Well, not dumb, just nervous about the answer.
“I’m taking my grandparents out for my grandma’s birthday. Would you like to join us?”
He raises an eyebrow and says, “You want me to come to dinner?”
I open my mouth to give a response, panicking that he’s trying to be nice and turn me down.
“Sorry, I meant, I’m not really dressed for a nice dinner,” he says, gesturing at his dirty jeans and the t-shirt with drops of blood.
“You’ll be fine. We’ll just pretend you got in a fight or something.”
“If that’s fighting, I don’t want it,” he says with a lopsided smile.
I shake my head and try to keep a straight face, but that’s hardto do with Burton.
“Is that a yes or a no, sir?” I ask. “My grandma is going to be cranky if we don’t get her food soon.”
He nods. “That’s a yes. I’ve got to go tell the gal up front I won’t need a ride on the bus. That is, if you’re okay with my catching a ride in the car?”
“Of course. Then you can get some reward for helping to fix it.”
“I already got the coupon book.”
Something in his expression makes me warm, like I’ve been hugged or something.
“Okay, go tell the lady. I’ll get my grandparents so we can go.”
Is it weird that the two most important people in my life will probably interrogate him on this group dinner?
It’s like a first date, a double date, and a meet-the-parents’ situation all in one. I don’t know if that’s how Burton feels, but I hope this goes well.
CHAPTER 15
BURTON
It took some persuading for me not to get on the bus, but the main gal finally relented. I’m not a high school kid on a field trip, but a grown man who can get a ride when he needs one.
“Where are we heading?” I ask Laney as I get into the passenger seat. It’s a tight fit, but it’s doable. This is why everyone I know should have a truck. There’s usually plenty of room for limbs in those.
“My grandma’s favorite place is a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant about twenty minutes from here.” Laney puts the car into reverse and backs up while turning the steering wheel. She makes it so she can pull out of the long driveway without driving backward the entire time.
“Sounds good. I’m ready for more than the sandwiches we had for lunch.” I might’ve snuck the extra one and still feel a gnawing hunger. “At least your grandma gave us a granola bar a couple of hours ago.”
Laney laughs, filling the car with the sound. “Did you break a tooth on it? She buys things in bulk, and then they don’t eat them fast enough.”
I shake my head. “It was fairly fresh. No teeth were harmed in the process of eating it.”
“That’s a good thing.”
“What should I expect from this conversation?” I ask, turning to study her face.
She blinks a few times, like she’s concentrating. “What do you mean? Our conversation?”
I snort and say, “No, sorry. I meant our dinner conversation. With your grandparents.”
She inhales and then exhales deeply. “Grammie is a straight shooter, as you might’ve seen earlier. Grandpa will work to figure out if you know of any places he can get some free wood. The two of them together are both a hoot and very frustrating.” She hesitates before she continues. “They’ll probably ask what we are to each other.”
I point between the two of us. “You and me.”
