Page 41 of The Incredible Ordinary

“I don’t remember you being this much of a helicopter parent with Theo.”

“When I told Theo he shouldn’t use his skateboard on the stairs, he listened. When your doctor told you bacon was off limits you said you needed a second opinion.”

“Let’s not demonize fact checking.”

I let out an exasperated sigh.

My phone buzzes.

“You should really pick that up. Might be important,” Dad says.

My eyes move between him and the phone.

I grab the phone. Dad takes a step toward the door.

“We’re not done,” I say.

“Of course not,” he says placatingly, and walks out.

I slide my thumb over the screen and smile when I see Milán’s name on it. I open the message. It’s a photo of a kid ofabout ten with his arm around a shaggy black dog. The dog’s tongue is lolling out of its mouth, and the kid is smiling widely.

I’m presenting you my credentials. Just in case you’ve found a better dog expert.

I grin and study the younger version of Milán’s face.

You were a cute kid.

Cool. Cool is the word you’re looking for.

You had braces?

Not because I needed them. I wore them to make them cool. For those less fortunate in the cool department.

That was nice of you.

What can I say? I’ve always been a man of the people.

I study my phone, trying to figure out what to say next because I like talking to him. It’s been a while since I made a friend.

My phone vibrates again.

What are you up to today?

It’s ridiculous how I suddenly feel excited about that question when it could very well just be small talk.

I look around the empty kitchen and try to figure out if I have something planned. There used to be a time when I would have. I try not to think about that too much.

No plans.

Want to hang out?

The urge to say yes and the joy at the thought of seeing him again are a tingling rush of energy that moves through me in a wave. There’s a fizzing sensation in my chest. A surge of anticipation that feels physical.

What do you have in mind?

Brunch?

We agree to meet at a restaurant in Cobble Hill. I have just enough time to take a shower, get dressed, and check on Theo. He went to Wren and Sutton’s last night and stayed over after watching a movie. I lecture him about homework, and he humors me by pretending he’s paying attention. We both know he’s the more responsible one out of the two of us.