?What?? Helen said in a flustered daze as Lucas pulled her
through the kitchen door that led to a huge garage packed with
fancy cars. He bundled her in a little, classic convertible Mercedes
and started the car as he hit the door opener.
?You?ll be back here tomorrow afternoon,? he said, finally answering
her question as he pulled out and headed off the compound
toward Milestone Road.
?I can?t. I have track,? Helen reminded him.
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?I have football. I?ll drive you back here after we?re both done.
And I can pick you up for school in the morning if you?d like.?
?I thought you weren?t allowed to do sports anymore.?
?That?s mostly cleared up,? he said with a huge grin. ?Look, all
I?m going to say is I?ve seen the football team. And believe me, they
need my cousins and me.?
?I should probably be offended by that, but I?ve seen the football
team, too,? Helen said, mirroring his grin. ?But regardless, I can?t
come over after tomorrow. I have to work on Monday nights.?
?Tuesday then,? Lucas said.
?I can?t. I have to cook dinner for my dad,? she said in a rushed
voice.
?He can come, too. My mom wants to meet him,? Lucas said with
growing uncertainty. He glanced over at Helen. ?Don?t you want to
come??
?It?s not that,? she said, feeling cornered and frustrated and not
knowing why. ?My dad won?t allow it, okay?? Helen looked out her
window at the golf course and felt Lucas take her hand and shake it
a little to get her to look at him.
?No one will tell your father about you if you don?t want them to,?
he said, glancing from her to the road and back again.