Page 39 of The Irresistible Distraction

JESSE: But just in case no one has told you.

JESSE: I’ve tentatively accepted the position of head ER doctor overseeing Lake Arrowhead’s emergency services. I don’t technically start until August 15th, but I’ve negotiated an early exit here, and so I might be able to help out with Sebastian as early as the end of July, given all the changes you’ve planned that I’m worried we haven’t talked through.

JESSE: I’d love to chat when you have a chance.

And then, equally in character for Brody:

BRODY: Spent a wonderful day with Vera, learning to be a better (still favorite) nephew.

BRODY: Wished you could have joined us. Is it weird to already miss you?

BRODY: I see you reading my messages, by the way, which means you’re kind of stuck now. You can keep reading them, knowing you haven’t turned off read receipts, or you can turn off read receipts, which is also . . . a response.

BRODY: Looking forward to seeing you and Sebastian tomorrow morning, bright and early.

BRODY: Out of the goodness of my heart, I thought I’d warn you that Vera . . . ships us.

BRODY: Which means I now have ALL the intel.

12

YOUR FRIENDS ARE SO VIOLENT

The next morning, Brody is unlocking Vera’s door while I’m closing mine. He’s dressed in jogging shorts and a tank top and has clearly just finished a run. He waves to Sebastian, who, surprisingly, waves back as we cross the street. For my son, chess is obviously the game that binds.

Anxiety around the idea that Sebastian will get too attached makes me stupid. “Sebastian’s only ten, so he normally naps.”

My son takes instant umbrage. “Sometimes I go back to sleep in the mornings. But I’m awake today.”

I blow out my cheeks, and it’s Brody who—after taking a drink from his water bottle, giving me an unobstructed view of his sweaty, corded muscle manliness—verbalizes what I’m thinking. “You kind of walked right into that one.”

“It wasn’t the most tactful thing I’ve ever articulated,” I agree. Sebastian’s smiling, even though it’s five in the morning, so that’s something.

“Rematch?” Sebastian’s eagerness is transparent, and I hold my breath, waiting to see how Brody responds.

“Set it up while I chat with your mom.”

I’m looking at my watch even as Sebastian rushes past me, no hug today, but at least he’s not sulking.

“I don’t really have time,” I start, only to stop myself when Brody walks into Vera’s kitchen.

He retrieves and then hands me first a filled Yeti cup—“Vera says ube lattes are your favorite”—followed by a little bag of . . . jerky? “And we made this for you and Maggie—it’s from Vernon’s old venison that was frozen and sitting unused.”

“You and Vera made jerky.”

“Because I am working on being a more attentive nephew to Vera as well as a more adultlike, serious potential dating partner for you. As I said, and as I know you read, because text receipts, I have all the intel now. And I have to admit, I’m even more attracted to Real Sophie than I was to Vacation Raquel.”

“What did Vera tell you?”

“Just your deepest, darkest secrets.”

I give him a look, trying to nonverbally communicate that I do not believe him.

His grin broadens as he holds out his hands, starting to tick items off a mental list. “You have an intense dislike of your former in-laws; you’re very worried about the fact that Jesse is coming back, particularly given your complicated romantic history together; you’re anxious you’re not living up to your parents’ expectations relative to the diner; and of course you’re always doubting whether allowing Sebastian to skip grades was the correct decision because you second-guess all your parenting decisions.”

My mouth is hanging open. “Vera told you all that? That was personal. Some of it I’ve never—” I pause for a moment because Brody is smirking. And I remember again that this is not Clark, who did my dishes, but Brody, who is a highly paid attorney.

He holds out the same outstretched fingers he just numbered his list on, counting down this time. “Your face at the diner the other day, especially when Adeline was making her transparently belittling comments, told me everything I need to know about that relationship. The only thing Vera filled in was that Adeline is the ex-mother-in-law as opposed to a random bitchy customer. Reuben and Mario were very excited I was taking you out, which suggests you’re a very understanding boss, and both they and my Aunt Vera dropped hints about Jesse and his return. That, and the fact that Maggie referred to your ex and The Mistake, in capital letters, meant it was easy to assume Dr. Jesse would be the biggest obstacle to there being an us. You’re the type who always thinks you’re letting everyone down, and the menu is a clear reflection of the tension between the fifties vibe your parents envisioned and the more bakery style you clearly are more comfortable with.”