Page 246 of The Holy Grail
The question made it clear that since the conversation between Paige, David, and Jacob about Jules, Evan, and Malcom living together, it had become a source of curiosity for the little boy.
The three of them all looked at one another, as if silently asking who was going to be the one to answer. Finally, Jules replied, “Because we like each other a lot.”
“You mean like a boyfriend and girlfriend?”
There was another round of glances, and then Jules spoke up again, because apparently neither man knew what to say. Not that she did, either, but calling Paige to ask what she should do was not really an option, so she decided the best thing to do was be vague. “Kind of.”
“Are Evan and Malcom your boyfriends?”
Since her previous answer had worked, she used it again. “Kind of.”
“Are you their girlfriend?”
“Kind of,” she said a third time, deciding it was now her favorite answer in the world.
Jacob’s expression turned thoughtful. “I kind of have two girlfriends at school.”
“You do?” Evan said, finally entering the fray now the worst of it was over. “Are they pretty?”
Jacob shrugged.
“Well, looks aren’t everything. What matters is if you like them. Do you like them?”
“I don’t always like them. Sometimes they’re mean.”
Evan nodded. “Girls can be mean. But they usually grow out of it … usually by their mid-thirties.”
Jules gave him a look that said,Careful, now.
“What are their names?” Malcom asked.
“Kelsey and Emma.”
“Isn’t Kelsey the one who put glue in your hair?” Evan wanted to know.
Jacob, in the process of taking a bite of his waffle sandwich, made a face before replying, with his mouth full, “Yes.”
Jules leaned forward, as if sharing a secret. “She probably did that because she likes you.”
Looking confused, because that information obviously didn’t seem to make sense, Jacob swallowed his bite and picked up his glass of milk. “So, who are you going to marry?”
The question was directed at Jules, who was beginning to wonder why kids didn’t come with an ‘off’ switch. When she glanced at Malcom and Evan, both of them looked like a deer in the headlights. “Neither one, actually … even if they were to ask me.”
“Why not?”
“Because I wouldn’t be able to choose. I like Evan and Mal equally.”
“I don’t think I want to marry Kelsey or Emma.”
“You never know,” Evan said. “You might change your mind in twenty years.”
Jacob shrugged, then thankfully jumped to another subject.
When dinner was over, Jacob surprisingly offered to help clear the table with Malcom and Jules, while Evan took Julian into the living room and put him in his hybrid playpen/crib thing.
However, when Malcom and Jules started clearing, Jacob just stood there. “We need music.”
“Oh.” Jules stopped. “What kind of music do you want?”
