Page 64 of It's Complicated

“Did he give you any indication of what he wanted to talk to you about?” Jamie asked.

I shrugged again.

“Z.” He pinned me with a look. “That evasive shit is for other people, not me.”

Sighing, I grabbed my water bottle and took a few long swallows. “I have no idea. He said he has something to tellme. I’m assuming that’s code for him wanting to give me my quarterly lecture, same as every other time he’s used that excuse to summon me.”

Jamie climbed to his feet. I did the same, my boner long gone now that we were talking about my father and his meddling ways.

“I wish I wasn’t babysitting later so I could go with you again.”

I nodded, pulling my arm across my body in a stretch. “Me too.”

Usually Jamie came with me when I was summoned to one of these lectures. I’d drop him off at a café or something near where I was meeting my father and pick him up when we were done.

Having company on the drives was a godsend and spending some time in the city after I was done being talked to like I was twelve and couldn’t make my own decisions helped me decompress.

Unfortunately Jamie promised his sister he’d watch the kids this afternoon, so I was on my own this time.

“But it’ll be fine,” I continued, not sure if I was trying to convince him or myself. “I can handle an hour of his crap, then I’ll be rid of him for another three to six months.”

“Your parents are so…”

“Awful, annoying, controlling. Any of those work? Because I’ve got more if they don’t.”

“All of the above.” He shot me a commiserating look as he moved into a new stretch. “I don’t understand them at all. They’re so hands-off with you when it comes to your daily life, but they think they have all the right in the world to control what you do. Like, how does that even make sense? They ignore you for months on end, then they summon you for meetings like you’re a client and not their son, lecture you about all theshit they don’t agree with or think you’re doing wrong, then disappear until the next time.”

“It’s been the same story since I was a kid.” I shrugged. “It’s not like they’re going to change now.”

“I know, but I hate how they treat you.” His expression went dark. “And how they’re giant hypocrites. They don’t tell you anything about what’s going on with them and never reach out to see how you’re doing, but get pissed that you don’t tell them every little detail about your life? How does that even make sense?”

“Seems like you understand them perfectly,” I said, trying to keep the bitterness out of my voice. It wasn’t Jamie’s fault my parents sucked. “They only care about me when I do something they can brag to their friends about or when I screw up and they’re reminded that I exist. It’s been like that my whole life. They’re not going to change now.”

“I know. I just hate that they stress you out so much.”

“Me too.” With a heavy sigh, I rolled out my shoulders. “But it is what it is. They don’t care about me. They care about what I do because it’s a reflection of them, but they don’t give a shit about me as a person. I came to terms with that a long time ago.”

Jamie grumbled something that sounded a bit like “Assholes.”

“That they are.” I made a vague motion toward the changing rooms. “Ready?”

“Yeah.” He fell into step with me. “Those shorts are ridiculous. But they make your ass look amazing.” He emphasized his point by leaning back and scoping out my backside.

“Are you trying to get me banned from the gym?” I gave him a little backhand to the chest. “These things leave nothing to the imagination.”

“Not my fault you lost and had to wear them.” He pushed the door to the changing room open and waited for me to go first.

I could feel his gaze on my ass as I passed him. I glanced around the locker area, making sure we were alone. “Did you just check out my ass again?” I asked when I was sure the coast was clear.

“Maybe.” He went to his locker and started spinning the combination lock. “You’ve got a nice one and I like looking at it.”

I traced my gaze down his back, taking in his strong shoulders and trim waist, then settled on his ass. “Speaking of nice ones.”

Jamie did a move where he kind of popped his ass. Not quite twerking, but close. “You mean this one?” He tossed me a grin over his shoulder.

“Yeah, that one.” I went to stand next to him so I could get into my locker, which was beside his. “Keep doing that, and I can’t be held responsible for what I do to it.”

“Again, threatening me with a good time.” He stripped off his shirt and tossed it into his locker.

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