Page 40 of For the Record

Just because you know doesn’t mean I have to.

Rachel: Good book, though, right? How far into it are you?

It’s pretty okay. Pirate Alek boarded the princess’s ship. Things got…weird.

But I like the notes you put in here.

Rachel: Thought you might like my opinions on each scene. It’s kind of like I’m there reading it with you! Like I’m in your pocket, following you around.

It’s nice.

Rachel: You’re nice.

Don’t make it weird.

Rachel: Whatever you say, pirate Adam.

What did I just say?

Rachel: Arr, matey.

Currently playing: Fast Car by Tracy Chapman

***

Rachel was closing tonight at Sip ’n’ Spin tonight, and since I had nothing better to do than follow her like I was a lost puppy, I came to Crew’s house. He was my only single sibling and the only one who I knew wouldn’t be busy tonight. When I called, he was working on his truck. Something about tightening the rods in his engine. It was perfect timing, because my hands longed for something to do, even if it meant listening to him babble and fidget with the truck. We finished up within an hour, and with nowhere else to go, I followed him inside and accepted the cold craft beer he handed to me.

Over the last three weeks, Rachel and I had fallen into a routine. Since I was at home for now, we spent the majority of our free time together. Each morning, we had coffee together after my run. She would talk about her day’s plans, and I’d listen intently. I mostly worked out when she was gone, or I took on projects, helping one of my siblings or working on my house. We shared dinner together every night. Sometimes she would sit down to do one of my puzzles with me—whilst calling me a grandpa—and we always went to bed separately, with a swift good night. If Rachel was the only one scheduled to work at the store, then she would ask me to feed and take care of Myrtle once a day. It kind of creeped me out at first, but now I was slowly becoming attached to the freaky jar of live mush. Don’t know how that happened.

I liked our schedule. It made sense for both of us, and it meant seeing her as much as possible.

“So tell me, do you think if Einstein were alive today, he would enjoy street corn?” Crew popped his head out of his fridge, holding another bottle.

It was hard to know what was going to come out of the kid’s mouth most days. I learned it was best to just go with it. Since Crew was the baby of the family, despite him now being twenty-two, he’d probably always feel like a kid to me.

“I, um…” What was I supposed to say to that?

“Because here’s the thing: the thief across from me—”

“The woman who parks in the public parking lot next to you?”

“Sure, if that’s what you want to call it. She’s really into chemistry, apparently.”

I took a sip of beer, leaning back into his couch. “How do you know?”

“I researched. Anyway, I overheard her make some kind of comment about some Maurice Cootie science lady and how she thinks she would love her food because she was a lady of good taste.”

I stayed quiet, waiting for him to elaborate.

“So I thought the only science guy I know is Einstein, and I can’t help but think he would enjoy some elote.”

I wasn’t sure where to go with that. But that was the nice thing about Crew. He carried the conversation himself. It probably wouldn’t even matter whether I was here. If something was on his mind, it was already out of his mouth.

“I mean, the guy had class. And he knew what he was talking about. But I can’t help but think he was a bit on the wild side with that hair. Hence, elote.”

My phone buzzed beside me. A message from Rachel. I looked up to Crew to see him going on about who cares about chemistry? and reached for my phone.

Rachel: Don’t bring pizza home tonight. I closed shop early and made some pasta and sourdough garlic bread.