Page 51 of Romantic

Brandon

The Jackalope’s nose is bleeding, and it’s a glorious sight. As soon as I hit him, Pepper runs and hides behind me.

“What the hell were you doing with my daughter?”

“She stole my phone,” Jack says, his words slightly muffled by his hand holding his dripping nose. “I was trying to get it back.”

I wheel around. “Pepper! Do you have Mr. Willoughby’s phone?”

Her eyes betray her guilt. She lifts his phone up to show me. So help me! What has she been up to? Behind her, Annie watches in silent horror.

“Give it to me,” I say softly, barely containing my frustration.

“But Dad,” she whines.

“Give it to me!” I say through gritted teeth. People leaving the campfire are beginning to stream down the path near us. Some are staring. I don’t care.

She hands me the phone. I turn it over to Jack, who snatches it back and scans it eagerly.

“Sorry about the nose,” I begin. “But when I saw you tugging on her I freaked out.”

“I didn’t touch her, I promise. I was just trying to get my phone back, and she was holding it tightly.”

“Pepper, is this true? What happened?”

Pepper looks at me, a spark in her eyes. “Yes, it’s true. We were fighting for his phone—and I was winning.”

I sigh and turn back to Jack. “Sorry, I didn’t realize . . .”

“What were you thinking? It’s just a phone!” Annie cuts me off and turns on Jack with a ferocity that warms my heart. “You should have gone straight to her dad.”

“I was trying to find Brandon, but then I saw you two skulk off in the shadows together.” He gives Annie a pointed look.

“Why did you take his phone?” I ask Pepper.

“It was just a prank—a practical joke.”

“How did you get my passcode?” asks Jack.

“Yeah, I don’t even know it,” says Annie.

“Oh! That part was easy. It was five, two, two, five,” Pepper says with a smug look. “It spells J.A.C.K.”

I’m furious at Pepper, but also, my daughter is a genius.

“Wait, a prank?” asks Jack with a dawning realization. “Are you the one who wrote on my mirror?”

Pepper nods, no longer looking so self-assured.

“I don’t know what to say,” Jack shakes his head in disbelief. “You certainly have your work cut out with this one.”

“Jack!” says an outraged Annie.

“What? She stole my phone! She broke into my apartment! I don’t see why you are siding with them. You always side with them.”

As much as I’m enjoying this lovers’ quarrel, I have a daughter to attend to.

“Pepper! You need to apologize to Mr. Willoughby. It isn’t okay to steal, not even for a practical joke.”