No,
Devon and Jon don't go out on a date. It's way too early for that
yet. They've got to be troubled and stuff first. The chapter opens
with Devon and her two no-longer-boyfriends-but-still-friends pulling
up to the apartment with a station wagon full of her stuff. (You
see, Devon's pushing-men-away takes the form of dating them, only
letting them get as far as a good night kiss, and wanting to be
friends when they ask to go steady with her.) Jon and his swanky
sports car are already there. Devon tries to explain that she's
living with this guy but not “living with him living with him”.
It's going to be awkward later when she and Jon do become an item.
Anyway, her buddies Brad and Roger move some of her stuff in and meet
Jon. The first thing Roger says to Jon is, “We're Devon's
ex-boyfriends. If you don't treat her right, we'll haunt you.”
Genuinely made me laugh out loud. Unfortunately, that's all the
character Roger really gets in this chapter, although we do see more
of him since he asks to take Devon to the game that night and is
accepted. Brad gets a smidgen of personality too. When Devon walks
them back to the car, he mentions something about how Jon taking
Roger's threat well means he's a good kid. Also, there's lots of
talk of a club of Devon's ex boyfriends. I wonder if she has seven
exes. Perhaps some of them are quite lethal.
Anyway,
back in the apartment, Devon and Jon do some verbal jabbing, some
learning about each other, and some granting each other use of their
stuff like the TV and stereo. Devon is indeed graduating in May and
Jon is indeed planning on resuming political activities soon-ish,
specifically a Senate seat. Also Jon's words about his wife, “She
doesn't care what I do, as long as I'm happy.” Also, his kids are
triplets and they're twelve. Two boys and one girl. Jon starts
explaining more about his kids and Devon, fed up, announces the fact
and leaves the room. