“Can I call you Mick? Michael's too formal. I'm not formal. You're lucky I've even got pants on today.”

“But – Michael, you said you didn’t know Oliver, and–”“I didn’t, until he killed me. We were never formally introduced.”

“I'm going to take a shower. You're going to be good, try not to be sexy or freak me out or anything like that. I've got to concentrate, preparing for a formal party is serious business. I don't need distractions." His eyes went half-mast and his half-grin appeared. "You're doing it!"I accused. His eyebrows went up. I shook my head. "Never mind". Then I stomped to the shower.”

“Tuck holds out his hand. "By the way, I don't think we've been formally introduced. I'm Tuck. You know, rhymes with luck.""And fuck," Carlos adds."Yep, that, too," Tuck says unfazed.”

“Up until now I've never done anything bad—not that this is bad. I've never even been late for curfew! Compared to most teenagers, I'm a miracle. You're lucky I'm your daughter.”

“That civet-jasmine blend you're wearing tonight absolutely clashes with the third-level formal style of your dress, you know.”