When Jameer’s requested hour was near its end, she was obviously irritated, so I had to ask, “Is this about time, or that he’s with a guy?”

Maybe it sounded harsher than I meant. I wasn’t in the best mood.

“I’ve known Jameer liked boys forever. He’s one of my best friends.”

“You’re cool with it, then?”

“Yes.” There was some bite in her voice. “I’m cool with it.”

“Even though the church isn’t?”

“My church means a lot to me, in many different ways, but I still think for myself. I won’t be a bigot no matter what, and I believe my God is fine with that. Do you have a problem with Jameer and Ramsey?”

“Not in the slightest.”

“So why’s it feel like we’re having an argument?”

I didn’t answer fast enough. Couldn’t.

“Can you start driving me toward my house? We can park on the back street and wait for him there.”

Fine. As you wish.

The hour Jameer had asked for became an hour and fifteen minutes. Then an hour and a half. The tension in my car shifted by degrees, as Kiera kept checking the time on her phone.

“What is he doing?” She sent her dozenth text.

Her phone buzzed back. “It’s my mom, asking where I am.”

Understanding the stakes, I began my own text to Jameer, hoping the double harassment would get him in gear. Before I finished, headlights shone in my rearview.

Ramsey’s car pulled within a few feet of my bumper, then cut the headlights so the glare wouldn’t blind us. Kiera went slack with relief. Even though we were in the same vicinity, Jameer still wasn’t in much of a hurry. I could see their silhouettes leaned into each other, gyrating with their sloppy kissing.

“Oh come on,” she said, her phone vibrating with, most likely, another parental check-in.

Kiera reached over, triggered a short burst from my horn. The silhouettes separated.

Jameer left Ramsey’s car, shuffled over to mine, and pawed at the door handle until he was able to fall into my backseat, giddy.

Kiera killed his mood. “You better hope we’re not in trouble.”

Ramsey drove off, and I circled the block, parking between their houses. Kiera ran down their cover story.

“The three of us stayed late at Antonelli’s discussing church stuff. We didn’t text because our phones were dead, and we didn’t think it was a big deal. At the worst, they’re annoyed with us. Got it?”

Jameer gave a lackadaisical thumbs-up. “Whatever you say, boss.”

Kiera sneered, said, “Thanks for the ride, Del. See you in church tomorrow.”

Jameer clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Thanks for everything today, Del.”

They parted, on the way to their respective porches, and I sat a moment.

Thanks for the ride, Del? That’s it? I do everything it took to pull the day off and Jameer got more action than me?

This some bullshit.

Jerking my gearshift to drive, I made a hard turn out of Kiera’s neighborhood. Pissssssed.