rinsed a plate and handed it to him. “Micah likes math?”
Mr. Knox shook his head as if he couldn’t figure it. “He’s so good at it. He sure doesn’t get that from me. He’s even surpassed what Susan can teach him, and she’s way smarter than I am.”
“Must be tough to homeschool. She has to have the patience of a saint.”
He shrugged. “This is a small town. The school tried to accommodate the boys, but they’re so ahead of the curve on some things and behind on others and disruptive in class. It wasn’t an ideal situation for anyone. When Jesse was home, he worked with them on math and science projects. They miss him.”
“I bet.”
I rinsed a pot and handed it to Mr. Knox. He looked at me, studying my face. “Does, um, Jesse have fun at school? Go out? Party or whatever?”
I opened my mouth. Closed it. “Honestly, I don’t know him that well? That is—we’re working on Quiz Bowl together, but we don’t really hang out. I know that his frat house has a lot of, uh, fun guys though. Parties. Social stuff. So…probably?”
In fact, now that Jesse’s dad had asked the question, I had the feeling Jesse didn’t have much fun. I couldn’t recall seeing him out on the lawn whooping and carrying on like some of the A-hoes.
Mr. Knox didn’t look pleased with my answer. “I suppose he dates lots of girls, huh? He hasn’t mentioned anyone special.” I wasn’t sure how to interpret the look he gave me. Challenging, maybe?
I blinked. Why did I suddenly feel like I was in a really, horrendously bad rom-com? “He’s popular with women, yeah. Being on the Badgers team and all,” I assured him.
Mr. Knox appeared relieved. “Good. Good. It’s just…Jesse works so hard. I want him to have fun at college. You know?”
I thought I did. Before life gets complicated again, he meant. Before he has to work like a dog—like his mom and dad.
“Totally,” I agreed.
“Maybe you could take him out sometime. Get him a little drunk,” Mr. Knox suggested with a smile and a waggle of his eyebrows.
“Well, if you insist,” I teased as if I absolutely would.
Oh, the irony. That we were sworn enemies. That all I wanted from Jesse was his obedient servitude to my Quiz Bowl team. That I was gay, and if I were ever going to get Jesse Knox drunk, it would be for nefarious purposes that would shock the John Deere cap right off his father’s head.
Yet, standing in that kitchen, none of that seemed quite true anymore.
I found Jesse in the playroom trying to engage Micah and Eli in a boardgame, but neither of them was having it. Micah’s face was red, and he seemed close to a meltdown.
I sat on the floor. “I heard there might be some logic puzzle books around here. Can I see one?”
Micah ignored me, but Eli hopped up and went to the bookcase. He looked through a bunch of paperback magazines and finally chose one to bring to me. “Micah hasn’t done all the ones in here yet.”
I raised my eyebrows. The other magazines were all filled in? That was a hell of a lot of logic puzzles. Eli went over to a pile of Legos and knelt while I found a blank puzzle in the magazine. I grabbed a pen from a nearby table and settled down cross-legged with the book.
“Do you do these?” I asked Jesse.
“I have, but they’re not my favorite.”
“Mmm. Logic is extremely handy in programming, like I said. I’m lucky I love it.” I cleared my throat and started to read out loud. “Five couples live in the same neighborhood in Hidden Glen. Can you figure out which couple lives on which street, their house number, and the name and species of their pet?”
“No,” said Jesse.
I laughed. “Spoilsport. Let’s see…. First clue…the Buttholes don’t live on Putrid Street. Their lizard is not named Krapper.”
Jesse grinned. “It does not say that.”
“Swear ta God.” I marked a few Xs in the grid. “Next clue …the cat named Tiger Woods lives on Armpit Lane. His owners are not named Jill and Joe Gross-Feet.” I marked a circle in the grid for the cat that lived on Armand Lane and a few more Xs to show that Jill and Joe Grand did not live on Armand Lane or own a cat.
“Dobbs is funny!” Eli’s laugh was bright. He was kneeling in the stack of Legos. I flashed him a grin. Someone