Read Damaged In-Law for Free Online

for that one,”
I offer, “I mean, I knew that there was a movie. But I ’ m usually interested in more indie film stuff, you know?”
    The women blink at me as though I ’ ve
started speaking French and turn their attention right back to Jack.
    “I do so hope that the production doesn ’ t
suffer because of...you know...circumstances,” the first lady whispers
confidentially.
    “Was Avery able to finish her part before...? Oh, the poor
dear,” says the second woman, shaking her head.
    Now that piques my interest. “Aren ’ t you guys done with shooting yet?” I ask Jack.
    “You know what, ladies? It ’ s been a
pretty rough day,” Jack tells the older women, ignoring my question completely.
“I might head upstairs to take a little breather, if you wouldn ’ t
be offended.”
    “Oh, of course!” the first woman gushes, “Go, go!”
    “You poor thing. Losing your fiancee so tragically,” says
the second, laying her hand over her heart.
    “And your sister too, of course,” the first woman says to
me, remembering just in the knick of time.
    “Right. Thank you ladies. Your support means so much,” Jack
sighs, surprising me by taking my hand in his. I stare up at him as he pulls me
to my feet and starts leading me up the marble steps, away from his ardent
admirers. The second the women are out of earshot, he lets out a low groan.
“Good Christ. Can ’ t get away from it anywhere. I ’ m surprised they didn ’ t start asking for
autographs.”
    “So, are you going to fill me in on the status of your
movie, or I am going to have to read about it online, like I do with every
other aspect of your life?” I ask Jack, hurrying along as he leads me down the
second story hallway. Where he ’ s taking me, I have no
idea. But to be honest, I ’ m pretty OK with that.
    “You make a habit of reading up on my life, Cal?” he asks,
grins smugly.
    “No, I mean, ugh ,” I exclaim, flustered, “Just give
me the scoop, would you?”
    “Here we are,” he says in response, leading me through a
very familiar space. Or at least, what was a very familiar space. My
childhood bedroom.
    These days, my room of old is filled with an elliptical and
a free weight set that appear to be untouched. A home gym. Typical. Jack
brushes past the workout equipment and out onto the balcony. I follow him,
speechless. Does he have the same memory of this place as I do? Is he having
the same trippy deja vu about the night of my sweet sixteen party, when he very
nearly kissed me for the first time? Standing here with him now, I feel that
old insane rush of adolescent lust, coupled with very adult knowledge of what I ’ d actually like to do with Jack, now that I know a thing or two
about what can happen between a man and a woman.
    He and Avery were engaged , my conscience reminds me, what
the hell are you thinking?
    “Some good times up here,” Jackson says, derailing my guilty
train of thought.
    “Yep,” I reply lamely, looking out over the same old
grounds. Not a thing has changed about my parents ’ house.
It ’ s like a museum. Or a crypt.
    “You know this is how Avery used to sneak out, right?” Jack
goes on.
    “Over the railing, down the trellis, I know the drill,” I
reply, “She wasn ’ t the only one sneaking out, you know. I
just didn ’ t end up at the same parties as you two.”
    “Except for that one time,” Jack corrects me, “What was it,
your sixteenth birthday party or something?”
    “You remember?” I reply, secretly thrilled that he does.
Maybe that almost-kiss meant more to him than I thought. Just knowing that he
recalls it at all is satisfaction enough. Certainly, now is not the time to
start expecting the world from Jackson Cole.
    “I remember it perfectly,” he says pointedly, his eyes fixed
to my face.
    “Yeah?” I ask, trying not to shiver—with delight and cold. I seem to have forgotten my jacket once again.
    “Yeah...” he says, slowly. “Actually. I don ’ t
want to embarrass