Page 23 of Four Letter Feelings

“Uhm. Are you rich or something?”

“Or something.”

“Ah.”

“Why d’you ask?”

“You’re a college student who has just come back from a year out, you don’t have a job – at least not that I know of – and you’re staying in the most expensive hotel in town.”

“I was staying in the most expensive hotel in town. Now I’m here, slumming it with the commoners.” He added a wink for good measure. “Dude, we’re friends now, right? We’re going to be doing this turnabout thing for a while and I really don’t wanna pinch pennies and keep a record of every cent we spend on each other. I’m terrible at math.”

“You’re doing a business management degree.”

“Fine. I’m terrible at friend math.”

“I see, and friend math is different to regular math because?”

“Because I don’t feel like friendship should come with a ledger.”

“Good answer. Friends shouldn’t keep score.”

“I’m glad we understand each other. Also, I’m not rich, my parents are. Dad’s a doctor and he’s made all kinds of investments over the years so they’re pretty well off.”

AJ took a bite of his sub and seemed to be mulling over the information he’d just been given, trying to decide whether to continue the conversation, or to just let it drop.

“So…”

“Yeah, I know. Sounds like a good deal, right?”

AJ nodded as he chewed. “You just don’t seem to be all that ok with your folks…”

Jeremy sighed and swallowed. “Dad and I are going through some stuff right now,” he offered. “He doesn’t approve of my life choices.”

“So, you flipped him the bird and traveled Europe?”

“Yeah, and then I flipped him another bird and decided to pursue hockey and business management instead of becoming a doctor like him and Gramps.”

“Ouch.”

“Yeah. He almost cut me off from the family fortune. It’s not really a fortune, I just like calling it a fortune 'cause it makes me sound faaaaancy. He was big mad. Like, big mad. Mom calmed him down, though and we’re working through things.”

“Well, that’s something at least. Right?”

“Yeah, it’s hard. I’ve always been super close to my parents, so this last year or so of angst and arguments isn’t something I’m used to.” As he spoke, he balled up his trash and threw it across the room, nodding satisfactorily as it thudded into the trash can on the floor next to the desk.

“I bet. You got siblings?”

“Nah, not anymore. I’m my parents’ miracle baby.” He kicked himself for not outrightly lying about being an only child and hoped AJ wouldn’t pry too much further into the topic. He wasn’t ready to talk to him about his brother just yet, and technically since they hadn’t seen him in years, he was an only child these days.

“Wow. That’s definitely gotta be hard. At least I have Ana when our folks are being a pain in the ass. You musta been lonely travelling Europe by yourself and not talking to your folks much.”

“Sometimes. You know how it is though, man. When you’re on the road with the team, they’re your family.”

AJ nodded in agreement as he finished up his sandwich. “I get it. Still must suck, though. Did you see them on your way here to 'Bama from Europe?”

It was Jeremy’s turn to nod. “Briefly. I had a short layover and saw them for a little bit. I might go back up at Thanksgiving, though. Try smoothing things out a little bit with them to see if that’ll help.”

“Oh! Speaking of Thanksgiving…”

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