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“And he has two brothers. You’re really letting me stay in a house filled with boys?”

“When I spoke to their mother, she suggested you room with her daughter. But I can’t imagine it will be an issue. You’re not silly about boys and dating like that.”

Apparently, even my mother knew my love life was a disaster. She wasn’t wrong though. How could I get silly about boys when absolutely no boys were silly about me?

“Look, Paige, that family was not my first pick,” she added. “But your grandmother’s gone, and this trip came up at the last minute, so I didn’t have much choice. We’re just lucky Mrs. Darling was happy to take you.”

Ah, the truth. The Darlings were her only option. My mom just cared more about her trip than she did about where her daughter was going to live for the next two weeks. Again, I wasn’t sure why I was surprised.

The thought of the warm reception I’d get from the Darling family did make me smile though. I knew Amy would give me the tightest hug when I arrived, and Danny would be so welcoming. Cammie wasn’t going to be thrilled about sharing her room, but Reed would be pleased to see me, Parker would definitely crack a joke, and Grayson, of course, would barely crack a smile. Still, his reaction was the one I was most excited to see when I rocked up with my bags.

“I told Mrs. Darling to expect you at three, so you better go pack.” Mom paused and her expression soured as her gaze dipped to my outfit. “Is that what you’ll be wearing?”

I glanced down at the pink polka-dot skirt and yellow blouse I had on. I failed to see why my mom was so confused. It was maybe a little bright, but I was feeling positive this morning and wanted my outfit to reflect that. At least, I had been until something died in our kitchen. I was now wondering if I should be wearing all black.

“It’s just a skirt and top, Mom.”

“You look like you’re off to entertain at a child’s birthday party.”

“Well, Iwasplanning to talk to the counselor about applying to clown college.”

I could tell my joke had hit a nerve, and I was punished with another lecture.

“Be polite at the Darlings’. Do your homework. Clean your dishes. Please work on your applications, and do not miss your meeting. I can’t afford to cut this work trip short and come back early. I’m trusting you, Paige.”

I resisted the temptation to poke the bear with another witty retort, deciding instead to play it safe and give my mom the answer she needed to hear. “You’ve got nothing to worry about, Mom. I promise.”

Her mouth twisted in a pout, like she wasn’t sure whether to believe me. But then she gave a sharp nod. “Good. Thank you. But I’ll still be calling you to check in.” I wasn’t sure if that was a promise or a threat. “Now, go pack.” She ushered me from the kitchen. “You don’t want to be late.”

I was in a bit of a daze as I left the room. After the mouse tragedy and my mom’s sudden announcement that she was going away, I felt like I’d slipped on a patch of ice and hit my head, leaving the world looking slightly wonky. It was all a lot to take in, but I was at least beginning to shake off the initial surprise. And to be honest, the more I thought about going to the Darlings’, the more it felt a little like I was going on vacation. Well, what I imagined a vacation would feel like. My parents never took breaks from work. The closest I’d gotten to a holiday was joining Grayson and his family for a week at his uncle’s lake house one summer in middle school. It hadn’t turned out as I’d hoped. I’d fallen in poison ivy on the first day and Grayson, the thoughtful idiot that he was, decided I shouldn’t be in pain alone, and had jumped in the ivy too. We’d both spent the whole week itching and rubbing lotion on ourselves.

I was making my way up the stairs when my mom called out to me. “Paige?”

I dreaded to think what she still needed to say after unleashing multiple rants and lectures already. I looked over the handrail just as she poked her head into the corridor.

“Was there something else, Mom?”

“Yes. For the love of all that is holy, do not cook for the Darlings while you’re there. I just disposed of the mouse, and it was surrounded by crumbs from those terrible muffins you made yesterday.”

“Terrible muffins?” I gasped as realization struck. “You think I killed the mouse?”

“I think I’d like the Darlings to survive your stay.”

“But the muffins can’t have been that bad. Plenty of people ate them and were fine.”

She lifted one eyebrow at me. “Tell that to the mouse.”

I stood frozen to the spot as she disappeared back into the kitchen. I’d never killed anything before—that I knew of. And I had honestly thought those muffins were okay. Could they really have been as inedible as my mom suggested? The Devils players had all finished theirs and given them glowing reviews.

Were they lying? Surely not. Unless... What if they had been forced?

There was only one person with the ability to make an entire hockey team eat something, despite the fact it tasted gross, and that person was my best friend. Grayson Darling was in trouble. And, unfortunately for him, I was about to move into his house.

Chapter 3

Paige

“You’re such an ass, Grayson Darling!”