Page 94 of Notice Me, Jameson Hart

“What’s there to talk about? Robbie’s right. I do live in my head most of the time. I do think everything’s a musical waiting to happen.”

“So? That’s what makes you you.” Adam spins slightly in his chair. “And that’s not a bad thing, Kevin. It’s pretty amazing. You see beauty where others see ordinary life. You feel deeply. You care.”

“A lot of good that does me.”

“It does more good than you realize.” He pauses. “You know why I even thought about Stanford in the first place?”

I shake my head.

“Because you had the guts to perform on stage. It didn’t matter if you were a spatula or a tree swaying in the background. You put yourself out there repeatedly, risking rejection for the chance at something you love. You inspired me to think bigger than just following the expected path. And sure, things are messy right now. But messy doesn’t mean wrong.” Adam grabs a blanket and tosses it to me. “Robbie will come around. He justneeds time to process. You know how he is. He has only one level—intense.”

I wrap myself in the blanket, exhausted. “I wanted today to be perfect.”

“Perfect’s overrated,” Adam says. “Real is better. Because it includes the complicated stuff—the fights, the hurt feelings, the locked doors. But it also includes brothers who love each other enough to work through it.”

My phone buzzes again, and this time, Adam notices.

“That’s three times,” he observes. “Answer him. He’s probably worried.”

I finally pull out my phone. Three texts from Jameson, each one more concerned than the last. “I don’t know what to say to him.”

“Try the truth. That’s usually a good place to start.”

Adam busies himself with getting ready for bed while I stare at my phone, trying to figure out how to explain that the best day of my life has turned into one of the worst. That my brother thinks I’m a self-centered drama queen. That I’m locked out of my bedroom.

But Adam’s right. The truth—messy and complicated as it is—is all I have.

Me

I’m so sorry about what happened on the boat. Robbie was way out of line.

Jameson

Don’t apologize for him. Are YOU okay???

Me

I will be. Your uncle probably hates us now. We ruined his boat trip.

Jameson

Uncle Damien? Are you kidding? He said it reminded him of when he and my dad were younger.

Me

Really?

Jameson

He asked if you guys want to come out again next weekend. Though maybe we’ll skip the family drama next time?

A tiny chuckle escapes me. I know it’s wrong to laugh, but it feels good. Like it’s the universe’s way of telling me that, in time, everything will be okay.

Me

What about Ethan? Does he think my family is completely insane?

Jameson