FIVE

I closed the door and turned toward Jackson, who was trying to sneak toward the table, as if he hadn’t just committed a juvenile crime at the park.

"Don’t even think about it."

He froze, the expression of someone who knows they’ve messed up but still holds out hope that they can get away with it.

"What?"

"Can you explain to me why you hit that kid with a shovel?"

He shrugged.

"He was bothering me."

"Ah, of course, then it makes perfect sense to smack him with a shovel." I crossed my arms. "Jackson, seriously, what’s going on with you?"

He huffed and crossed his arms.

"He was bothering me."

"And so? He probably just wanted to play with you."

He looked down, dragging the tip of his shoe against the floor.

"I didn’t hit him that hard…"

"Oh, really? Then why was he crying?"

He rolled his eyes, clearly without remorse.

"Look, Jackson, you can’t just go around hitting people with whatever you have on hand. Especially not a kid much smaller than you."

"But…"

"No buts. Next time, you talk. Got it? Or do you want me to start solving my problems by hitting you with a frying pan?"

His mouth fell open into a perfect "O," horrified.

"That would be child abuse!"

"And what you did, what was that?"

He went silent, biting his lip.

"Fine," he muttered in the end. "I won’t do it again."

"I hope not."

I ruffled his hair before pointing to the table.

"Come on, homework time."

He slumped into the chair with a dramatic sigh, but at least he didn’t protest.

Just as we were about to begin, my phone buzzed on the table.

I’M ON MY WAY! Sofi, tell me how to act normal, because I CAN’T. I’m about to see Archie Garland in person! How am I supposed to breathe around him?

I widened my eyes. Crap! I’d completely forgotten about Maddie.

I glanced at Jackson, who was already hunched over his social studies notebook, chewing the back of his pencil like he was trying to crack a puzzle from another planet.

"Jackson…" I leaned on the table and adopted my most casual tone. "Do you think your parents will be mad if a friend of mine comes over today?"

The kid didn’t even look up.

"I don’t know."

That answer didn’t inspire much confidence.

"Well… just in case, let’s keep it a secret, okay?" I put a finger to my lips in a shushing gesture.

Jackson raised his head and gave me a side-eye.

"And what do I get out of this?"

I opened my mouth, stunned.

"Are you… blackmailing me?"

He shrugged, acting completely nonchalant.

"I’m negotiating."

Negotiating? Since when do seven-year-olds talk like businesspeople in a board meeting?

"Alright, little business shark, what do you want?"

"I don’t know…" he tilted his head, thinking. "Something good."

I thought for a second and then smiled.

"And I won’t tell your mom that you hit a kid at the park."

Jackson pursed his lips, evaluating the offer like he was reading a contract.

"Hmm… not good enough."

"What?" I looked at him incredulously. "This is classified information that could totally ruin you!"

"Yeah, but you don’t want it getting out either, because then you’d get in trouble for not watching me closely enough."

Excuse me?

"What are you, a lawyer?"

"No, but I watch TV."

I huffed, rubbing my temples.

"Fine, alright. I’ll take you to the amusement park this Saturday."

His eyes lit up with childish mischief before he grinned from ear to ear.

"Deal!"

Born negotiator. This kid was going places… and he’d probably manipulate half the world along the way.

Maybe he’d be president one day.

Just as Jackson and I were finishing our "deal," the doorbell rang.

Maddie.

I got up to open the door, and as soon as I did, Maddie burst in like a whirlwind, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Sofi, this is crazy! I’m in the same building as Archie Garland! How can you be SO CALM?"

I sighed and closed the door.

"Maybe because I’ve been living with him for more than twenty-four hours, and the shock is long gone," I said sarcastically.

Maddie put her hands over her chest and pretended to faint onto the couch.

"Do you realize what you’re saying? You’ve shared the same air with him for OVER A DAY, and you’re still alive!"

"Impressive, I know." I rolled my eyes and pointed to Jackson, who was watching us with a "what is going on here?" expression. "Sorry, but my priority right now is making sure this kid doesn’t end up in jail before he turns ten."

Jackson frowned.

"I’m not going to jail."

