“So this is the famous Abby.” The man stands and holds out his hand to shake mine. He’s wearing a T-shirt I don’t recognize by brand but hangs like something expensive and jeans that fit the same category. It’s funny how sometimes a lazy, casual outfit can signal rich just that quickly.
“Oh, you two haven’t met?” Mom asks, which, why would I have met this man? “I guess with you living in San Francisco, you can’t keep up as much as you’d like, huh.”
“Definitely not,” he says, and then I see it in his face, how it’s the same shape as Jax’s, and how his eyes are the same, too.
“Mr. Stockton?” I ask, and he laughs.
“Good to see my reputation precedes me,” he says. “I really owe you a thank-you, Abby.”
I wait to hear about how much work we’ve done this summer on Best Blank.
“It made it so much easier to connect with your mom,” he says.
“It was a great idea,” Mom tells me. “Your dad’s really right that you have a lot of business savvy.”
I’m confused about this entire conversation, and also, business savvy?
“I’d mentioned to Jax a few months ago that I wanted to partner Best Blank with some leading food experts and celebrities and chefs,” Mr. Stockton says. “Your mom’s brand is a great fit.”
A few months ago.
“So you told Jax to get to know me to talk to my mom?” I ask, and he and Mom laugh while my pulse switches over to what feels like a blaring alarm clock inside my veins.
“Nothing that structured,” Mr. Stockton says. “You guys clearly got to know each other, and Norah and I set up a meeting.”
“I’m going to choose my five favorite healthy meals in the city,” Mom says. “How fun will that be?”
“Fun.” I can’t even manage to dredge up any sarcasm right now. It’s like I’m broken. “If you can please excuse me, I have a few things I need to take care of.”
“Of course,” Mom says.
“We need to get back to talking shop anyway,” Mr. Stockton says.
I get to my room and close the door before I realize Rachel’s lying in my bed. “Could I please have some privacy?”
“Sorry, Abby, Mom’s doing some business deal with that tech guy. You’re stuck with me.”
I actually say argh aloud and walk out of the room and into our tiny backyard. What’s going on with your dad?? I text to Jax.
As usual, his response is fast. Y? did he say something stupid? whuts up.
I cannot have this conversation with any more ys or whuts, so I call him.
“Aaaaabbs,” he drawls. “Sorry you have to meet Jackson Senior. He can really be the worst.”
“Jax,” I say as calmly as I can manage, “did you seriously use me just so your dad could run co-branded Eat Healthy with Norah! content on Best Blank?”
This is the grossest reason I’ve ever been angry with someone.
“Define use,” he says.
I pull my phone back from my ear and stare at it. And I tap to hang up. Unfortunately, it rings again immediately.
“Dude,” he says. “I was kidding. Do you really think Fancy Eating with Norah’s so famous my dad can’t just email her?”
I think about that for a moment.
“I’m sure he dropped some whole ‘since our kids are friends’ line to her, but he’s got major investor money, Abbs. Why would he need to gain some upper hand? Jackson Senior’s all hand.”
“Gross,” I say. This whole thing is gross.
“It has nothing to do with anything.”
“It has to do with why you wanted to hang out with me, and—”
“Are you listening? It goddamn doesn’t. It’s because …”
He trails off so dramatically I check my phone to make sure we’re still connected.
“Why is it because?”
“Abbs, you’re fucking cool, okay? It was a good excuse to hang out with you. And I’d rather eat all those burgers with you than go on dates with Trevor and Mal.”
“You just wanted to be my friend?” I ask. “For no reason?”
“I said the reason! You’re cool! I think you’re, you know. Funny and shit. I’m not friends with any girls, but …” His voice gets softer and a little maybe sheepish. “I just wanted to hang out with you. This was a good excuse, okay? Can we stop discussing it?”
“Emotions aren’t actually bad,” I tell him. “You won’t fall apart because you’re having some right now.”
“Don’t make me take back the cool thing,” he says, which makes me laugh. “The app thing was just … Ya know. A bonus or whatever. I know you think I’m some rich guy with a rich dad and an awesome ride, but … my dad sort of sucks, Abbs. When he asked me to help out on Best Blank, it was the longest conversation we’d had in like a year. So I just wanted you to think it was really important work we were doing.”
“I get it,” I say. “Trust me.”
“But if we’re gonna be honest about emotions and shit … You’re my friend and maybe shouldn’t jump to the worst-case scenario about me,” he says.
“Ugh, fine. Fair point. Sometimes you’re right about things.”
I think about Maliah’s only-honesty-no-secrets lifestyle, and while I do think there will always be things that are just for me, I can’t deny that this is good, too. There is a certain amount I might owe the people in my life. The ones I care about, anyway.
“So is your dad happy with the app so far?” I ask. “Is he done with the initial testing?”
“No way. A lot of burgers to get through, and Dad says we can also switch off to a different food if we want to next. Best fries in LA.”
“Ooh, best milkshake. Or taco.”
“Tacos are too clichéd,” he says. “What are you doing now? The burger role’s still ours for the present. Wanna hit something left on our list?”
Actually, I do.
Rachel’s still in my room when
