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Francine pursed her lips as Steve placed the menus in front of us. “They sure have been. At least you hadn’t strung our nephew along like some of these hussies would.” Her voice hadn’t carried over the music and various conversations the rest of the customers were having. She eyed Steve. “They’ve been in here since they were in diapers. They know the menu inside out. What’s it going to be?”
“I’ll have a Razz-Apple slushie and a large slice of pizza with chicken, broccoli, and pineapple,” Jake replied.
“Very good,” Francine remarked and gave me an expectant look.
“A papaya slushie and a slice of Buffalo chicken pizza,” I said.
***
“IT LOOKS LIKE LUIGI’S is doing well,” Jake commented after Steve served us our slushies and pizzas.
“Yeah, they’re people here I don’t recognize.”
Jake started cutting his pizza into small pieces like he always did. “And it may explain how Francine and Steve seem to be getting along more.” We watched as Steve put his hand around her waist for a second, and then she went through the double doors again.
“It’s not even two full days since we came back from Miami and you’re working your Mom’s last nerve as much as she’s working yours,” Jake said as he licked some of the oil from his perfect lips.
I sipped some of my Papaya slushie. “I think she’s getting on my nerves more.”
His mouth titled into a small grin as he bumped my shoulder. “She’s hard on you, because she really does love you. Would you rather have Cindy as your mom, or Janet Landry?”
I took a bite of my pizza and a knowing expression grew over his handsome features. The answer to that question was a no-brainer. “I know your Mom doesn’t want you to leave.”
“I’ve been cooking since I got home and I like everything about it, except the cleaning up part. Mom’s taking it easy while I am here. Dad, Cori, and David don’t do anything in that house unless it’s to turn on the remote control.”
Since we were little kids, Jake hadn’t been afraid to get his hands dirty on the playground or in the kitchen. I knew that his Dad and brothers had joked about it, because of the comments I’d overheard when Beth and I had been at his house in the past. It’d stopped, or at least Beth and I hadn’t heard his Dad or brothers give him a hard time in recent years. Jake never complained about it, or about much of anything. I hadn’t brought it up to him, because I didn’t want him to ever feel abnormal about how domesticated he could be. Some viewed his occasional role in the kitchen as a weakness, but I believed it was a major strength. Underneath his womanizing exterior was a man ready to make a home with a woman who’d value the real him. The only things he wouldn’t ignore were when someone had hurt Beth and I. Because of that, I couldn’t tell him that Hunter had treated me like crap when he’d realized I was a virgin after he went down on me in my dorm room. Jake would confront Hunter, even if I asked him not to. He couldn’t help it.
“It’s because of you that I kept my job here in high school,” I remembered as I took another bite of my pizza. “Your lessons helped me do work quicker in here and not mess up anymore. I never did say thanks for that.” I swung my gaze and met Jake’s warm brown eyes.
“You thanked me a long time away when you learned how to make a decent pie of pizza,” he said, the side of his mouth tipped up. “Did you hear about Tainted Virtue?”
“I watched it on TV with Mom and Dad this morning. They cancelled the rest of their tours in Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina. Ari’s in drug rehab. I would’ve thought Renner had a drug problem, not him.”
“Tainted Virtue wasn’t the same without Ari. Fans were asking why he only performed at one show in Georgia. He’ll be stronger than he was before he went into rehab. They’re close-knit and I believe that they’re not going to bail on him. To have whatever you want at your disposal is too great of a temptation.”
“It has to be. For anyone. They’re sensationalizing his drug use and making Ari look like this completely self-centered person.” I slid my eyes to my watch. “I know he’s a celebrity and I only know Ari the entertainer, but I don’t believe what they’re saying about him.”
“You and me both. You think Chase and Hunter did all the drugs people are saying Ari does?”
I immediately shut my eyes after I felt them grow wide. A painful knot formed in my stomach when I thought about the possibility that Chase and Hunter could fall back to their old ways. Despite Hunter being a jerk, I didn’t want him to struggle with his recovery anymore than he did every minute of his life. “Yeah, I do,” I said. “And they’ve come so far.”
Jake seemed to be lost in thought as he downed his Razz-Apple apple slushie. After a while, he said, “You gotta be home by ten?”
I gave him a regretful look. “Yeah. I am sorry.”
“I remember their rules. I’ll take you for a quick ride, since we’ve got an hour left.”
Chapter 11
Mariska
“GUESS WHO’S IN THE neighborhood?” Bri’s welcoming voice greeted me over the phone the next morning.
She was a sweet girl, who I’d met through Beth when she stayed at Paloma’s Edge this summer. Not only had Beth met Chas
e there, but she’d also gained a group of friends who I’d come to consider friends of mine as well. Bri was tall and waifish, like me. She had sandy brown hair, similar in texture to Beth’s. We’d texted each other and chatted on Facebook whenever we signed into chat at the same time. Despite seeing her almost a month ago for Beth’s birthday party, I looked forward to catching up with her alone.
“I’ll be right down.” I ended the call and left my phone on the bed as I ran downstairs to get to the door before my Mom did, but I was too late.
