Page 8 of Jesse and the Ice Princess
"You know I love you, right?" He never wanted her to forget it. Just because their mom was gone didn't mean she didn't have someone looking out for her.
She stuck a tortilla chip in her mouth, her eyes narrowing as she stared at him. Finally, she swallowed and turned to walk into the dining room. "Weirdo."
"But a weirdo who loves you," he called after her.
"You can stop now."
He grinned as she disappeared from view. Would the kids at school call him the king if they knew he spent his spare time playing Betty Crocker and helping his brothers with homework?
And what if they knew he didn't hate it?
His family was everything to Jesse. Maybe it was a byproduct of losing his mom, but he held onto them tightly, afraid they'd slip through his grasp.
Only Roman knew what it was like in this house. He re-entered the kitchen. "Dude, I love eating at your house."
"Why?"
"Well, your brothers are currently using glass plates as shields against each other's Nerf darts. Your dad just came out of his office with his glasses upside down—and I don't think he even noticed. Then there's your sister. Cassie is sending me her beautiful death glares."
"Don't push Cass."
He held his hands up in surrender. "Wouldn't dream of it. The Carrigan chaos beats the silence at my house any day. I'd never do anything to wear out my welcome here."
Jesse grabbed the bowl of meat and handed Roman the tray of shells. As they entered the dining room, a plate shattered against the floor.
Will and Eli both froze, matching "oops" expressions on their faces.
Jesse pointed to their empty seats. "Sit." Both boys obeyed him. Cass got up, returning a moment later to slide a new plate in front of Will before bending to pick up the glass shards.
Silence hung over the room until Cass finished cleaning up the mess.
"Well," Jesse said. "Dinner is served."
He sat in his seat at the opposite end from his dad.
"Thanks for cooking, Jess." The relief on his dad's face at having the task taken from him yet again was enough thanks for Jesse.
He scanned the hungry faces of his younger brothers and the quiet contemplation of his sister. Winter break ended tomorrow, and his final semester of high school would begin.
All the people he knew in his class talked endlessly about the schools they'd been accepted to. Most couldn't wait to get out. But Jesse had never regretted his decision to stay home and go to USF in Tampa, less than an hour away.
He wasn't ready to leave this yet, and they weren't ready for him to leave.
4
Charlotte
The only thing Charlotte Morrison wanted was to get out of Gulf City, to leave her home and discover something else in life. She certainly didn't want to walk into the concrete prison in front of her.
High school.
"Hurricanes" was painted on the side of the lower level of the blue structure, and pavers crisscrossed open lawns stretching toward the glass double doors.
"Hey, girl." Hadley stepped up beside her, an ally in the war zone that was Gulf City High.
"Only a few more months, Hads." She sighed and started forward.
Hadley walked with a bounce as she always did, showing the early morning energy none of the rest of them had. They made an odd pair. Charlotte was the short girl in a flowing red skirt that reached her knees and a sweater. Her honey-brown hair was pulled back into her usual braid.
