“We just got here though,” I say. “Isn’t your grandpa going to be mad if we leave?”
“We came, we took a photo, and now it’s time to leave,” Ollie says, wiggling his fingers. “That’s all he wanted, evidence of a loving, happy family. Let’s go.”
“If we’re done here, I think I just want to go back to Max’s,” I whisper, pushing in my chair. “I’m not really hungry.”
“Everyone’s got to eat,” Ollie notes, cocking his head. “Even closeted angry girls.”
“I’m not angry,” I insist, checking my phone. “I’m just tired and I have homework to do and—”
“Christ, Kennedy, if you don’t want to hang out with me just say so,” Oliver jokes. “I won’t be offended.”
“No, it’s not that,” I say, ordering a car. “I just—” I let out a sigh. “I just want to sleep.”
“Oh,” he hums, nodding his head. “I was wrong.” I narrow my eyes. “What?”
“You’re not angry, are you?” he muses. “You’re sad.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Give me your phone,” he says, holding out his hand. “Quickly now.”
I hesitate for a second before handing him my phone. “What are you doing?”
“Downloading a playlist that will ideally cheer you up,” he mumbles, his eyes narrowed in concentration. “I made this for my little brother, Freddie, he used to come home crying a lot when he was in primary school.” He peers up at me. “Small kids are dicks.”
“You have a little brother? I didn’t know that” I say, smiling at him. “How old is he?”
“He’s ten now,” Ollie says, handing me back my phone. “Doesn’t cry as often.”
“Do you miss him?” I ask, scrolling through the playlist, a few familiar tracks catching my eye.
“More so than anyone else,” Ollie sighs, clicking his tongue. “Well, I suppose I’ll see you next week, yeah?”
“Yeah,” I hum, a town car notification popping up on my phone. “Thanks for the playlist, hopefully, it’ll work.”
“I know it will,” he states, casting me a confident grin. “Imade it, after all.” He scratches his head. “Thanks for coming with me tonight, Kenny, I appreciate it.”
“Yeah no worries,” I say, biting my lip. “Maybe um... I’ll see you at movie night? I think it’s one of the new Star Wars or something?”
“I’m not entirely a fan of intergalactic space battles,” he says, his grey eyes scanning my face. “But maybe we can watch something else? You know, together.”
I blink. “Like go to the...movies?”
“Or in my dorm,” he says casually. “We can stream something, if you’d like.”
“Um, okay,” I say, my heart fluttering in my chest. “That sounds nice, I’d be down.”
“Cool,” he hums, nodding his head. “I’ll be sure to bringlotsof popcorn.”
I roll my eyes. “Drop it, Ollie.”
“Never,” he says with a wink. He points to my vibrating phone. “Your car’s here. Better get going.”
“Right,” I say, texting the driver that I’m on my way. “I’ll see you next week?”
“Can’t wait,” he grins as I walk past him and out of the ballroom.
When I get into the car, I put in my headphones and listen to Oliver’s playlist.
