Shattered Ties(47)

“Yeah, it’s only for the weekend, and we won’t be on our own either. We’ll be in the same hotel as my dad, so you don’t have to worry about us getting in trouble.” Emma looked at my mom hopefully.

She was pleading with her eyes, and my mom had to say yes to that look.

Hell, I’d give the girl anything if she gave me that look.

“London. Wow. I don’t know. It’s so far.”

“Oh, come on. You’ll be working all weekend anyway. You won’t even miss me,” I said.

“What about a passport? You don’t have one, and those take weeks.”

She had a good point. I looked at Emma, hoping that she could help us out.

“It does take weeks unless you’re the daughter of a rock star who has a friend that can expedite the process. I brought the forms with me. If you fill them out tonight, we should have it by Thursday.”

My mother’s mouth dropped open even farther. “Wow, I’m not even sure what to say to that. I guess you can go, Jesse. But, and this is a big but, you have to call me as soon as you land and at least once a day for every day you’re there.”

“I’ll make sure that he does,” Emma said. She was grinning from ear to ear. “This means so much to me. Thank you!”

“You’re welcome. Just make sure that you’re both careful.”

Emma and my mom kept a steady flow of conversation as we ate. With the two of them together, I never had the chance to get a word in. I hadn’t been sure how the two of them would get along, but it was obvious that they already liked each other.

We finished dinner, and Emma tried to help my mom do the dishes, but she shooed Emma away. “Go help my son with his homework. I think I can handle a few plates.”

“If you’re sure...” Emma seemed unsure of whether or not to leave.

“I am. Now, go.” She glanced over at me. “And leave the door open, Jesse.”

I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t fifteen. If I wanted to have sex with Emma in my room, I would. I wouldn’t care if the door were open or not. “I’ll try to remember to keep it open.”





––––––––

I grabbed my bag full of books and followed Jesse back to his room. I was nervous about being in there alone with him when his mother was only a couple of rooms away. He did leave his door open, which I was thankful for.

His mom seemed really nice, and I didn’t want her to hate me.

“So, what all did you bring me?” he asked as he sat down on the bed.

“A little bit of everything. I wasn’t sure about all the classes you’re taking, but I got the work from the classes we have together and the ones that I know you are taking.”

“I’m sure they thought you were nuts.”

“Nah, your teachers like you. Ms. Mason was even cool with me taking your work, and someone said she was the one who caught you guys fighting.”

“Well, that’s good to know, I guess.”

I pulled a notebook out of the bag and handed it to him. “All of your assignments are in there. These are my books. I need your locker combination, so I can borrow yours. I never even thought to ask you for it.”

He smiled as I pulled the books out of the bag and set them on the worn-out table where he had scattered other books.

“Thanks.”

“No problem. Also, Ms. Mason had us partner up for a project. Since I’d told her that I needed your homework before class started, she put us together. It’s a paper on any war of our choice, but it’s not due until the end of the month.”

“That’s fine. I can do research while you write it if you want. I’m good at looking up stuff, but I can never put it down right on paper.”

I smiled. “Well, I hate researching, so that sounds perfect. I have your passport paperwork with me, so we just need to fill it out and get a picture of you. I’ll scan it and email it all to my dad’s friend when I get home.”

He shook his head. “You’re something else.”

I wasn’t sure what he’d meant by that. “Why?”

“You just blow over the fact that your dad is a famous rock star and that you have all these friends in high places.”

I laughed. “I don’t mean to. I just don’t think anything of it because it’s what I’ve always known.”

“What do you want to do with your life when you’re older?” he asked, looking serious.

“I don’t know. I do know that I don’t want to be part of the life that my mom and dad have. I want my kids to grow up with a normal life.”

“You realize that you won’t have the money and everything else that comes with the life you live now, don’t you?”

“I do. I don’t care if I won’t have a new car or a big house. I just want a family who really cares about each other and sticks together.”

He was staring at me like I’d lost my mind. “You have no idea what you’re saying.”

“Yeah, I do. I hate the kind of life that my mother lives now. You think that I’m going to look down on you for the life you live, but I don’t. I’m jealous. I can only dream of a mom like yours.”

He pulled me down beside him and kissed me. “You’re nothing like I expected.”