the rest of the sibling sets—they’re twins.
“Got a minute?” Dad says from the open door of the shared room.
“For you?” I try to act annoyed, but he sees through my shit. “Of course. What’s up?”
“Mom said you had some ideas to add to the Christmas boxes we send our artists?”
Fuck, I think as I turn around and start putting the clothes that Mom just brought down in a box for the move. “Yeah,” I answer.
“Two grand worth of gift cards, Tricks?” he asks.
I close my eyes, really wishing maybe I mentioned it to them, but knowing damn well there was no good explanation as to why I’d buy two grand worth of gift cards to The Bean. “Everyone loves a good coffee and a burrito.”
“Little dude, how many of them frequent the Mantoloking area enough to spend fifty bucks on coffee and burritos?” He walks around and sits on the bed, his arms crossed, looking up at me. “Spill the bean.” He tries to keep a straight face and fails.
I mean, yeah, it’s funny shit, unless it’s you who is losing your mind.
I shrug and continue packing. “Just think everyone at Forever Four can appreciate a small business with epic products.”
He leans to the side, his elbow planted on a pile of folded clothes that I’m trying to pack, his head propped on his hand. “I’d like to place an order.”
“Dad, just—”
“Large black, no bullshit.”
Very rarely does he play the father role, he’s normally more like a bud. Apparently, this is one of those times.
“The girl at the drive-thru—”
“The one who couldn’t look you in the eye? The ‘date’s’ roommate?”
I nod. “She’s sick. Has mono and will probably be out of work for at least two weeks, possibly longer.”
“Continue,” he says.
“I know she needs the money. I tried to get someone to jump in her spot, like a placeholder until she gets better, and he didn’t want the responsibility. She doesn’t have people like us. Hell, she doesn’t even call anyone friend.”
“Family?”
I shake my head. “Doesn’t sound like it.”
“And you’re doing all this because you want to impress her?”
I look up at him and shake my head again, even though it’s bullshit. Down deep, I wanted that since I heard her voice, caught her attitude, and then her. I mean, mostly her tits, but then it was the entire package.
“Tricks, I said no—”
“She’s a lesbian.”
Covering his face, he flops back on the bed and starts to laugh.
“The fuck, Dad,” I huff.
Still laughing, he says, “Little dude, you are supposed to avoid no-win situations, not dive into them face-first.”
“I’m not trying to tap that.” Only because she’s not having it. “I’m trying to be her friend.”
He tries to stop laughing, but he obviously can’t. “And then tap that.”
“Jesus, Dad, no.”
He pushes up and scrubs his hand over his face. “I’m sorry, but I’ve never seen you act like you did around any of the girls you’ve dated or hung out with like you did at The Bean.” He loses his composure again. “Then I find out you ‘had a date’ with her roommate, and now that ass isn’t just a situation to overcome, but it’s untappable.”
I cross my arms and stare down at him.
“Tricks, chill and laugh a bit.”
“Or better yet, ignore the advice from a grown man who hasn’t matured past twelve.”
I look back as Mom walks in the room and scowls at him.
“Oh, please, Irish, you love that I’m not a slippers and robe kind of guy. And you definitely love the fact that my stamina—”
She cuts him off, which today, I’m thankful for. Any other day, I give a shit less.
I love that my parents still look at each other with nothing but love … Well, and that sparks still fly, but this shit sucks.
Mom puts her hand on her hip. “I love a lot of things about you, but I deal with the heart stuff. Now go pack your shit, man child.”
“It’s not like that. Just a friend helping a friend.”
They exchange a glance.
“I’m serious. Don’t make something more out of this than it is. She needed help and—”
“Did she ask for help?” Mom asks suspiciously, knowing how many hands get held in front of you when you have more than others, and after they’re fed, you’re not shit, not even a memory. I’ve seen it a lot in the music business. We’re lucky that they’ve not signed many artists like that, but have taken on a few that left a label because it didn’t feel like