Chapter 3

“Interesting” was how Darya would describe Jimmy’s father. He had a receding hairline, a beer belly, and a perpetual smirk. He also talked. A lot.

“Jesus tap dancing Christ,” he said, taking Darya in. “You’re a big one. And your kid’s built like a frickin’ linebacker.”

Next to her, Luca blushed and tried to take up less space. Calling her a linebacker was a gross exaggeration, but compared to Jimmy, she might as well have been. Jimmy was late on the puberty train and a whole foot shorter than Luca. Skinny, too. Luca herself had trouble putting on weight, but she was sturdier than this kid.