“Put it on … lick it off ...”
Two people are getting out of her Beetle by the time I get to the front porch. I fully expect to see her boyfriend with her, but instead am pleasantly surprised to see his younger brother, Mick. Holy hotness.
I put on my coolest expression and add a little sway to my groove, slowing down my arrival so he can fully appreciate it. I know I shouldn’t be trying to catch his attention like that, but I can’t help myself. He makes me want to drop my panties right here on the sidewalk. I have a slight addiction to tattoos and bad attitudes, and he fits the bill perfectly. Plus, he’s gainfully employed, so that’s just a bonus.
“Hey, Quin. You all done?” Teagan asks.
I throw my arms around her and pull her into a hug, knowing she’d never do it if I left it up to her. “Yes. All done.” I draw back and hand her the papers. “It’s all in here, with a report and list of stuff all laid out. It should be really easy for him to see what’s going on. Then he can pay an expert to do it the official way.”
I look over at Mick. “Hey,” I say, all nonchalant, like I have hot guys driving up in front of my house every day. No big.
“Hey,” he says, a lazy smile coming over his face. “What’s up?”
I shrug. “Nothing much.” Turning my attention back to Teagan, I smile again. “So, you off to your appointment?” I can ignore hot guys like they’re not there. Invisible hot guys. I can’t see you, Mick. I’m too cool for that.
“Yeah. You want to come?”
“Can’t. I gotta watch Jersey.”
Teagan nods her understanding, but Mick laughs. “You watch that show?”
“What show?” I’m momentarily confused, knowing I’m somehow being mocked but now sure how or why.
Mick is about to answer, but then he’s suddenly distracted. His mouth freezes halfway open and his gaze shifts to focus on something behind me.
Jersey’s voice comes over my shoulders. “Put it on … lick it off …”
I roll my eyes as Teagan smiles.
“Yo, Jersey, how’s it hangin’?” she asks.
I look over at Mick, suddenly nervous about what he’ll think. I hate that I’m feeling this way, so it instantly pisses me off. Mostly at him but also at myself. I’ve been dealing with reactions to my brother for more years than I care to think about, and it never gets any easier. If anything, it’s tougher. I hate that the world is so judgmental, because there is no one on this planet with a bigger, squishier heart than my Jersey boy.
Jersey stops at my side, staring at Teagan. “Hi, Tea-Tea. I have chapstick.”
“I can see that,” she says, battling to keep the smile from turning into a laugh. “Looks good on you, buddy.”
“I have to put it on and lick it off. I can’t bite it. Sister says only assholes eat chapstick.”
Mick snorts and Teagan turns around, suddenly interested in the neighbor’s lawn across the street.
I grit my teeth to keep calm. “Go back in the house, Jersey.”
“You can’t see me,” he says, staring at Mick.
“I can’t?” Mick looks at me. “Is he talking to me?”
“Don’t make fun of him,” I say, my anger hitting level-ten in an instant.
Mick frowns. “I’m not.”
“You can’t see me. I’m invisible,” says Jersey, stepping towards Mick.
I grab Jersey by the arm. “In the house, turd basket, or I’m telling Mom.”
“Mom’s a damn liar,” he says.
Teagan is chuckling but she does a great job of keeping most of it controlled. I’m torn between laughing and crying, knowing Mick is standing there judging me and my brother and finding us lacking. I hate Mick for that.
“I’ve gotta go,” I say, defeat and disappointment lacing my voice. “Come on, Jersey,” I say, taking him by the hand.
“I want to talk to him,” he says, pointing to Mick.
“He doesn’t want to talk to you, though, so come on.” I tug on his arm, but he’s stuck to the ground like a statue.
“Hey, I never said that.” Mick steps forward, like he’s going to follow us.
I lean towards him and drop my voice so Jersey won’t hear. “Hey, no offense, but fuck off, okay?”
Mick leans away, his expression going dark. “No offense? Kind of hard to not take offense to that, don’t you think?”