my place for dinner.

  4. Don’t call me unless it’s absolutely necessary!

  5. TBD. Will add more rules as I think of them.

Everard raised an eyebrow. Holding hands was already a daily routine; the kissing frequency seemed a bit low–surely exceptions could be made. As for dinner, a nod from her dad would sort that out, and for phone calls, “necessary” could be quite subjective.

As he mentally critiqued each rule, he looked up to see the girl staring at him seriously, her dewy eyes filled with solemnity, like a cat on the verge of a hissy fit, ready to pounce at any hint of bargaining.

He chuckled softly and answered, “Fine by me.”

Her tension eased at his agreement, and she picked up the breakfast she’d prepared and set it on the counter.

Everard, feeling proactive, took it and arranged the spread on the dining table.

seriousness and held his hand with even greater solemnity, making him too wary to tease her. A few minutes later, she

bemused. “I guess so, why?”

attention to their

skin, which explained the tingling sensation during their hand–holding. She

the conversation odd but knowing that the girl often had her own unique logic, which she

to

she grabbed her backpack and

bent over his phone, and

them

martial arts

Cordelia was puzzled.

his throat. “Give me some time to train, and then I’ll be

a noncommittal “I guess good

her encouragement lacked sincerity and suddenly kicked Flame No. 1, who was still pretending to study: “Watch where you’re

No. 1, indignant, opened the textbook to reveal a comic book hidden inside. “Lia,

thought it

No.1 laughed. “See, I can read during

Cordelia felt enlightened.

a math book, mistaking it for a tragic novel, while Little Parrot dabbed at her tears. Cordelia returned

residence. A

Lorna chatted on the couch while her grandfather’s therapy session took place behind closed doors. Cordelia joined them, discussing the artwork she had chosen, and the painting Lorna had failed to sell–a matter of little consequence to Mathilda, who valued

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