by Alice Mura
Jet shifted to look at his dad, his bloodshot eyes asking the question his lips were too tired to form.
“I’ve been trying real hard to get my life together. I wasted so much being a stupid drunk. When I promised to look after you…well, I don’t have anything to my name but an old car and this rented apartment. I figured you might want to go to college next year, so that doesn’t leave me much time to save up. But you’re right, I have been neglecting you. I guess I can’t do that as well as be here for you.”
Jet scrunched his eyes up against the sting of fresh tears. He reached a hand toward his dad. Tony took it, his own eyes bright and lips quivering. “I’m so sorry you’ve had to go through all that Jet. You’ve got more hanging on your shoulders than most adults have to deal with.” Tony looked out the window, his jaw working hard as he fought to keep his emotions from spilling out.
Jet closed his eyes. He’d made a fool of himself. “I’m sorry Dad.”
Tony shook his head. “It’s no wonder you were worried, I should have realized it. Have you really been…” Tony put his head in his hands and sobbed. Jet lay, too exhausted to do more than cover his eyes with one arm, thankful the daylight was fading. He leaned his leg against his dad, just to feel their contact.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
Tony shook his head and wiped his face. “You have nothing to be sorry for Jet. I’ve wronged you, and I didn’t understand quite how much until today. I can’t make anything up to you. But I’ll do my absolute best.” Tony sighed and shook his head. He rested a hand on Jet’s leg.
Jet didn’t realize he had fallen asleep until he woke in the dark. A sliver of light under his door told him that his dad was still up. Stretching cramped muscles, Jet shrugged into a jacket to ward off the chill air. He padded to the bathroom, then followed the light back to the living room.
“Hey kiddo. How are you feeling?” Tony muted the TV as he came in.
Jet shrugged. “Like I’ve been beat up, screamed at people, cried my eyes out, and slept heavy.”
A smile tugged at Tony’s mouth. “Pretty accurate assessment. I made mac n cheese, you want some?”
“Sure.” Jet wandered into the kitchen. “You didn’t go to work this evening?” he called as he spooned gooey pasta out of the saucepan.
“No, I called in sick.”
Jet took his bowl back to the couch.
“Did you heat that up?”
Jet shook his head. “I don’t mind it cold. Are you sick?”
Tony’s face scrunched up. “My mind is.” He chewed on his lip. “Jet, I can’t stop thinking about the things you mentioned.”
Jet kept his eyes on his bowl, stirring the mac n cheese. “Yeah. I shoulda kept my mouth shut. Sorry, I said a lot of stupid stuff.”
His dad was shaking his head. “No. I think that’s the problem. How long have you felt like you’ve had to keep your mouth shut? Who have you ever had to share your burden? Jetsam, you’ve gone through more stuff than most adults, and you’re carrying a whole bunch of ugly shit that no kid, no person for that matter, should have to bear…on your own. That’s gotta be poisoning you.”
Shaking his head, Jet protested, “it’s not that bad. I mean, things are looking up now. I’ll be fine.”
“Well, you’re very brave, for sure. But in order to be fine, you’re gonna have to face some of those demons. I know that from AA. I know I’m not probably the right person for you, but I want you to see someone.”
“Like a shrink?”
“Yeah. Someone who can help you work through what’s happened to you.”
“Dad, I don’t think…”
Tony held up his hand. “You were right. I haven’t been here for you. But let me be your dad now. I do know some stuff, you know.”
“I’m not seeing a shrink.” Their shared gaze was loaded with equal stubbornness.
Tony lifted his brows, not giving in. “A counselor then.”
“It’s the same thing. I…” Jet trailed off as a thought struck him. “Actually…there’s this teacher at school who is really easy to talk to. I think she’s a shrink or something.”
Tony nodded. “That sounds promising. I want you to see her regularly…once a week.”
“Once a month,” Jet negotiated.
“Fortnightly. For the year.”
“Sheesh, Dad.”
“I’m serious Jet.”
“Yeah I can tell.” Jet held himself stiffly while he considered it. Worst case, the deal never said he actually had to say anything to Ms. DeVille. Although, she had been good to talk to. “Alright.”
Tony beamed. “Thanks Jet. And…if you want to talk to me, I’ll be here.”
“What about your extra shifts?”
Tony shrugged. “I’ll figure someone out.”
Jet chewed on pasta. It was heavy on pepper but surprisingly good. He hadn’t really minded the quiet, although he’d got himself into a good deal of trouble having the house to himself.
“Why don’t you work two or three extra shifts a week? Like every second night or something.”
Tony frowned. “You want that?”
“Well, it seems like a bit more balance, or something.”
Tony huffed a laugh. “Ok. You and me, we’ll work out this balance thing together.” He leaned over and ruffled Jet’s hair. Jet jerked away in annoyance. His dad chuckled.
“You’re such a dad.”
“That’s exactly what I want to be.”
Jet’s lips twitched. “Yeah. Me too…but leave the hair alone.”
“Deal.”
EPILOGUE
“Jet!” Amy ran into his open arms in the hospital lobby the next afternoon. Liam stood nearby, smiling.
“I didn’t know Liam was coming,” said Amy, smiling bashfully at him.
“I just wanted to be sure you recovered okay. I thought I’d bring him over to visit you, but Jet says you’re getting out. Figured we could take you home?”
“So thoughtful! Thanks. I haven’t called mom with my release time yet, so sure.”
Liam led them out of the bleach-scented foyer to a rusty, old pickup truck painted red like an old barn.
