Read Online Six by M.M. Vaughan - Free Book Online Page B

slightly too emphatically. He didn’t look at Parker.
    â€œHmm,” said Parker.
    Michael didn’t say anything as he knelt down and turned on two of the computers.
    â€œSo what do your parents do?” asked Parker, changing the subject.
    â€œMy mom’s an aviation safety engineer, and my dad has a software company.”
    â€œWhat kind of software?”
    â€œGames, mostly,” said Michael as he pulled out a pair of headphones and handed them to Parker. “Clown Apocalypse is one of them.”
    Parker’s head snapped around in disbelief.
    â€œNo. Way.”
    Clown Apocalypse was not only Mr. Nowak’s favorite game—it was also the most downloaded game in history. “No wonder you have all this stuff.”
    â€œThey’re never home, so they pretty much buy me whatever I want. I think it’s a guilt thing,” explained Michael. He sounded embarrassed. He took a seat in a leather office chair and pushed an identical one next to him in Parker’s direction.
    â€œMy dad just buys ice cream when he feels guilty about working too much. I think I need to have a talk with him,” said Parker, smiling as he sat down.
    Michael didn’t reply. Instead he turned on the two screens in front of them, handed Parker a pair of headphones, and started up a computer game—the third installment of the car game they had been playing the day before.
    â€œI thought this wasn’t coming out until next month,” said Parker.
    â€œPerks of having a dad who owns a gaming company,” said Michael.
    Parker grinned. He turned, saw that Emma was busy exploring Michael’s collection of toys, and picked up his headphones.
    â€œRight,” he said, choosing his car, “let’s do this. I hope you’re a good loser.”
    â€œI wouldn’t know,” said Michael, with a straight face. “I never lose.”
    Michael put his headphones on, and Parker turned back to his screen, but not before catching the sight of Michael’s mouth curling up into a smile.
    *  *  *  *  *  *
    Parker would have stayed at the computer all day—and he suspected Michael would have been happy to do the same—had it not been for the housekeeper, Hilda—a stern-looking woman with an efficient tone of voice—coming into the room to call them down for lunch. Parker, Michael, and Emma followed her down to the kitchen to find three bowls of steaming spaghetti Bolognese and warm freshly baked bread waiting for them. By the time they finished eating, the weather had cleared and the sun was shining—exactly as Michael had predicted.
    â€œLet’s get our bikes. We can ride up to the tree house,” said Michael, leading them out of the main building and into a glass-covered walkway that branched in opposite directions ahead of them. They took the left path, which led to a set of elevator doors.
    â€œWhere does this go?” asked Parker.
    â€œThe basement,” said Michael as they stepped inside. He turned his back to Parker and pressed the button marked B. Parker looked over at Emma to give her an isn’t-this-amazing? look, but she was too busy staring at the sleek leather-padded walls of the elevator. Her face was scrunched up in thought.
    Parker pressed down on his wrist.
    Without looking down at her arm, she pressed down on her wrist to answer.
    You okay? he said.
    Emma looked over at him and gave a small shake of her head. I’m just trying to work out how many schools could have been built in Africa with the money they spent on this house.
    Lighten up, Emma. Seriously, it’s annoying. You can’t think like that about everything.
    Yes, I can, replied Emma as the elevator came to a smooth stop.
    Ding.
    The doors opened and Michael stepped out.
    Just try to enjoy it, said Parker.
    Emma gave a small shrug and rolled her eyes. Fine, she said. She turned off Effie and stepped out in front of Parker as