Chapter 38

CHAPTER 38

W hen I'd gone into the kitchen, Poppy went to the fridge for my Coke, Darius smiled at her in happy-my-girlfriend-is-happy-land, and Reggie and Marley froze like deer in the proverbial headlights. I recalled our last meeting and my parting words, something in the neighborhood of "I'll kill you if I see you again." Okay, I'm not the most socially sophisticated guy in the world. But they'd started it, which was childish, except they really had. Really.

Marley was subconsciously rubbing the side of his head and I realized that's where I'd conked him. Reggie was staring as far away from Maggs as possible. She was looking at him as if remembering a tasty treat.

Poppy gave me the Coke.

"How is everyone doing?" I asked of no one in particular to break the ice. I'd seen it once in a movie.

"Great, now," Darius said. He was looking at the Weed Brothers. And then Mei and the other kid there, Owen somebody, also turned to them. Seems young adults could read the room.

"You guys all right?" Poppy asked the Weed Brothers.

"Uh, well," Reggie managed to get out, but that was it. I realized that they'd taken my threat seriously. Well, I'd made it seriously, so they were quite correct.

"Chill out, you guys," I said to them. Did people still say that? I had no idea what kids these days said. "We're all on the same side now." I also had no idea what that side was, other than Rose and Poppy's, but I wasn't planning on killing them. That had to count.

There was an exchange of glances.

Poppy smiled at me and made a shooing motion. "Okay, you have to leave now. This meeting is top secret."

"Three can keep a secret if two are dead," I said, paraphrasing Ben Franklin, then realized Reggie and Marley might take that the wrong way. And that I was probably supposed to be unconditionally supportive of whatever endeavor these bright young minds were pursuing.

Nah. That would just set them up for the inevitable letdown of adulthood.

Then I remembered. "Poppy, your mother has something to show you."

Poppy blinked for a moment and then went out to the shop and Rose to find out about her bank book.

"Look, we're real sorry about . . . what happened," Marley said. "Pike said we should apologize, so we're sorry."

Reggie, possibly covered with more guilt since he'd actually shot at me—okay, in the general area of where I'd been—nodded. Nervously.

"Thank you for the apology," I said. "We're good."

Darius looked back and forth between us and did not ask for an explanation, which proved Luke had raised a smart kid.

I made my exit, getting out on that high note.

I'd had more than enough apology and not nearly enough Rose.