Chapter Sixteen
As car-pool driver of the day, Zander’s purpose for stopping at the Noonans’ was only to drop off Eli. He wasn’t supposed to be scanning every inch of the property looking for Gretel. But he couldn’t quite stop himself.
Eli dashed inside, his backpack bumping up and down, and a second later, Gretel emerged. Instead of actually putting on a coat, she’d wrapped her blue fake fur around her shoulders. She must be in a hurry, because she hadn’t bothered to fasten her snow boots either.
She hopped across the yard toward his Suburban, so adorable it set his teeth on edge.
“Hi Zander, hi Petey. Zander, can I speak to you in private? Do you have a few minutes? Actually, it might take more than a few minutes.”
His eyebrows climbed. Was this some sort of come-on? “Um…now?”
“Doe
