We pile into the armored car, and Austin whips out his phone with a sigh. “Only ten more hours, and I’m finding a coffee shop.”
Simon bounces around on the back seat. “Yes! Coffee! I’ve never had it before!”
Austin eye checks Simon in the rearview mirror. “Yo, Simon. How many Smores did you eat?”
Simon bears no shame. “Three!”
Jenni reaches over and pinches him. “Four. He ate four.”
Simon sticks out his tongue at Jenni. “No one likes a tattletale.”
Jenni makes the same face at him. “No one likes a liar, Pinocchio.”
Simon has the good sense to look forlorn. He peers up at me out of sad, brown eyes with long dark lashes. “I’m sorry, Amy. I just really want some coffee and I was afraid you wouldn’t buy me any.”
I stare back at him. He looks like he’s trying to crawl out of his own skin. “Simon. Too much sugar and caffeine isn’t good for you when you’re not used to it. It could make you sick.”
Austin nods his head. “Yeah. And I’m not driving ten hours in a car with you bouncing off the walls.”
Simon sits on his hands and rocks back and forth slightly. “I promise I’ll be good. Can I please have some coffee?”
Austin shakes his head in laughter. “You are too much, Simon.”
I look back at Simon. He stares out the window and twiddles his thumbs at a rate of speed to beat the band. Longing fills his tiny face, and persistence rests in his set jaw. I can’t help but admire his unrequited desire for caffeine. I clear my throat. “I’ll vouch for Simon. If his nervous energy gets the better of him, I’ll sit on him if I have to. Get that pathetic boy some coffee.”
Simon whips his head around and bestows me with a blinding smile. “Thank you, sister.” My heart skips a beat at his term of endearment.
“You got it, brother.” I choke out the words and turn back around.
Jenni harrumphs from the backseat. “You two are ridiculous. It’s a friggin’ cup of coffee.”
Simon turns back to her. “It’s so much more, Jenni! It’s another step into the real world!” We pull up and order our coffee. I hear Austin whisper under his breath on Simon’s order. “And make that a half-caf.”
Simon flies up between us. “I heard that! I want the whole effect!”
Austin clicks his tongue. “Simon. You may have a real coffee on a day you haven’t had four Smores for breakfast and I’m not stuck in a car with you for ten hours. Today is not that day.”
Simon flings himself back into his seat and crosses his arms on his chest. “Fine.”
We pull away from the coffee shop drive thru, and head down the road toward home.