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He shrugged as he scratched the top of his head. "I fell asleep out back."
"Oh, good, you're here. Take this to Sage's car, T." Mom was doing her best to drag a trash bag down the hallway.
"She came on her bike," Dad reminded her.
"Like I always do," I said.
Mom frowned and paused. "I thought you got rid of that thing when you started working full time. Sage, you can afford a car. A good one, too. One of those electronic ones."
TJ chuckled and relieved Mom of the bag. "Electric, Ma. They're called electric cars."
She playfully swatted his back. "Isn't that what I said?"
"It's not." He got another swat before dodging out of her reach. "There's a subtle difference that makes one…you know what, never mind."
Mom frowned at me. "What happens when it rains?"
"I asked the same thing." Dad looked pleased to not be the only one who thought of that issue.
"Oh my God, guys, I wear a jacket," I said.
Mom made a face. "A jacket? That's not going to do much."
"A little water never hurt anyone."
"But what if you wanted to go out of town?" Mom continued. I could see the wheels turning in her head when she had a realization. "Do you take that bike on the highway? Please don't tell me you take that bike on the highway."
"That was my next question," Dad said.
"And dates. You can't tell me you put girls on the back of that thing. I'm sure they'd hate it."
Even though I was annoyed, I laughed. "Girls love the bike, Mom. Most of the people I date do. Bikes are universally attractive."
"She might have a point there," Dad agreed. "I stole-—borrowed a Harley for a spin around the block once. All my buddies and their girlfriends thought I was the shit."
Mom frowned at his slip-up, but TJ and I weren't oblivious to Dad's past. I mean, my brothers got their sticky fingers from someone.
"The ladies couldn't turn their heads fast enough," Dad finished.
"Not me." Mom wrinkled her nose. "God, those things are a nightmare. You know what doctors call them, right?"
"Want to show me how to strap this on the back of it?" TJ's question thankfully gave me an excuse to talk to him alone and escape this parental worry fest.
"Sure thing," I said.
Before I could follow him outside, Mom stopped me with a simple, "Sage, did you get a chance to...?"
"I did," I said quickly, not wanting to go in depth while Dad stood there. I'd deposited the money she needed this morning. If he knew that, he might ask for some too, and I wasn’t sure I had the will to refuse.
"Thank you." Mom nodded with an apologetic smile.
"It's fine." I waved and went to catch up with TJ.
"Do you always let Mom do the heavy lifting?" I asked once I was next to him.
TJ's face instantly fell. "You've been here two seconds and you're already complaining about something?"
"That's because I walked in, and she was carrying boxes half her weight." I gestured toward the house.
