“Hey,” I said and clutched my book bag to my chest. “Is Mason home?” I asked and then kicked myself for being so pathetically needy.

“Yeah, he and Trevor are playing video games.” He glanced at my house and gave me a nod.

“Wanna come in?” I asked. The idea of Joe being hard up and me making animal noises with Mark satisfied a kind of karmic balance.

“Sure,” Mark grinned.

Joe was watching television when I led Mark to the stairs. He glanced over at us heading up the stairs and said, “Aw, hell naw.”

“Payback’s a bitch,” I sang and made sure Mark was right behind me.

I...