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"Good. You can head to the beach with your friends when we get back."
He sniffles. "I wasn’t able to splash with them yesterday. I don't want to miss beach day again."
I roll my eyes. "We’ll be gone for two hours—if that."
Medici furrows his brow. "That’s not long."
"No, it’s not." Moving my hand to his jaw, I tickle it. "You’ll be fine."
"This isn’tScared Straight, right?" Mattie pushes out a growl. "You won’tleaveme there—with criminals?"
"Something tells me I wouldn’t be able to scare you straightif I tried."
"You’re right. I’m gay and proud, chica."
I issue him a stern look. "We’re heading to prison so you can a) see where I lived for twelve years and b) support me when I tell Trevion that it’s over."
Mattie nods. "As long as I don't miss my swim sesh."
An expression of concern seeps into my face. "This is super important to me, boy. And—I thought it was to you, too. You wanted to make sure Trevion knew I wasn’t available."
Mattie rests his cheek on my palm. "Itisimportant to me. I’m scared. I’ve never been to prison before."
"You’ve played Monopoly, right?"
He nods. "Yes."
"This is like when you land on jail," I whisper, seeking to reassure him, "but you stay outside the orange part—just visiting."
Mattie snickers. "I got you."
"Did that analogy help?"
A frisson of worry snakes through me. I want to make damn sure Mattie understands I’m not dropping his ass off at prison. The boy wouldn’t last two days. I’d sacrifice my freedom before I ever let that happen.
Mattie snorts. "Big Monopoly fan. Yep."
"Good."
"You know," Mattie explains, "the game was actually invited by a woman who wanted to show people how luck-based our current system is. It was called theLandlord Game.Then, the current owners bought the IP and turned it into the fun board game that it is today."
"It teaches us a good lesson."
"I agree. In life, always buy in locations like Broadway and Park Place."
This boy. What a joker.
I glare at him. "That’s not the moral."
"You’re right. Get the yellows—ooooh, no. The reds. Those are my favorites. I forget the neighborhood’s name."
My eyes tick back. "I like the oranges."
"Those have the highest statistical likelihood of making you your money back after you throw hotels and houses on them. Tons of people land there."
"And," I drawl, "they’re right next toFree Parking.Hello, free five-hundred bucks."
"I don't play that way. My mother said it made it too easy."