"You hit a smaller kid with a shovel," I reminded him.

"It was a small hit…"

Maddie completely ignored the conversation and suddenly stood up with determination.

"Sofi, I’ve got it!"

"Got what?"

"The perfect excuse to talk to him."

My face turned into a poem.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"We’re going to ask him for sugar."

I stared at her, unblinking.

"Excuse me?"

"Yeah, sugar. It’s the classic."

"Maddie, this isn’t a soap opera. No one does that in real life."

"Of course they do. It’s a foolproof strategic move. No one says no to sharing sugar."

"It’s ridiculous."

"And it works."

Before I could keep saying no, Maddie dragged me toward the door.

"Come on, Sofi. One doorbell ring, one simple request, and if all goes well, an epic romance."

"Please tell me you didn’t just say that seriously."

Maddie ignored me, and with a radiant smile, rang the doorbell.

The door opened.

Crap.

There he was, Archie, in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo. He looked… well, he looked ridiculously good. But that wasn’t the worst part.

The worst part was Maddie.

Because Maddie, the same person who two seconds ago was talking about "epic romance," stood frozen.

"Sug… sugar…" she stammered.

Archie raised an eyebrow and looked from her to me.

"Sugar?"

I crossed my arms and sighed.

"Yeah, Maddie insists we can’t survive without it."

As if her brain had been rebooted, Maddie snapped back to reality.

"But it’s true! Sofi, you can’t make desserts without sugar. And a house without desserts is a sad house."

Archie let out a light laugh and leaned an arm on the doorframe.

"You know what’s sadder? That this is the best excuse you could come up with."

Maddie turned bright red, but instead of backing down, she went on the attack.

"It’s not a lie! We really need it," she said firmly, though she seemed to hesitate. "It’s just… we’re going to make a cake!"

I gave her a sideways glance.

"A cake?"

"Yeah!" she nodded frantically. "A homemade cake. The good kind."

"How convenient," he responded, amused. "But I suppose I can share a little."

Maddie blinked, finally noticing his tuxedo.

"And where are you off to dressed like that?"

"Keanu Reeves’s birthday party."

My eyebrows shot up.

"Wait… what?"

Maddie, on the other hand, seemed about to have a meltdown.

"ARE YOU TELLING ME YOU’RE GOING TO KEANU REEVES’ BIRTHDAY PARTY?"

Archie nodded with his ever-relaxed expression.

"And what if I told you you’re both invited?"

Maddie grabbed my arm so forcefully I thought she was going to dislocate my shoulder.

"Sofi. Let’s go. No questions."

I yanked my arm away.

"Did you hear what you just said? We can’t just show up at a party like that."

"Of course we can! He’s inviting us!"

Maddie looked at me like I was an idiot for doubting it, and Archie… well, Archie was enjoying my discomfort far too much.

"Come on, neighbor. Not every day you can say you went to Keanu Reeves’ birthday party."

"Thanks, but I’ll pass," I crossed my arms. "I have to watch Jackson."

Maddie rolled her eyes.

"Leave him with a babysitter."

"I am the babysitter."

"Then let him fall asleep and let’s go."

"Maddie…"

"Sofi…" she mimicked dramatically. "It’s Keanu. Reeves."

Before I could respond, Archie interrupted:

"Too bad. I could have introduced you to some interesting people." He looked at me with a teasing smile. "But well, if you prefer a night of elementary school homework…"

I narrowed my eyes.

"I’m not going to bite."

"Are you sure?" he teased.

"Yes."

"Well…" he pulled out his phone and shrugged. "It’s a shame you’ll miss it."

"I don’t want to go."

"Perfect."

Maddie shot me a deadly look and grabbed my arm again.

"You have three seconds to change your mind before I faint right here."

I sighed.

"Maddie, seriously, I have to watch Jackson."

She looked at me, thoughtful, then suddenly turned to Archie.

"Do you have any reliable babysitters?

"I can sort something out," he replied without hesitation.

I gave Maddie a murderous glance.

"Maddie, no."

"Maddie, yes."

Archie smiled.

"In that case, make it quick. The party’s waiting."

I just closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

This was definitely going to spiral out of control.