As Roxanne and I chat about the past, the door to the cafe swings open to reveal none other than Bradley. 

He doesn't seem to notice our presence and walks up to the counter, leaning against it as if he owned the shop.

The man working the counter gets a glimpse of him and smiles warmly. "Bradley!"

"Nico, my man. Tell Benny I'm here."

Bradley walks away and sits on the opposite side of the shop, still oblivious of us. The worker, apparently named Nico, walks up to our table momentarily with our orders.

Before he can leave, I stop him with a tug on his sweatshirt. "Do you think the reason why no one has ever really come here is because of Bradley? I mean, I heard about this place opening right as the X Games ended."

"Rude," Nico says with a scowl. "Sure, people may not like Bradley that much, but he's one of my best friends, and I'll be damned if I kick him out for customers. I'd much rather just have him here."

I rush to explain myself. "No, I didn't mean to be rude. I was just asking a question... and thanks for answering it."

Roxanne places a comforting hand on my forearm before glancing up at the worker. "He has some brain problems. Please excuse him."

Nico gives us one last glance then walks away, muttering to himself.

"I wonder why Bradley's here," Roxanne says as the angered worker disappears behind the curtain to the storage room.

I shrug, glancing over in his direction. "He's probably too scared to go to the Bean Scene since the Gammas hang there."

"The Gammas?"

"His old frat," I explain, bringing my attention back to her. "Him and the new president have bad blood after the X Games. You didn't hear this from me, but... I think they've got some sort of shady business going."

Before Roxanne can respond, Nico walks back out from the storage room with a serious expression. He peers over at us questioningly, drawing Bradley's attention to us. The brown-haired man's face falls into an expression of surprise and something else that I can't place. 

Nico whistles for Bradley, cocking his head in the direction of the room he just exited. Bradley stands up stiffly, glares at us, and follows Nico to wherever they're going. Roxanne and I watch them flee then exchange looks of engagement.

"We have to see what's behind that curtain," Roxanne whisper-yells, slamming her hand against the plastic table.

My eyes widen, and I look around to make sure no one is around. "That's none of our business. What if it's something we don't want to see, like dead bodies?"

She raises a brow and leans back in her seat with crossed arms. "You really think Bradley is capable of murder?"

"You don't know him. Actually, I don't even know him very well! He could be involved in an Italian underground or- or maybe he sells drugs to homeless people!"

"I'm sure he eats babies, too" Roxanne laughs at her own comment, mentally patting herself on the back because she thinks she's actually funny.

"It's possible."

She doesn't seem to know whether or not I'm kidding about the likelihood, so she just smiles and continues. "Anyway, you up for it? It's not like anything super bad could be happening back there."

"You know what?" I say, an idea forming in my head. "I'll do it."

"Great," she says with an unsettling grin.

I hold up my finger as a pausing signal. "But... you have to come to my birthday dinner tonight."

"Of course!" Her smile doesn't falter, and she grabs my other hand excitedly.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "Bueno. Just so you know, I would've done it if you said no, too. But no take-backsies."

She feigns annoyance but it melts into her usual sweet smile. "Let's do it tomorrow. It'll be my very last day in Michigan, and I'd love to spend it engaging in shenanigans with you."

"We can come here after my birthday celebration with my friends at the Bean Scene... which you're cordially invited to."

Roxanne nods, brightening a bit more. "Sounds totally baller. Hey, I have to go, but we'll talk later?"

"Yeah, definitely."

As she leaves the cafe, I can't help but wonder how we're going to get into that storage room. 

More importantly, what is Bradley hiding?

~*~*~

"Maxie!"

I wait for my dad to almost tackle me to the ground in a bone-crushing hug. Terrifyingly enough, all I see is the gleam of his two front teeth before my vision blacks out, his arms clamping around me.

Okay, I'm being dramatic. It was a nice hug.

When he glances over beside me and spots Roxanne, his smile somehow grows even wider. "Roxanne! It's been a while, hasn't it?"

She beams back and pulls him into a half-hug. "Always nice to see you, Mr. Goof."

They engage in a lively conversation, my father dying to know the details of her latest relationship. I'm standing to the side and listening boredly when a red sports car pulls up. The windows are tinted, so I can't see who's driving, but there's something familiar about the family crest on the hood of the car.

Because my life is a joke, Bradley Uppercrust the Third steps out onto the hot pavement, followed by who I assume are his mother and father. 

The Uppercrusts approach us with their noses upturned in a snooty manner, judging my dad's house openly. Mrs. Uppercrust nudges her husband and says something along the lines of "speeding away". Bradley trails behind them, acting primmer and more proper than usual.

"What a lovely... cottage you have," Mr. Uppercrust says flatly, narrowing his eyes at the doorframe as he steps inside, followed by his wife and son.

My dad steps aside, unfazed by the backhanded comment. "Why, thank you! Make yourselves comfortable."

Mr. and Mrs. Uppercrust delicately sit down on the couch, which has seen better days, and Bradley just awkwardly floats nearby. Roxanne gives them an uncomfortable smile and plops down into a chair.

"Dad," I hiss through my teeth, gesturing for him to follow me.

He turns to the rich family as he trails behind me into the kitchen. "One second, folks!"

When we arrive, I slam the door shut and cross my arms. "Why are they here?"

"Well, I thought it'd be nice to ease any tensions after the X Games."

I run a hand nervously through my hair. "At my birthday dinner?"

"What better time?" he asks with his signature chortle.

"I just- why would you- I..." I trail off, sighing because I know my complaining won't help anything. "Let's just get this over with."

With that, I leave the kitchen and enter the living room, a smile plastered on my face.

"Welcome to my home," I say, my voice strained.

Only Bradley and Roxanne seem to notice my unease, exchanging looks between themselves. Mr. Uppercrust nods in acknowledgement, and Mrs. Uppercrust clings to his arm and just peruses my appearance blankly.

The silence becomes almost unbearable before Bradley breaks it. "Mother, Father. This is Max, the head of the opposing team in the X Games. It's his birthday."

"Happy birthday," Mrs. Uppercrust says, her voice booming in the confinement of the room.

Mr. Uppercrust decides to pipe up. "So, you're the boy who lost to our Bradley, eh?"

Before I can ask what he means, my dad calls everyone to the table. Arriving in the dining room, I see my father's antique china spread across the table neatly, decorated with personalized name plates made of paper. 

And considering my luck, Bradley is seated next to me.

I sit down with Bradley to my left and Roxanne to my right, silently surveying the table. Bradley appears to be as uncomfortable as I am, and the redhead on the other side attempts to crack a few jokes to ease the tension.

"This is my finest china," my dad says proudly. "Only the best for my esteemed guests. Oh, would ya look at that? I rhymed!"

Mrs. Uppercrust gives him a feigned polite smile. "So, you did."

"We have finer china than this," Bradley's father mutters, placing his napkin on his lap.

The whole group is silent as we pass around food, desperately trying to find a reason not to talk.

"Where is the boy's mother?" Mr. Uppercrust suddenly asks, his gruff voice coming across a little aggressive.

I learned at an early age that this was one of those things we never bring up.

"Pardon me?" my father asks hesitantly.

Mrs. Uppercrust wipes a bit of food from her upper lip then speaks. "He asked about your boy's mother."

My dad's posture becomes rigid. "Oh, yes... she... she isn't with us anymore."