Roll for Initiative by Jaime Formato

Author:Jaime Formato [Formato, Jaime]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Running Press
Published: 2022-09-27T00:00:00+00:00

It takes a solid three hours to get through the whole Intelligence Buff thing, and by the time we finish, my brain literally hurts. Seriously, there’s a stabby little twinge in my upper-right cerebrum that definitely wasn’t there before. Also, I now know that learning, problem-solving, and reasoning are products of the cerebrum, so it could happen.

Mom insists on taking a picture of my note cards and study guides before we head to the laundry room. “Your brother is going to get such a kick out of this. I’m texting it to him right now.”

Lucy nudges me in the ribs, “Yep, definitely sounds like his jam.”

“Hey, it must be your jam, too, right?” I laugh. “Nobody forced you to come.”

“True, true. You got me. I just couldn’t resist the smell of fresh highlighters and sticky notes,” she says. “Hannah stuck to her guns, though, huh?”

“Yep,” I say. “I called her one more time this morning to be sure. She said she’d rather rub pollen on her head and stick it in a beehive, then she hung up. She’ll meet us for the game though.”

Laughing, Lucy and Jen pack up their backpacks while I gather the laundry stuff. “You sure you got it?” Mom asks.

“I’ll be down there anyway,” I say. “Might as well.”

She gives me a rib-crushing squeeze, then hops onto the couch, grabbing her library book and a bag of Oreos off the coffee table. “A day off that’s actually a day off?! What is this sorcery? Just for that, girl, I’m ordering us a pizza. Be back at five? We can watch a movie or something since your homework’s all done.”

I nod, and she gives me a thumbs-up before diving into her book.

“Your mom’s cool,” Lucy whispers, once we’re outside. “Mine would never chill with me at home on her night off.”

“Thanks. Sorry. Thanks,” I whisper awkwardly back. Jen gives us a curious look, and we head off to Hannah’s apartment.

A knock at the window stops us as we pass Lucy’s. A second later, her dad bounds out the door, grocery bag in hand. “Rations,” he says, handing the bag to Lucy. “To fortify the party. That’s what you call them, right? Rations?”

“You got it.” Lucy takes the bag and a hug. “Thanks.”

“Let me get that for you.” He takes my heavy laundry bag and slings it easily over his shoulder. “I’ll run it down for you while you grab Hannah.” Whistling, he strolls off toward the laundry room.

“Thanks!” I call after him, then whisper to Lucy, “Your dad’s cool. Mine would never bring me rations or carry my laundry.”

“Thanks. Sorry. Thanks,” she whispers back.

“What are you two whispering about?” Jen asks, not in a whisper. “I am literally standing right here.”

OK, yeah, that’s rude. I definitely see her point, but I also don’t really want to get into the whole reason why we’re whispering about each other’s parents. “Sorry. We’re just admiring each other’s parents.”

“We admire yours as well,” Lucy adds. “I like her commercial. It’s fierce.”

Jen laughs.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.