He’s still being mauled by Betty, giggling so loud he probably can’t even hear Mom. So I answer for him. “Sure is. We’re gonna give him a ride home.”
“In that case, I’ll go with Beau. In case it’s…lateby the time you’re done dropping him off.” She winks.
Obviously I haven’t told my mother about my sex life. But she also knows I’d planned on spending the night at her house after Whit’s birthday party…and look how that turned out.
Eyes trained on the kid, Mom’s voice lowers. “I trust you know what you’re getting into here, bud.”
In a whisper to match hers, I reply, “I do. I’m in it for the long haul.”
She gives me a knowing look and an accompanying arm-squeeze before turning to leave with my brother.
With that, I shout to Jonas and Betty, telling them to get in the truck. Then I climb into the driver’s seat to escape the quickly cooling night air. It takes a minute for warm-ish air to begin circulating from the vents, and the ice cream feels like a poor choice as we both shiver in unison.
“So, did you have fun with your dad?” The truck shifts into gear and lurches ahead to wind through rows of parking.
“I guess.” He gnaws at his bottom lip for so long it’s a wonder it’s not bleeding. “When I agreed to go for dinner before the fair, I thought he wasn’t going to show up. I didn’t really want him to, but whatever. I got ice cream for dessert.”
I gasp loudly. “Ice creamtwicein one night? You conveniently left that part out earlier.”
He smirks. “Did you hear what I said to Logan?”
“Sothat’sthe kid we’re pushing off the top of the slide?”
“Mom would be pissed if she heard you say that.Violence is never the answer.” He does an awful impression of her voice.
I grip the steering wheel, turning down the main street in Wells Canyon. It’s completely void of people despite its only being nine o’clock, and Jonas stares out the passenger window with intent. Just when I think I have the key to get this kid to share everything he’s thinking, he clams up like this.
“I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself. That’s damn hard to do. Kids are assholes.”
“The biggest assholes.” His free hand runs along the bottom of the passenger window, chasing droplets of condensation and stopping to draw a tiny smiley face in the fogged-up glass. “It’s not true…. Theo isn’t my boyfriend.”
“Okay.”
“I don’t…why won’t they stop saying that?”
“Because that Logan kid is so damn insecure that he takes it out on other people.” I watch him cross his thin arms over his chest, then move to wrap around Betty’s neck, pulling herinto something that could be either a hug or a wrestling maneuver. “Do you want me to talk to your mom about it? Maybe she can let the school know what’s going on?”
He scrunches his nose.
“Remember when I told you about my dyslexia?” I wait for his nod. “When I was about your age, a bunch of the kids were total dicks to me because I had to sit in some empty classroom with a special teacher to practice reading a couple times a week. The second you’re different, these insecure kids latch on to it, and they get mean.”
“What did you do?”
“I spent alotof time learning to be funny because it’s hard as hell to bully somebody who doesn’t take anything seriously. Plus, there’s power behind being able to make your entire class laugh.”
“You are pretty funny…looking.” He turns to me with a maniacal grin.
This kid is so much more than my little buddy, or my shadow on the ranch, or the son of the girl I really like. We may not share any blood, or a last name, or a history that stretches beyond the past few months. But Jonas means the world to me. He deserves people in his corner, and I’ve never been sure of anything the way I’m sure I need to be one of those people.
Whit
I race to finish the chapter in my book when Colt’s truck pulls into the driveway. I wasn’t expecting him tonight, especially when Alex should be back with Jonas any minute. The instant my eyes skim over the final line, I toss my Kindle down on the empty couch cushion beside me and watch the door.
Jonas bursts through it first, sights set on the refrigerator, as if there aren’t remnants of chocolate on his upper lip. I’m going to need a second job to pay for his eating habits pretty soon. Betty’s close behind him, equally eager to find a snack. Jonas pulls a pack of pepperoni out, pops one between his lips like he’s smoking a cigar and tosses another to the dog.
“Hey, bud. How’s it going?” I slowly rise from my comfy seat, draping the throw blanket over the back of the couch and heading into the kitchen.
When my butt hits the counter stool, the front door closes, and I look over to see Colt. When our eyes meet, he smiles and winks. “Hey, Mama.”
