“We ate already, but thank you, Natalia,” Aiden answers since I apparently swallowed my tongue. We did pick up some fast food, and I’m grateful for it, because every second I stand here talking to Natalia is like a punch to the gut. She’s such a kind, sweet woman.

“Are you sure? Do you want to take some home for lunch tomorrow?”

I force myself to stop eyeing the stairs in anticipation of Brian.

“We’re okay, really, Natalia, thank you.” Aiden smiles in his disarming way, and she concedes.

“All right, well, let me grab the boys.” She walks away and then pauses and turns back. She lowers her voice. “Also, Aiden, between you and me, I think something’s up with the boys. Maybe they should cut down on the violent video games, it might be affecting them more than you think. They’re arguing and yelling at the TV . . . well, more than normal.”

Aiden’s eyebrows draw together. “Really? Thanks for telling me. I’ll talk to them.”

“And Aiden, as I keep offering, you boys are more than welcome to stay here. Sell your house. You don’t need to move out; I love having a full house.”

Aiden shakes his head. “Your help with the custody and mortgage paperwork is more than enough, thank you, Natalia.”

She gives Aiden a small frown and mutters something about stubborn teenagers, but heads down the hallway, calling for Jason and Jackson. I think about what she said about the video games. Is Greg’s death affecting the twins more than we were led to believe? Are they bothered about Andrew? Aiden’s been sheltering them from the truth about the death threats, both from their biological dad and from strangers online.

“Hey,” Mason greets us, appearing from the kitchen. He’s wearing a gray crew neck sweater that accentuates his broad shoulders and jeans.

“Where’s your dad?” I blurt and internally curse myself. Even Aiden shoots me a what the hell–play it cool look.

If Mason thinks it’s weird, he doesn’t let on. “He had to go into work today. You’re coming to Char’s right? You haven’t been answering in the group chat.”

Is being at work code for being with my mom? I clear my throat. “Yeah, sorry, we’ve been busy today and didn’t check our phones. We’re coming.”

Mason leans against the wall beside us. “Cool. Fun date?”

No. “Absolutely.”

“Oh, also, dude.” Mason straightens up and lowers his voice like Natalia did. “Something’s up with the twins. We were playing Return of the Zombie Aliens and they were yelling about killing and calling each other liars and they started pushing each other. Like, it was worse than any time we played at the beach house.”

Before Aiden can say anything, the twins appear.

“Hey, guys.” Aiden greets them as they throw on their jackets and shoes.

“Hi,” they say in unison.

“We’ll see you soon,” Aiden says to Mason. Natalia’s reappeared with two Tupperware containers of what I’m assuming are her enchiladas. She shoves one into Aiden’s hand and one into mine.