One corner of Ellen’s mouth turned up. “You could get the guy’s number and ask for a do-over.”

Unity shuddered. “Not happening.” But she knew she had to do something. She’d never felt the need to change before now, but being uncomfortable with herself and her actions wasn’t good, either.

“So you didn’t like him at all?”

“I didn’t register him. I was so freaked out, I couldn’t focus on anything. It was really bad.”

“So he could be gorgeous.”

“Yes, or he could have been wearing a superhero costume.”

“I doubt that. If he’d been dressed up like a superhero, you would have remembered that. A cape is hard to forget.”

Cooper wandered into the kitchen. He waved at them both before heading to the refrigerator and pulling open the door.

“Morning,” Ellen said.

Coop nodded.

Ellen smiled at Unity. “It’s nine thirty, so a predawn morning for him.”

Cooper sighed. “Mom, it’s summer vacation. This is my only week off. After the bus trip, I’m going to be working until school starts. I need my sleep.”

Despite being a couple of inches taller than her, with his mussed hair and T-shirt and pajama bottoms, he looked more like the little boy he’d been a few years ago than the man he was becoming.

“Excited about the college trip?” Unity asked.

Cooper set a frozen breakfast burrito on the counter next to the gallon of milk. He yawned and stretched before answering Unity.

“I guess. I’m glad I get to see some things, but I’m not thinking about going away to college. UW is a good choice for me.”

Unity met Ellen’s worried gaze.

“What about UCLA?” Unity asked. “Or Stanford? They’re both great schools. I thought you were interested in them.”

“Maybe. I don’t know. It’s a long way to go. I won’t be able to get home very much.”

“True, but I’m here and I’m way better at fixing things than you. Let us all remember the great flood last year when you tried to fix a leaky faucet.”

Coop’s expression turned sheepish. “Okay, yeah. That didn’t go well.”

Unity waved her hand. “Fly, be free, little grasshopper. I’ll hold down the fort while you’re off dealing with higher learning.”

Coop glanced from her to his mom and back. “I’m still thinking UW.”

With that, he put the breakfast burrito in the microwave and poured himself a giant glass of milk.

Ellen rose. Unity followed her into the living room.

“See?” Ellen sounded worried. “I have to do something.”

“You are. Look, you’re going to show him you’re fine on your own. By the time you’re back from your trip, he’ll be convinced.”

“I hope so. He can’t stay here because of me.”

“He won’t.” Unity hugged her. “We’ll make sure of it.”

An easy promise, mostly because Unity would do whatever she had to in order to make her friend’s life right. As for herself, she was just beginning to think there might be the tiniest of problems. Now she just had to figure out what to do next.