“Dang, he issohot,” one mumbled.
My heart suffered a small pang. Yes, Jett really was. And what if Summer was right? What if he wasn’t so bad after all?
A knot of guilt spread through my gut. How was I ever going to help TJ change if I was this easily distracted? But then another thought seeped in, raising a more immediate question. Jett Bryant and I were researching the chemistry of a kiss. Together. Tonight. What in the world would that be like?
Chapter Four
Idecided to study before going over to Jett’s house for the night. Not about our project, but about methods I could use to stay focused on my goals. My main goal for the time being was to stay with TJ.
Some might think that was shallow or lame, but I didn’t like quitters. I wasn’t a quitter. I was a fixer. Just ask Mom and her list of things for me to do. I hovered over said list as the minutes counted down. In less than five minutes, Mom would be home and I’d be on my way.
I’d already borrowed the Jackson’s ladder and replaced the light bulbs in the stairwell and the garage.Check.I’d fixed the issue Mom had with the remote in her bedroom.Check.I’d read with Missy, gave her the rest of the leftover casserole, and now there was just one thing left. Take out the trash.
The garage door opened, and Missy climbed off the couch and began hopping in place on the floor. “Mom’s home!”
“Yep,” I said, a flare of nerves building up in my chest. I snatched my bag off the counter and looped it over my shoulder on the way out the door. “See you later, Missy Moo.”
She grinned at me with her tiny teeth. “See you later, Harper Loo.”
I was halfway down the first stair when I remembered the garbage. Quickly, I darted back inside and crossed the kitchen. I steadied the base with my foot and pulled the thing free. “Bye bye, sugar pie,” I said this time.
“Bye bye, apple stink pie!”
I chuckled and pointed my finger at her. “Hey!”
Missy plopped back onto the couch and giggled wildly.
“What’s so funny?” my mom asked as she stepped inside. Two reusable grocery bags hung from her grip.
“Please tell me you have some protein bars in there,” I said. “I’ve been, like, living off apples and that scratchy bread for weeks.”
“I’ve got a few in here,” Mom said, “but I wish you’d give some of these new recipes more of a try.”
That wasn’t going to happen. “Alright, well I’m off to my date.”
“With Pastor Bryant’s son?” Mom asked.
“Yep.” I didn’t want to get into this. I’d texted her from school shortly after the plan was hatched and hoped she wouldn’t ask a bunch of questions. She hadn’t, but she might list them all off now.
“Well, I’ve always wondered why you didn’t date him, Harper. That is one good-looking kid.”
The garbage was growing heavier in my hand. “I’ll be sure to tell Pastor Bryant and his wife you said so.”
“Oh, honey, didn’t you hear? They’re separated.”
My eyes went wide. “What? I thought his mom was just helping her mother in Atlanta.”
Sadness always showed itself in my mom’s eyes. The way they’d get heavy and slanted. She shook her head. “Yeah, I think it kind of started out that way. I’m sure they’re keeping it under wraps until they know what’s going to happen. I think that, for a pastor who wants to keep it all together, it’d be even harder to go through something like this.”
I nodded as I considered that. “You’re right. Well, I won’t be out too late.”
“Okay. And hopefully you can cheer Jett up. This can’t be easy for him either.”
No,it couldn’t.
I lifted the lid off the garbage and hoisted the bag into the bin. It was dark out, the hours getting shorter now that we’d “fallen back” in time.
On the drive there, the black night seemed to creep into the car and sit with me. Jett’s parents were separated. That was awful. It made me see him in a new light. A light where he wasn’t just a pompous guy with incredible good looks and a swelling ego. He was a guy who…who was probably trying to keep his family together, the way I had done. Well, not successfully, but I had tried. And tried and tried. But really, what was I going to do? Rescue my parent’s marriage at the meager age of ten?
