Love Thy Neighbor

Chapter 21

Soon after I get home from work, my family enters my condo like a tornado. It's a whirlwind of loud people, enthusiastic greetings, and armfuls of bags full of presents and food. My parents had already checked into their hotel, but my sister had two huge suitcases. Typical Elsie.

"I'm going to start dinner," my mom announces. "Elsie, take your stuff to your sister's room."

Elsie sighs and hauls her bags away.

My dad helps my mom fill my fridge with all the food they've brought. He then grabs a beer and settles down on the sofa.

"Sit with me Jessie. Tell me what's new," he says, motioning me to join him.

I fill him in on work, which is going really well. I've been asked to lead a project on a specific data sampling analysis based on the age and income of the clientele. I'm honored to get to do this as an intern.

My mom is listening to everything as she chops vegetables for the soup she's making.

"How was Christmas with the boyfriend?" she asks.

"I keep telling you, he's not my boyfriend. We're just dating," I say with exasperation.

"In my day, if you dated frequently and met the parents, you were boyfriend and girlfriend," my mom retorts.

"Is he trying to avoid commitment?" my dad asks, brows furrowed.

"We're just taking it slow," I say, hoping this line of conversation will drop. Ha. As if.

"Slow is fine," my mom says, "as long as he's not just stringing you along or using you."

I toy with the idea of telling them we're not having sex, so if he's using me, it's not for much. I think better of it.

Instead I say, "You'll meet him tomorrow. You can ask him all about it then."

"I just might," my dad says.

"You will not, Jacob," my mom says sternly. "I'll know Shawn's intentions just from spending time with him."

Just then, Elsie walks in. I guess she's done making my room her own.

"Did I hear Shawn's name?" she asks excitedly. "Is he coming over?

I start hoping that Shawn comes down with a sudden case of the flu. Poor guy has no idea what he's in for.

"Tomorrow for dinner," I tell her. "And please be chill."

I steer the conversation towards Elsie. She's happy to talk about herself for hours.

Later that night, after my parents have gone to their hotel, Elsie and I are in bed talking.

"Jessica, I have to know...is Shawn Mendes a good kisser?" she asks.

"I don't think you have to know that."

"Come on, Jess! Is he? Please tell me!" she pleads.

"How do I know you won't post about this on some fan account you've created?" I ask?

"What? I'd never! I have kept the fact that you know him a secret. I can't believe you don't trust me!" she says, clearly offended.

"So tomorrow, you aren't going to ask for a picture with him? An autograph? Nothing?" I ask.

"If he offers a pic I won't say no, because that would be rude. I'm not going to act like a fangirl right in front of him! That would be embarrassing!"

"And you aren't going to sneak pictures of him when you think no one is watching?"

She's silent.

Finally she responds, "If I did do that, I would not post them anywhere, I swear. I'd just keep them on my phone."

"For the record, I don't even have any pics of Shawn on my phone," I say.

Elsie gives me a look. "That's weird, Jess."

It probably is. I saw Karen taking pictures over Christmas, but it's not like she sent them to me. Shawn has never taken our pic, other than the feet picture by the Christmas tree. I start to worry. Is he avoiding taking pictures with me? Does this mean we're going nowhere? Is he afraid of what people will think of me?

Elsie interrupts my anxiety attack. "You never answered me. Is he a good kisser."

I sigh. "Yes, Els."

"Of course he is. Just look at him. How could he not be? Have I told you how I hate you so much?" she asks and then rolls over to go to sleep.