Every Other Weekend(23)
Jeremy was still trying to stare me down. The effect wasn’t as intimidating as he would have wanted, because I was taller.
As if he realized that he needed to get Jolene out of the apartment before his sons snapped, Dad came back into the living room. “Adam,” he said. “Are you going to introduce me?”
With great effort, I pulled my gaze from Jeremy to face him. For a moment, my fury for the way my brother had treated Jolene transferred to him. But when he looked at Jolene, Dad’s expression was the opposite of Jeremy’s. He even smiled at her. I nodded, then extended a hand to urge her to her feet. “This is Jolene. From next door. Jolene, this is my dad.”
“Jolene? You’re Shelly’s—”
“I am Shelly’s nothing,” she said, cutting him off and for the moment looking as uncomfortable as she should have been in this situation. “Shelly ‘dates’ my dad.” And yes, she added air quotes. Just like that, my anger started to slip away.
“Well, Jolene, it’s good to meet you. You’re welcome over anytime my son is here as long as I’m home, too, but Adam’s not allowed to have girls over alone.”
She looked like she wanted to laugh, but she had the good sense to meet my eye first. My mood had lifted, but my mouth didn’t so much as twitch.
“Oh, you’re serious?” Jolene asked.
Jeremy pointed at the door. “Yeah, so take the hint and get out.”
Dad didn’t hesitate. He grabbed Jeremy by the upper arm and hauled him to the kitchen, where I could hear harsh whispers flying back and forth.
“I was just leaving anyway,” Jolene called out, and then tapped her hand against mine. She mouthed sorry at me and dragged her lower lip to the side. When she bent down to grab her camera and the shoes she’d kicked off earlier, I came down, too.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, and you don’t have to go.”
“Yeah,” she said, eyeing my dad chewing out my brother. “I think I do. Besides, I have a hot date with Ferris Bueller in my room tonight.”
I said something about hanging out the next day, and at Dad’s obvious insistence, Jeremy came back and offered the barest of apologies.
Jolene backed out the door, opening it just enough that she could squeeze through it sideways. “Don’t think twice, Jeremy. It’s understanding that makes it possible for people like me to tolerate a person like yourself. Bye, Adam.”
I ducked my head to hide a smile, then walked into my room without glancing at Dad or Jeremy.
IN BETWEEN
Adam:
Hey.
Jolene:
Hey. This is new.
Adam:
What are you doing?
Jolene:
Trying to figure out how to talk to you off hours.
Adam:
Off hours?
Jolene:
Yeah. Strictly speaking, we’re not on the clock.
Adam:
So?
Jolene:
So, what if you’re even weirder in your real life?
Adam:
That answers the question if you’re meaner.
Jolene:
You don’t really think I’m mean.
Adam:
You don’t really think I’m weird.
Jolene:
If I kind of do does that mean you kind of do?
Adam:
Yes.
Jolene:
I’m stymied here.
Adam:
So...
Jolene:
Why are you texting me?
Adam:
Felt like talking to you.
Jolene:
Adam, are you trying say you miss me?
Adam:
I wouldn’t go that far.
Jolene:
I bet you’re blushing. Send me a picture.
Adam:
See? It’s not that different.
Jolene:
Where’s my picture?
Adam:
Camera’s busted.
Jolene:
Liar.
Adam:
Are you at home?
Jolene:
Yeah, you?
Adam:
Look out your window.
Jolene:
You don’t know where I live.
Adam:
Took you too long to text back. You totally looked.
Jolene:
Only because you have very clear stalker tendencies.
Adam:
Says the girl who broke into my bedroom.
Jolene:
Says the guy who keeps taking pictures of me for his mom.
Adam:
You caught me.
Jolene:
I bet you have a big heart-shaped collage of me taped to your ceiling.
Adam:
It’s inside the door to my closet.
Jolene:
It’d be cool if you lived nearby.
Adam:
Yeah.
Jolene:
Or you weren’t so pathetically still fifteen.
Adam:
Remind me how old you are again?
Jolene:
Fifteen is only pathetic when you’re a guy.
Adam:
That’s unfair.
Jolene:
But true.
Adam:
It’s weird that part of me wishes it was next weekend already.
Jolene:
You miss me being mean to your face?
Adam:
Yeah.
Jolene: