Page 90 of Here and Now
“I see that.” I stand back up. “We loved you navy guys. You were great at giving us a ride.”
He chuckles. “I didn’t give anyone a ride. I came in to save your asses when you got lost. It’s fine, though. I just love having marines indebted to me.”
Penelope sighs. “Great, it’s going to be like this all night.”
“We’re just getting it out of the way,” Quinn says. “So the more important question is ... what’s your favorite football team?”
“What’s yours?” I ask, not wanting to give my hand away too quickly.
Quinn’s eyes narrow and then he laughs. “Well played. I think we’ll be just fine. As long as it’s not someone from the NFC East.”
Well, good thing I didn’t say my team then. Otherwise, this would’ve made for an even more uncomfortable night.
We head into the kitchen area, where there’s a small table off tothe right that’s set for three, indicating she wasn’t expecting her brother. We all take our seats, and there’s a dish with pork chops, mac and cheese, stuffing, and a salad.
“So, Miles, Penny said you’re the principal at the high school?” Quinn asks, leaning forward, resting his arms on the table.
“I am. I got promoted about five years ago.”
“Do you like it?”
“I love it,” I admit. “I didn’t think I would, but it’s been a really great experience. Unless I’m having teachers quit at the last minute and doing interviews with people who shouldn’t be near children.” I chuckle.
Penny giggles and that sound, so musical, so sweet, makes me want to hear it more and more. She doesn’t laugh like that often, and man ... I plan to change that.
“Miles had a pretty interesting string of interviews yesterday.”
I nod. “It was ridiculous, but it led to a great end of the day.” I look to her, hoping she knows I mean I got to be with her.
Penelope’s cheeks turn the most beautiful shade of pink, and then she looks away.
Quinn clears his throat. “I’m not sure I could handle being with kids all day. I have a seven-year-old, and I can’t imagine having that nonstop. Although some days it feels like I deal with children in my line of work.”
“What are you doing now that you’re out of the service?” I ask him.
“I work for a start-up company in Virginia Beach.”
“Oh? A start-up for what?”
If I weren’t who I was, I wouldn’t have noticed the little tic in his jaw or the slightest drifting of his gaze to the left, but I was also trained well.
“Internet security.”
The way he says that has my senses tingling. He’s withholding something.
“Probably something you’ll excel in. I wish your company a lot of success,” I say, wanting to assure him that I believe the lie. He clearly is doing something secretive, and it’s not my business.
“I’d like to think I’m good at everything security based. We’re nota group to let anything happen to the people we’re working with. We know when to act on something and when not to.”
And there he just confirmed it. To Penny or anyone else, they might miss it, but he just told me that he knows I know he lied, and he respects that I didn’t push.
“I understand that. I, too, am very protective of my kids and the people I care about.”
Penelope looks to me, then to her brother, then back to me. “I feel like this conversation is like a secret message between you two, and I’m okay not being involved. However, dinner is done.”
We both smile, and I take the bowl of salad from her. “Thank you for making dinner.”
“Thank you for everything. Kai and I would’ve been miserable if you hadn’t come to our rescue during that storm, right, Kai?”
