She could barely manage the boys when they were well. I had to be there.
Fact two, somehow, I was going home, carting Dobbs with me. Egg McMouthin’. What the hell did the universe have in mind with this Dobbs thing? He’d gone from being a drool-worthy but obnoxious stranger to my new shadow. Right, a shadow who hated my guts. That face when Jax told him he should come with me said it all. The guy would rather do a road trip with Freddy Krueger, and I’d gladly wield the razors.
“Jesse, wait up.” I glanced back as PJ jogged up beside me. Clearly, I wasn’t running fast enough.
I nodded at him.
He barked one of his snarky laughs. “Man, you sure bit the big one. A weekend with Dobbs? Did you lose some kind of contest in hell?”
“Tell me about it.”
“You should have told the Poins to suck eggs. What right’s Dobbs got horning in on your family shit?”
Weirdly, having PJ pissed on my behalf calmed me down. PJ was my anti-role model. I’d work hard to not be like PJ. “I don’t think Dobbs wants to come with me any more than I want him there. It just gets the job done. We’ve got to do this dumbass thing to save the chapter, man, so I guess we better take it seriously.” I glanced at my watch again as we walked through the front door of the house. “Gotta get going. Study hard this weekend, okay?”
“Riiiight.” He flipped his shaggy hair and headed for the kitchen.
I sighed softly and ran up the stairs to my room. Our room.
Brett was stretched out to his full furry length on my bed but favored me with a glance. Mrowr.
“Hey, guy, gotta go. I’d take you with me if I could, but Eli’s asthma doesn’t like boy cats. Stay here and let Bubba spoil you.” I grabbed a backpack and shoved some boxer briefs, a couple T-shirts, long underwear, two sweatshirts, two pair of jeans since the animals were hell on cleanliness, and, oh yeah, pajamas. There was going to be somebody else sleeping in my room. Jesus.
Which reminded me. I clicked the phone.
“Hi, dear.” Her voice sounded harried.
“Hey, Mom. I’m on my way.”
“No, Jesse. We’ll be fine. You need to stay at school and—”
“I’m coming, Mom.”
“Okay.”
Instant capitulation meant she really wanted me there. “I just needed to tell you that I may have somebody with me.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. I’m studying for this Quiz Bowl thing, and this guy is my study partner. That way, we can make the most of the drive time. Is that okay, Mom? I know it’s a lot.”
“No, it’s fine, dear. It makes me feel better about you leaving school for us. I look forward to meeting your friend. I’ll make up the daybed in your room.”
I gritted my teeth but said, “Great. I’ll see you all in a few hours. Shall I stop at the hospital first?”
“No, your father’s there, and there are no visiting hours at night. Come straight here and see Micah in the morning.”
“Okay, Mom. Love you.”
“Love you, Jesse. And thank you.” She hung up, and I stared at the phone for a second, swallowing hard. Then, with one last long swipe of Brett’s sandy fur, I hurried out the door, raced down the stairs, and into the kitchen. Rand had his head in the refrigerator, and PJ was scarfing cold pizza. I said, “Rand, PJ probably told you, but I’ve got to be gone for the weekend. Somebody feed Brett, okay?”
Rand looked at me sideways. “Are you seriously taking that Poin with you?”
“Like I have a choice.” I gave him a hard look. “I gotta go.”
PJ laughed and spit some cheese out of his mouth. “Don’t get any Poin on you.”
My old Impala was freaking freezing, and I turned it on to warm up as I scraped ice from the windshield. By the time I could see out, the interior of the car was habitable, barely, and I headed for the SMT house.
Out front, I honked once. Nothing happened so I gave it one more try, hoping that just maybe he wouldn’t show. No such luck. The front door opened, and Dobbs trotted out carrying a small suitcase and a backpack. Suitcase, seriously? I hit the unlock button as he came up to the car, and he stashed his case in the back.
When he climbed in the passenger seat, he set his backpack on the floor and buckled up. I said, “I hope you’re not expecting