Page 29 of Fine, Dork

“Whoa. His psychologist woman is willingly going to fuck him for the rest of her life?”

Jaxon laughed. “Yep. Chandler. Crazy, right? She’s just like him, though, so they deserve each other.” Jaxon paused for a moment, but I could tell he had more to say even through the phone.

“What’s up, J?”

“He asked me to be his Best Man and then immediately told me I was a dick and a selfish asshole.”

I burst out laughing and collapsed against my pillows. “Your family is nuts, Jaxon! Are you going to do it? Are you going to be his Best Man?”

“I don’t know. I mean, he’s my brother.”

“Yeah. I guess I don’t know much about the sibling bond since I’m an only child, so I can’t give a lot of advice here. But, if it’s going to be too toxic for your life, don’t do it.”

Jaxon let out a long slow breath. “So wise, K.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “Remember in middle school, when life fucking sucked half the time, and we talked about running away together?”

I grinned and rolled over onto my stomach. “I do. We should have done it, huh?”

“Maybe we still could.”

I laughed out loud. “You realize that’s what I did, right? I found a career that lets me run away.” I paused for a moment and stared at the painting hanging above the bed. It was of a peaceful little Amazon village. Tiny cottages with thatched roofs dotted an expanse of dense, green jungle. In the center, a group of natives sat together at one big outdoor table, smiling and enjoying a meal. They looked happy and so at home.

“Jaxon?”

“Yeah, Kinley?”

“Maybe we don’t run away. Maybe we build our version of happiness in the middle of chaos because I kind of want a place to call home.”

“You got it, K.”

I smiled and covered my face with one hand. I was so in love with Jaxon, and it almost burst from my lips right at that moment. But it had to be perfect when we finally said it. We’d waited so damn long that we deserved a beautiful, profoundly romantic declaration of our feelings. Because J felt it too, didn’t he?

16

Sent: 8/27 4:03pm

Dear J,

We came back to the city for supplies and stopped at an internet café! So I can finally email you! I don’t have cell service here, though, but you’re probably working anyway, right? Fuck. What time is it there? I’m already confused.

Anyway, I held an anaconda today and felt like a complete badass. Damn, it was SO BIG. It made me think of your anaconda.

But seriously, the jungle is incredible, and the people are so damn sweet and helpful. I was puking my guts out the other day from some bad chorizo or something, and these cute ladies fussed over me and washed my hair in a mixture of herbs and jungle leaves, which weirdly made me feel better.

Tell me everything about your life.

Miss your face (and your anaconda).

Love,

K

Sent: 8/27 1:04pm

Dear K,

Send nudes.

Love,

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