Page 44 of The Beta Test

I tap my cheek like I’m thinking of something else he might be thankful for, then snap my fingers. “Oh! You’re thankful your big sis is going to be captain of the swim team this year.”

Maybe. Hopefully. Coach Kim called out sick the day of our scheduled meeting to discuss the issue, and we won’t be able to touch base until after the holiday weekend. Seems like it’s a done deal, though.

This time he laughs incredulously, but my heart lifts at his levity. My mom’s expression seems to loosen as well. “Why would I care about that? No. I’m thankful for Jake. I had a blast trick-or-treating with him this year and he’s so fun when he comes over.”

Mom’s eyebrows rise in question. “...when he comes over?”

“For calculus, remember?” I say as I wave my hand dismissively. The last thing I need is my mom thinking any sort of way about that. Plus, Braden! She knows about Braden and she loves him. “Sometimes he plays video games with Hunter when we’re done with homework.”

“Anyway, I’m thankful for Braden, of course,” I pause briefly as I consider the fact that he seems MIA this weekend after previously stating he’d definitely be flying home. Maybe his flight was delayed? I’m positive there’s an explanation and that he’ll be knocking on my door later. “And I’m thankful for meeting my goals on my vision board, like being made swim captain.”

My mom smiles. “I’m proud of you, Av. I probably don’t say that enough.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

With our Thanksgiving ritual complete, we start piling our plates with turkey, potatoes, gravy, green beans and buns. I play a holiday playlist on my phone, which we occasionally sing along to. Later, as we’re packing leftovers into containers and loading the dishwasher, Mom reminds me of her work schedule the next day.

“Are you going to the Taylors’ tomorrow, Avery? If so, don’t forget you need to bring Hunter with you as I’m working.”

I slide another plate in the dishwasher. “Why would I go see Jake?”

My mom gives me a funny look as she hands me another plate to load. “I meant to see Jenna. You two usually spend time together every time there’s a school holiday.”

I blink. “Oh, right. Um, I think she’s busy.”

Busy… aka, I have no idea what she’s doing because I’ve been avoiding her like the plague. After she called me out on skipping her game when I was watching the movie with Analiese, I just kept avoiding her. I ate lunch in the library at school and walked new routes to my classes to dodge her the last couple days of school before Thanksgiving. It feels like there are so many things on my mind that I don’t feel like I can talk to her about: my parents, Braden, college, Analiese. So… I ran. I hid. I didn’t answer her texts or calls. I guess Analiese was right about me after all. I’m a coward.

“Well, maybe you should hang out with Jake then.”

My head snaps up to meet my mom’s teasing smile.

“You know,” she continues, “I always thought Jake had a little crush on you.”

“What?!” I scoff as I drop a handful of dirty silverware into the dishwasher basket. “That’s ridiculous.”

“I’m not so sure about that. I remember watching him braid your hair and he was so gentle about not wanting to hurt you, even as a little boy. Plus, remember when he used to pick flowers from the garden for you? I mean, most of the time it was just weeds, but it was sweet.”

I feel my face scrunch up and denials gather in my throat. No way! Jake was just Jake. He followed me and Jenna around because he was bored. Period.

“Mom, Jake would do that for anyone because he’s a nice guy. Plus that was a million years ago.”

“And now he’s helping you with calculus.”

“Yes! Again, because he’s nice and we know each other.”

She shrugs. “Ok.”

I know what that shrug means—she’s placating me. The desire to strike back overwhelms me, so I glance over my shoulder to make sure Hunter is engrossed in the movie he started before I speak.

“So what’s the real reason Dad didn’t come home for Thanksgiving?”

Her hand freezes mid-air as she is about to hand me another dish to stack in the dishwasher. “He said he explained it to you when you spoke on the phone.”

“As if it’s normal for middle-aged men to abandon their families during the holiday to pursue their career across the world and also pose with young Hollywood starlets on Instagram like he’s reliving his youth?”

“Avery.”

“What? Am I wrong? This isn’t normal.”