Chapter Five
Jonathan
Dinner feels like never-ending torture. I mean, it’s nice. I love my family. My parents are as supportive as a guy could hope for, especially with a career like mine. Colt keeps making passive-aggressive jabs about me being the next Justin Bieber because of the YouTube thing. I take his shit, though, because I know he has his own YouTube channel. And it doesn’t have anywhere near as many followers as mine does. He wishes one of his videos would go viral like mine. Mom’s been dropping hints that I should share one of his videos too. But they’re all covers, and none of them are that original either. He’s not interested in my advice, though, so I just smile at him when he gives me shit. His jealousy doesn’t take away a thing from my happiness.
And now that Gabby’s here, the only thing that would make me happier is to get her alone somewhere for a few hours. As much as I want to toss her over my shoulder and get the hell out of here, I know I can’t. For one thing, I can’t abandon Marissa, even though she seems to be having a nice conversation with Brendan. She doesn’t have a car, and I don’t want to make my family give her a ride to my place. And then there’s the fact that they’d be right behind us, which wouldn’t give me the time I need.
Finally, dinner ends. We sit around chatting for a while longer, finishing our drinks. Mom brings out dessert—some low-cal berry thing that still manages to taste pretty good despite Mom going on and on about its health benefits and antioxidant levels. I’ve gotten used to eating like this since I’ve been back. Partly because this is the type of food my mom makes anyway, but also because I’m working with a dietician and trainer again. I’ll be doing a lot of promotion leading up to the release of my album, so I’ve gotta be in great shape for the magazine spreads and album cover photos. Not to mention the sheer physical effort that goes into putting on a good show. I may not need the low body fat percentage necessary for visible abs for that, but I definitely need the cardio endurance to put it all out there on stage multiple nights a week.
Gabby’s quiet through most of dinner, but chimes in where appropriate. She seems to spend most of her time talking to my dad and my youngest brother, Colt. I’d hoped that she and my mom would get to know each other a little better. I got the feeling they didn’t really hit it off at my graduation, but I figured it was just because things were so crazy with me moving back to California and Gabby getting ready to go home to Texas for the summer. Trying to balance time between saying goodbye to Gabby and making my family feel welcome, things were stressful for us.
But she’s here for two weeks, so there should be plenty of time for my family to get to know her. My dad seems to like her, so that’s something.
As we finish dessert, I notice Gabby yawning. “Tired?”
She nods, blinking at me. “Yeah. It’s after ten my time, and it’s been a long day.”
“Yeah. I’m pretty tired too,” Marissa chimes in, and I flash her a grateful look. I’d been afraid that my parents would try to hijack us for longer, but if both Gabby and Marissa are complaining about being tired, it won’t be a big deal for us to leave.
“Of course, of course,” my mom says. “Do you girls want to take any leftovers with you? We have plenty.”
“Oh, thank you …” Gabby starts in, and I recognize her tone as the polite one she uses when she doesn’t want something but feels bad for saying so.
“I made sure the kitchen was fully stocked with all their favorites,” I butt in. “You don’t need to go to the trouble of wrapping up leftovers.”
“Oh, it’s no trouble,” Mom protests. “It won’t take more than a few minutes.”
Marissa makes a show of yawning widely. “I’m so tired, though. Jonathan’s staying here, right? He can bring the leftovers tomorrow when he comes to visit Gabby. Thank you for thinking of us, though.”
Standing, Marissa turns to my dad. “Thanks again for the invite. It was so nice to meet y’all.”
I follow her cue and stand as well, pulling Gabby up with me. She covers another yawn, but I don’t think hers is fake. I’m a little worried that my plans for the night might not pan out if she’s this tired already.
Gabby smiles at my dad and then my mom. “Thanks so much for having us over for dinner. I’m sure I’ll see y’all quite a bit more while I’m here.”
My parents follow us into the living room where Gabby and Marissa get their purses, with more goodbyes and thank yous and see you laters all around before we finally get out the door.
Once we’re in the car and pulling away, Marissa’s soft accent comes from the back. “Glad they bought the tired excuse. If we’d stayed much longer, y’all wouldn’t get much time together before I really am too tired to stay awake.”
Gabby turns and flashes her a grin. “I wondered if you were stretching the truth a little. My yawns were one hundred percent genuine though.”
“Oh, mine were real too. But drop me off at a coffee shop near the apartment, and I’ll be fine for a while.” She presses her lips together and shakes her head, her eyes on her phone. “I promised Peter I’d call him tonight, anyway.”
I give Gabby a curious glance, but she gives a subtle shake of her head before turning to look at her sister. “Everything alright with you two?”
With another sigh, Marissa shakes her head. “Not really. But it’s a long and boring story. I don’t want to ruin y’all’s reunion with my sad, depressing life.”
Gabby flashes me a concerned look then turns back to her sister. “Okay. But if you need to talk, I’m happy to listen.”
“Thanks, Gabs.”
We ride in silence the rest of the way back to my apartment. Marissa is absorbed in her phone again, and I don’t want an audience for what I want to say to Gabby.
Gabby sits with her hand in mine while I drive one handed most of the time, giving me looks and little smiles every so often. But still yawning.
Straightening up as we get close to the apartment, Marissa says, “I was serious about the coffee shop thing. Find me one close enough to walk home. Or you can come pick me up when you’re done. I don’t care, as long as it’s open late enough.”
I meet her eyes in the rearview mirror. “Are you sure? If you’re tired I can take you home. I know Gabby’s been yawning since we left my parents’ house.”
“No!” Gabby interjects. “I mean, yeah, I’ve been yawning. But I’m fine. Really.”
Marissa lets out a low chuckle. “Yeah, she is. Or she will be soon enough, I’m sure. I’ll trust your judgment. Somewhere with decent coffee and good desserts. Berries are nice and all, but I prefer them in a sauce on top of a slice of cheesecake or a flourless chocolate torte if I’m going to call it dessert.”
Laughing at her assessment of my mom’s dessert, I take her to a twenty-four hour diner a few blocks from my place. “I don’t know if the coffee’s that great, but their apple cobbler is delicious.”
Marissa grins. “That’ll work.”
Once she gets out, Gabby and I head back to my place. She yawns again as we pull into the parking garage, but she shakes her head at my concerned look. “I’m fine. I don’t care how tired I am. I haven’t seen you in over a month. I’m not going to sleep until we spend some time together. Alone.”
“I’ll just have to make sure I give you a reason to stay awake.”
She glances at me out of the corner of her eye, a sly smile on her face. “I have no doubt about your ability to do that.”
“Good.”