Suzie’s House 165: How I Look To You

Rats, she was coming, and Ben was right behind her, too. Gene swung the backpack into his room where it could hide by being on the floor against the wall. If Mrs. Hammacker would read him the riot act about it, Lisa would be much worse.

“Gene! Hey, Gene, do you know my cousin, Tracy?”

“Tracy?” Gene shook his head. He didn’t know anyone named that. He didn’t really want Lisa introducing him to some guy either, cousin or no.

“She’s only here for the summer, but I know you’ll love her. Come on.” Lisa grabbed his hand and pulled. “She’s at my house. Let’s go meet her.”

“No. Uh. Maybe later.” Gene got his hand loose. Maybe it was a little better she wanted him to meet a girl instead of some guy, but Gene still had to go see his father.

“Oh come on. It’s summer vacation. What could you possibly have to do that is so important?”

He couldn’t tell her. He didn’t want her and Ben telling him how stupid he was for believing his old man. Maybe they’d be right, but Gene didn’t want to know about it.

Since he didn’t know what to say, he just stood there and looked at her. Lisa kind of lost it for a minute. Her smile went away, and came back not as strong. She reached for him again, be he didn’t even have to fight her off. She let her hand pull back and leaned toward Ben.

That was good. That was right. Gene didn’t really want her liking him all that much. Not when Ben was ga-ga over her. The two of them belonged together. So it didn’t matter if Lisa looked at him like he might be a serial killer in disguise.

Still. It bugged him.

“Maybe some other time, all right?” Gene said to them both.

Ben nodded. Lisa looked like she would argue. Gene didn’t give her a chance. He turned away and went down the stairs, waving a hand like he was shoving them off.

“Later, Dudes.”

He stomped all the way out the front door and was half way to the next street before he remembered about the backpack with his over night stuff.

Heck with it. He wasn’t sure he trusted his father enough to actually spend the night anyway. He’d just go and talk a bit, see if the old man might actually be telling the truth this time.

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