Page 64 of Notice Me, Jameson Hart

My chest becomes warm and tight all at once. “You mean that?”

“Of course, I mean it. You think I’d let some hypothetical future breakup cost you your best friend? What kind of brother would that make me?”

“A normal one, probably.”

He shoves me gently. “We’re the Pryor boys. We don’t do normal.”

“True.” I grin at him. “So, you’re going to ask her out?”

He nods. “After camp. I want to do it right, though, you know? Take her somewhere nice, give her my full attention. She deserves that.” He flops back on my bed. “Two more weeks. Then I’m going for it.”

“She’s going to say yes.”

“You think?”

“I know. She’s as gone for you as you are for her.” I nudge him with my foot. “It’s actually kind of gross how cute you two are.”

“Says the guy having a full-on text romance with Jameson Hart.”

“We’re just friends.”

“Sure, Jan.”

I grab a pillow to hit him with, but he dodges. “I’m happy for you, though. Really. Rita’s already a sister to me, so it’ll be cool when you go and make it official.”

Robbie bolts upright, eyes wide as saucers and mouth hanging open. “Official?”

“Yeah, you know. When you get married and she legally becomes?—”

“MARRIED?!” His voice cracks like we’re thirteen again. “Kevin, I’m only eighteen!”

“But you’re going to marry her someday, right?”

“Sure, someday! In the future! Thedistantfuture!” He hops over me and paces around our small room. “Oh God, marriage means a wedding. And a wedding means vows. What if I forget my vows? What if I pass out? What if?—”

“Robbie, breathe.”

“—her dad hates me? What if I can’t afford a ring? Do you know how much weddings cost? I don’t even have a job!”

I stare at my brother in amusement. This is the first time I’ve ever seen him spiral. It’s surprisingly cute…and also hilarious. “You’re not getting married tomorrow!”

“But someday! Oh, God.Oh, God.” He’s at my door now, hand on the knob. “I need to go. I need to think. I need to—” He yanks the door open and sprints down the hall.

“Where are you going?” I call after him.

“To relieve some stress!” The bathroom door slams.

I sit there for a moment, blinking at my empty doorway. Then I grab my phone.

Me

My brother is having a meltdown about hypothetically marrying Rita in the very distant future. How’s your afternoon going?

Jameson responds immediately.

Jameson

Boring compared to yours. Want to hear about the documentary I’m watching about jellyfish?