Page 55 of By the Book

I nodded.

“We’re going to pay the utility bills on Monday,” Bobby said.

I nodded again.

“And we’ll figure out the money—”

“Actually, I might have an idea about that.” To Bobby’s curious look, I said, “I got the idea from Stewart of all people. I need to flesh it out, but I think it could work.”

“Okay.” Bobby squeezed my hands. “There’s one more thing we need to talk about.”

I groaned.

“Your parents,” Bobby said.

I double groaned.

“We’re together now,” Bobby said over me. “That means we’re in each other’s lives. And that means, at some point, you’re going to have to let me talk to your parents.”

“What if we compromise? What if you arrest them, and you mirandize them, and we count that as a conversation?”

Bobby gave me a look.

“They’d love it!”

“I know they’re overbearing,” he said. “I know they’re focused on themselves. I know they’ve hurt you and disappointed you.”

“And they called you Hugo.”

“That wasn’t my favorite moment.” He let a beat pass before he said, “This is part of being a couple. And just so you know, it’s going to be ten times worse when you meet my parents, so please bear that in mind when you think about how big a deal you want to make this.”

I groaned again, but more quietly this time. It was a giving-up groan.

“Thank you for apologizing,” Bobby said. “I wasn’t happy that you went to George’s beach house without me, but I understand it wasn’t your idea. I don’t ever want anything bad to happen to you, and I’m scared that one of these days, you’ll get hurt when I’m not there to help you.”

“Thank you for understanding that my parents are complete and total lunatics,” I said. “Also, I want you to know that the whole arresting them thing, that offer is still wide open.”

Bobby huffed a little laugh and kissed me.

A knock at the door made me jump.

“Sorry to interrupt,” my mom said as she poked her head in.

“We were wondering,” my dad said behind her, “if we could take you boys out to dinner.”

“To celebrate closing the case.”

“We didn’t close the case,” I said. “We stumbled to the end of the case. Barely.”

Bobby made a little noise.

It cost me a lot to say, “Yeah, fine, whatever.”

“Very mature,” Bobby murmured.

I didn’t dignify that with a response.

Chapter 15

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