“Did you guys have an argument?” When I send her a confused look, she says, “You and Park.”
“Oh. Yeah. I guess.” I know I’m being kind of a dick, but I can’t help it. I can’t wrap my head around Park and Diane’s relationship. What sort of ratifications will this have if they’re exposed? What will Park do? What will Dad do?
And what about Diane?
“What happened between you two? You seemed so angry earlier. You still do.” She hesitates, twisting her hands together in her lap. “This has nothing to do with me, does it? You weren’t disappointed in how I acted tonight, right? Your dad was really nice to me, though Di—Diane wasn’t very friendly toward me. At all.”
Statement of the century. “She’s not nice to anyone.” Well, except my brother, probably.
Disgusting.
“She was totally rude to me. I mean, what did I ever do to her?” Okay, there’s some of Jensen’s attitude back. And I’m glad to see it. Being with my family tonight made her meek and quiet, and I’m not used to Jensen acting like that.
“Nothing. She’s an equal opportunity rude bitch,” I say, my voice bitter.
“And she never did explain where she was when she up and disappeared earlier,” Jensen continues.
I need to divert the conversation. “She likes to pout. Play games. Diane is the ultimate drama queen.”
“And your dad actually puts up with it?”
I have no explanation for this, since I don’t understand it myself. “I think he likes Diane’s flare for drama. As long as he’s not dragged into it too much, he’s happy.” This is why I can’t tell anyone about what I saw. Park will have my fucking head, and I know it.
So I’m not messing with that.
“Are you going to Addie’s party Saturday night?” I try to change the subject.
“I’m going to try.” Jensen smiles. “I really like your sister. She was so sweet to me tonight, when she didn’t have to be.”
“She’s the sweetest girl I know, I swear. Wouldn’t harm a hair on your head…if she likes you.”
“What does she do if she doesn’t like you? Make your life a living hell?”
“Probably.” We both laugh, but I immediately sober. “I hope she’s not mean to the people she doesn’t like. Like…the kids at school. I have no idea what she does there beyond go to class, but I hope she isn’t some shitty mean girl who treats people like they’re worthless.”
For all I know, she could. Addie does live with Diane, after all.
“Oh, I doubt that. She’s too sweet-natured to do such terrible things,” Jensen reassures me.
“Yeah.” I’m distracted. I don’t want to have this conversation, not anymore. I don’t want to talk at all, but Jensen seems like she wants to give everyone at dinner a personal analysis, so I let her.
But I don’t really comment and I think she senses something is wrong, because she eventually goes quiet, until she finally says, so low I almost don’t hear her, “Park saw me touch you like that, huh.”
I exhale loudly. “Yeah. He did.”
“You think he’ll tell your dad and…Diane?” She’s chewing on her lower lip. “God, I hope not.”
“Don’t sweat it. He won’t tell anyone.”
“Are you sure? Can you trust him? I just, I don’t want to make the wrong impression on your parents.”
I don’t know why she cares so much. My family is a wreck. My parents…they’re not normal. What they’re doing to each other isn’t right, not by a long shot, and they don’t deserve Jensen’s fearful concern.
“You didn’t. You made a great impression,” I say, trying to sound as final as possible. I really don’t want to talk about this anymore. It’s a pointless conversation. “Dad invited you over for Thanksgiving. That’s huge.”
“I guess.” She stares out the window. “I just don’t want Park to think I’m some easy whore who feels up his brother at the dinner table.”
“You’re not a whore, Jens,” I say firmly. “And he has no room to talk. Trust me.”