Young Love Dies Hard: The Young Brothers, Book 1 Nikki Lane (books for students to read .TXT) 📖

“I’m not very hungry.” She gazed out at nothing. Her eyes didn’t hold their usual inquisitive twinkle.

“Maybe you should come down anyway. I haven’t seen you in a while.”

She turned to look at me. “Whose fault is that?”

Ouch.

“Besides,” she continued, focusing back on nothing again. “I was supposed to spend Thanksgiving with Mom.”

“Well, things aren’t that great with Mom right now. So, why don’t we just try to make the best of it.”

She wiggled on the bed and propped up on her elbows. “I don’t want to make the best of it. I want to spend Thanksgiving with Mom.”

“You can’t, Kasey. Mom needs to figure some stuff out. I know you’re upset but—

“You could go take me to see her.”

I sat up, but with a little more effort than she required. “I don’t know where Mom is. And you’re not going back to that house. So…deal with it.”

“I know where she is.

“No,” I cried. “I will not.” I slid off the mattress and stood up.

She was angry; I got it. I was all too familiar with the type of anger she had. I had it once, too. Or maybe I still did. The kind of resentment that built up from the inside out until you weren’t sure who you were mad at anymore. So, you just got mad at everyone.

Kasey crossed her arms over the pillow she was clutching. “You hate her. That’s why. Just say it. You won’t take me to go see her because you hate her.”

“I don’t hate her. And I know this is hard for you, but there are a lot things you still don’t understand. Just remember that I’m on your side.”

Her fingers fiddled with the fabric of the pillowcase.

“Are you coming down?” I asked.

She shook her head.

I paused at the door. “I’ll save you a plate.” I waited a few seconds, hoping she would change her mind.

But she didn’t, and I got tired of waiting.

Downstairs, Jacob and Uncle Jim were at the table, and Aunt Meg was setting a bowl on the table.

“Any luck?” she said.

I shook my head.

She wiped at her brow. “Well, everything’s ready to go. Maybe she’ll have a change of heart if we start without her.”

Jacob helped Uncle Jim carve the turkey while Aunt Meg and I put the rest of the food on the table.

Uncle Jim said grace before we started to eat.

“Have you heard from your parents yet?” Aunt Meg asked. “I still can’t believe they decided to spend the holiday in Hawaii.”

“They called the other day,” Jacob said, handing me the gravy. “They’re having a great time.”

“It’s a shame you couldn’t make it,” Uncle Jim said. “Always wanted to go to Hawaii myself.”

Something I never knew. When I thought about it, Uncle Jim and Aunt Meg had never taken a vacation. At least, not as long as I’d been around. The farm had taken up all of their time, not to mention raising two kids as if we were their own. Maybe selling the farm wasn’t such a bad idea. As much as it would break my heart, it would leave them more time to enjoy life a little.

“Our holiday break is only a few days,” Jacob said. “It wouldn’t have made sense to fly that far.”

“So, how are classes going?” Aunt Meg asked.

“Good,” Jacob said.

“Same here,” I said.

I’d let my GPA slip a little this semester. I’d been a little distracted with Jacob at the apartment.

“Have you thought about declaring a major yet?” Aunt Meg asked.

I knew she worried that I’d never make up my mind, but she never pestered me about it. Just asked me once during every major holiday.

Jacob grabbed another piece of cornbread. “I think this week it’s an…astronomer, right Maeve?”

He smiled and bit a hunk out of the cornbread while I mocked his cockiness by making a face.

“Really?” Aunt Meg said, her voice raising a few octaves.

“Yeah,” Jacob continued. “We rented some DVDs about space from the library.”

“Don’t you have to be super smart for something like that?” Uncle Jim said.

Jacob chuckled.

“Thanks a lot, Uncle Jim,” I said. I stabbed my fork into a few pieces of turkey. “And I was only being half-serious. I just really really like space.”

“Well, you still have some time, dear.” Aunt Meg cleared her throat and shot a quick glance toward Uncle Jim, who was happily eating his turkey. “Have you found somewhere to stay yet, Jacob?”

Jacob and I both looked up from our plates. I shoved a heaping spoon of sweet potatoes into my mouth.

“Um…well, I’ve been so busy with class that I haven’t really had the time to look.” He turned to me like I had more to add to that explanation.

I didn’t.

We’d both been so busy with work and school that the topic of him finding another place to stay never came up. He’d been helping me with most of the bills and never asked any questions when I left for work at the club and didn’t come home until three in the morning.

“Well, he can stay as long as he needs to,” I said. “It’s always nice to have a live-in study partner.” I thought I caught a little blush to Jacob’s cheeks.

“Yeah,” Jacob replied. “We’ve learned a lot from each other.”

My cheeks started to burn, and I bowed down to my plate.

Uncle Jim concentrated hard on his food while Aunt Meg went for more turkey. We’d managed to make it through dinner with avoiding any awkward conversation and limited questioning from Aunt Meg. But I knew it was coming.

Jacob helped Aunt Meg and I clear the table and put the leftovers away. I caught Uncle Jim eating a few more forkfuls of his favorite pineapple cheesecake. I smiled but gave him a disapproving glare.

“Well, I have to say that it makes us feel a little better knowing that you’re looking out for one another,” Aunt Meg said, loading the dishwasher. “And I’m happy that you both decided to come for Thanksgiving.”

“I told you she would be here,” Uncle Jim