“Stop feeling sorry for yourself.”
My head jerks up and I look at my father. “What?”
“I can see it in your face. You’re frowning and your shoulders are all slumped. Get your ass up. Make yourself one of them ice cream drinks you like.”
“A malt.”
I do love a good malt.
“Yeah. And make me one while you’re at it.”
That puts a smile on my face. A little one. “Sure. I’ll be down.”
“Bella’ll be here pretty quick.”
“Okay.”
* * *
“You slept for twenty-four hours.”
It’s not a question.
I lift both shoulders. “Give or take.” It was actually closer to twenty-six hours, but I don’t think I should tell her that.
“That’s what we call depression.”
“I was tired. Not depressed.”
“Whatever.” She waves her hand like my words are fluffy nothings. “Let’s log into Netfilms and see what happens between Gregor and Martinka.”
“What stupid names.”
“Martinka isn’t stupid.” Bella frowns. “I love that name.”
“It’s Martin with akaat the end.”
Bella’s eyes turn into slits. “Whatever, you party pooper.” Relaxing her angry face, she raises her hand and points up with her finger. “Gregor, on the other hand. That’s a silly name.”
“Oh, now that one I like. He sounds like a name in one of my romance books. You know, the ones about the Russian mafia slash wolf shifters.”
“I have no idea what you just said.”
At that moment, my father comes into the room sucking on the straw that I placed in his chocolate malt. Sitting next to me on the couch, he sets the extra-large bowl of popcorn I made to share, but so far he’s been hogging, between his legs. “Let’s go. We can’t miss out on Greg and Martinka’s story.”
“Dad.” I blink in surprise. “I assumed you wouldn’t want to watch the show.” Because—Mom.
“Nah. I need to keep up on all this show stuff.”
“If I’d known, I would have watched it with you.”
Dad reaches out and pats my knee. “I know, Velma Lou. But no worries. I’m more than capable of watching television on my own.”
I look up, thinking about that statement. It’s true as long as he doesn’t have to fiddle with the new remote. Or the computer. “How did you watch it?” Because you cannot tell me that suddenly my father was able to get on the internet, log into Netfilms, and find the show he wants to watch.
No way.
“Watched with a friend.” He sips his malt then winks.
