第24部分(第2/8 頁)

how　to　smile。　Mr。　Loski　was　clean　and　smooth　on　the

outside；　but　there　was　a　distinct　whiff　of　something　rotten

buried　just　beneath　the　surface。　And　the　ever…efficient　Mrs。　Loski　seemed　flustered；　almost

hyper。　Was　it　having　us　over　that　was　making　her

nervous？

Then　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；