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CHAPTER THREE

THE BURBLING OF THE ENGINE outside jerks me out of my computer fog. Snatching the papers off my printer, I don’t even spare a glance at Jersey on my way out. “Stay here, turd breath. I’m going to see Teagan outside for a couple minutes.”

“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?”

I close my eyes to get a grip on my anger.

Jersey pulls his hand out of mine and walks over to Mick, taking his instead. “Come on. I’ll show you how to be invisible. You can use my chapstick if you don’t bite it.”

Mick actually takes a few steps with Jersey before I intervene. “Hey!

That’s enough, okay?”

“Mick, I’m leaving,” says Teagan, giving me a hopeless look. “My appointment’s downtown at four-thirty.”

“Go ahead without me. Rebel’s meeting you there.” Mick continues on towards my house.

“What the fuck?” I say, looking from Teagan to Mick’s back. He’s getting closer and closer to my front steps.

“I guess he’s going to hang with Jersey for a little while.” Teagan leans in and gives me a quick hug, which is enough to shock me into silence. She never ever does that.

“I have to go. I’ll swing by in about an hour and pick him up if he’s still here.”

“But … but … he can’t be here.”

“Why not? Jersey invited him in to play. He’s going to show him the whole put-it-on-lick-it-off thing.” Teagan’s smiling again.

“Would you quit that!” I finally yell.

“Quit what?” she says, getting into her car.

“Quit smiling and hugging me and shit! That’s not … normal! Not for you!”

She starts up her car and pulls away from the curb. “Have fun!” she shouts as she disappears down the road.

I stand out on my front walk, trying to decide what to do. It’s not like I have much choice, really, but it feels like I’ve just entered another dimension or something. A place where bad boys come over and have play dates with developmentally challenged little brothers … little brothers who have to go to the doctor.

“Oh, fuck me sideways. I forgot his appointment.” I run into the house, yelling for Jersey to get his cape off so we can get to the doctor’s office and hopefully talk our way into being seen, even though we’re two hours late for the appointment.