“Um, I like to run,” I say.
Aslan places both hands on my biceps and begins to squeeze like there’s nothing weird about this at all. I look to Jordyn, but she’s doubled over, shaking violently until she finally snorts. When the others turn to see, they all start laughing too.
Patricia comes running over. “Oh, are we fondling the merchandise?” She ducks under Aslan’s arms so she’s between us and places her hands just beneath her husband’s hands.
Holy shit. What did I get myself into?
“All right, all right. Enough o’ that. Don’t scare off my second-best employee.” Henry pats Aslan on the back. Aslan releases his grip on my arms, but Patricia does not. Then she makes insane eye contact until Jordyn, still laughing, grabs my wrist and pulls me away.
“I’m going to show Tyler the rest of the house.”
“I might need to start with the shower,” I say under my breath. She starts laughing again. The sound of it makes my urge to escape evaporate.
Jordyn starts the tour with her parents’ room, which is on the first floor on the other side of the giant fireplace, and then she shows me the spare rooms upstairs, and finally takes me down to the basement, where her room is. I guess we’re just pretending the last few days never happened.
“A fellow basement dweller,” I say, and then I see that her basement is more like a large luxury apartment. There’s a full kitchen/bar, an overstuffed sofa facing a fireplace with a giant TV mounted above it, and there’s a lounge area with a pool table and a dartboard next to the doors leading out back. “Um, never mind. This is nothing like any basement I’ve ever seen.”
Then she takes me down a hall to a small gym, another guest room, and finally her room.
I expected some kind of gothic-themed bedroom with black walls and shit, but her room is surprisingly girly. Her furniture is all white, as are the bedding and curtains, and the walls are a very pale blue that reminds me of the sky just as the sun comes up. The best part of her room might be the little reading nook in the corner with a chair that would probably be comfortable to sleep in, and a lamp that looks like one of the lights in the photo studio. Next to that is a huge desk overflowing with pencils, brushes, drawings and paintings, and a bunch of photos in a heap of disarray. I try to take a closer look, but she steps between me and her work in progress.
“Okay, tour’s over. I just heard the door. The cousins are probably here.” She places her hands on my shoulders and pushes me back out of the room. I want to bring up the almost kiss, but then footsteps come pounding down the stairs. Six or seven kids, all boys, bound into the room and head right for the darts and pool table. Jordyn introduces me to everyone, but I’ll never remember all their names.
Then we head upstairs to where Kelly’s putting the finishing touches on the turkey.
I sit next to Jordyn toward the end of the long formal table where Henry and Kelly are.
“Kelly, this is seriously the best turkey I’ve ever had in my entire life. Hands down.” I shovel another piece into my mouth not even caring that I’m already almost stuffed.
“Oh, please. I’m sure your mom’s a great cook. What’s she up to these days anyway?”
Jordyn practically chokes on her roll, erupting into a coughing fit. I slap her on the back and offer her water. “It’s okay,” I whisper to her. Looking back to Kelly, who’s eagerly awaiting my response, I say, “She, uh, she died.”
“Oh my god! Honey. I’m so sorry to hear that.” She looks genuinely saddened by this. “She was such a great lady. I always meant to keep in touch with her after the move. I feel terrible.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I say.
“Was it cancer?” Patricia says from the other side of the table with a hand on her heart.
“Um, no,” I say.
“How’s your book coming, Trish?” Henry interrupts. “Patricia’s writing a self-help book.”
Patricia brightens at the opportunity to talk about herself and she dominates the rest of the meal. Henry gives me a small nod as if to say “I’ve got your back.” Jordyn places her hand on my leg and squeezes. I put my hand on hers and then we entwine our fingers and sit like that for the rest of the meal.