“I was worried about what my father would think more than anything,” he admitted. “I think I told you that some Rom have strict beliefs? My grandmother was a traditionalist, and I was afraid—well. It doesn’t matter what I was afraid of because my father was good about it. He said you’re like Miri, if she hadn’t been lucky enough to find a good boy. He told me to consider that it’s extra responsibility to support someone in your situation, but I’m okay with that if you are.”

It sounded almost too easy. Wasn’t it supposed to bother him more? Or bother me that people would judge him because of me?

“Would you like to go out with me on Friday?” he asked, gentle and quiet and unassuming, which was not a side of Leaf I’d seen before. He was big and brash and loud, but this was none of those things. “If not, I completely understand, and I’d be glad to be your friend, either way. I really don’t want you to hate me.”

“I don’t hate you,” I said.

Anymore.

Earlier, I kinda wanted to light you on fire, sure, but who’s counting?

He eyed me from under a fringe of thick inky lashes. “There’s a movie playing everyone’s talking about. A comedy. Really funny, I guess? I’d cook for you before, maybe?”

That sounded way more awesome than it should have. Where was all that irritation? Where was my righteous indignation?

Did Aaron teach me nothing?

“I’d love to,” I said.

Nope, nothing.

“Good. Great. I... Thanks, Sara.” Leaf stood from his seat, smiling and reaching for his backpack. “I won’t let you down. I gotta go now, though, if I want to catch something to eat before the bell.” He motioned over his shoulder at Mr. Chekowitz. I hadn’t noticed until then that he was eyeballing us, probably to inform me that his leniency regarding my lunch didn’t extend to my friends, too, without explicit permission.

That’s just how adults do.

“Okay, thanks. I’ll see you later,” I said.

In class.

And then on our date.

Holy crapsicles.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three

“He probably thinks you’re easy,” Mormor said.

“Mom! Will you just...talk less. Okay? Talk less.”

Both my mother and grandmother glowered at one another over a pile of potatoes. I, meanwhile, shoveled food into my maw. Sure, what Mormor said was screwed up, but when you expected very little of people, they rarely disappointed you.

It was how I survived living with Mormor most days.

“What? She is pregnant! There is only one way for that to happen.” Mormor snorted and poured gravy over everything on her plate. “I love Sara, but we cannot avoid the truth that she had intercourse to get here. Now, this boy is probably thinking he can have plenty of it with her without consequence.”