“She said that Grandma Keane looks so old because of all the birdie feet on her face.” She pops a grape in her mouth, completely unaware of the rising tension in the kitchen. “And what’s a carb anyway?”

We’re going to have to work on keeping secrets.

“Carbs give you energy to make you big and strong. And Grandma Keane doesn’t look old, she looks wise.” Lauren goes to put down her mug before grabbing the organic maple syrup and drizzling the saddest little sprinkling that I’ve ever seen on her pancakes before making direct eye contact with me. “Can we talk for a second?”

Crap.

I know that tone. It’s the same one she used in sixth grade when we were locker partners and I took one of her glitter gel pens out of our locker without asking . . . and every time I’ve pissed her off since.

“Actually.” I make a move to the coffee machine, in desperate need of both caffeine and an excuse. “I’m really thirsty.”

Lauren grabs my arm and pulls me out of the kitchen with a smile that both terrifies and intrigues me frozen on her face. “Eat your food, Adelaide, we’ll be right back.”

I look to Addy for help since she’s the one who ratted me out, but instead her eyes are closed and her shoulders are bouncing as she chews her pancakes.

Maybe I do want carbs and sugar. I’m not sure I’ve ever looked as happy as Addy does. And if pancakes and organic syrup are the answer, who am I to argue?

“What the hell, Jude?” Lauren snaps me out of my syrup-coated fantasy. “You can’t talk to Adelaide like that. Do you understand the hell Ben will give me if she goes to visit him and she tells him we’re over here talking about how old his mom looks?”

“Fuck Ben and his mom. She’s a bitch and he’s trash. He should really just be happy I’m not saying more.” I have to fight back the rage that always tries to claw its way to the surface whenever I think of Lauren’s piece-of-shit ex. I really try to be Zen- and peace-like, but that dirtbag always fucks up my chi.

Lucky for me, I guess, my anger seems to defuse Lauren’s.

“What’re you fucking smiling at?”

“You’re just so cute when you’re mad.” She pinches my cheek, something she knows I hate. “Plus, my mom still defends Ben whenever he comes up, so it’s nice that someone has my back.”