Page 58 of Caught in a Storm
“Ugh, fine,” she says. “At least until we come up with something better.”
“Deal.”
“Ah, the agreeable type,” says Poppy. “I like it. You’ve made her happy, Billy. So that’s something. And you mostly don’t look like a murderer.”
“That’s sweet, Poppy,” he says. “Thanks.”
“Where’d your name come from?” Caleb blurts this, then clears his throat. “I mean, I don’t think I know any other Poppys.”
Billy smiles at his son, who looks disgusted with himself.
“Yeah, Mum,” says Poppy. “Good question. Why don’t you tell them about my namesake.”
Margot sips her beer. “How did it only take us forty seconds to get to your name?”
“We’re skipping the boring parts,” says Poppy. “Right to the good stuff. Go on.”
“Fine,” says Margot. “It was Lenny Kravitz’s idea.”
“Lenny Kravitz?” says Billy. “Like, the Lenny Kravitz?”
“Is there more than one?” Poppy teases. “Lenny Kravitz the tax attorney? Lenny Kravitz the dental hygienist? Yes, the Lenny Kravitz. He suggested it to Mum when she was pregnant with me, so here I am, the only Poppy you two lads have ever met.”
“It sounded cool when he said it,” says Margot.
“I’m sure it did,” says Poppy. “Anything sounds cool when you’ve got a twelve-pack. He was shirtless at the time, right?”
“Of course he was shirtless,” says Margot. “I don’t think Lenny even owns shirts.”
Billy and Margot laugh, but Caleb is confused. “Who’s Lenny Kravitz?”
“What?” says Margot. “Are you serious, Caleb?”
“Oh man,” says Billy. “We’ll hit Charm City, hook the kid up. We can’t have this.”
Poppy leans closer, like she’s telling a secret. “You know Zoë Kravitz, right, Caleb? The hottie? Catwoman?”
“Oh my God,” says Caleb. “Yeah.”
“Lenny’s her dad,” says Poppy. “Google him. I think the best way to describe him would be very much not a dental hygienist. Although Lenny Kravitz rummaging around in my mouth doesn’t seem all that bad.”
“Poppy, are you drunk?” asks Margot.
“No. Wouldn’t mind one of those wacky gummy bears, though. Caleb, you mind hooking a sister up?”
And then Caleb, red-faced and speechless, dies at the table from embarrassment.
* * *
—
They do hit Charm City Rocks after lunch, where Margot buys Caleb a copy of Are You Gonna Go My Way. Billy gets him a pretzel after that, even though they just ate. And now they’re stepping out of 7-Eleven, because somehow Margot has never had a Slurpee.
“How is that even possible?” asks Caleb. “You are American, right?”
Margot shows Billy and Caleb her tongue, which is electric blue. A couple recognizes Margot and smiles, which has been happening all day.
“It’s cool being with you,” says Caleb. “You’re my favorite celebrity now, by the way.”
