Jess nods into her embrace.
When they part, I take in the sight. The family resemblance is almost eerie. Jessie’s aunt has the same raven hair and could-cut-ice-on-it bone structure that Jess and his mom have. She has a side shave and faded roses and pin-up girls tattooed on both arms. You can definitely tell that she and his mom are closely related, but her eyes dance to a different beat and her smile is wide and completely sincere.
“Uh, Jean, Drix, this is Luke.”
She looks confused for a split second and then gets her bearings, “Oh Luke! ThestepbrotherLuke, of course. How lovely to meet you! Greg’s told us so much about you.”
She pulls me into a hug and for good measure drags Jess into it too.
When I step back I’m hit by the full force of Drix. He’s lean like Jess. They have similar body types, though he’s quite a bit shorter. His hair is jet black and stick straight. It falls past his shoulders to the middle of his back. His face is so much like Jessie’s I almost don’t know where to look. They could be brothers if not twins and at the same time, they couldn’t be more different. Drix is wearing a skintight cropped top that’s so short that if he raises his arms, we’re all definitely going to be on the receiving end of a nip slip, low slung boyfriend jeans, and a black studded belt. Where Jessie’s eyes have never been able to decide whether they’re green or they’re blue, Drix’s have made a decision; they’re blue and they’re certain about it. Bette Davis Blue, I think you’d call it. Not only that, they’re darkly and elaborately lined in swaths of black and glittery lilac.
I’ve never seen anything quite like it in real life.
I mean, I support it like crazy. I’m here for it, and I love that he feels safe and has the confidence to dress like this. It’s just a shock because he looks so much like Jessie.
He steps forward, hand out.
“Nice to meet you,” he says, taking my hand into a handshake that’s way firmer than mine is.
He looks at Jess and smiles. I kind of feel like he might be trying not to laugh though I’m not sure why.
Dinner is a frenetic, jubilant affair which involves many tales of misadventure from both Jean and Drix. When dessert is served, Jess sets up his laptop on the table and calls his mom on zoom. Her voice comes through loud and patchy and it takes several attempts before she and Jean stop talking over each other. Jess and his family crowd around the screen to see her. I try to get a look in, but I’m not sure if she can see me with everyone else in the way. She’s sitting on the balcony of her place in Sydney with a mane of raven hair cascading down one shoulder.
“Drix, you look beautiful, baby,” she purrs. “Love the eyes. Love the top. You should take Jess shopping while he’s there.”
“Me take Jess shopping? Good one, Thea. I mean, I know I have killer style and all, but there’s only so much I can do, you know?”
“I like Jessie’s style,” I pipe up without meaning to.
“Who’s that?” says Thea, craning her neck to get a better look at me.
“It’s Luke,” answers Jess.
“Oh.” She blinks twice. “What’s he doing there?”
“I came for the drive. You know, to help Jess with the driving.” I sound like a fucking idiot.
“Oh,” she says again, smiling unnaturally brightly.
The conversation ticks along for a while after that. I don’t feel my best, so I don’t say anything else. When the conversation starts wrapping up, Jess’s gran and his aunt move to the living room. Drix and I clear the table. Jess stays seated to finish the conversation and I guess Thea doesn’t realize I’m still within earshot because she repeats her earlier question, “Why’s Luke there?”
This time there’s a clear message in her voice and it isn’t a good one. It makes me feel shitty.
“Luke’s great. That’s why he’s here.”
Jessie’s voice shocks me. On the surface it sounds the same as it always does. Low and hoarse, but there’s an edge in it I haven’t heard before. I try to shoot him a look to tell him it’s not worth it, but his eyes are fixed on the screen, narrowed and darker than I’ve ever seen them.
“Oh,” she says. “Well isn’t that nice.” Her voice is syrupy sweet, dripping with malice that’s wrapped up in a picture perfect smile.
Jess ends the call soon after that. As he closes the screen he looks at me. It’s a loaded look and for once I’m not sure how to read it. Drix looks at Jess and then at me. His whole face lights up.
“Dude, what the fuck? Sleeping with the enemy?” Both of us look shocked at the accusation. He drops his mouth wide open in faux amazement and genuine glee. “Ilovethat for you.”
Jessie shrugs and even though he means to roll his eyes, the action goes wonky, and he sort of bats his lashes instead. It’s kind of adorable and it seems to put Drix in a really good mood.
“Oh Lawd! We need to get out of here. We're going out, and the two of you are going to start spilling.”
Drix takes us to a super edgy place downtown. It’s small and dark and I immediately regret wearing a white polo shirt. Every single person here is swathed in black and is infinitely cooler than I could ever even imagine being.
