Piper (Queen's Birds of Prey #4) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,10
would you like to go?”
“I can pay if we go someplace like burgers. I have money now, but I’m learning to make sure I don’t spend it willy nilly. Grandpa told me it’s good to have money, but if you’re stupid with it, you’ll be as broke as you were rich. I love that guy.” She nearly told him she’d pay but saw the look on his face. “I can pay, Aunt Piper. Besides, this will make me feel better about asking a favor of you.”
She drove them to the hamburger place, driving like she was an old woman most of the way. Piper had great skills at driving fast. Being a racecar driver for a while had shown her moves that she had fun with. But the first time she took a curve today going well over the speed limit, she glanced over at Abe and realized she was scaring the shit out of him. Slowing down had him also stop white knuckling the door handle.
After they ordered and Abe paid, they sat at one of the many empty tables. Piper watched him as he meticulously set his hamburger on the open wrapper, smack dab in the middle. After getting that set up, he dumped his fries onto the wrapper and made sure they were arranged by size, largest to smallest. Opening just one ketchup tube, he picked up the largest fry, and after dipping it in the perfect red circle of the sauce, he ate it in small bites. He looked at her when she laughed.
“Has anyone pointed out to you that you’re OCD? Not that it’s a bad thing, but you really should try to lighten up a little, kid. People will think you’re odd.” He told her that most already did. “I love you, anyway. And I’m glad you asked me out.”
“Me too. I have to retake my tests for school tomorrow. Mom probably told you I didn’t do what I should have on the first one.” Piper told him Jude had told her. “Not that I failed, but I didn’t want anyone to think I was smart. Tracy was a little upset with me for thinking she of all people would care.”
“She’s right, you know.” He nodded as he ate all his fries before starting on the burger. “Do you ever just mix up what you’re eating? I mean, do you eat a fry then a bite of burger?”
“No. That would be wrong.” He grinned at her. “I’m just funning with you. I do like order, but not in my food. It’s just me trying to be funny.”
“You had me hooked. That’s a good one.” She finished off her burger and decided she’d get more food when she got home. She didn’t want to break the bank for him and him not coming to see her anymore. “All right. What is this favor you need from me?”
“I took the school test last week. I tested out of everything they gave me. Now I have to go to the college to see how much I can test out of there. Mom seems to think I should just take my time in college classes. Not to take a lot so I can ease into this. Dad said I should go for it.” Piper didn’t know where this was going, but she was extremely proud of this kid. “Anyway, I was wondering if you’d help me with an art project I have to put together so I can test out of the art classes they’re giving me.”
“Okay. I have no idea what you’re talking about. You sort of went around the bush about forty times. Just tell me what you’re kind of not telling me.” He told her he was nervous. “Of me? I’m not going to harm you, kid. I love you.”
“I love you too. All right. Let me think.” She went to get herself three more burgers and a malt. While she was there, keeping an eye on Abe, she ordered him another burger, as well as a malt. When she sat back down with him, he said he thought he had it. “I’m having trouble fitting in with people my own age. I think that’s why I was so excited to get tested out of high school and being with kids that are more on my level. But that’s not working out so well. The older kids treat me worse than the others do. Not that they’re hurting me, but I guess no matter where