Chapter 27

“Where’s my other shirt?” Jesse wore just a short-sleeved one with his jeans.

“I gathered some laundry,” Milo said. “It was on the bathroom floor.”

“Are you cold?” Erika asked.

“A little.”

Erika opened the closet beside the front door and grabbed a pink hoodie. She hesitated then put it back and grabbed a black one instead. “Here.” She handed it to Jesse.

“Oh.”

Erika turned to Tom Alan. She saw in his face that he’d gotten it.

“I’ve got to get ready for school. Seems like I need it.” Maybe Milo knew now as well. “I’m really sorry, Jesse.” He headed back up the stairs.

“Have you eaten?” Kyoko asked.

Jesse shook his head.

“There are pancakes,” Tom Alan said. “Blueberry.” If Tom Alan’s smile couldn’t win Jesse back, Erika doubted anything could. He nodded toward the kitchen and squinted affectionately, like Twizzle and Flip might. “Three, six, or ten?”