“My sister would love this truck,” Amy commented as they piled in. Jet let Amy get in first so she could scoot next to Liam. Amy smiled happily as Liam climbed in and kicked the old car into life.
“Are we all friends now?” asked Liam.
“I think that’s how these things go,” said Jet. Liam looked down at Amy, who smiled at him.
“I should let you know, Jet and I had sex, but it didn’t really work, so we decided to be friends,” Amy announced. Jet’s entire body went warm, and he couldn’t make eye contact with anyone in the truck.
“Ha! That’s crazy. Me and Jet fooled around and decided it was better if we just stayed friends.” Liam finished with a nervous laugh. Jet thought he might melt from embarrassment.
“He’s just so cute and irresistible,” said Amy, digging her elbow into Jet’s ribs.
“If he were a girl, I would have already gotten him pregnant,” said Liam, making Jet blush even deeper.
“Look how embarrassed he is,” Amy said with a giggle. Liam gave Jet a knowing smile.
“Come on, you guys, cut it out,” cried Jet. No words of defense would form in his flustered cotton-wool brain.
“Guess the only pairing left is you and I,” said Amy, smiling up at Liam who swallowed hard.
“As long as we have Jet’s permission first,” said Liam, glancing at him.
“I just want you guys to be happy,” said Jet. “And whatever happens, let me hang with you.”
“Awwwww, of course,” Liam and Amy crowed in unison as Liam stepped on the accelerator.
Jet leaned back against the headrest. It had to be the worst first week of school in his whole life. He rolled his head over to look at Amy and Liam. He now had two friends, good people like he’d never known before. People who pretty much accepted him for whoever he was. Sure, they
were hopelessly tangled, and it might be hard seeing them together if that ended up happening. But either way, they would have his back. Maybe it was also the best first week of school. He smiled at the paradox.
“Whoa! Are you smiling?” Liam asked. “I think that’s the first real one I’ve seen.”
“Yeah, I think I am,” Jet replied with a tiny chuckle. Real warmth was trickling through him, like fluids from a drip, swelling into contentment.
“You have a beautiful smile, Jet.” Amy beamed at him.
“Thanks.”
FINAL WORD
Thanks for reading!
I hope you’ve enjoyed Jet’s story. I had a lot of fun creating it.
Right now, I’m working on Book Two – Trouble Comes in Threes.
Jet, Amy, and Ralph get themselves into a real tricky situation.
One of them goes missing.
Will Jet finally find someone to love him unconditionally?
Maybe love looks a little different to what anyone is expecting.
If you want to stay up to date with my news, head on over to www.facebook.com/AliceJMura and say hello. You can send me a message at [email protected]
Don’t forget to pick up your free gift. It’s a short story from Jet’s past: Jet’s New Home.
You can pick up your free copy here.
Bye for now!
TEASER – TROUBLE COMES IN THREES
Jet slumped and leaned his head back against the chair with a sigh. From the next room, he could hear Amy and Liam’s voices rise to yells. How could two people that loved each other argue so damn much? He picked up his noise-canceling headphones and slipped them on before the angry sounds twisted his concentration beyond repair. Tucking one leg up underneath him, he looked back at his laptop.
A notification flashed on his screen. He’d received a message from his Fverr account.
Hey JSD, we really liked your work on the last job. Are you interested in a long-term position as our designer?
Jet drew in a quick breath. His idea of taking jobs online to help with rent had been an offhand thought, but the work was flooding in. He paused, eyeing the textbooks piled up beside his mouse. Theory of Design, The Font Handbook, A Publisher’s Guide. He had a paper due in two days. Classes were great, but doing was so much more…real. He clicked back into the message box. Money was real too.
His door cracked open, the wedge of spilled light growing from a sliver to a pyramid. He shifted one side of his headphones as Amy stuck her head through.
“Jet?”
His heart flopped over as he saw the tears running down her face. Behind her, the front door slammed, making them both jump. Jet stripped off his headset and held his arms out. Amy flung herself into them, her tears turning from trickles to torrents.
“Why is he so cruel?” she wailed, hiccupping at the same time.
Jet shook his head and tightened his grip. He breathed in the sweet smell of her hair. Then he pushed her away to arms’ length.
“Amy, this is both of you.”
“I know!” A fresh bout of sobs broke free. She scrubbed at the slick on her face with one long sleeve. “And I’m mad at myself for not backing down, but he just rubs me all the wrong ways, and stuff just pops outta my mouth!” Jet gritted his teeth. At least they both got rubbed.
“Well, you probably shouldn’t come running to me. You know I can’t get involved.”
She nodded. “Yeah, but you’re my best friend!”
Jet closed his eyes. What was he supposed to do with this girl? His stomach fluttered.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Just hold me.”
Jet backed her to the bed and lay down with her. He held her tight as she cried. Soon enough, her breathing grew slow, her breasts against his chest pulsing with deep, exhausted sleep. Jet lay staring at the wall, his innards churning with a storm of emotions. What should he do?
REVIEW REQUEST
Did you enjoy this story? I hope so. If you did, I’d appreciate it if you left a review on Amazon. Your support is valued, and your opinion makes a big difference!
To leave a review, all you need to do is go to the end of this book to the ‘Before You Go’ section and leave a review. Or, you can go to the book’s Amazon page and click the button that reads ‘Write a customer review.’
I’m working on Book Two, and your support keeps me motivated! Jet will return soon…
Love,
Alice