So, I deflected.
“Easy to say right after you come,” I said. “Let’s see how you feel later.”
He chewed the inside of his cheek and shook his head with a knowing grin. “I’ll prove it to you, then.”
THIRTY-THREE
HARLAN
APRIL
The dayafter our big win, we had to hit the road first thing in the morning. Emma was antsy standing at the airport. Owen, Cap, and I walked in together, finding Emma checking her watch and looking antsy.
The three of us arrived at the table with the take-out bags, and I made a show of checking to make sure mine was right. “Which one is mine?”
Emma gave me a falsely placid smile. “The one that says ‘prison slop’ on it.”
“She’s so funny,” I said in a high, nasally voice.
Emma huffed before she spoke. “Hurry up, Royce. My son and I are going down to Cincinnati for a Reds game.”
“Aw, how fun!” Cap said.
“Oh, nice. Didn’t know you were a baseball fan,” Owen said.
I snapped my fingers. “Ah, shit, you know what? I forgot something in my car. I’ll be right back.”
I turned back toward the entrance, pulled out my phone, and stayed out of sight just inside the security checkpoint.
HARLAN
Do you have an extra take-out container?
EMMA
Yeah, why?
HARLAN
It’s about time I punished your smart mouth.
Go into the bathroom and take it with you.
EMMA
What?
HARLAN
Do it now.
EMMA
I need to man the table
HARLAN
Be good for Daddy and figure it out.
