I stared at Jen with my bright blue eyes narrowed at her.
"You don't scare me, trust me." Jen said. Then her eyes brightened. "Be right back!" She hurried her tiny Barbie self out of the car and rushed to my dad just as he stepped out of the icecream shop. I couldnt make out what she was saying but I could tell my dad didnt like it because he was shaking his head.
He actually kind of looked like a beach boy Ken doll with his tanned skin and hair and eye color.
When I looked back out the window again, they were hugging and smiling, then he kissed her and I felt like I was gonna vomit.
*(OUTSIDE)*
"This would be a perfect publicity thing." Jen said as they walked to the car.
"Use Lynnee to get me back on top... This could be good. Start the rep off bad, then watch it turn awesome. I can do that."
*(BACK IN THE CAR)*
"We need to stop at a pay phone." My dad said to me.
"Why? My mom already knows I'm on my way to the airport." I replied.
"It's actually about having you stay for the rest of the summer." Jen said. "There's only a month and a half left, anyway." Her fake smile was so big I wanted to knock her shining teeth out. But the thought of staying with my dad for the rest of the summer sounded amazing and I nodded quickly with a huge smile, probably looking like a five year old going after the last cupcake coated with sprinkles, but still.
*(AT THE PAY PHONE WITH RICHARD OUTSIDE)*
"Pick up..." Richard said for about the fourth time.
"Hello?" Bethanie's voice came from the other end.
"Hey, it's me." Richard said.
"Oh. What now? Call to complain again?" Bethanie asked, her voice never sounded angry, even when she was.
"No." Richard said. "I was just thinking.. Maybe Laynie--"
"Lynnee."
"Right, Lynnee- could stay with me for the rest of the summer..?"
Long pause.
"Bethanie?"
"Are you insane?!" Bethanie asked, appalled. "You can't even remember her name correctly!"
"Well if you let me keep her here for the summer then maybe I would have more time to learn it and get to know her!" Richard argued.
"I'm not sure that's a really good idea." Bethanie said.
"Don't you think you owe me that much?" Richard asked.
"Owe you?! I don't owe you anything!" Bethanie said.
"Yeah but I wasn't the one who kept the kid a secret." Richard replied.
Long pause.
"If you send her home sad, I will hunt you down and beat the pretty out of you." Bethanie warned.
"Mm, I'm pretty." Richard joked.
"Don't drown in your ego." Bethanie said, then hung up.
*(IN THE CAR)*
When my dad got back in, I started to ask what my mother said before Jen cut me off.
"So what did the lady say?" She asked. I glared at her.
"She said I better send you home happy." he said to me. My glare vanished, replaced by an excited smile. I bounced in place like a little kid and smiled.
"Awesome!" I replied. "But we'll have to have my mom send my clothes over."
"Oh you can go shopping with me." Jen said with a glare and fake smile.
"Actually, I'd rather go with my dad." I replied.
"Uh.. I guess I can take you." He mumbled, not so sure if he wanted to or not.
