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The walk back took longer than he hoped. The cold made Hollis’s bones creak, and the air was heavy and wet in the morning dew.

Annie was waiting for him. Her wide face was pinched in disapproval. She always waited, no matter how long it took him to get back or if he got up early and didn’t go at all.

“Don’t even bother denying it, I can smell it on your clothes,” she snapped.

Hollis shrugged; he closed the gate behind Annie. “You’re not my ma; you can’t tell me what to do.”

“You’re gonna get torn to pieces, you masochist.”

Hollis laughed. Annie pushed him hard from behind.

“You’re laughing now, but we’re going to be late, and Yulia isn’t going to be happy.”

Was she ever?

Yulia was waiting for them again. Her buzzed head covered in a fluffy fur hat, puffer coat down to her ankles, in gold eyeliner and a sneer.

“We’re late,” she drawled.

It would never have occurred to her to go in without them.

Yulia hugged Annie hello and palmed the back of Hollis’s head, pushing him through the door.

“We’re going to Pino’s for lunch. I’ll see you both out front, don’t be late or you’ll have to play catch-up.”

“Noted,” Hollis mumbled.

Yulia stopped to stare at him. Then she scrunched her nose and reached out to pinch his earlobe.

“You need earmuffs.”

“You buy them, I’ll wear them,” Hollis shot back immediately.

Yulia grinned.