Believe in Me (Jett #1) Read Free Page B

roof. It really is a beautiful summer night, and the smell of burgers on the grill has my mouth watering, but it’s hard not to feel a tinge of resentment that some people get to live this way every single day.
    Like that guy who just came over here with a block of cheese. Tasting burgers like it’s no big deal, like family and friends and free meals come all the time to him. Hell, having a block of cheese in the fridge like that’s no big deal—even that is hard for me to comprehend.
    Becca just spent the last five minutes talking about him. His name is Jett apparently. What kind of name is that? It’s something rich people name their kids, I guess. Becca goes on and on about what a great kid he is. Did she not see that he’s around six feet tall and his arms are absolutely ripped? That doesn’t exactly say “kid” to me.
    I tune out most of the polite chatter after the man of the house, a guy named Park, gives me a burger. Becca had said her last name was Park and now her husband’s name is also Park so that’s kind of weird. I don’t bother asking what the deal is, because it’s not like I’ll see these people again after tonight.
    I load up my burger with extra cheese and mayo, ketchup, pickles, and even lettuce. Screw it, I put everything they have on my burger because it’s available and after one bite I realize this is way better than any dollar menu burger I get with Dawn. I even crumple some potato chips inside and then smash the bun on top to hold it all in. The food is so good; I can’t even think straight.
    And then Mom starts talking and my senses go on high alert. She’s got that dreamy look in her eyes and I steady myself for whatever embarrassing thing she’s going to say next.
    Only, when she speaks, it’s not really that bad.
    “I am loving Texas so far,” Mom says, grabbing another handful of potato chips from the bowl in the middle of the table. “When we moved here from Arizona, I knew I didn’t want to settle down in another large city, you know? I wanted something small, more low key with friendly people.”
    Becca nods along in agreement and it takes a lot for me to keep my mouth shut. Dawn in a small town? Yeah, right. They are the bane of her existence. She’s always talking about how we’re going to hit up every major city and sell her art there. Why the sudden change of heart?
    “That’s what I love about Lawson,” Becca says. “We’re only forty-five minutes from a big city in case we need something, but we’re far enough away that we have all this wide open space.”
    Mom nods. Then her lips turn down and she shakes her head slightly, like she’s disappointed in something. “It’s a shame, really. I was hoping to settle in and stay here, but it looks like we’ll be leaving in the morning.”
    “Why’s that?” Becca asks, refilling my sweet tea from a pitcher on the table.
    “Are you gonna eat that, babe?” Park asks, nodding toward the rest of her burger. She shakes her head and slides her plate over to him.
    Mom makes this big dramatic sigh. “Well, my art is my way of living, of course, but if we’re going to get enough money for a down payment and first month’s rent, I need a job, you see.”
    Oh god… this is where Mom begs these kind new people to get her employed. My stomach tightens.
    “And the great news is that I found a wonderful art consulting job that has a generous sign on bonus and it would let me work from home.”
    Wow. I did not see that coming.
    Becca’s eyes brighten. “That’s wonderful, Dawn!”
    Mom shakes her head “Unfortunately, I have to do the interview and paperwork in person, and it’s down in Corpus Christie which is about a six hour drive from here if I’m not mistaken. I wish I didn’t have to drag poor Keanna with me, but I can’t leave her in a hotel alone.”
    This is the first I’ve heard of Mom’s fancy new work from home job offer. But I’m not about to question her in front of these people. Mom tends to