Free Stirring Up Trouble by Juli Alexander Page B

should try it once just to be sure, you know... ”
    “Okay,” I said. Watching him feel awkward rocked. “But what about your dog?”
    “Sit, Indiana,” he said.
    I backed against the railing as he approached. Indiana wasn’t sitting, but I wasn’t going to mention it. For not having a boyfriend, I sure was doing a lot of kissing lately.
    That was the last coherent thought I had because his lips brushed mine and my brain completely shut down.
     
     
    “Okay,” Anya said on the phone later. “I’m sorry. I know I’ve been obnoxious, but it’s just weird thinking of you with Jake.”
    Why did I answer? I flopped back on my bed. “We aren’t dating, Anya.”
    “Whatever. The three of us used to do everything together. Now, you guys are pals, and it’s like it doesn’t even matter that I’m not there.”
    “That’s your choice, Anya. You broke up with Jake. And you’ve been avoiding me.”
    “I know. And Brad is so great. I liked having Jake as a backup, I guess.”
    Jake would be so flattered. “He’s a person too, Anya.”
    “He’s not a person. He’s my ex. I have like dibs on him.”
    “I don’t think that’s how it works. Mom sure doesn’t have dibs on my dad. Not that she’d want them.”
    “That is so weird that your dad is dating his mom. I don’t know how you can stand it.”
    “I don’t have a choice.” But I was working on it.
    “Well, I’ve decided that I’m going to try to have an open mind about your friendship with Jake. I mean I do have Brad, after all.”
    Did she want me to thank her? “Good. I’d better go.” If you can’t say something nice…
    “Okay. See you tomorrow.”
    I snapped the phone shut. Had she always been such a pain in the butt?
     
     
    Dad and Anya were both coming for the reveal at 5:30. Jake and I planned to be caught making out right before that. We hadn’t decided where. We wanted maximum exposure for Dad and his mom. Why not throw it right in their faces?
    We went to my house first to kill time. At 4:00 we headed over to his house. The work was done and most of the people had cleared out. The producer and three others would stay for the reveal, but it looked like everyone had been given a break.
    “Cool,” Jake said. “No one’s here. Let’s grab a snack.”
    I’d forgotten how much he eats. I led the way to the kitchen, comfortable in the knowledge that there was no way that my father could possibly be in there kissing his mother.
    What I saw was even worse.
    My mom and Dave stood together in a liplock.
    “Man, you have got to be kidding me!” Jake exclaimed.
    Mom pulled away and Dave started apologizing. To me. To Jake. To Mom.
    “Mother!” I wasn’t sure if I could take much more.
    “Zoe,” Mom said. “Dave, I’ll take care of this. Why don’t you go,” she motioned helplessly, “somewhere else.”
    “I’d better walk my dog,” Jake mumbled and left.
    “What is it with this kitchen?” I demanded.
    Mom ushered me into the dining room.
    “What? Honey? I’m sorry. There really isn’t anything going on. I just had a weak moment there. Dave has been trying to convince me to go out with him, but he’s too young.”
    “Yeah,” I agreed, stopping just inside the doorway. “He’s thirty. You’re forty-five. He’s as close to my age as he is to yours.”
    “Oh. God.” Mom looked sick. “I hadn’t even thought of that.”
    I felt bad for making her feel like some kind of pervert. She was showing all the remorse I’d wanted from Dad the day before. “Just tell me the truth. If you’re dating him, I want to know.” I didn’t really mind her dating, just not in my face.
    “I’m not.” She pulled me close and gave me a quick hug. “We aren’t. It was a momentary lapse.”
    “Well if you decide to make it more than momentary, tell me.”
    “I will. I mean I won’t decide that, but I will let you know if anything changes.” She sighed. “He’s so handsome.”
    “I’m the teenager with raging hormones,