Page 57 of Fish Out of Water

“Technically twice today, thanks to you.”

“I’m sorry for treating you like a friend.”

Robbie moved out from behind the counter, and for just a moment Jake thought he was going to kick him out. Instead, he put a hand on Jake’s shoulder, firm yet comforting, and gave it the tiniest of shakes.

“I’m saying this to you as a friend: get a grip, Jake. The world doesn’t revolve around you, and I can promise you, no one cares what you get up to as much as you do—not even your parents.”

“You don’t know them.”

“I know enough about them to understand they just want to make sure you’re doing all right, and based on everything you’ve put yourself through since getting here, I’d say their concerns are valid.”

“They think I got fired from my last job.”

Robbie dropped his hand from Jake’s shoulder. “Did you?”

“No, of course not.”

“Then what happened?”

“Nothing.”

“Jake, please.”

“Nothing,” Jake insisted. “I just didn’t feel comfortable working there, and I decided it would be better to leave quickly and risk not having a job for a little while than stay there and be miserable while I tried to find something better. It worked out in the end, didn’t it?”

“I’m sure Isabel thinks so.” Robbie cocked his head. “Does she know what happened?”

“No. Only Alex knows, and that’s how I want to keep it.”

“And what does she think about it?”

“She thinks I should tell our parents the truth, but that’s because she’s used to how they react to her, not me. It’s not a big deal, Robbie, I can tell you that much. It’s just not something they need to get involved in, and it sure as hell isn’t anything you need to be part of.”

“Well, if you want to be real friends?—”

“I do.”

“If you do, it would help for you to not keep me at arm’s length.” Robbie took a step closer. Jake wasn’t sure exactly what he was trying to do, but he simultaneously hated it and liked it more than he wanted to allow himself to. “Unless you’re afraid of what might happen if you let me in.”

“You’re a sucker for punishment, you know that?” Jake sighed. “Fine. You really want to hear what’s been bugging me about my parents?”

“Yes.”

“They like Alex more than me.”

Robbie stifled a laugh. “Come on, Jake, you can’t be serious.”

“It’s true. Alex and I’ve talked about it before, and we both agree. It’s not her fault, obviously. She was the better child: she worked harder in school, she didn’t argue back as much as I did,and her hobbies were simple shit like bicycling and bracelet-making. And now she has a better job—or even a job at all—and she’s thriving in her new apartment, unlike me who keeps drifting around doing whatever I want because apparently I never grew up.”

Robbie hesitated. It might have been the slight vitriol in Jake’s voice at the end of his tirade that made him pause, or perhaps he was just considering what best to say. Credit where credit was due, Robbie was thoughtful unless he was being prodded along by Jake to say something impulsive.

“I don’t think that means they like you less,” he said.

“They do, and I’ve accepted it. They’re constantly comparing me to her, but they still love me, unlike your parents and you.”

Robbie crossed his arms. “Thanks a lot.”

“What? It’s true.”