Mean Season Read Online Free PDF Page B

her weekends making quilts and how she hadn’t been out with anyone since Dad died. I mentioned Vince and how he left the house that night when I was fourteen, and that except for a couple of phone calls early on, no one had heard from him, no one knew where he was and no one much talked about it anymore.
    â€œJesus,” Joshua said. “That’s fucked up.”
    â€œYou never thought about going to college? You’re clearly bright enough,” Judy asked, waving Joshua away.
    I couldn’t imagine ever waving him away, and here she was acting like it was no big deal. Judy was looking hard at me, so I knew I had to answer. I explained that I had figured oncollege, but when the time came, Momma couldn’t take care of Beau Ray on her own, and he was my brother, after all. I told her how, for a few years running, I’d been taking prelaw courses over in Shepherdstown—during the summer when things were slower at the dentist’s office. Judy and Lars nodded.
    â€œIt’ll happen eventually,” I said. “There are worse places to be than Pinecob.”
    â€œI hope we’ll get a chance to visit while we’re here, don’t you, Judy?” Lars asked.
    â€œOf course,” Judy agreed.
    â€œJesus!” Joshua said, and all three of us looked over at him. I thought maybe he’d burned himself on something. His voice was that sharp. “You think she really believes you?”
    â€œJosh—” Lars began, but Joshua kept going.
    â€œNo offense Leanne, but if I get a day off, I plan to find a city, or at least a good-sized suburb. There are a few too many gun racks around here for my taste.”
    â€œJ.P.!” Judy said.
    â€œJosh, that’s completely uncalled for,” Lars said.
    â€œIt’s okay,” I said. I could tell that Lars was angry.
    â€œIt’s not okay,” Lars snapped. He turned to Joshua. “None of your behavior tonight has been okay! None of your behavior on this entire trip has been okay! I want you to apologize to Leanne.”
    Joshua turned and stared at me. I didn’t know what to do. I felt like I was some sort of Goody Two-shoes I hadn’t meant to be. Turns out, I didn’t have to do anything. Joshua Reed turned back to Lars and ignored me altogether.
    â€œI’m not your kid,” he said. “You want me to apologize because I don’t want to go to Pinecob? Please! Like you guys would actually be caught dead there. Why the fuck am I even here? Leanne runs the fan club. Great. Wonderful. I’m sure she does a bang-up job. But that’s your bag, Judy. Don’tdrag me into it. I could be home in L.A., watching a Lakers game with my girlfriend. I did you a favor. I came to dinner.” Joshua stood up and stepped away from the table. He steadied himself on the back of his chair. “But I didn’t agree to be hauled around and shown off in random bumfuck towns.”
    â€œYou’re such a prick,” Lars said. “I’ve been with you for an evening, and I’m sick of you already.”
    â€œYeah, right,” Joshua said. “You say that and then you get your ten percent and you shut up awfully quick about how sick you are of me.”
    â€œFuck you,” Lars said. He stood, too, and stared at Joshua. “I don’t care how big you think you’re getting. It’s not worth it. You’re not worth it.”
    â€œOh, no,” Joshua Reed said. His voice was sarcastic.
    â€œJoshua, please. Lars,” Judy said, but neither man paid any attention. They reminded me of cats in a standoff, staring at each other until one backs away.
    â€œFuck you,” Lars said again. “You want me to see to it that you don’t work here again?”
    â€œIn Harper’s Ferry? Go right ahead,” Joshua said.
    â€œYou know that’s not where I mean,” Lars said.
    â€œYou can’t do that anymore. You don’t decide,” Joshua