The driveway was bright with the morning sun as Leo's parents loaded their suitcases into the car. His mom leaned over and gave him a long, lingering kiss on the forehead.
"Be a good boy, son," she whispered, her eyes soft with that familiar mix of love and worry. "And listen to Sloane, okay?"
His dad walked over, clapping a heavy hand on Leo's other shoulder. He looked at Leo with a serious, proud expression—the look he usually reserved for talk about gears and brakes. "Don't forget, Leo. While we're gone, you're the man of the house now. I'm counting on you."
"Yes, son," his mom added with a smile. "You are."
Leo felt a surge of pride, but then he felt the weight of a different hand on his shoulder. Sloane's grip was light, almost a caress, but her fingers were firm. She stood right behind him, her presence cooling the heat of the sun.
"Don't worry," Sloane said, her voice smooth as silk as she looked at his parents. "I'll make sure the 'man of the house' stays out of trouble. We've got a very big weekend planned, haven't we, Leo?"
She gave his shoulder a tiny, playful squeeze.
"Bye! Have a safe trip!" Leo called out, waving as the car backed out of the driveway.
He stood there waving until the car disappeared around the corner. For the first time, he felt like he had everything he ever wanted: his parents' respect and the undivided attention of the girl he loved.
Sloane leaned down, her lips close to his ear, her voice dropping into that "party" tone. "Well, man of the house... I think it's time we get started. Are you ready for your surprise?"
Leo looked up at her, beaming. He was so happy he forgot all about Maya's warning. He forgot about the "bad things" babysitters do at night. He just saw the sunlight catching the gold in Sloane's hair.
The backyard was transformed. Sloane had set up a big white sheet against the fence, and the projector hummed on the grass, casting a giant, flickering action movie into the night. They were surrounded by empty pizza boxes and bowls of popcorn.
On the screen, the hero was surrounded by villains.
Leo stood up, his shadow growing huge against the sheet. He was energized by the music and the sugar. "I'm not scared of you!" he shouted at the screen, then turned to Sloane with a mischievous grin. "I'm not scared of you either, Sloane! I'll kick you right in the side of the face and there's nothing you can do about it!"
Sloane laughed, a deep, rich sound. "Oh, really? The 'Man of the House' thinks he can take me?"
Leo let out a battle cry and raised his leg, throwing a playful, slow-motion kick toward her. Sloane dodged it with a grace that was almost too fast, too professional, but Leo didn't notice. She grabbed a sofa cushion and used it as a shield.
"Is that all you've got, Leo-Lion?" she teased, jumping to her feet.
They began to "fight" in the grass, mimicking the characters on the screen. Leo would lung, and Sloane would spin away, laughing. They were tumbling and play-sparring, their shadows dancing wildly across the fence. For a few minutes, Leo wasn't the "pussy" or the "freak"—he was the lead in his own action movie, and Sloane was his perfect partner.
Finally, they both collapsed onto the blankets, breathless and staring up at the stars while the movie credits began to roll.
"That was... the best," Leo panted, his heart full.
Sloane turned her head to look at him, her eyes reflecting the silver light of the projector. "You've got spirit, Leo. Most people are too afraid to even pretend to kick me." She reached over and wiped a bit of grass off his cheek. "Now, go on. Get upstairs and get some sleep. We have a big day tomorrow."