“You have parents,” I begin when I’m able to speak. “But, you don’t try to see them as much as you can or answer when they call. They love you, don’t they?”
“Of course,” he sighs.
“And, they haven’t given you a reason not to love them, right?”
“Right.”
“Then, listen carefully; one day, you’re going to wish you could call, or see them, and you won’t be able to, no matter how hard you try. Appreciate them while you can. You never know what day is the last.”
“What happened?”
“Terrible luck is the best way I can describe it. They went on a trip when I was fourteen and never really came back. They’d gotten sick. It presented as the flu, but once they made it back, they were hospitalized and died there—some crazy kind of parasite, only a specialist would recognize. My mom’s symptoms were somewhat different than my dad’s, so the doctors didn’t make the connection until it was too late.”
“Is that why you’re a research scientist?”
I nod, as I wipe my eyes. “Yes, a parasitologist. My focus area is ecological parasitology. I study how different parasites infect their hosts and their preferred environment.”
“Is that also the reason your uncle doesn’t push you to stop working? ” I nod once more. “I’m sorry, Bree. Just know, if I had a way to fix it I would.” He taps my knee. “Go home and get dressed. We’re going on a field trip.”
“A what?”
“A field trip,” he repeats. “I’ll be over in twenty minutes.”
Jason is in the bathroom with the shower running before I can respond. I go home and get ready as instructed. Jason is at my door by the time I slip on my boots.
“Where are we going?” I ask once I’m buckled in his passenger seat.
“Sugarland.”
“Wait. What?” I stare at his profile as he drives.
“You need to see those jolly mofos more than I do right now.”
“Jason!”
“Bree, I love my parents. I really do. But, they are the combination of every extra-ass parent from every holiday movie you’ve ever seen at this time of year. It can be a tad overwhelming, but something tells me, you’d like it.”
“You just can’t spring guests on them like that, Jason. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve.”
“Trust me, they live for this shit. Plus, the only person they’ve ever met is Lars, and he’s greedy as hell.”
Jason turns on the radio, and I fidget for the next forty-five minutes until he pulls up in front of a two-story home with every Christmas decoration imaginable. It isn’t snowing in Texas, yet the front yard was covered in something white to make it look like a winter scene, complete with Santa and reindeer on the roof. It is too early for lights, but I’m sure they have tons.
Parking in the driveway, Jason kills the engine but doesn’t move to exit. Instead, he taps the steering wheel as he stares at the house. He looks over at me.
“Repeat what I’m about to do to anyone, and we’ll fight.”
My eyes grow at his warning. I can’t help how the corner of my lips tip up. Whatever he has to do, must be completely out of character for him.
“I’m serious, Bree. This didn’t happen.”
I nod, although I’m already amused. “Your secret is safe with me.”
Jason jumps out of the truck, goes into a box in the backseat, and pulls out a sweater. With a frown, he slides the cardigan over his black t-shirt and begins to button it. Leaning in, I notice the cardigan is burgundy and breaks out into white snowflakes in the center where two black reindeer rest on each side, it fades back to burgundy at the bottom.That’s why he’s wearing all black. I want to be amused, but the sweater hasn’t taken away from his hotness. His expression, however, is priceless. His face reads, ‘This is bullshit.’
That’s what makes me laugh.
Jason leans in from the driver’s side, and I know he’s about to say something equally dirty and threatening.
