CHAPTER 3

I did not rush.

Mia had lived on double blessings for fifteen years. She had learned to smile like the universe liked her better. If the good things stopped all at once, she would notice.

So I chose something precise.

At breakfast, I said to Mom, "A classmate wants to introduce me to someone. I might meet him this weekend."

Mom paused with her coffee halfway to her mouth. "What kind of someone?"

"Twenty-six. Office job. Normal."

"Twenty-six? You're twenty-two. Why do you need a man that much older?"

Mia looked up from her oatmeal. She did not speak, but I saw her hear the number.

That was all I needed.

Back in my room, I opened the system.

I wish for a twenty-six-year-old boyfriend.

Wish accepted.

My heart beat hard. Not from fear. From anticipation.

Double twenty-six was fifty-two.

That afternoon, my classmate really did introduce me to a man named Daniel. He was twenty-six, worked in marketing, and looked harmless in his profile photo. We chatted for a while and agreed to get coffee on Saturday.

That was my share.

I waited for Mia's.

The next night, I came home and heard a strange male voice in the living room.

I changed my shoes and walked in.

A man sat on our sofa with his legs spread and a mug of Mom's tea in his hand. Bald spot. Beer belly. Tight polo shirt. A smile that made my skin crawl.

Mia sat beside him, white-faced.

Mom stood in the kitchen doorway, even paler.

Martin sat at the dining table with his jaw clenched.

The man grinned at me. "You must be the sister. Nice to meet you. I'm Gary. Mia's boyfriend."

Gary Wells.

Fifty-two if he was a day.

I almost laughed.

Mia grabbed his sleeve. "I told you not to say that."

Gary blinked. "Why not? You added me yesterday. You said you liked mature men. I'm mature."

"I didn't! I don't even know you!"

Gary pulled out his phone and showed Martin the chat. "Isn't this your daughter's account?"

Martin looked once. His cup hit the table.

"Mia. Explain."

Mia's voice cracked. "Dad, I swear I don't know him. He added me and started talking. Then he said he wanted to meet my parents. I couldn't stop him."

"You couldn't block him?" Martin asked.

Mia opened her mouth and found nothing.

I stood by the doorway and watched.

The system was more exact than I had expected. It had not simply doubled a number. It had doubled the consequence. I received an age-appropriate man I could ignore if I wanted. Mia received a man twice that age, already inside our home, already calling himself hers.

Mia looked at me then.

I knew that look. She had used it every time she got in trouble as a child.

Help me, Clara.

I slid my hands into my coat pockets.

"I'm going to my room," I said. "You all can talk."

"Clara!" Mia called.

I did not turn around.