Page 23 of Steel & Jenna
As pleased as Jack was that Lilly got a friend out of the situation, he was not going to let the little boy with a big mouth off the hook.
“Lilly also ate a full lunch,” Mrs. Zarin continued her report to Jack. “The cafeteria served brownies for dessert today. Lilly asked me for a baggie to save you some.”
Pride and brotherly love swelled inside him. Still, he said, “She shouldn’t be saving food for me.”
“She says you’re too skinny, Jack, and I agree.” Mrs. Zarin’s keen eyes narrowed slightly on him. “Didyoueat lunch today?”
Jack shifted uncomfortably at the turn the conversation had taken. “I had an apple.”
“Half an apple,” Jenna muttered under her breath. Her displeasure was palpable.
Jack had to fight to keep the scowl off of his face. It was bad enough that he’d accepted the apple from her. He did not need or want Jenna paying for his meals. He wanted to be the one paying forhermeals.
Mrs. Zarin straightened slightly and there was something like approval in her eyes now as she looked at Jenna. That approval quickly fell to disapproval when her eyes shifted back to Jack. “There’s more to life than the future,” she said carefully. “Sometimes taking care of you now is more important than taking care of planning for the future.”
Jack felt a prickle at the back of his neck. Her words were hitting a little too close to home. He cleared his throat. “Is Lilly ready to go?”
“Ms. Hall went to get her. I asked her to give us a few minutes before she brings Lilly out.” It was obvious Mrs. Zarin wanted to say more but was allowing the subject change. “I hope you remember what I said this morning, Jack. It’s okay to ask for help.”
Jack nodded, biting his tongue. He appreciated Mrs. Zarin’s words of advice, but Lilly washissister, his responsibility.
Mrs. Zarin gave him a tight smile, saidit’s good to meet youto Jenna, and then walked back towards the cafeteria doors.
Jenna turned to Jack, knowing their remaining time alone was limited. “I like her.”
Jack’s eyes narrowed slightly. “She means well, but she doesn’t need to be so nosy.”
Jenna raised an eyebrow. “What happened to you putting your pride aside for the sake of your sister?”
He recalled saying something along those lines to her when they met on Saturday. “That hasn’t changed. I will do anything for Lilly. I meant what she said aboutme,” he clarified. “I appreciate her help with Lilly, but she doesn’t need to concern herself with me.”
“Because you’re all grown up and have your life figured out?” Jenna asked wryly.
Jack didn’t get a chance to respond. Which was good—because he had no good response. Lilly came bursting out of the cafeteria doors, shouting, “JENNA!!”
Jenna smiled, dropping Jack’s hand to catch Lilly up in her arms. “Hi, Lilly! How was your day?”
Jack just stood there as Lilly told Jenna about being the only kid in her entire class who rememberedallher ABCs without missing asingle letter. Then he tapped his little sister on the shoulder, getting her attention. “What am I, chopped liver?”
Lilly gave him a wide, toothy smile. “You smell like chopped liver.” She crinkled her nose adorably. “When was the last time you showered?”
“Why, you little—” Jack lunged for her. He deliberately moved too slow so Lilly could dodge out of his way.
Laughing uncontrollably, Lilly ran down the hallway. Jack chased after her. He let her get as far as the sidewalk in front of the school before catching her and lifting her giggling, wiggling body up onto his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He spun them around several times, making Lilly drop her backpack.
On his final spin, because he was the one of the two of them who was getting dizzy, he caught sight of Jenna walking calmly out of the school behind them. Carefully, he brought Lilly back down to the ground. The world was still spinning on its axis for him. Her cheeks were flushed and the joy on her face made his dizziness worth it.
“Ready to go shopping for a winter coat?” he asked her, breathless. Maybe it was a good thing he’d only had an apple for lunch. If he’d had more, it might be on the ground by now next to her backpack.
Lilly nodded. Then, with more energy than Jack could ever hope to possess, Lilly ran towards his bike on the rack.
Jenna met up with him. “Can you walk?”
“Probably would fail a sobriety test right now, but yeah.”
Chuckling, Jenna bent to pick up Lilly’s discarded backpack. “Come on, you lush.” She looped her arm around his. “I’ll help you get to your bike.”
That night,all the gasoline out of Trevor Montgomery’s parents’ cars was syphoned, his bike tires went missing, and a wasp nest was left on their front porch.
