“No, he’s not,” Robert said, sounding amused. “Never has been. When he was little, he said they made his mouth stink, and he didn’t like having a stinky mouth.”
“Understandable,” Sally said. “Got to think about what you might be doing later, after all. I’ll have it out to you in a jiffy.”
She disappeared again.
“How do you know I don’t like onions?” Jeremy asked.
It was such an innocuous question, but it still made me feel like I was a creep. “We ordered pizza at Phoenix House last week,” I muttered, staring down at the table. “And you picked off the onions. I just thought—”
“It’s fine,” Jeremy said. I looked up at him. He was smiling again. “Thanks. Dad’s right, I think. Might as well live a little.” His smile widened. “Though I’ll probably need to get in an extra run to make up for it. And I should make you go with me.”
I gasped in horror. “You take that back. I will never go running voluntarily unless I find myself in a horror movie as the token person of color and need to outlive all the white people to make it to the sequel.”
Jeremy laughed loudly, tilting his head up toward the ceiling as he leaned against the back of the booth. “Only then, huh?”
“Yes. And the fact that you even suggested I go running with you is probably considered a crime, so you should apologize immediately.”
“Never,” he said. “Maybe we could make it a thing. One day a week, we jog to work.”
I sniffed haughtily. “Have fun with that. At least it would save me a good forty minutes each day from having to listen to what you consider music.”
“Hey! I told you that you could bring your own CDs if you wanted to listen to something different—”
“Who the hell still buys CDs?” I demanded. “Do you realize what year it is? You have music on your phone! It can connect to your slut machine!”
“His what now?” Robert asked, looking confused.
Jeremy scowled. “That’s what Corey calls the Jeep. Says it’s what a promiscuous sorority girl would drive.”
I patted his hand. “Not that there’s anything wrong with promiscuity. I’m sure your sisters at Alpha Chi Omega love it just as much as you do, Kristy.”
“Ooh,” Robert said. “I like you.”
Jeremy scoffed. “You can keep him. Nothing but trouble.”
It wasn’t until later that I realized Jeremy had put his arm behind me across the back of the booth, and that it stayed there for the rest of the meal.
WE LEFT the restaurant and stood out front on the sidewalk. Jeremy had his keys out and was twirling them on one finger. Robert and Charlie stood side by side, Robert with his cane and Charlie holding on to him gently at the elbow.
“What a lovely day,” Robert said, turning his face toward the sun. “Charles, would you care to accompany an old man to the park? I think I’d like to sit out next to the small lake that’s there.”
Aha. So they did go to the park! I bet they strolled so hard.
Charlie nodded. “Sure. That sounds—oh. Shit. Wait. I need to give Corey a ride home. I picked him up today.”
“I can do it,” Jeremy said. “I’m headed home anyway. I’ve got the produce from the market in a cooler I need to get in the fridge.”
I was uncomfortable. “It’s no big deal. I can just take the bus—”
“Of course not,” Robert said. “You live right near us. It wouldn’t be a problem.” He looked concerned. “Unless I’m taking time away from you and Charles. Forgive me, Corey. I never intended to do that.”
“No,” I said quickly. “It’s fine. You guys go to the park. I know Charlie would love nothing more.”
“Thank you,” Robert said. “Today has been such a good day, and I’d like to continue it as long as possible. When you get to be my age, you start to see all the things you’ve taken for granted. I would love nothing more than to spend time with—how did you refer to it, Charles? Ah, yes. With my gentleman.”
Yeah. I was so going to tell Sandy and Paul all about this.
“That’s fine,” Charlie muttered.