n　there　was　Bryce—the　most　disturbing　of　all　because　I　had　to　admit　that　I　didn't　really

know　him；　either。　And　based　on　what　I'd　discovered

lately；　I　didn't　care　to　know　any　more。　Looking　across　the　table　at　him；　all　I　got　was　a　strange；

detached；　neutral　feeling。　No　fireworks；　no　leftover

anger　or　resurging　flutters。

Nothing。

After　we'd　had　dessert　and　it　was　time　to　go；　I　went　up　to　Bryce　and　told　him　I　was　sorry　for

having　been　so　fierce　when　we'd　first　e　in。　“I

should've　let　you　apologize；　and　really；　it　was　very　nice　of　your　family　to　have　us　over。　I　know

it　was　a　lot　of　work　and；　well；　I　think　my　mom　had　a

really　good　time　and　that's　what　matters　to　me。”　We　were　looking　right　at　each　other；　but　it

was　almost　as　though　he　didn't　hear　me。　“Bryce？　I　said

I'm　sorry。”

He　nodded；　and　then　our　families　were　waving　good…bye　and　saying　good　night。

I　walked　behind　my　mother；　who　was　holding　hands　with　my　father；　and　beside　my　brothers；

who　were　carrying　home　what　was　left　of　our　pies。

We　all　wound　up　in　the　kitchen；　and　Matt　poured　himself　a　glass　of　milk　and　said　to　Mike；

“That　Mr。　Loski　was　sniffing　us　out　pretty　good　tonight；

wasn't　he？”

“No　kidding。　Maybe　he　thinks　we're　hot　for　his　daughter。”

“Not　me；　dude！　You？”

Mike　got　himself　a　glass　of　milk；　too。　“That's　Skyler's　gig。　No　way　I'd　go　there。”　He　grinned。

“But　she　was　really　cool　tonight。　Did　she　e　down

on　papa　bear　or　what？”

My　dad　took　a　paper　plate　out　of　the　cupboard　and　cut　a　slice　of　pie。　“You　boys　showed　a　lot

of　restraint　tonight。　I　don't　know　if　I　could've　kept　my

cool　that　way。”

………　Page　73………

“Aw；　he's　just；　you　kn