“Does it look like everything’s okay? Leave me the fuck alone!” James stood up and slammed the door in my face.
>> <<
“June, are you sure that there’s nothing between you and Edward?” My mom was driving home at a snail’s pace.
“First of all, his name is James, and he’s a world-class asshole. What do you think I could possibly have to do with someone like that? No way.”
“Does the uniform I found at home belong to him?” Oh no.
“Look, Mom, let’s be honest. You saw what kinda kid Jordan has, how can you date someone like that? He isn’t even capable of raising him!”
“Jordan just took custody of his kids. He lived in New York before.”
“What?”
“He lived in New York. I told you a million times, June! He was in charge of setting up exhibits at MoMA, he worked at—”
“Hold on. Wait a minute. Go back. Where did they live before?”
“With their mom. She and Jordan had two kids, but they were never married. She was with another man.”
“What happened to her?”
I saw her grimace with her typical disappointment when she was about to gossip about someone. “When her last husband left her, she had a nervous breakdown. Poor thing only recovered a year and a half ago,” she whispered, with a stirring of pity.
“And the guy who was with her couldn’t take care of them?”
“Their stepfather?”
“Eh.”
“I don’t think he was a great guy. In fact, I think that Jordan came back specifically so they wouldn’t be around him.”
“What happened to the guy?”
My mom seemed to think about it, but then she glared at me. “Why does it matter to you, June? It’s not because—”
“Mom! It’s not what what you think!”
“Mom! It’s not what you think!”she mocked me. “I have eyes, sweetheart. I saw him. He’s the typical bad boy who makes girls’ panties drop.” I stared at her, horrified. How dare she?
“First of all, I’m not a child, and second of all, my panties wouldn’t drop for someone like him.”
“Jokes aside.” The wine had been flowing a little too much during dinner, and she was happier than usual, but then she quickly composed himself. “Jordan’s son is bad news, not to mention dangerous. He’s already been in juvie, and he beat his classmate to a pulp, June.”
“Brian. Who knows why he did it?”
She raised an eyebrow suspiciously. “Do you think anything justifies something like that?”
“No, I’m just saying he must’ve had his reasons.”
“No. It’s none of your business. It’s better for you to stay away from him.”
I sighed, looking out the window. I was planning on it, and the feeling was mutual.
“Jasper is so adorable.”
“He’s creepy, Mom.”
