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So. Aggravating.“Not funny.”

Dad shrugged. “I’m your father. Trust me when I say I’ve got a sense of humor.”

Nick threw his hands up. “Fine.Since apparently we live in CommunistChina,we’ll do it your way.”

“World Studies going well, then?”

Nick nodded. “I’m learning a lot. First test next week. All right, old man. You ready for this?”

“Hit me, kid.”

Nick leaned forward eagerly. “Did you see him?”

Dad sipped his coffee before answering. He really was the worst. “I did.”

“Did youtalkto him?”

“I didn’t. Last question.”

Nick couldn’t believe it was almost over already. “I’d like to renegotiate the terms of our agreement, if I may.”

“You may not.”

Such a hard-ass. “Okay, let me think.”

“You’ve got thirty seconds.”

Nick gaped at him. “But—you know I can’t—why are youlikethis?”

“To make your life miserable. Twenty seconds.”

“Okay, wait. Just wait. Let me—”

“Ten seconds.”

“Time doesnotmove that fast, you liar—”

“Three. Two. One.”

“Why do you think they were fighting like that?” Nick blurted.

Dad blinked like he hadn’t been expecting that question. “What?”

“It doesn’t make sense,” Nick said. “They’ve always been… not like that. It was like something happened, and they were taking it to another level. Sure, they’ve fought before, but they’ve never been in an all-outbrawllike that. Why were they going after each other with such hatred?”

Dad rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Your guess is as good asmine. I don’t know what goes on in the mind of an Extraordinary. On one hand, you’ve got your boyfriend doing what he can to—”

“He’s not myboyfriend,oh my god, how can yousaythat—”

“—even if he can be a pain in the ass, and on the other hand, you’ve got that fire guy who just seems to like causing chaos for the hell of it. But the shadow fella and the fire guy have always been… what? Enemies?”

“Shadow fella and fire guy,” Nick repeated. “It’s like you’re deliberately trying to hurt me. Really. Stab me in the heart, why don’t you. It’d be easier.”

“You know more about this kind of thing than I do,” Dad said. “Don’t you stalk—I mean, don’t youfolloweverything they do? Obsessively? To the point I should probably be more concerned than I am?”

“A little,” Nick admitted. “I’ve got a handle on it. I’ll let you know if it gets to the point that might necessitate serving me a restraining order.”

“I’m glad you know yourself that well.”