Page 27 of The Good Boy

“I attempted to pet her when she did not wish to be petted,” Miles says. “My mistake. I think you are her favorite now.”

“What?” Rory asks.

“Nothing,” I say.

“Matilda came over the fence last night while you were napping,” Miles said, “and Genie petted her.”

“What?” Rory squeaks with horror, his eyes wide. “I feel so betrayed.”

“I just scratched behind her ears a bit.” I stare hard at Miles and his unremitting loyalty to the truth. “It meant nothing to me.”

“Not to you, maybe.” Rory turns his back on me.

“Are you sure you are okay?” I ask Miles. “You don’t need to stay in and placate her? Maybe feed her the souls of innocents or something? I don’t want you to neglect your pet, running around trying to save mine, who has already threatened to call the RSPCA and it’s not even nine a.m.”

Rory sobs as Matilda makes an appearance, winding in and out of my legs in a figure eight.

“Now you are just taunting him,” I tell Matilda. “Rory, I was just being nice. You know I could never care for Matilda the way I care for you. Would a packet of crisps help?” I offer him a packet out of my bag.

“No,” Rory says, taking the crisps. “I’ll wait for you in the car.”

“Why did you tell Rory about me and Matilda becoming friends?” I ask Miles.

“Because things are way less complicated when you are just honest,” Miles says.

“Less complicated,” I say, glancing at Rory, who has tipped his head back and seems to be wearing the crisp packet like a nose bag.

“Sorry,” Miles says. “I’m just practicing being open and honest about everything. Like you told me to, remember?”

“So, you can ask the girl from work out?” I ask him.

“Claudia,” Miles reminds me.

“Dude, just tell the girl you like her and get it over with.”

“Easier said than done,” Miles mutters, ushering Matilda back in before closing his front door and getting in the car with us.

“You can’t spend your whole life like a virtual monk!” I tell him. “You’re in your prime, you should make the most of it, mate.”

“It’s not a lifestyle choice,” Miles says. “Also, have you met yourself?”

“That’s different, I was cool at school. I peaked early and now my life is all downhill. You were the loser nerd and are about to reach your peak potential and show all the ex–cool kids at the school reunion what we are not going to have. Have you never seen an eighties high school rom-com?”

“I’ve seen them all, thanks to you,” Miles said. “I just don’t consider them a guide for life.”

“More fool you. But seriously, do you like this Claudia-from-work?”

“I think she’s nice,” Miles says. “But I have other priorities.”

“What other priorities?” I ask. “Don’t say organizing quartz.”

“Well, helping you with Rory seems more pressing right now. And finding ways to get you to use the painting set I gave you.”

“I’m not your project, Miles,” I tell him.

“I never said you were, it’s just that...” He sees my hands ball into my waist. “Whatever. You are impossible, Genie. The worst friend ever. It’s like trying to talk to a brick wall.”

“What is? Anyway, come on,” I say, climbing into the car. “I thought that we could stop at a clothes shop and buy Rory some stuff on the way. I feel like he should have some clothes that fit him before we take him to see Nanna Maria.”

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