Read Online The Culmination by Lauren Rowe - Free Book Online

him.
    “But seriously. Whatever helps you figure your shit out is fine by me. Always. And Plato’s right. Don’t worry. There’s no point. Just focus on your happiness. Anything else is a waste of time. We can’t control any of it. So just enjoy the ride.”
    I take a long, deep breath. “You’re absolutely sure what I’m feeling is normal?”
    “Well, fuck. I don’t know if it’s normal —is there such a thing as normal? All I can say is I feel it, too. But I just choose to ignore it and enjoy the ride—unlike you, Mr. Look for Unhappiness Under Every Fucking Rock.”
    Before I can respond, music starts blaring from the outdoor speakers. The song is “Love Cats” by The Cure.
    Sarah ambles through the sliding glass door, a sweater wrapped around her sexy curves. “Hey, Josh Faraday.”
    “Hey, Sarah Cruz.”
    “I’ve got a message for you from your wife.” She points up to the sky, obviously telling Josh his message is encoded in the song.

Chapter 6
    Jonas

    I rub my eyes, trying to erase any hint of my emotional conversation with Josh from my face.
    “Hey, baby,” I say.
    “Hi, love. So, Josh, have you figured out the super-secret message in the song yet?”
    Josh smiles. “I love this song.”
    At his obvious lack of understanding, Sarah scowls at him. “Aw, come on, Josh. I thought you were the smart twin. ‘Love Cats’? Love Kat ?”
    “Ah.”
    “Duh, Josh.”
    “Duh,” he agrees.
    “Despite your wife’s face being the color of Kermit the Frog right now, the Party Girl with a Hyphen has requested the Playboy’s immediate presence inside the house—so that you may love Kat, if you know what I mean.” She winks and makes a clicking sound like she’s prompting a horse.
    Josh’s face ignites.
    Sarah holds up the brand new bottle of bubbles she’s brought with her. “Gracie, you wanna blow bubbles with Uncle Jo Jo and me while Daddy and Mommy love each other inside?”
    “I luh Mommee.”
    Josh kneels down to Gracie, his voice brimming with barely-contained glee. “Gracie, you stay out here with Uncle Jo Jo and Auntie Sarah, okay?”
    “Okay, Daddy.”
    “I love you, Gracie.”
    “I luh yoo, Dadda.”
    He kisses her on the cheek, rustles her hair, and sprints toward the sliding glass door without looking back.
    “Run along and be free, Josh Faraday,” Sarah calls to Josh’s back.
    “Make it quick,” I yell. “The food’s ready and I’m hungry.”
    Sarah scowls at me. “Bite your tongue, Jonas Faraday. I can’t believe you of all people just told any man, let alone your brother, to ‘make it quick’ with his woman. Blasphemy.”
    I shrug. “Fuck him. I’m hungry.”
    Josh opens the sliding glass door and turns around to face us. “Thank you, Sarah Cruz!” he yells. “You’re my favorite person, ever. And fuck you, Uncle Jo Jo! You suck!” With that, he disappears into the house.
    “Fahk yoo, Unkie Jo Jo,” Gracie mutters, twirling around. “Fahk yooooo. Yoooo sahk.”
    Sarah clamps her hand over her mouth.
    “Oh shit,” I say. “Kat’s gonna kill us.”
    “Us? You . She’s gonna kill you ,” Sarah replies.
    “ Me? No way. It was Josh.”
    “Fahk yoooooo!” Gracie says, twirling.
    “Well, Kat shouldn’t be surprised. What did she expect when she had a kid with a freakin’ Faraday, after all?” Sarah says. “Kat’s only getting what she deserves.”
    I laugh. “Exactly.”
    “Yoo sahk!” Gracie sings out.
    “In fact, it serves them both right for teaching Gracie to call me Uncle Jo Jo. I should teach Gracie to say motherfucker and asshole, just to even the score.”
    “Ssh, Jonas,” Sarah says, glancing down at Gracie. “You show ’em, baby,” she whispers. “Karma’s a bleep.”
    “Damn straight.”
    “Bubba?” Gracie asks, tugging on Sarah’s dress. “Auntie Sah?”
    “You betcha. Uncle Jo Jo, you wanna blow bubbles with Little G and me?” She laughs. “Hey, we sound like a rap trio: Uncle Jo Jo, Little G, and OAP.” Sarah