“Ha. Nurse Ratched? She has a curfew policy. Lights out at nine p.m.—for all of us, like I’m in prison. I’m about to fly over this fucking cuckoo’s nest.”
“Let’s go get lunch. I have a couple hours before I have to get Milo.”
“Okay.” I got up. “You driving?”
“Yeah, I’ll drive, then we can go straight to Milo’s school.”
I actually loved the kid, but I hated feeling like his stepdad. I didn’t mind looking after him from time to time, but this weird pseudo-side-family Penny had created made me uncomfortable. I liked hanging out with Milo but not when she and I were alone together. It felt odd but I agreed anyway, just to get out of the house and distract myself from my dad.
I followed her and Buckley down the street as she walked fast. “Are you in a hurry?” I asked.
“Well, I have to do pick-up duty so I need to get to the school a little earlier today.”
“What the hell is pick-up duty?” I felt ill already. “Like we have to take other kids home?”
She opened the front door as I followed her into the house. It was pristine inside, as always. “No, we just have to get out and direct traffic a little, maybe help kids to their cars and clear out the parking lot.”
“That is a million times worse.” I folded my arms over my chest. “I’m not going.”
“Stop whining. It’ll take half an hour with both of us.”
“Won’t it be weird, me and you there?”
Ushering Buckley into the laundry room, she turned on her heel. We were inches apart. “You’ve been to his school dozens of times, Gavin. Everyone thinks you’re his uncle.”
“Like... your brother?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh god. Whatever, Penny.”
Her voice softened. “You’re kinda like a brother to me.”
I grimaced. “Let’s just go. I’m starving.”
When we got out to the garage, I noticed Penny had a new car. “A white Mercedes SUV?” I shot her a disappointed look.
“It’s four-wheel drive. You’re always getting stuck in the snow. I can’t get stuck in the snow. I have a kid.”
“It’s white. And didn’t you just have a new car?”
“We lease them for two years. Just get in. I didn’t pick the color.”
“Obviously.”
I got in and slouched down in the passenger seat.
“Where should we go?” she said, pulling out of the driveway.
“Odell’s?”
“Nooo,” she whined. “I’m not in the mood for food trucks.”
“What about Horse and Dragon?”
“That sounds dreadful.”
“It’s not. It’s actually very bright and cheery there. Jesus, Penny, you’ve really lost your edge.”
