Read Online 3volve by Josefina Gutierrez - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Josefina Gutierrez
Ads: Link
setting the timer, I grab my keys, purse, and leave to pick up the boys.
They’re both sitting on the curb outside the gym. Jeremiah is reading a book, and Jeremy is on his phone. Regardless of being only a few inches apart, they’ve never looked so far apart. They pick up their heads as I slow down in front of them.
“I’m early!” I smile in the rearview mirror, looking at them settle into the backseat.
I don’t know what I expect. I guess some sort of recognition or a glimmer in their eyes that tells me they even heard what I said. I don’t get any of that. I get the undeniable silence that has settled in our household the past few weeks.
Jeremiah rests his head against the window, not looking up at me. Jeremy rolls his eyes, still on his phone.
“So, not talking huh?” I ask, after ten uncomfortable minutes. “Thanks, Cris. Nice to see you, Cris. How was your day, Cris,” I mock, hoping to get their attention.
“I just don’t feel like talking,” Jeremiah mutters.
“Good. No one wants to hear you anyway,” Jeremy leers.
I pull into the driveway, locking the car so they can’t get out. “Whoa, whoa. Okay, what’s going on?” I ask, worried, turning around.
“Nothing,” Jeremiah shrugs.
“Now he doesn’t have anything to say, figures.”
“Uh, guys you mind telling me what’s going on? You never fight,”
“How would you know? You’ve never cared about anyone but yourself!” Jeremy shouts, banging on the window.
Jeremiah shoves him into the door, “Shut the hell up, man. Don’t talk to her that way.”
Jeremy shoves him back. “You shut up. You didn’t even stand up for me. What a brother you are. And I don’t know why you’re sticking up for her! She doesn’t care about us.”
Jeremiah scoffs, “You did it to yourself!”
“What is going on?” I ask, being the one to raise my voice.
“Coach got after him,” Jeremiah tells me.
“What!” I cover my face in my hands. “What did you do? Do I have to talk to your coach?”
“Shut up! You’re not Mom. So stop acting like you have to talk to anyone.”
I scoff. “Trust me I know. It’s not like I want to be stuck here either,” I murmur exasperated. And immediately regretting it left my mouth at all.
But Jeremy isn’t willing to talk. He grabs his backpack and rushes out of the car up the porch steps. Disappointed, I turn back to Jeremiah, “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
“Not my place,” he shrugs.
“Really?” I ask, amused. “And what exactly is your place, little brother?” I ask, arching my eyebrows.
When the front door slams, Jeremiah cringes. “So you do remember huh? I thought you forgot we’re you’re little brothers. Brothers . Family. ” He punctuates every word, grabbing his backpack.
Opening the door, he stops before closing it, looking at me. The car light illuminates his grown up features. “I stood up for you, but it doesn’t change anything. Advice, big sister , try starting a conversation with us. Ask what’s going on? How are we doing with all of this? He’s right, you know, all you do is think about yourself,” he says, shutting the door.
I’m left sitting in the dark, empty driveway. I didn’t realize they both felt like that. Have I only thought of myself? In the three weeks I’ve been home, I’ve learned to cook.
They’re both sitting on the curb outside the gym. Jeremiah is reading a book, and Jeremy is on his phone. Regardless of being only a few inches apart, they’ve never looked so far apart. They pick up their heads as I slow down in front of them.
“I’m early!” I smile in the rearview mirror, looking at them settle into the backseat.
I don’t know what I expect. I guess some sort of recognition or a glimmer in their eyes that tells me they even heard what I said. I don’t get any of that. I get the undeniable silence that has settled in our household the past few weeks.
Jeremiah rests his head against the window, not looking up at me. Jeremy rolls his eyes, still on his phone.
“So, not talking huh?” I ask, after ten uncomfortable minutes. “Thanks, Cris. Nice to see you, Cris. How was your day, Cris,” I mock, hoping to get their attention.
“I just don’t feel like talking,” Jeremiah mutters.
“Good. No one wants to hear you anyway,” Jeremy leers.
I pull into the driveway, locking the car so they can’t get out. “Whoa, whoa. Okay, what’s going on?” I ask, worried, turning around.
“Nothing,” Jeremiah shrugs.
“Now he doesn’t have anything to say, figures.”
“Uh, guys you mind telling me what’s going on? You never fight,”
“How would you know? You’ve never cared about anyone but yourself!” Jeremy shouts, banging on the window.
Jeremiah shoves him into the door, “Shut the hell up, man. Don’t talk to her that way.”
Jeremy shoves him back. “You shut up. You didn’t even stand up for me. What a brother you are. And I don’t know why you’re sticking up for her! She doesn’t care about us.”
Jeremiah scoffs, “You did it to yourself!”
“What is going on?” I ask, being the one to raise my voice.
“Coach got after him,” Jeremiah tells me.
“What!” I cover my face in my hands. “What did you do? Do I have to talk to your coach?”
“Shut up! You’re not Mom. So stop acting like you have to talk to anyone.”
I scoff. “Trust me I know. It’s not like I want to be stuck here either,” I murmur exasperated. And immediately regretting it left my mouth at all.
But Jeremy isn’t willing to talk. He grabs his backpack and rushes out of the car up the porch steps. Disappointed, I turn back to Jeremiah, “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
“Not my place,” he shrugs.
“Really?” I ask, amused. “And what exactly is your place, little brother?” I ask, arching my eyebrows.
When the front door slams, Jeremiah cringes. “So you do remember huh? I thought you forgot we’re you’re little brothers. Brothers . Family. ” He punctuates every word, grabbing his backpack.
Opening the door, he stops before closing it, looking at me. The car light illuminates his grown up features. “I stood up for you, but it doesn’t change anything. Advice, big sister , try starting a conversation with us. Ask what’s going on? How are we doing with all of this? He’s right, you know, all you do is think about yourself,” he says, shutting the door.
I’m left sitting in the dark, empty driveway. I didn’t realize they both felt like that. Have I only thought of myself? In the three weeks I’ve been home, I’ve learned to cook.
Similar Books
