I

Using his key, Joel opens the door to his first-floor apartment as he and Thora walk inside. He carries two bags filled with containers of Chinese food that they’ll have for dinner.

 

“Not that I don’t appreciate takeout, but I could’ve whipped us something,” Thora insists.

 

Joel turns to her with a soft expression. “As much as I love a home-cooked meal—especially by you—you’ve worked all day at the café. Besides it saves time on cleanup and gives us more time to enjoy each other’s company.”

 

Not long after, the synth rhythm and breathy vocals of Addison Rae’s “Diet Pepsi” echo through the apartment, along with the sound of more than one voice. 

 

The two adults exchange a look.

 

“Skye?” Joel calls out. He thought his teenage daughter would be out for the evening, but the music says otherwise.

 

Skye Park, lounging in the living room in her trademark goth attire—a black and white Spirited Away spaghetti-strap dress and combat boots—glances over. Her dark cropped hair is pulled into a short ponytail. Next to her is Gemma Grier, whom she bonded with shortly after moving to Radcliffe.

 

The girls greet the adults. Skye notices the takeout and then looks at her father and his girlfriend.

 

“We were supposed to be over at Gemma’s, but her mom got called in for an emergency at the hospital,” Skye explains. So, we decided to come back here to spend the night—if you don’t mind.”

 

Gemma’s mother, Dr. Heidi Grier, is a physician at the hospital.

 

“It’s no problem,” Joel says gently, though his plans for alone time with Thora are clearly gone.

 

“I bet you two are grateful the school year’s finally over,” Thora says.

 

“It’s a relief. Three months of freedom before we start sophomore year sounds bomb to me,” Gemma replies.

 

The chin-length blonde wears a red halter top and light blue jeans, her bold lipstick making her look both mature and unmistakably her age.

 

“We’re about to dig into this Chinese. You girls want some? There’s plenty,” Joel offers.

 

“We were about to order pizza, but Chinese sounds good,” Skye says.

 

“It does,” Gemma adds. “But I need to start portion-control.”

 

Thora can’t imagine why a petite girl like Gemma would worry about her weight—then again, she remembers being a teen and finding everything wrong with herself.

 

“Oh, by the way, Gemma made the dance team for next year,” Skye shares.

 

"That's great, Gemma!" Joel remarks 

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“From a former Bisonette—congratulations,” Thora adds, noting she was on the same Radcliffe High dance team years ago.

 

As Joel goes into the kitchenette to grab paper plates and silverware, he teases, “I seem to remember you and a now-certain doctor and mother on the same squad,” referring to Heidi. 

 

He and Thora had gone to school with both Heidi and Greg Grier, now the school’s football coach and history teacher.

 

“That feels like a thousand years ago,” Thora says.

 

“Even though anything team-related isn’t really my thing, I promise I’ll show up when I can to cheer you on,” Skye says.

 

“Aww, thanks, babe,” Gemma smiles. “Hopefully next year I’ll dance, and hopefully Micah will be starting.”

 

Micah is Gemma’s boyfriend, a second-string receiver on the varsity football team.

 

Once the girls get their food and head to the living room, the adults remain in the kitchenette.

 

“I’m so sorry. I thought we’d be alone,” Joel apologizes.

 

Thora sighs lightly. “It’s alright. Things rarely go as planned when you’re parenting a teen. Trust me—I should know.”

 

“Next time, dinner is at my place,” Thora says with a smile.

 

“Deal,” Joel replies, giving her a wink.