Page 13 of Good For Me

Some things should just be private.

“I do,” I tell Jas. “Two sisters, two brothers, and twelve cousins.”

Her eyes go wide. “Holy shit. I thought it was just the people who come in to see you at the bar.”

That makes me happy—maybe she hasn’t read much about my family. “Nah. That’s only a tiny fraction. Most of the kids are under age so they can’t visit.”

She shakes her head. “Little kid me would have been so jealous. I was desperate for a little sister or brother.”

“Did you always live with your uncle?”

Her face goes a little tight. “No.” I wait for her to continue, to mention her parents or whatever, but she keeps her mouth firmly shut. I don’t push. I’m perfectly aware that to most people, I have a storybook family. Two parents who were completely devoted to us, siblings to play with, aunts and uncles and cousins just down the street. Our life wasn’t conventional—we spent most of my childhood on a tour bus—but we always had everything we needed.

I know that’s not the case for everyone. I know there are parents out there who don’t have a right to use the title. I know there are a lot of lonely kids, families who struggle. So there’s no way I’m going to press Jas to bring up any sad or hard shit she doesn’t want to. Not tonight.

Tonight, I’m going to do whatever it takes to put a smile on this woman’s gorgeous face. I’m going to enjoy the opportunity to finally hang out with the person who’s taken up far too much brain space lately. And I’m going to try my hardest not to mess this up.