My smile slips.
CHAPTER FOUR
KARSON
Anyone who does anything to help a child in his life is a hero to me.
—FREDROGERS
As I pull into the parking lot next to the cone of an extinct volcano, I can’t help thinking about Gemma and her evil twin, who should build her lair here in Mt. Tabor Park. Of course, if Gemma believes stealing the homecoming crown is evil, then she would never be able to deal with what I do on a daily basis.
My eight-year-old nephew’s seat belt unsnaps and whizzes back into place, releasing him to lean over my shoulder in an illegal fashion. “Is that a real volcano?”
I find a spot and shift into Park. “It was. Now it’s used as an amphitheater.” The typical person would never know the venue once spewed molten lava. Now the small crater is currently filled with grass and surrounded by greenery. Today there’s even a band setting up in it for an after-party.
“Cool.” Phillip grabs his longboard and leaps out his door to the asphalt before I even turn off the engine.
“Wait, kiddo.”
Phillip stands in wonder of the skateboarding tricks going on around us, though this is how he seems to live every day. His mouth hangs open to reveal adult teeth he hasn’t yet grown into, his dark eyes shimmer with the energy of freshly brewed coffee, and his chestnut hair is spiked with sweat from constant movement.
I don’t think I was ever so innocent.
“Look at them.”
I climb out of the decade-old F-150, click Lock twice on my key fob, and join Phillip to scan the chaos. There should really be parking attendants and security set up, but at least the pine-scented air smells fresh like the woods right here in the middle of the city, and the giant trees offer cool shade from the blazing sun overhead.
Skaters of all ages and abilities take turns between racing and loitering. The action is accompanied by an orchestra of wheels on pavement, laughter, and a loudspeaker in the distance. I’m here as the stand-in for Phillip’s dad, who is currently deployed. And because Harris is competing in the Old School Downhill Race.
My former partner rolls up. He looks more like a character from a sci-fi movie than a skater in his long-sleeved black Under Armor shirt, gloves, and an aerodynamic helmet with a reflective gold visor. I can’t actually see Harris’s face, but it’s either him or someone wearing a padded muscle costume under all that spandex.
Phillip knocks knuckles with my old partner, but I’m going to have to give him a bad time about this ensemble. “Join the dark side, Darth?”
Harris removes the helmet à la Skywalker. He flashes his trademark smile. “You’re the one hanging out with women who have arrest warrants.”
I narrow my eyes. I was able to avoid him after Tuesday’s class, but I should have known this conversation would catch up to me. “The warrant is in her twin sister’s name. They have almost identical fingerprints.”
He chuckles, steps on one end of his skateboard, and picks it up by the other end. He strolls with us along the hiking trail toward the reservoir where races start. “There’s two of them? Maybe we can double-date.”
My stomach plummets like a skateboard down a mountain. Surely it’s because I have absolutely no desire to go out with Gemma, and not because Harris finds her attractive. “If you’re interested, you can have her.”
“Oh no.” Harris shakes his head. “That woman only has her heart set on one cop, and it’s not me.”
Phillip’s eyes shine with fascination, and I realize too late that word of Gemma is going to spread throughout the Zellner clan. I should have faced off with Drew during the workweek to prevent anyone from getting caught in this cross fire.
I picture myself yelling “nooo” and running in slow motion to guard my family from gossip. I don’t make it in time.
“There’s a girl who likes you, Uncle Karson?”
Harris hoots. “She doesn’t just like him. She’s writing a movie about him.”
“Not aboutme,” I correct. Especially not after the firefighters take over the class. “About heroes in general.”
Phillip grins his toothy grin. “Is she pretty?”
I want to say,That’s all she is, but after our discussion over her background check, I know it wouldn’t be true. Gemma is sweet and intuitive and a real pain in the booty. I don’t say this either, because little boys don’t understand the dangers of dating beautiful women. “She’s all right.”
“All right?” Drew whoops. “She’sall rightlike I’m white.”
