63

Looking at Roman with fresh eyes, I feel myself being crushed by the rush of pity. This poor boy has never had a real mother, probably never even a real friend. He mentioned moving a bunch. That makes sense. If they stayed in one spot, Asher might find them. Does he go to school? Does he know anything beyond the lie that Yannick has constructed around him?

Roman watches me eagerly, waiting for me to choose. Finally, I decide on a random level that looks like a tree-filled park.

“Oh!” Roman laughs. “Northwind Speedway! I’m really good at this one.”

He’s not boasting. Once the game starts, he loops me multiple times, winning every race. Even after he shows me all the buttons and some tricks, I still have no hope of beating him.

After my seventh loss in a row, Roman pats me on the back with a proud smile.

“It’s okay, Camila,” he says earnestly. “Maybe now that we aren’t going to be moving anymore, you can actually practice and get good enough to beat me.”

“What do you mean we aren’t goin