Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Dylan: He’s probably emotionally available, doesn’t play games with her heart, and isn’t complicated.
Jory: That’s oddly specific.
Dylan: I remember being in love at seventeen.
Evan: And who were you in love with?
Dylan: Marco Renaldi.
Loudon: And how old was Marco?
Dylan: Seventeen.
Loudon: You see? This is what I’m saying.
Chris: So what did you tell him?
Evan: We said that next year when he’s eighteen and she’s twenty-two, if she wants to chase after him to Tennessee where he’s going to go to school on a basketball scholarship, after she herself graduates from Northwestern, then she certainly may. That’s her prerogative. Until then, he’s not allowed to see her.
Dylan: What is the age of consent in Illinois?
Rick: Seventeen.
Dylan: Well then, you don’t have her over a barrel legally. What are you going to do if he doesn’t listen to you and still sees her?
Evan: There’s not a lot we can do. We’re scared that he’ll just stay here to be with her and not even go to college. I mean, whatever we do, it could end up going bad. We’ll just drive him away from us and straight to her.
Aja: Would he really do that? Forfeit college?
Loudon: He’s a seventeen-year-old boy with raging hormones, anything is possible.
Evan: But we’re banking on the fact that playing in the NBA is an even bigger long-term dream than this girl, but really…we have no idea, which is why it’s so terrifying. You’d be surprised at how powerless we’ve felt.
Rick: You still have power, you’re his parents, and there are legal knots we can still tie.
Aja: Yes, but your real issue isn’t actually the age gap, or that you think she’s corrupting him, because we’re talking about three and a half, four years here. Your concern is the focus that she’s diverting him from what he’s supposed to be doing.
Evan: Precisely.
Dylan: There also has to be some concern about drinking. I mean, she can, he can’t, but she can buy it and they can share it as long as it’s not in public.
Evan: It’s actually less about that, because Bryce has his coach checking not only him but all the players for both drugs and alcohol all the time, and we see him when he goes out and comes in. It’s like Aja said, the focus is the main concern.
Aja: So because of that, to keep him on track until he leaves, we will all step up and take turns being at his games, spending time with him, dragging him along on all our outings so that between school and sports, he has no time for her as a distraction from his long-term goals.
Loudon: His basketball coach feels the same way.
Aja: Excellent. His commitment to scholastics and athletics has to be paramount.
Dane: He’ll be very busy. I have a gopher job at the firm with his name all over it.
Jory: I have gutters that need cleaning and lots of KonMari that’s going to be happening. I see many trips to Goodwill in his future.
Dylan: Oh, me too!
Dane: Send him to me first. I’ll actually pay him.
Evan: You will?
Dane: I will. Kola’s working for me two days a week, and he can use the help.
Evan: Oh you all, thank you so much.
Loudon: Don’t cry, love.
Jory: So that’s the answer to this question—friend and family intervention. We come together as a community to keep our youth on a good path.
Sam: And I’m going to let her know, when I see her at his next basketball game, that the marshals service is keeping an eye on Bryce for reasons that cannot be revealed at this time.
Evan: Really?
Sam: Yes, really.
Evan: You won’t get in trouble?
Sam: No, sir, I will not.
Loudon: Sam. Thank you. It means––a lot.
Aubrey: Awww, they’re hugging.
Sam: Shut it, Abe.
Rick: Why is she tearing up now? Why is that endearing?
Aja: Because it’s Sam Kage, that’s why.
Dylan: Imagine poor Bryce trying to tell this girl, oh no, that’s just a friend of my parents. I’m not actually a wanted fugitive or anything.
Aja: Oh my lord, she’s going to think he’s in witness protection.
Chris: Careful. It might backfire and make him more desirable.
Sam: No. It never does. Not after she learns that I’m watching her every move as well as his. It’s no fun standing inside the spotlight. Believe me.
Jory: Dylan, stop laughing.
Dylan: That’s so gloriously evil!
Aja: Oh, Sam, promise me you’ll be just as horrible to my kids if the time ever comes.
Sam: Worse. So much worse. Yours are related to me.
Dane: Thank you.
Sam: It’s my pleasure.
DEAR JORY:
First, sorry we were late for dinner. Second, my kids are younger than all the rest of yours, so my husband, Shane, and I wanted to know what your best parenting advice for us would be. (Submitted by Fallon Strauss)
Jory: Well, let’s get some input, shall we? Aja, you first.
Aja: Always listen first without judgement or prejudice. It will be difficult to do at times, but try. Your children are trying to communicate with you. Seek first to understand.