AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ll watch Ben,” Georgie gestures to my dad.
“I don’t need a babysitter,” Dad protests.
“Someone has to keep the college girls from fawning over you,” Georgie explains to him, and my dad scoffs dismissively.
“Come on,” I gesture to Noelle and put my arm around her while we walk down the hall, dodging students and parents carrying garbage bags and baskets full of belongings.
After waiting twenty minutes for an empty elevator, we make it back downstairs to the lobby and walk another ten minutes just to get to the car and start loading her things in the basket.
“I’m sorry,” I say, leaning against the trunk of Noelle’s little VW bug, since nothing was going to fit in my Porsche. The early August sun is relentless, and I mentally curse the state for having school start when the weather is like living in Satan’s armpit.
“It’s fine,” Noelle laughs.
My eyes start to get misty, and Noelle scolds me. “Don’t start,” she says, pointing at me as sweat drips down my back.
I hold my hands up. “I’m not starting.” I blink them away and get back to work unloading everything.
* * *
Georgie pullsthe pizza box towards her and grabs another piece.
“Do you have a hollow leg?” Noelle asks her.
“I worked up an appetite,” Georgie scoffs.
“You don’t work up an appetite by directing everyone where to put my stuff,” Noelle argues and rolls her eyes.
“Supervision is hard work,” she protests.
Stevie tosses her dark locks behind her shoulder rolling her eyes as she pushes her plate away. “You call this pizza?” she asks no one in particular.
“You’re welcome,” I say, wondering where her parents are since Michelle’s stopped in before heading back to California.
“I think I should get going,” my dad says, getting up from the chair positioned at the desk.
“Are you gonna be able to find your way back to the car?” I ask, knowing he had to park several blocks over because of all the traffic with students moving in.
“I’ll walk back with you,” Georgie suggests as she gets up from the floor, dusting off her shorts.
“I don’t need an escort,” Dad argues with her.
“Don’t get your boxers in a twist, Ben,” Georgie says, shaking her head. “Maybe I need help to get tomycar.” She places her hands on her hips, but my dad is not buying it.
“Hmm,” he grunts.
“But don’t walk too close to me because I don’t want you to cock block me if some hot college boys walk by,” Georgie says.
Noelle chokes on her sparkling cider.
Georgie gives Noelle a big hug. “Proud of you, honey,” she says and then gives me a wink.
“Don’t be a stranger,” Dad says as he gives Noelle a hug. “Sunday is pot roast day in the dining hall. If you get hungry, I can sneak you some.”
“Dad, she’ll be fine. She’s on a meal plan, and she can come home anytime she wants to eat for free.”
Noelle cocks an eyebrow in my direction.
Placing a hand on my hip, I say, “I can order take out.”
