Page 34 of Something Rad
“Hiya, Bobbie,” my older brother nods to me, a smug grin on his face.
Steven has always felt like less than an acquaintance. Or theoppositeof a friend. Whichever of those is worse. He is the person in the world that I like the least, but he’s the current working heir to Summers Optometry, meaning he’s the person my father likes most in the world.
Yay for me.
I ignore him, turning to look at my dad. “What is going on here?”
“It’s just family dinner, Robert,” my mom says, an expression on her face like I’ve somehow managed to deeply offend her in the first thirty seconds I’ve been in her presence.
Wouldn’t be the first time.
I tilt my head, trying to understand why this group of people would even care to have dinner together on a Tuesday night when they spend five days a week working together. This isn’t a family dinner. It’s an office happy hour.Plus me, for the moment.
“Yeah, c’mon, Bobbie,” Steven chimes in. “Lighten up and join us, would you?”
“Can’t unfortunately,” I respond, not looking at my brother. “I wasn’t informed of this shindig, and I actually have plans, so you guys have a blast. Meatloaf looks great, Mom,” I say, patting the door frame as I turn to leave.
“Robert,” my dad calls, making me stop in my tracks again.
I let out the lightest sigh I can manage, looking back at him. “Yes, sir?”
He wipes his napkin over his mouth, placing it neatly back in his lap. “Where were you this afternoon? Where did you just come from?”
“The library.”
“The library?” my dad repeats, raising a brow.
“Yes, I was doing work there.”
Well, it’s not technically a lie.
“Work?”
“Yes, sir,” I nod. I have to resist the urge to start tapping my foot. I have definitely burned up my minute and a half of time cushion at this point.
Dad leans back in his chair, narrowing his eyes at me. “How about we try that again, Robert. And you be honest this time.” I swallow hard. “Why were you in the library this afternoon?”
Dammit.
I think he knows.
“And yesterday afternoon, for that matter?”
Yeah, he definitely knows.
Shit.
No point in lying now. “I had detention…sir.”
“Yes, you did, didn’t you?” my dad nods, his fingers flexing. “I heard all about your cute little performance.”
Damn you, Whileyman.
“Yes, sir.”
“And do you have anything to say for yourself?” he asks, his tone uncomfortably even. Steven and Janet exchange some sort of look that causes both of them to snicker under their breath. Dad doesn’t acknowledge them, his eyes staying glued to me.
“Well, sir, I did it for a very special girl. And I’m doing the time for it. But that very special girl just so happens to be waiting on me, so I’ll just get out of your hair.” I turn to leave. “And let you get back to your Summers Optometry meeting here–”
