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“Come on,” Chloe added. “Let’s hear something new.”
I gazed at my feet. My parents had encouraged the idea, so I supposed telling them was okay. “You know I’m adopted, right?”
“Well, it’s kind of obvious,” Emma said breezily. “You look nothing like your parents.”
“Emma,” Chloe said in an exasperated tone. “Go on, Margo.”
“Well…” I drew out the word, trying to figure out how to frame the situation. “It turns out my biological family recently found out about me and are acting like I have to go live with them. But they’re kind of, well, creepy, and I’m a little worried that they might try something.”
“Like, kidnap you?” Emma said breathlessly.
“Ew,” Chloe said. “As if they could get away with that.”
“They warned us they were coming back, and I should be ready to leave with them.”
Chloe handed the crisps back to me. “That is so wrong.”
“They could try something,’ Emma said. “Try to run off with her or something.”
“Like we’d let them,” Chloe scoffed.
A strange warmth filled me up, a feeling I usually experienced around my parents or Dorian. My friends drew closer, completely unconcerned by the chill that usually surrounded me. It felt good to have somebody else on my side, and a sudden lump formed in my throat in response.
“Oh, don’t get all emotional.” Chloe waved a dismissive hand. “After the way you’ve had Emma’s back lately, there’s no chance either of us will let anything happen to you.”
“Definitely.” Emma patted my arm. “Having you two on my side was the only thing that got me through everything that’s happened. As if I’ll let you run off with strangers now.”
I was so startled by the earnestness in her voice that I barely managed to thank her.
“Well, what do they look like?” she persisted. “We’ll watch out for them.”
I laughed to cover up the shakiness of my voice. “You can’t miss them.” I pointed at my hair. “There are some obvious resemblances. Plus, they’re big weirdos, so they stand out.”
“I mean, we’ve got big weirdos aplenty,” Chloe scoffed, “but they have no chance. We’re way too nosy around here to not notice anybody new coming through, causing trouble.”
Emma nodded in agreement. “Don’t worry about them. But don’t go anywhere without us, okay?” She glanced at my cast. “That won’t help. When is it going?”
“Soon,” I said longingly. “I can’t wait.” The cast was covered in names of new friends, but it would be easier to escape the clutches of harbinger nutjobs if I had two hands to work with.
Chloe looked at me with curiosity. “I didn’t know for sure you were adopted. What’s that like?”
“It wasn’t much different from anyone else until my birth mother showed up.” I shrugged. “My parents have always been my parents, you know?”
“You get on well with them,” she said. “That’s good.”
“Does Dorian know?” Emma asked.
I nodded. “His, um, uncle is acting as a sort of go-between to keep things from getting, well, even more dramatic.”
“The uncle?” Chloe leaned back in her seat. “He’s in pretty good shape for an older dude.”
Emma and I made the same disgusted face. “Older?” I said, horrified. “He’s about to be a granddad, you sicko.”
“Like you haven’t noticed,” Chloe said, unable to hold back a cackle of laughter.
Why did I have to have ears? I could have gone my whole life without hearing that. “I’ll stick with Dorian.”
“Speaking of.” Emma lowered her voice with a conspiratorial wink. “Have you two done it yet?”
