I waited for him to say something, but he didn’t. Maybe he heard that I’d eaten lunch with Felix. He just as easily could have been waiting for a confession instead of an apology. He wasn’t going to receive either from me.
The minutes ticked by.
He pushed his plate aside. “Do you want to watch a movie tonight?”
It was a peace offering. I knew that. But maybe I wasn’t ready for peace. I didn’t respond.
He sighed. “Kiddo…”
“I’m not a kid.” I dropped my fork onto my plate. “May I be excused?”
“I know you’re not a kid. But…”
“I only have two friends at school. If you make me stop talking to Felix you’re cutting my friend count in half.”
“You know that’s not what I want. But that boy…”
“You don’t know him.”
My uncle sighed. “I know enough.”
I was about to protest when the phone rang. I looked back down at my half-full plate. No one ever called me. The only person that had my number was Kennedy, and she never called. She always just walked over.
My uncle stood up and grabbed the phone. “Sanders residence.”
There was a long pause.
“Yes, but that won’t be possible.”
Another pause.
“Because she’s grounded.”
I looked up from my plate.
My uncle was staring at me. “For school you say?”
Pause.
“Yes. I see.”
Another pause.
“She stayed out past her curfew.”
“Who are you talking to?” I mouthed silently at him.
He ignored me. “I couldn’t agree more,” he said into the phone.
Pause.
“Sure, sure. Tomorrow night is fine.”
Another pause.
He smiled. “You too. Goodnight.” He hung up the phone and turned to me. “Now he seems like a good boy.”
“Who?” But my stomach had already turned over halfway through the conversation. I knew exactly who. I just had no idea how he got my phone number. Or why the hell he was calling. I’d made myself more than clear today.
