Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Billy told him, “You’re the best,” before jogging to the parking lot.
I muttered, “I leave you alone for a few hours, and you become some random kid’s stepdad.”
Collie ignored that and asked me, “Are you hungry? Billy and I stopped off at a grocery outlet before we came here. I got a sixty-pack of snack-size chips for ten bucks. Hell of a deal.”
“I’m fine for now. Thank you, though.”
“You must really be pissed off at me.”
“What makes you say that?”
“You’re being exceedingly polite,” he said. “I think that’s your tell, like in poker. The angrier you are, the more you mask it with manners.”
“That’s a wacky theory.”
He took off his sunglasses and glanced at me. “So, you’re not mad?”
“Why would I be?”
“Because you think I’m being ridiculous and childish and making a huge mistake.”
“It’s your life. What you choose to do with it is your business.”
Collie stared at my profile for a long moment before saying, “You’re being nice about it. But I feel like, if I go home with you, you’re going to go Jekyll and Hyde on me and try to pressure me into having the operation.”
“How would I possibly pressure you?”
“I don’t know. Guilt? Logic? The offer of sexual favors?”
“Would any of that work?”
“The last one might.”
I grinned at that and kept my eyes on the horizon.
A minute or two ticked by. Finally, he blurted, “Fine, I’ll come home with you. On two conditions.”
“Let’s hear them.”
“The operation is like Fight Club.”
“We don’t talk about it?”
“Exactly.”
“Okay. What’s your second condition?”
“I haven’t thought of it yet, but as soon as I do, I’ll let you know.”
“Alright.”
We sat there until the sun turned orange and dipped below the horizon. It wasn’t the most dramatic sunset ever, but Collie seemed delighted. Afterwards, I helped him collect his things and carry them to the parking lot.
The surfboard was leaning against the driver’s side door, and the wetsuit hung off the roof so it could drip-dry. The side panel door was open, and inside the van, Billy was fast asleep on the beanbag. He’d changed into jeans and a sweatshirt, and he was surrounded by at least twenty empty snack-sized chip bags.
Collie muttered, “Aw, he ate all the Doritos.”
“Actually, they’re off-brand. Those packages say ‘Dodidos.’ And I can see why he ate so many. There are probably only three chips in each of those tiny bags.”
“It was still a good deal.” He shook Billy’s knee and said, “Rise and shine, buddy. It’s time to go home.”
Billy hopped out and loaded his surfboard and wetsuit in the back before sliding behind the wheel. Collie climbed into the van’s passenger seat, and I got in my car and followed them out of the parking lot.
It occurred to me that Collie might decide to make a break for it. If so, what could I do? He thought I was going to try to convince him to have the surgery once we got home, and he wasn’t wrong about that. Not that I had any idea what I could possibly say to get him to change his mind. All I knew was that he needed that operation, because without it, he was putting himself in jeopardy.
But instead of doing anything tricky, they drove straight to my house, where a Subaru was double-parked out front. I pushed the button to raise the door and followed the van into the garage.
Apparently they’d called Billy’s mom to pick him up. He retrieved his surfboard, wetsuit, and a backpack and stuffed them into the Subaru while Collie and the woman greeted each other like old friends.
After they hugged, she gave Collie a large zip-top bag, which contained a paper plate full of home-baked cookies. He handed the kid a few bucks, and they did an elaborate, multi-step handshake while promising to keep in touch.
I slipped Billy a couple of twenties, and he grinned at me and said, “You’re alright, man. I can see why Collie’s into you.” Then he drove off with his mom, while Collie stood in the middle of the street and waved goodbye.
When the car was out of sight and he joined me on the sidewalk, I told him, “I have no idea how you became that kid and his mom’s BFF in a matter of hours.”
“They’re super nice. His mom wanted to meet me before she let her son go with me, and the three of us ended up having a great conversation. Then she drove us to the garage, so we could spring my van.”
“I told you I’d pay for that.”
“I know, and I appreciate the offer, but it was my responsibility.”
We went back into the garage, and I asked, “What do you want to bring inside?” He climbed into the van and heaved Hubert Humphrey into my arms. Then he shoved a few things into a tote bag and grabbed a small cooler.