Page 73 of The Girl and the Cobra

It’s as if Penny bringing up my dad so many times made him into Beetlejuice, because the man himself comes strolling into The Drip just two minutes before my shift is over. It’s an off time, so there’s no line; he’s able to stroll right up to the register and say, “How you doing, girls?”

I open my mouth to answer him, but Penny dashes to stand in front of him and gives him her best smile. “Great. How are you today, Mr. Altier?”

My dad chuckles. “Good. I’m just here to pick up Mabel.”

“Sure you don’t want anything to go? Maybe something chocolatey to save for some desert after dinner?” Penny layers it on quite thick, and it takes everything in me to not roll my eyes at her.

“Maybe next time.”

I can tell Penny isn’t going to let up, so I decide to clock out a minute early. I go into the backroom, take off my apron, and fold it up in my locker. I clock out, and then I’m pushing out into The Drip to see Penny grinning like a fool at my dad, who, I find out once I get a little closer, is busy talking about how he hasn’t hiked once since we moved here.

“That’s a shame,” Penny says. “Why don’t you come with Mabel and me tomorrow? We can do an easy trail—”

I grab my dad by the arm and start lugging him away. “Nah, I think he’s busy.” I wave at Penny, and she shoots me a pout before she grins.

I only let go of my dad once we’re outside. We head to his car, which he parked right in front of The Drip, and as we get in, my dad says, “That girl is something else. She’s always got something to say.” As he sticks the key into the ignition, he adds, “I’m glad you found a friend here.”

I debate on telling him about Penny’s crush, but I figure it’d just make things too weird. Besides, if my dad hasn’t noticed it so far, he probably won’t ever realize it. It isn’t like Penny doesn’t make it obvious; anyone with eyes and ears could tell. My dad’s just oblivious.

A good thing, because with how crazy everything has been in this town, I don’t doubt that, somehow, my new best friend could become my new mom.

Yeah, no thanks to that.

Once we’re on the road, Dad tosses me a glance. “You sure you don’t want to eat a little something before you visit Tristan?” My dad has accepted the fact that I’m dating Tristan, though every now and then he still makes a comment about Tristan’s age.

“No,” I say.

“There is something I want to show you before you go.”

“What?”

My dad gives me a goofy grin. “I think you’re going to like it. That’s the only hint I’m giving.” He pretends to zip his lips and throw away the key like the weirdo he is.

During the drive home, my mind is spinning with possibilities. I don’t know what kind of surprise he could have for me, let alone a surprise I’d like. I’m generally not a huge fan of surprises in general—and the reason should be obvious.

Did he get a dog? Mom was the reason we never got any pets growing up; she was deathly allergic. He’s made a few comments since I moved back home with him about wanting to get a puppy.

But it’s not a puppy, I find out when we pull into the driveway and I see the shiny new car sitting in front of the garage. My mouth falls, and I whip my head in my dad’s direction. “What did you do?”

He pulls our current ride up and parks it beside the new gray Jeep. We both get out, and he gestures to the new car, saying, “Meet Patricia. Isn’t she a beaut?”

I’m too shocked at seeing something pretty and new to roll my eyes at my dad’s lameness. “She’s nice, yeah. Uh, Patricia?”

“Maurice? I’m not sure on the name yet. I’ve been driving past her ever since we moved here, and I thought, why am I waiting? I have plenty for a down payment, even without trading this old girl in.” He slaps the door of our old SUV, and then he tosses me the key, which I manage to catch, somehow.

Throwing me the key… he’s not giving me his old car, is he?

“Dad…” I start.

He shrugs. “I figure this way you don’t have to coordinate your schedule with Penny all the time. You can, uh, start driving yourself to work and to see Tristan at Dr. Wolf’s house whenever you want.”

I go in for a hug, which he clumsily accepts—you can totally tell we’re both a bit awkward. We’re not used to showing each other physical affection; we just were never like that before. But now, we really are all we have left, and we’re both trying to be better.

“Thank you, Dad,” I whisper as he awkwardly pats me on the back.

“You’re welcome, kiddo. Just promise me you’ll drive safe, okay? These roads can get kind of scary at night, and with the snow—”

“I got it, Dad. I’ll be safe.” My fingers curl around the old-fashioned key, and I pull away from my dad so I can look at the car that’s now mine. Never thought I’d be excited about getting an old, slightly-rusty car, but hey, it’s wheels. And he’s right: with it, I won’t have to rely so much on Penny driving my ass everywhere, and I can visit Tristan whenever I want, not just when my dad is home.

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