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“You didn’t think. You’re right,” he snaps. Jake starts pacing again and runs both hands over his short, buzzed hair. “Because if you were thinking, you wouldn’t have been alone with my sister in your fucking cabin, would you? I asked you to rescue her, not fondle her on your weird ass water bed.”
“He didn’t really touch me,” Andi says. “It was honestly really impressive hand-eye-coordination to not touch my boobs with the way they were flapping and flopping everywhere. If anything, you should be patting him on the back for dodging them so well. And water beds aren’t weird. Have you ever tried laying on one? Also, Jesse’s vibrates. But I didn’t get to experience that yet. I’m sure it’s amazing, though.”
“And you’re not going to experience his vibrations,” Jake says. He looks like he’s short-circuiting, and I can’t say I blame him.. “His… bed’s vibrations. Jesus. Do either of you realize how insane this is?”
“It was a misunderstanding,” I say as calmly as I can. “But think about it, Jake. You know me. I’m the last person on the team you need to worry about going after your sister. She’s not even my type.”
Andi tilts her head, and I kind of regret those last words. They’re complete bullshit, for starters. I also may have pushed too far in convincing my friend and crossed into hurting Andi’s feelings.
He puts his hands on his hips, giving me a long, discerning look. Finally, some of the tension seems to roll off him as he nods. “Fuck, man.” He says, laughing a little. “These have been two days from hell.”
“I’m sorry,” Andi says.
The normal Jake is finally starting to come back. “Hey, it’s alright. Come here.” He gestures for Andi, who gets up and hugs her big brother tight. “I know this has been a shittier couple days for you than any of us. I’m sorry everything got so screwed up.”
They’re clearly having a sibling moment, so I get up from the couch and lower the frozen veggies from my eye.
Jake eyes me over the top of Andi’s head. He gives me the slightest nod. I think the nod means, “We’re good, but you’re on thin ice from now on. So don’t push your luck.”
I head back to my room, suddenly tired as hell and craving a nap. With Jake back, I know I don’t need to worry so much about keeping an eye on Andi. He’ll do that for the both of us. Honestly, I’m probably the one he needs to protect her from at this point. Job hunting can wait for a little after that whole episode.
I flop down on the water bed and visions of her bare chest drift into my brain. Just like that, I’m back in dangerous territory. When I realize my bed smells like her now, I’m in even deeper.
I bring both hands to my face and run them down it, breathing out hard.
9
ANDI
I’m in the back seat of Jesse’s truck about an hour after what I will forever think of as the boobtastrophe. I still blush when I replay everything that happened. Maybe the worst part is I sort of set events in motion to get Jesse punched in the face by my brother. I can see the spot on his cheek where it has already swollen and gone from a bright red to a deep purple. Guilt is gnawing at me.
I’ve never been the sort of girl guys punch each other over. Then again, that’s probably because I’ve lived my life in total awareness of my big brother who thinks the best way to protect my heart is to lock it away and scare off every man who comes near me.
The two of them are talking about hockey stuff like I’m not even in the back of the truck, though. I had to practically beg Jake to let Jesse bring me around town to look for a job like he promised.
Outside the window, the snow-covered hills and distant mountains of Vermont creep by. Jesse is taking it slow, but then again, everything about this place seems to move at a little slower pace than usual.
There’s finally a lull in their conversation, so I lean forward. “I’m sorry I kinda got you punched, Jesse,” I say.
“Can we not talk about it?” Jake asks.
“Agreed,” Jesse says.
He’s been a little colder toward me since Jake showed up. He did say he wasn’t remotely interested in me and that I wasn’t his type. Maybe I’m too weird for him. Or maybe he just doesn’t like getting punched over girls…
As a girl who was wearing a wedding dress just yesterday morning, I keep telling myself I shouldn’t let those comments get to me. After all, it’s not like I should want to be his type. I just… I guess I don’t really know what I want.
“So, who are we going to ask for work?” I say. “My skills include singing badly, cooking decently, and I’m amazing with certain kids some of the time. Oh, and I know how to make movie-theater popcorn. I can also wait tables.”
“Maybe lead with that last one next time?” Jake laughs. “Unless you think we’re going to find someone in town who wants their ears to bleed from listening to you sing.”
“You never know,” I say.
“I have to stop by and have a word with my sister, Caroline, before we get started,” Jesse says. “I figured I can ask her where we should go. If anybody in town needs help, Caroline will know it.”
“Is she the mayor?” I whisper.
“Why are you whispering?” Jake asks.
