Page 103 of Here and Now
“I’m doing just fine.”
I hope.
He sighs heavily. “I don’t know, man, it’s not looking good from where we stand.”
Jacob chimes in. “Maybe you can take her to a movie or something next time.”
“Shut up.”
They laugh and I walk away toward Penny and Kai.
We play the rest of the course, laughing—mostly at me, even though I wasn’t half bad by the end. Kai and Penelope started missing more and more as the course progressed, and I actually improved.
It was a nice change of pace.
We’re on the last hole, and I’m determined to go out on a high note. Penelope got hers in five and Kai was nine. My goal is not to lose.
If I can make this shot, I’ll be at three.
Penelope walks over, looking at where I’m standing, and tsks. “I wouldn’t do that.”
I turn my head, still in position to tap the ball. “Why not?”
“Your angle is off.”
“My angle is just right.”
She grins. “I don’t know about that.”
I crouch down, looking at the trajectory. I’m totally right. “You’re trying to make me miss.”
“I would never do anything like that,” she says, all innocence with her lies. She and Kai share a look.
“Oh, and you’re in on it too? The shame. I thought you were going to help me, not team up with your mom to make me lose.”
Kai laughs. “I want you both to win.”
I hit the ball. It misses because of course it does, but I look over at Penny. I can see the laughter, the joy, and the desire swimming in her eyes. I put that there. I gave her this and I swear, I feel like I’m a hundred feet tall and could move mountains with that single look.
I move close to her and keep my voice low. “I might have lost this game, but I’ve already won something much better.”
I lift out of the car a very exhausted and deeply asleep Kai. After mini golf, we went to get ice cream, and somewhere in the middle, he zonked out.
“I can take him,” Penelope says as I heft him into my arms.
Kai doesn’t even stir as his head rests on my shoulder. “I got him.”
Penelope walks in front of me, opening the door and leading me toward Kai’s room. There is very little furniture, just a dresser, the bed, and a folding table next to it. I noticed the same around the rest of the house when I was here for dinner.
The place almost feels like it’s someone else’s. There are no decorations or pictures up. It’s like she’s not really living here.
I put Kai down, and Penny takes his shoes off. “I hate that he’s going to sleep in his clothes, but it is what it is.” She brings the superhero comforter up, tucking him in.
We slip out, closing his door, and stand in the hallway, so close, but not touching.
“I hope you had fun on our date,” I say, breaking the silence.
“I did. I had a great time. Thank you for not being upset about leaving dinner and then bringing my kid on our date.”
