Page 67 of Shameless

“I’m Evan Johnston,” he introduces himself, not letting go of Jasmine’s hand. “Lula’s stepbrother.”

Technically he’s right, but I can’t bite my tongue. “You’re Tiffany’s husband’s son. You and I aren’t even friends. Jasmine,” I warn Jules’s ex, despite the fact that she doesn’t deserve my concern. “I would stay away from Evan. He isn’t as nice as he wants you to believe.”

In the past I would have been scared to antagonize him, but I can’t bear the thought of anyone else going through the same thing I did with Evan.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jasmine says, keeping her eyes on Evan. “And no one asked for your opinion anyway,Lola.”

“It’s Lula!” Stefan speaks for the first time. “Why did you come here if you can’t be civil to Jules or to our family?”

Jasmine’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes as she answers Stefan’s question. “He invited me. And to be honest, I expected a better welcome. Maybe I should take Jenna and go.”

Jenna’s eyes fill with tears at her mother’s words. “No Mommy, please. I want to stay with Daddy and Lula.”

Jules picks up his crying daughter, soothing her by rubbing her back. “Don’t worry, munchkin. You and I have an agreement, Jaz,” he then says to his ex. “If you don’t feel welcome, you can go. But Jenna is staying.”

Evan takes a step toward Jasmine. “No, don’t go. This place could definitely do with some good looking women. At least let me buy you a drink. This isn’t as good as my father’s club in Manhattan, but they make excellent martinis.”

Happy with being flattered, Jasmine’s scowl turns into a bright smile. “I would love that. I’m glad chivalry isn’t dead after all. You could learn a thing or two from Evan, Ju-Ju.”

Jules ignores Jasmine’s blatant provocation, but he utters the comment on the tip of my tongue. “Our bar has won awards for the excellent cocktails and especially our martinis, but you might want to take Jasmine to the smoothie bar instead. If you haven’t noticed, she’s expecting.”

Jasmine dismisses Jules’s concern swatting her hand like you would do with an annoying bug. “Your notions about what’s allowed during pregnancy are outdated. I have this new, European gyno that says that after the first trimester it’s fine to have one drink.”

Jules shakes his head. “I’ve heard about that trend when you were pregnant with Jenna. While its validity is controversial,every article I read about it mentioned a small glass of wine or beer, not liquor.”

Jasmine’s lips flatten in an annoyed line. “Butt out, Jules! This isn’t your baby anyway and are you surprised I need a drink after the way you and your family treat me? Look after your daughter, I’ll be at the bar with Evan.”

We watch in disbelief as Jasmine links her arm with Evan’s and they walk deeper into the club, toward the main bar.

A question is burning on the tip of my tongue, but I hold back when Arianna spots her granddaughter and comes to hug a very excited Jenna.

“Jenna, would you like to go get ice cream with your grams?” Arianna beams.

Jules’s daughter begins to jump up and down but seems to catch herself and pauses to look at her dad. “Daddy, can I go?”

“Of course you can. Just stay with Grams, ok?” he bends down to kiss the top of his daughter’s head. “Mom, don’t let Jenna out of your sight, please. I’ll explain later. I’m gonna come by in a bit to get her anyway.”

We watch Arianna walk away with Jenna.

“She’s missed her too,” Jules says softly. “I just wish Jasmine understood that Jenna needs her whole family around her and not use our daughter like a pawn to further her agenda. If there was any need, she just proved that being a mom to Jenna is at the bottom of her priorities.”

I utter the question I was about to ask before Arianna interrupted us. “Are you sure Jasmine should be drinking?” I ask Jules.

“No, but what can I do? I mean, I could instruct the staff not to serve her any alcohol,” he sighs. “But she’d use it as ammo to pick another fight and she might carry out her threat to leave with Jenna. At the end of the day, she’s right that I have no say on what she does with her body since we aren’t together and the baby she’s carrying isn’t mine. I would have preferred to have a civil relationship with my ex, but since it’s obvious we can’t, my energy is better spent looking out for my daughter.”

Crew intervenes. “Look dude, I’m not trying to stick my nose in your business but if she’s drinking now, what’s to say that she’s not doing it all the time? Is Jenna safe with her?”

In the past Jules would have taken Crew’s concern the wrong way, but to my surprise he nods. “I thought about it too and it wouldn’t be the first time Jasmine’s irresponsible behavior puts Jenna in danger. It keeps me up at night. But unless I want a lengthy custody battle during which she’d probably keep me from seeing my daughter again, I’m better off biting my tongue. I hope that by throwing enough money at her, I can convince her to let Jenna move in with me. Hopefully once she has the new baby, she’s going to find it too much and she’ll take my offer.”

“Where are you going to find the kind of money that would make Jasmine let you take Jenna? No offense Jules, but your ex is using your daughter as a meal ticket.” Stefan says. “Did your lawyer figure out a way to give you early access to your trust fund?”

Jules shakes his head. “No. But hopefully the police will conclude their investigation on Eddie’s murder and his funds will be released. My share would be enough to convince Jasmine.”

“Talking about the investigation, is there any news from Pullin after we gave him a copy of Eddie’s letter?” Crew asks.

“No. But the sheriff is here today, I’m sure he’ll find a moment to talk to us if there is any news. Guys, there’s something I need to ask you. I don’t care if Jasmine has a drink or ten with Evan, but I don’t want that creep near Jenna. Especially if one of us isn’t around.”

I don’t blame him at all. “We can watch them today, but what if Evan asked Jasmine out while he’s in town? I saw the way he was looking at her and he’s definitely into her.”

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