“I’ve always gotten along with guys better.”

“Like Zoey’s dad?”

She flinched. “Low blow, Del.”

I knew it. Didn’t regret it. “Who is he anyway? No one at school seems to know.”

“They’re not going to know. Green Creek High can have that hashtag bullshit. You been talking about me?”

“No. You don’t have to talk to hear the rumors. Some say he’s a grown man, married and stuff.”

“Well, some are lying. He’s a football player in Richmond. Henrico High School. It’s his senior year and he doesn’t want anything to do with me or Zoey. Are you going to go throw that in the rumor mill now?”

No. I hated gossip for the most part. I did have questions. “He’s not helping at all?”

“He stopped talking to me the minute I told him I was pregnant. Well, after calling me all kinds of names. Said it could’ve been anyone’s baby even though I told him he was the only person I was ever with.”

She told him the truth. Our lie/pact abandoned for a guy who later abandoned her. “Your parents, they didn’t, like, I don’t know, take him to court?” Some of the Baby-Getter situations had become contentious that way. Lawyers, child support.

“My mom and dad said we’re not going to force someone to do the right thing. Money’s not an issue for us, and he’s not an influence we necessarily want in Zoey’s life. So . . .” A shrug.

I struggled to fill in the blanks of what that meant. “What did you like about him? There was something, before he turned asshole, right?”

“His smile. His confidence. He was an athlete, so his body’s amazing. Smelled good. Had a really deep voice. You should’ve seen him in those tight little boxer-briefs he wore, he looked like a superhero—”

“Okay, okay. Got it.”

She exhaled, deflating right before me. “Funny part is that the way he acted with Zoey, all that stuff is gross to me now. His teeth are kind of gray; he’s insecure and mean. If I ever smell his cologne again, I’ll gag.”

She was clearly uncomfortable, twisting and staring at the wall.

“Maybe we should really study something,” I said, feeling guilty for taking us here.

“Don’t try to be Mister Do-Right now.” She repositioned herself, focused on her tablet. “I’ve got more TV to catch up on.”

We resumed our previous activities. I clicked through open browser tabs and ended up on my YouTube home page where, because website algorithms are scary and know everything, a familiar face appeared in my recommended videos. Cressie’s fourth episode of FemFam Presents was among the thumbnail offerings, and next to it, the YouTuber she’d been caping for in my car. Jaylan Knows, episode 202: “Sex Terminators.”

Say . . . what?

Shi had screwed earbuds in, totally unconcerned with me. I clicked on the Jaylan Knows video and watched an engaging, humorous, informative breakdown about highly sophisticated sex dolls. It was the most bizarre thing I’d seen in a while. When it was done, I immediately clicked on episode 201: “Why Are (SEXIST) Dress Codes Still a Thing?”