Chapter 32

The familiar warmth Xander Lewis always carried with him somehow melted away the chill and resentment that had hit me when I saw Henry Smith again. "What brings you here?" "He didn't give you trouble, did he?" We both blurted out at the same time and laughed—it was one of those strangely synced moments. Neither of us repeated the question. As soon as he stepped inside, the first thing he did was head straight for the kitchen and peek into the fridge. It was basically empty—just a couple bottles of beer and some juice. He sighed and shot me a helpless look. "Seriously? I’ve told you so many times—ease up on the takeout. It’s terrible for you." I quickly grabbed two packs of instant noodles and a box of eggs, trying to look innocent. "I mean, it’s not *every* meal. I’ve got backup!" Xander took the noodles, and with his obvious height advantage, tapped them gently on my head. "This junk’s worse than takeout." "Hey! Don't break them—they taste awful if they’re crushed!" I pouted, feeling