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His face takes on a horrible, twisted look. “What’s the big fucking deal? You do it,” he snaps at me.

“I’m legal, you’re not. And I know how to drink, not get drunk and out of control. Jesus, E. She’s going to kill you. It’s not even about the fucking drinking. You lied to us. You lied to the camp. You lied to Meg, Jake, and Ben’s mom. You disappeared for the day to get drunk? This was all premeditated. You forged a note with my name on it.”

“It was just a couple of drinks. No bigs.”

I’m trying not to rage at this kid.

“You’re thirteen. It’s not just some drinks. And all of this is a big fucking deal. You are so freaking lucky it’s me that came home and Ben’s dad was home. If Meg had caught you, she would’ve already called your mom.”

“Are you going to tell her?” His eyes are almost slits, but his entire body is slumped like he’s trying to be smaller.

“What do you think? Of course I am. Your mom and I have no secrets, but this is a hell of a gray area for us. It’s not like I can punish you.”

Ethan looks away and smirks.

I get in his face as it all dawns on me. He’s too intelligent. “And you knew that, which is why my name is on the note, and it’s my night to cook dinner. You planned all of this so if I caught you, you’d still get away with it.”

I’m going to rip the kid’s face off if he smirks again. My hands are tied. He knew I couldn’t do anything about it. Well, fuck that. If Jill and I are in this and I’m living in this house at least part-time, he will respect me. I thought we had a good beginning of a relationship. I guess I was wrong.

“Give me your phone.” I outstretch my hand, and my voice sounds a bit like my father’s used to when I fucked up. I dig it. Not the power trip, but the dad instinct.

“No.” He starts to walk away. He’s a little unsteady on his feet.

“Walk away from me and there will be a retribution you’re not able to compensate me for.”

“What?” He turns and sways. He holds the banister for balance.

I grin. “Don’t write checks your ass can’t cash.” Then I use my dark, low lawyer tone. The one I pull out to get my way in court. “I will have that phone right now. In fact, stagger your drunk ass upstairs and grab all your devices. The iPad, your computer, the Switch, and the PS5. Put all of them here on the kitchen table. Then go sleep it off. I’m turning off the Wi-Fi.”

“I have an animation project due tomorrow. I can’t give up my computer.”

“I’ll write you a note. Or better yet, write one for me. Get them.”

“I will not, and there’s nothing you can do or she’ll kill you, not me.”

My voice builds, and I see him start to recognize I’m a different person than the one who wants to simply hang out. He might not see this as caring about him yet, but it is.

“If your intention is to put a rift between your mom and me, be a man about it. Talk to me about it, don’t lie and scheme. And don’t be a loser who gets day drunk on stolen liquor. It’s not cool, and it’s not right.”

“She’s going to kill you either way.”

I get in his face and see him get nervous, the buzz starting to wear off. The sober reality is he’s never really been in this much trouble before. His dad is a screwup and his mother, although remarkable, gives him too much leeway because of it. I love Jill too much to let her son walk all over either of us.

“You’ve forgotten. I’m not afraid of her. Ethan, here’s the difference between you and me. I can take the heat on the other end. But you will respect I’m someone watching out for your welfare in this house. And as long as you’re under her roof, you’ll respect her rules. You have two minutes to get the devices, or I call her now, and she gets to talk to you while your brain is buzzing. And I can promise you this—your little trip out west to go to Comic-Con with your dad is canceled if you talk to your mother drunk. Your call. Deal with your mother while your dumbass is drunk or sleep it off while I hold your screens hostage.”

He surrenders his phone onto the front hall table, and I hear him under his breath as he walks from the room. “Fucking lawyer.” I charge after him and get to the base of the stairs before him.

His eyes are wide. I’m not sure he knew he said that out loud. My voice is low and scary.

“Watch your language. Have respect for the words coming out of your mouth. They mean something. What you say matters, and it’s your greatest gift. To be able to communicate. Don’t give your words away. You matter. But right now, listen to mine. The drunk thing is its own issue. The lying and betraying my trust, and your mother’s, is the much larger issue. You did a dumbass thing, but there’s hope perhaps you’ll see what a fucking mistake this all was and learn from it. Now, you have a minute and a half to get upstairs and back with your stuff. I’d stumble carefully through this moment if I were you.”

Ethan stares at me. We’ve always had a friendly relationship, but it’s not what he needs at this moment. He needs to know I’m not his pal. If I’m in this, I’m a father figure to him for all intents and purposes. I almost fall backward under the weight of my realization.

He pauses, his head hanging low, then he looks at me. “Yes, sir.” And he heads upstairs. Someday I’ll tell him this was the moment I realized I loved him. I love him too much to let him think fucking around and taking advantage of people is a good idea. Going through life allowing everyone else to clean up your messes is not the right path. Shirking responsibility and assuming everyone will bail you out. It’s what his grandfather and father do. If I can help him down a different road, I will.

He disappears up the stairs, and my knees go a little weak. I sit down on the couch and wait for him to deliver the devices.

JILLIEN: WTF is happening over there???? Meg has texted six times.