“Then let me go with you and I’ll make it over there. I can make other things too. They taught me how to make explosives and?—”
“I’m more of a grenade launcher and flamethrower kind of guy,” I explain while I mime holding a grenade launcher. “While we’re gone, we’re going to put you in our super-ultra-secret safe house. Sophia and her husband, who still likes her for some reason, are going to stay there with you, as well as Cam. And then Jackson’s parents and Tucker will all be staying with you.”
“Why such a strange assortment of people?” Waylon asks.
“Sophia because I do trust that she knows how to fight, and while she probably wouldn’t put in too much effort to save my life, I’m confident she’d save yours. Tucker because while he’s not a master of guns like I am, he has a large network of people. He will have a few people stationed around the premises atall times. And Jackson’s parents because all Ava would have to do is open her mouth and she would make even the toughest person cry. And also, I trust her to take care of you, even if she’s sketchy.”
“Is all of this supposed to make me feel more at ease or more concerned?” Waylon questions.
“Waylon, there’s no way Leland would get on a plane and fly halfway across the country if he didn’t truly think you were safe, alright?” Jackson asks. “These are people he trusts. You and Cam can just play video games all day.”
“I wonder if I should hire someone to watch over The Fence as well,” I say thoughtfully.
“You… I’m sorry, you think someone is going to hold yourfencehostage?” Jackson asks, as though there’sany wayhe couldn’t envision this.
“It’s highly possible.”
“It’s highly ridiculous. There is absolutely no one who is going to think that fence is of any significance.”
“Hmm…”
“Waylon, we’re going to drop you off tomorrow morning. So we thought before we went, we could go out for dinner and have a little fun,” Jackson says.
Waylon just shrugs. “I’m happy with whatever.”
“That’s because you’re a good kid and a decent person, unlike my husband who is shaming my fence,” I say as I grab Waylon and try to toss him over my shoulder. The issue is he’s a tall kid, so no part of the attempt is well coordinated, and I nearly drop him. “Whoops.”
“Yes, Leland, let’s drop him and leave him here with a broken arm while we’re at it,” Jackson deadpans.
“He’s fine. Definitely fine,” I say as I kind of just let him ooze onto the ground before heading out the door.
Even after that, he still trails after me, telling me that he enjoyed every second of it. Before he can reach the car, I yank him in front of The Fence and force him to look right at it. “A beaut, ain’t he?”
“I just realized I’m going to have a few days without having to look at this thing,” Waylon says with a significant amount of relief.
“If your friends ever want to know how your parents met, make sure you tell them this story. Maybe we should get a plaque and put it in front of it so everyone walking by will know too.”
“I’m sure all of my friends are breaking down the door to hear how you two met,” he says as he plods off toward the car.
I grab Jackson and try to do the same to him, but he oddly fights harder.
“I don’t want to look at it!”
“You look at it, Jackson!” I say.
He tries kicking The Fence, and I gasp, hurt by his betrayal.
“Howdareyou?” I whisper.
“I’ll do it again with a smile on my face,” he says as he struggles some more before giving up and joining Waylon. I kiss my fingers then press them against the wood while I look Jackson in the eyes, hoping to make him jealous. He kisses his fingers and rubs them down the hood of the Mistress, making me gasp.
I hurry over to the car and kick a tire before getting in. “Jackson!”
“You two are so weird,” Waylon complains as I buckle my seat belt.
“Yet you said you’d do anything to stay with us. How cute,” I say.
Waylon looks embarrassed and horrified. “I regret it! I take it all back! Please! Give me up!”
