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Ben took it.

Sunshine smiled. “Good choice.”

“I’ve learned resistance only wastes time.”

“You’re getting smarter,” Dad told him.

Ben looked at me. “Four miles?”

“Exactly.” I rolled my eyes.

“No bonus mile when you thought I wasn’t looking?”

“You’re getting very cynical.”

“I coach teenagers.”

“There’s probably a support group for that.”

Dad was smiling. He liked Ben.

I’d known that for a long time. Dad liked people who didn’t make a production out of themselves.

He also liked that I laughed around Ben.

He had told me once, casually enough that I knew it mattered, that I seemed lighter after practice.

I had pretended not to understand. I did.

Ben could tell me I was being an idiot without making me feel like the idiocy meant something deeper.

Useful quality.

He unwrapped the burger. “You feeling okay?”

“Since three hours ago?”

“I like current information.”

“I’m good.”

His eyes touched the bruises on my arm. “Good.”

Ben took a bite of his burger as though neither of us had noticed.

“You on duty?” Dad asked him.

“Until the student section clears.”

Dad nodded toward his face. “That explains the expression.”

Ben looked at him. “What expression?”

“The one that says you regret working with teenagers.”

“That’s just my face.”

I smiled.