Even though I’m positive this wasn’t what Patel had in mind when she said she wanted to see us again, at the speed we’re going, I’m curious whether we’re going to reach Sophia’s house before Patel does. In the meantime, Sophia still hasn’t answered her phone, and I know she should be home because she’d told me she was taking time off work so she could be around Cam as much as possible.
“Did Waylon mention to you if Cam went back to school today?” Jackson asks.
“No, let me text him,” I say.
“I’m sure he doesn’t have his phone in class.”
“He’s already replied. He said Cam did come back today.”
“Oh, then maybe she went back to work. And also… isn’t he supposed to be in class and not texting?”
“Let me text him and ask him.”
Jackson sighs. “Don’t text him more!”
“He said he’s in chemistry, and that he could ‘teach this class with his eyes closed.’ I’ll remind him that we’re not going to ‘Breaking Badit.’ Huh, now he said the only thing he’ll be breaking is his patience when dealing with me. That’s weird. Do you think he’s confused?”
“Which part do you think has confused him?” Jackson asks.
“I’ll ask him. ‘Are you confused because I accidentally dropped you on your head during our spar yesterday?’”
“You did what?”
“It’s fine! He’s perfectly fine. He got up. I asked him how much it would cost if I was selling seven grams of sugar to the granny next door at five point six dollars per gram, and he got it right away.”
“Please don’t tell me you asked him that,” Jackson says, but I just grin so he’ll never know.
“I’m going to tell him that I’m going to threaten his principal into moving him into some advanced classes. We need to keep his brain active before he starts a criminal organization because he’s bored one Saturday afternoon.”
“Why couldn’t you just ask the principal instead of threatening him?” Jackson asks.
“Oh my god. You two are so cute. He asked the same thing. Like word for word.”
“Maybe because it’s the right thing to ask.”
“I’m going to ask him if he wants a pony because I will buy him anything he wants. He said he does. Jackson, where are we going to keep a pony now?”
Jackson looks over at me. He looksawayfrom the road, putting our lives in danger, just to give me a look. “Why would you ask him that?”
“I don’t know, Jackson! I just want to get him everything he’s ever wanted.”
“Tell him we’ll… get him a cat. See if he wants a cat.”
I type it to him quickly. “Waylon said he’ll take both.”
“Both isn’t an option! Where are you going to put a pony?”
“I guess where the Mistress used to go. I mean… our new child comes before your car.”
“He’ll love us just as much if we get himonlya cat.”
“Hmm… I just asked him. He said he’d definitely love us more if we got him a pony.”
“He’s fucking with you, Leland.”
I grimace. “I’m googling ponies for sale, Jackson.”
“Stop! We don’t need a pony.”
