The official renaming of World’s Fair as Charlie’s burger joint was that night. It was so easy, Arthur marveled at his good fortune—he subbed right in for the old manager, threw up a temporary sign, and the staff kept everything else running like clockwork, same as always. They put up some flyers around the neighborhood announcing the name change and promising 10 percent off that night: Same great place, new name! They posted on Yelp and Facebook and Instagram.
And then they waited.
Would people show up?
For now, the only other change his dad threw into the mix was teaching the staff his secret sauce. It wasn’t complicated—one-third Worcestershire, one-third soy sauce, one-third mustard—but he wanted it just right before they added it to the burgers. Charlie found himself watching his dad lost in the activity and decided to slip out and take a break.
Vanhi was sitting on his front porch when he got home, legs dangling off the steps. Her red-black hair was bright and cheerful in the sunlight.
She smiled when she saw Charlie. “Why do you look so happy? Did you see Mary?” Vanhi raised an eyebrow.
“I haven’t seen her since the woods.”
“Since you kissed in the woods.”
“Since she swore off men.”
“My kind of girl.”
“And sent a nasty text saying what a social liability I’d be.”
“What?” Vanhi patted the porch next to her. As he hopped up, Charlie heard musical laughter from around the corner. Vik came running from the backyard.
“Charlie! Charlie!”
“You brought Vik?”
“I’m on duty. Both parentals are working today.”
“Hey, my man!” Charlie said, ruffling Vik’s hair as he wrapped his arms around Charlie.
“He loves you,” Vanhi said.
“Right back atcha,” Charlie said.
They watched him run off to play in the yard.
“So what about this text? Are you spying on Mary?”
“No, Peter showed me.”
Vanhi sighed. “How do you even know it’s real?”
“Game-certified. That’s what Peter said.”
Vanhi stared at Charlie for a long time. Then she shook her head. “How do you know he’s telling the truth?”
“Why would he lie?”
“Think about him and Caitlyn.”
“So? He still wants me to be happy.”
“You don’t see him so clearly. You never have.”
They glared at each other for a moment.
Charlie shook his head and changed the subject. “So why the visit?”
“I … I wanted to say I was sorry.”
“For what?”
“For the other night. For voting against quitting.”
“Did you play last night?”
“We got chased by a bunch of digital bull-men. It was awesome.”
Charlie felt a pang of jealousy picturing them playing without him. “Have all your dreams come true yet?” he asked sarcastically.
“Have yours?” she shot back.
“It’s been a good day, actually. Things with my dad, they felt like … almost like before.”
“Really? Why now?”
He hesitated, then told her about the restaurant.
She gave him a funny look. “You know that has to be…” She didn’t have to say it: the Game.
“You don’t know that.”
“This guy who had to give it up suddenly … something must’ve happened to him.…”
“You think I’m a hypocrite?”
“No … I mean, it’s for your dad after all, but…”
“Why don’t you lay off the judgment? I’m the one who tried to quit. And lay off Peter, too, while you’re at it. You’ve always been out to get him, since the day he came.”
“People say he deals drugs, Charlie. You know that, right?”
Charlie hesitated for just a moment, the image of that brown bag from Peter to Zeke coming back. The one Charlie had carried. He pushed the thought away.
“That’s bullshit. He’s never said anything like that.”
“At St. Luke’s, and now here, too.”
“Why would he? He doesn’t need the money.”
“That’s right. He does it because he likes it.”
“You’re just spreading lies.”
“Charlie…”
“He’s the only one who was there when my mom died. What did you do?”
“What?”
“What the hell did you do?”
Vanhi’s eyes watered. “Charlie, I … I didn’t know what to … I tried.”
“You did shit. So stop trashing him and take a look in the mirror.”
“Why are you guys fighting?” Vik asked.
They had no idea how long he’d been back at the porch watching.
Vanhi smiled abruptly, trying to show Vik everything was okay. “Come on, Vik, let’s go.”
“You’re jealous of Peter, but you weren’t there,” Charlie snapped, as Vanhi scooped up Vik and went to her car. “You’re jealous of Mary but you wouldn’t date me. You tell me not to lose myself, then you choose the Game over me. Who the hell are you, Vanhi? What do you want?”
She spun around. “Don’t you get it? Just because I don’t love you doesn’t mean I don’t love you.”
“Well, that’s helpful.”
Vanhi scowled. She opened the door and helped Vikram into his car seat.
“You know, that’s just the problem with you computer guys,” she snapped over her shoulder. “You want everything to be black or white, one or zero. That’s not the world, Charlie.” She squeezed Vik’s hand and strapped him in. “It’s all just a shitload of gray.”