“I see kids all the time walking around town by themselves.”
“I know, and it’s not smart,” Brad said. “Find a buddy. Call me if you can’t get a campus volunteer or security guard.” He looked and saw Lane smile, obviously glad that Brad was coming with him and lecturing him about personal safety. “What was all that junk about a history paper due? I know for a fact that you finished all your coursework for all your classes for the entire year months ago, and with straight A’s to boot.”
“I know,” Lane admitted after a moment. “I just . . .”
“Just what?”
“Nothing.”
“Spill it, Lane.”
“It’s just . . . I think you guys would have a better time at the Market if I wasn’t there,” Lane said. “I . . . I get the feeling you guys can’t . . . you know, have fun because ‘the kid’ is with you.”
“That’s bull, Lane,” Brad said. “We’re all friends. We’re doing what we want to be doing. The girls go off and do whatever they do all the time. If they want to hang with us, they do it.” They walked along in silence for a minute or so, and then Brad added, “But it must be tough to be a fifteen-year-old surrounded by adults.”
“Nah. I’m used to it,” Lane said. “I don’t ever remember Mom and Dad treating me like a little kid or a teenager, like they do my friends or other kids. I feel way older than I am, and have ever since I finished elementary school. But I’ve seen you guys at Starbucks or downtown when I wasn’t with you, and you look like you’re having a really great time. When I’m with you, you’re all . . . I don’t know, restrained, uptight, making sure you don’t say or do anything to upset or corrupt the youngster.”
“Listen, we’re all buddies,” Brad said. “We—” And suddenly, just as they reached the trees on University Avenue surrounding the parking lot across the street from the library, he jumped, because someone had dug fingernails into his ribs and yelled, “BOO!” behind him. Brad whirled around and found Jodie Cavendish giggling hysterically, and soon Lane joined in. “Jeez, Jodie, I nearly crapped my pants!”
“You have to learn to be more aware of your surroundings, mate,” Jodie said. “The world is a rough place, even little Cal Poly. I thought I’d walk with you.” To Lane she said, “I know all about Brad’s buddy policy, and I thought he shouldn’t be out on the mean streets of Cal Poly alone.”
“The buddy policy is meant for Lane,” Brad said, but when Jodie gave him a soft smile and a wink, he added, “but the company is nice. What about Casey?”
“We gave up on Jerry—I’m sure he’s on the basketball court,” Jodie said. “Casey got a call from her boyfriend du jour and is heading back to the dorm for God knows what. I wonder what Dr. Nukaga wanted with Jerry?”
“Jerry thinks Dr. Nukaga is badass,” Lane said.
“So does half the engineering world, Lane,” Brad said. “I know Jerry’s bummed that we didn’t pick his ion-accelerator space-debris cleanup idea to present to Dr. Nukaga. Maybe he’s presenting it to him now.”
“Can you do two sponsored lab projects at the same time?” Jodie asked.
“If anyone can do it, Jerry can,” Brad said.
They crossed North Perimeter Street, entered the library, and made their way to the café on the ground floor. “Remember, don’t go off wandering around the campus by yourself, Lane,” Brad said. “Call your parents to pick you up, or give me a call.”
“Yes, Uncle Brad,” Lane whined, but he gave Brad a fist bump and smiled, glad to have someone looking out for him, and he trotted off to his favorite computer terminal.
“Can I buy you a cup of coffee, Jodie?” Brad asked after Lane disappeared.
“Why don’t I buy you a glass of wine at my place?” she responded. “I’m parked across from Reinhold.”
“So am I. Sounds good,” Brad replied.
It was a short two-block walk to the parking lot. They climbed into Jodie’s little sedan and headed northwest up Village Drive to the Poly Canyon Village apartment complex. She parked in the large north parking structure, and they walked a short distance to her apartment. The complex resembled a small town square, with several five-story apartment buildings, some with retail stores on the first floor, surrounding a large common area with benches, chairs, and picnic areas. The elevator was not working, so they had to walk the stairs to Jodie’s third-floor apartment.