Little Cole hadn’t even finished his sentence before Alessia flung the bucket of wriggling worms straight at him. He stumbled back several steps, terror etched across his face, and frantically patted himself down to make sure <i>none </i>of those slimy, squirming things hadnded on him. Only after a thorough check did he finally breathe out in relief.


    Still, whether it was just in his head or not, his whole body suddenly felt itchy all


    over.


    “W–what was that for?!” Cole tried to sound angry, but looking at Alessia’s delicate, doll–like face, he just couldn’t bring himself to yell.


    “What, are boys scared of bugs too?” Alessia shot back.


    Cole was at a loss for words.


    “I… that’s not what I meant…” he mumbled, voice growing smaller and smaller. Alessia, however, had already lost interest in talking to him.


    Her whole afternoon’s work had been ruined, and she was no saint–of course she was angry. There was no time to start over; Max would be home from school any minute, and she needed toe up with a way to get back at him before he walked through the door.


    Just thinking about waking up to find a spider the size of her palm sitting on her desk made her blood boil all over again.


    “Whatever,” Alessia said coldly, spinning on her heel and heading back inside.


    Cole stood frozen at the door, feeling a little dejected. Only when he turned to leave did he remember why he’de in the first ce. He opened his mouth to call out, but the door had already mmed shut, and he hadn’t even made it past the yard.


    He sighed, a wave of regret washing over him, but there was nothing to do but head home.


    Jade was tidying up when she nced over and saw Cole trudging back, looking utterly defeated, the gift for the neighbor’s kid still clutched in his handspletely untouched.


    “Cole, what’s wrong?” Jade set down her work, walked over, and crouched in front of him, tilting her head with a gentle smile. There wasn’t a hint of me in her voice.


    12:33


    Cole didn’t exaggerate or make excuses. Instead, he retold exactly what had happened, word for word.


    Jade found herself intrigued by this little girl next door. Most five–year–olds in that situation would have blurted out something like, “You girls are so mean!” But instead, the girl had fired right back with a dry “What, are boys scared of bugs too?” She was quick and sharp.


    Jadeughed so hard she rolled onto the floor, the kind ofughter that shook the whole house. Cole just watched her, resigned, clearly used to this kind of scene


    from his mom.


    “What’s going on down here? Weren’t you just dropping off a present for the neighbor’s kid?” Parrish Whitley called as he hurried down the stairs from the second floor, drawn by themotion.


    “The floor’s cold. Next time, roll out the rug before you flop down like that. Come on, up you go,” he scolded gently, scooping Jade off the floor and depositing her on the sofa.


    “Honey, the little girl next door is just adorable,” Jade gushed.


    “The one we saw when we were house–hunting?” Parrish asked.


    When they’d first viewed the house, they’d run into Alessia on her way out. She’d worn a tiny yellow bucket hat, crisp white overalls, and had a pale beige backpack slung over her shoulder–absolutely precious.


    Seeing her standing all alone on the porch, they’d worried she might be lost and went over to say hello.


    Alessia, with her striking looks, didn’t seem scared at all. She greeted them politely, her little <i>face </i>serious and earnest as she exined she wasn’t lost–this was her home, and the housekeeper had just stepped inside to get something for her.


    That little grown–up attitude had won both their hearts in an instant. Jade had to fight the overwhelming urge to pinch her cheeks, digging her nails into Parrish’s


    arm instead.


    Parrish could only grit his teeth and endure it, gently patting Jade’s hand to beg for


    mercy.