Free Stirring Up Trouble by Juli Alexander

Jake was unhappy about it on my behalf, Mom’s, or his own.
    “Won’t that bug your mom?” he asked, moving closer so no one would hear us.
    Jake really was a sweet guy. “Yeah,” I answered. “He shouldn’t be here.” Then, I realized how close he was and moved away, because suddenly all I could think about was our kisses.
     We entered the house, and I saw Mom’s producer. He really was a hottie. For an old guy. He was too young for Mom, but I’d always thought he had a thing for her.
    “Hey, Dave. Is Mom still upstairs?”
    “Hi, Zoe. Yeah. We just wrapped.” He gave me a look. “I know she’ll be glad you’re here.”
    So Dad was bugging her. “Thanks, Dave.”
    “Will you take her a Sprite, Zoe? I need to talk to the guys for a minute.” He gestured to his ever-present clipboard.
    “Sure.” I turned to Jake. “I could use something to drink, too. Where’d they put the cooler yesterday?” They always traveled with a cooler and makeshift snack bar.
    “In the kitchen,” Jake said, leading the way.
    Over his shoulder, I saw Dad and Sheree standing by the fridge. They were totally locked in a gross embrace, kissing.
    “Mom,” Jake yelped.

 
     
    Chapter Seven
     
     
    “Oh. Hi, honey,” Sheree said, pulling away from Dad.
    I maybe, sort of, lost my temper because I said, “Aren’t you guys old enough to keep your hands off each other?”
    I didn’t wait for an answer and ignored Dad’s pleas of “Zoe, wait.” Instead, I stomped over to the cooler on the table and grabbed two Sprites.
    Then, as Jake said, “Mom, that really isn’t appropriate,” I ran for the stairs.
    My poor mother. Here she was working and Dad was making out in the kitchen. Making out in the kitchen was fine for teenagers. I mean, we’re supposed to. But for parents, it’s just wrong!
    Think of Mom, I told myself as I reached the top of the stairs. I managed to paste a somewhat normal smile on my face before heading into Jake’s room.
    “Hey, Mom.”
    She came over to hug me and take her drink. “I didn’t know you were coming by again today.” She looked toward the door. “Where’s Jake? He can’t see it yet.”
    “He’s downstairs with Sheree and Dad.”
    Mom rolled her eyes. “I should have known your father couldn’t stay away.”
    “Has he been bothering you?”
    “No.” She popped open her drink. “Not really. He’s distracting Sheree a little, but we’re getting the work done.”
    I looked around the room at the giant entertainment center they’d built on the black wall. “It’s looking great. You finish up tomorrow?”
    “We should,” Mom said. “I’m making a few changes to my original plans, but—”
    I had to laugh. She always changed her plans. She was a perfectionist. Sometimes, she stayed up all night working to get things the way she wanted them. And she was never happier than when her design came together.
    “The entertainment center is awesome,” I said. She’d had her carpenter build it. Since Jake had three gaming systems, she’d made room for those as well as the games, and his giganto television.
    “Turned out well, didn’t it?” She practically glowed with pride.
    “What color are you going to paint it?” My eyes roved over the unfinished wood.
    “That’s top secret information,” she said with a wink. “You’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see it.”
    A knock at the door drew our attention to Anya. “Hi, Zoe. Mrs. Miller.”
    “Oh. Hi, Anya.” Anya probably wouldn’t notice, but Mom’s greeting wasn’t as warm as usual.
    “I had to come by and see what you were doing in here.” Anya came into the room and looked around. She’d obviously run home to redo her makeup and hair.
    Anya wanted to be a designer, and she pretty much worshipped my mother.
    “So much for the closed set,” I mumbled.
    Mom glared at me. She didn’t like it when I was rude. Even if she was on my side, which I knew she was.
    “I’d love to help,” Anya said. “If