“I’ll help.” Jasper grabbed a stack of plates and handed me cups and flatware. We made fast work of setting the table for five and were finishing up as April came bounding down the stairs, looking chipper as ever.

“Neptune! You came!”

“Oof.” I wasn’t expecting either her hug or its strength, but she hugged us both before stepping back. She had Jasper’s habit of bouncing on her feet when excited.

“Tell me everything about last night. Even the boring parts.”

“There were a lot of boring parts.” Jasper gave her an indulgent smile. I could see why they were so close, and not simply because they were the last two Quigley kids at home. They had the same mannerisms and even the same sense of humor. “A lot of the rich old guys didn’t even wear costumes.”

“Losers.” April rolled her eyes.

“Huh. I hadn’t thought of it that way.” I’d been so caught up in what they had thought of me that it hadn’t occurred to me to judge them in return. As soon as April said it, though, I had to agree that not wearing a costume to a costume ball was slightly rude.

“If I were rich, I’d have a whole wardrobe of different costumes. Like Kellan but even more so. Like, what’s the point of money if you don’t have fun occasionally?” Beaming, April took a seat at the table.

“True.” I sat next to her, both to keep talking and because it seemed safer somehow than sitting with Jasper, all but waving a sign that we were a couple now. Which wasn’t untrue, but it would be nice if Jasper’s mom at least tolerated me somewhat before she figured that out.

“If you won the lottery, what would you do?” Leaning forward, April talked with her whole body, exactly how Jasper got when excited.

“Uh…” Guys like me didn’t get lucky like that, but I didn’t want to spoil her fun. I closed my eyes briefly, trying to visualize. “Get my mom a better place. Repay Bruno for…some stuff. Move to an apartment on my own, no more roommates. Maybe…look at taking some art classes.”

“Those aren’t bad wishes.” Jasper’s mom sounded slightly less irritated as she set a steaming platter of broccoli on the table. Jasper sprang up to help her with the rest of the food while April bellowed for their dad.

“Something smells delicious.” Wearing an old T-shirt advertising a basketball team that no longer existed, Mr. Quigley ambled into the dining room. Like Jasper’s mom, he had a cool nod for me. “Milo. Good you could join us.”