She shakes her head. “You’d think the investigators would’ve found something by now,” she says. She eats a piece of fruit. “Well, I’m sure they’ll find them soon. What a dreadful business.”
“I’m still not convinced itwasarson,” I say, even though nobodyat the table believes me. I put one of the eggs onto half of the bread roll and bite into it.
The yolk is completely solid, too. The staff definitely knows how I like my eggs, so I have to assume my dad told them to make everything terrible.
That’s petty. It’s really petty, but it pisses me off anyway.
Dad fucked an underage girl. Dad has illegitimate children.
I want to blurt it out. That’ll give us something to talk about over breakfast. It might also get Mom to kick Ezio out, since she wouldn’t want him to overhear a family fight.
On the other hand, I don’t want to think about the consequences. Maybe Dad would have Ezio take me out back to the greenhouse torture room and put me out of my misery then and there.
“As long as the fraternity house is rebuilt…” Ezio digs into his bacon. “I’ve been talking to architects and contractors. We might need more funding than we currently have. Some of the alumni appear to think their obligation to the fraternity is over and done with.”
My father narrows his eyes. “Kappa Alpha Omega Sigma is forever. They should know that.”
It’s forever, because somebody might know that youknocked up a teenage girl.
“How much are we donating?” I ask. “Since we’re part of the fraternity too.”
I get a glare in response.
I thought as much. Dad is just as unwilling to throw money away for the new building.
“How’s your girlfriend doing, by the way?” Ezio asks.
Mom gasps softly. “Girlfriend? You have a girlfriend, Blaze?”
Christ. I force myself to smile. “It’s new, still. Just a month or so. But yeah. She’s great. Very unpredictable. She keeps me on my toes.”
“Some people might even call her a bit crazy,” Ezio adds with a laugh.
I want to stab my fork directly into his hand.
“Isn’t that ableist?” I snark back. “Mental health issues are no joke. Anyway, she isn’t crazy. She knows what she wants, and I love what a go-getter she is.”
I love a lot about her.
I shove that thought down.
“Oh, that’s lovely to hear!” Mom smiles at me, then turns to my father. “Isn’t that great? Blaze finally showing an interest in somebody?”
‘Finally’? What’s that supposed to mean?
My father grunts. “I only wish she were more… appropriate.”
“Don’t be like that, George,” Mom says. “I’m sure she’s lovely. What’s her name?”
“Pandora.” I finish my eggs. “And sheislovely.”
Ezio scoffs loudly. “Depends on your definition. And how much you value your…”
I kick Ezio under the table, and he grunts, but at least it shuts him up.
“She loves dahlias,” I say. “Maybe I can send her pictures of yours.”
Of course, as soon as I mention the dahlias, I’m reminded of taking Pandora back to the greenhouse and helping her wash off.
