Page 48 of Panther's Magpie
“How’s that book I saw you carrying around?”
Butterflies erupt in my stomach knowing he has paid attention. I clear my throat. “Good. I actually finished it.”
“Yeah? I picked up a new book recently.”
I quirk a brow at him. “Really? I’ve never seen you read.”
“I do from time to time.”
I find that hard to believe, but I don’t say it. Instead, I ask him more. “Well, what’s it about?”
“Anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down.”
He says it with such seriousness at first I don’t realize he’s joking. Not until his lips twitch, and I can’t help but laugh.
“That joke was horrible. Where did you even get it?” I ask as I wipe tears from my eyes.
“Magpie, there’s more where that came from.” He smiles.
I turn toward him. I rest my chin on my palm with my elbow on the armrest.
“I used to be a kleptomaniac but I’m taking something for it now,” he deadpans again, making me giggle.
“That’s horrible!” I yell out, slapping his arm.
“Why did a scarecrow win an award?”
My lips twitch, already wanting to laugh. “Why?”
“Because he was outstanding in his field.”
I tip my head back and laugh. “Where did you come up with these? Do you have a book of a hundred and one bad dad jokes?” I ask, making him chuckle.
“No, but I should probably invest in one. Want me to keep going?” he asks with a smile.
“Yes,” I say without hesitation.
He drums his fingers on the armrest as he thinks for a minute. “Okay, I got one. I once got in a fight with a broken elevator.” He pauses dramatically. “It was just wrong on so many levels.”
“Oh god,” I gasp.
“I was going to tell a time-traveler joke, but you didn’t make it in time.” He smirks.
My stomach starts to cramp from laughing so hard. Once I stop laughing, Panther tenses, and it’s like a switch is flipped. Like he realized he was happy and having a good time when we shouldn’t be. Because of Aspen.
Carefully, I reach out to touch his arm, only he pulls his arm back before I can.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” he says gruffly.
An awkward silence surrounds us, and it makes my skin crawl.
“Well, it’s late. I’m going to head to bed. Thank you for hanging out with me.”
“Anytime,” he says without looking at me.
Before either of us says anything, I stand up and flee. Something that I’m starting to realize I’m good at, running when things get hard.
