Fool Me Once

He answers on the third ring. “Hey, Jailbird, everything okay?” His tone is sweet, but there’s something hidden in his tone… annoyance? Aggravation?

“Yeah, I have to go do an interview for my Child Psychology class this afternoon. I was wondering if there’s any way you can give me a ride.”

“Shit, I wish I could, but I’m at… I have a lot of work to do. I’m sorry. Umm… you can call my mom. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.” She probably wouldn’t, but I don’t want to make her do that. She’s not responsible for me. It’s one thing to ask her to watch Zane. It’s another to ask her to play taxi.

“That’s okay. I’ll just take the bus. No worries.” I hang up, annoyed that it feels like Keegan is either avoiding me or lying to me. And as much as I really want to ask him, I don’t have time to argue with him right now.

Just as I’m accepting I’ll have to take the bus and be a little late, my phone rings. It’s Brenton.

“Hey, you called?”

“Yeah, are you by any chance done with your interview?”

“Yeah, I’m at home. What’s up?”

“I was wondering if you could give me a ride to Cocoa Elementary. My interview is at two, and I didn’t realize the bus stops two miles away. I’ll never make it in time.”

“What about your boyfriend?”

Ignoring his question, I add, “We also have our group project meeting we have to go to tonight, so I want to make sure I’m not late.”

Brenton laughs. “That’s not until way later. You didn’t answer my question. Where’s Keegan?” When I sigh into the phone, he adds, “What? He’s already over the whole family thing?”

“Never mind.” I can’t deal with these boys and their shit today.

“I’m just playing,” he says. “Yes, I can take you. I was just about to leave anyway.”

We hang up, and I get ready to go. Wanting to look professional, I borrow one of Sierra’s longer khaki skirts and pair it with a loose pink top and white and tan heeled sandals.

After giving Zane, who’s still napping, a kiss, I say bye to Sierra and let her know I’ll either be home in a few hours or later tonight if my interview runs long and we have to go straight to our group meeting.

I meet Brenton downstairs and then we take off in his car.

I few minutes into our drive, his phone rings, and he answers it.

“Yeah?”

I’m not sure who’s on the other line, but whoever it is sounds angry. I can’t understand what he’s saying, but I can hear him yelling.

“All right. I’ll be right there.”

Brenton hangs up and looks over at me with a frown. “I need to make a stop real quick. I’m sorry.”

“No worries.” I shrug. Thanks to Brenton giving me a ride, I’ll be at the school with plenty of time to spare.

I assumed we were stopping by his brother’s shop, so when we pull up in front of an older one-story home, I’m confused. “Whose house is this?”

“Um, my mom’s ex-boyfriend. I just need to get something from him. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

Brenton leaves the car running, and I use the time to go over the questions I’ve typed up for my interview so it will run smoothly.

When I glance at the time, I realize I’ve been waiting for a good twenty minutes, and I need to go pee. I should’ve gone before we left. That iced coffee was yummy, but it went right through me.

I wait another ten minutes, but when Brenton still doesn’t come out, I turn his car off and walk up the sidewalk. If I don’t use the restroom soon, I’m going to pee myself.

I knock and Brenton opens the door. “I’ll be right out. I’m sorry.”

“I need to go pee.” I squeeze my thighs together and grimace.

“All right.” He opens the door and lets me in. It takes a second for my eyes to adjust since there’s almost no light in the place—even the blinds are all closed. The house is rather empty, save for one couch and a coffee table. It’s an open floorplan, and I can see most of the house. His mom’s ex-boyfriend must be in his room because I don’t see him anywhere.

“Use this bathroom,” Brenton tells me. He opens the door, and it’s a tiny half bathroom. “I’m just going to say bye to him and then we’ll go when you get out.” For some reason Brenton appears to be nervous, which has me feeling nervous. I glance around the house again and notice the walls are completely bare. Not a single photo or wall-hanging in sight.

“Okay.” I give him a tight smile.

When I’ve finished using the bathroom—I never would’ve made it to the school—and washing my hands, I step out and find Brenton waiting for me.