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But just the night before, I advised Javi that he needed to look after himself. Do what needed to be done to protect his peace of mind.
And as much as I hated it (and man, did I hate it), I needed to do this to protect my peace of mind.
“I know how much that hurts, and it isn’t what I want, but to protect myself from constantly feeling the same, this is my decision,” I replied.
Easton started to get pissy again. I had so much experience with it, I noticed right away.
“I don’t get—” he began.
But Javi stepped in front of me, cutting off Easton’s eyeline.
“I’m thinking you’re not with me,” Javi noted.
“Back off, asshole. I’m with you. And fuck it, it’s not like she’s a loss,” Easton returned.
There were lots of angry noises at that, including Shirleen asking, “Am I needing to take off my earrings?”
But Javi said softly, “Oh yeah, she is. And you know she is. That’s why you’re here. Because your father is sick of playing second fiddle to his son and maybe even thinks its sick how up your ass his wife is. He feels guilt, as he should, that he let Harlow swing in the breeze. And he’s wondering why he wasted so much of his life with an elitist bitch who spoiled his boy and abused his girl. Your mom convinces herself she’s perfect by making Harlow feel small. And since you didn’t get anyone kissing your ass last night because they were all up in their own heads, you realized that Harlow is the one that keeps the balance in your family. She’s your mother’s punching bag. The only joy your father has. And your opportunity to convince yourself you’re something special when you’re just another average white guy with a good education paid for by his rich parents and nothing more.”
Oh.
Wow.
We hadn’t talked about it all that much, but Javi sure had a lock on my family dynamic.
“Are you done?” Easton asked stiffly.
“That answer has been relayed to you repeatedly,” Javi responded.
I couldn’t see what was going on, but there was a very long, weighty pause where I figured my brother was trying to win a staring contest with Javi.
Unsurprisingly, he lost and stormed out.
I finished my eggroll.
The boys sat down.
Martha, who, in the meantime, had found herself a chair and pulled it to our table (so very Martha), slurped her coffee, leaned toward Shirleen and said, “I kinda don’t mind they get kidnapped, and their apartments broken into, as long as no one is hurt, seeing as, with these girls, nothing is ever boring.”
“Welcome to our world, sister,” Shirleen bragged smugly. Then she took a sip of the appletini Dream brought her.
Dream was also hanging around, so Luna said, “Dream, that was really cool of you.”
I tensed for Dream to go back to being Dream, but today was going to be full of surprises, I knew, when she replied, “I know I got this job only because Tito and Tex like you.” There was a very long moment of silence before she forced out, “Thanks.”
Luna was staring at her, shocked.
We were all smiling at each other, hopeful.
Tex walked into the room and boomed at Dream, “Probation over. You’re officially hired.”
And then he walked right out.
I glanced over at Tito.
He was still poking at his iPad.
But he was smiling.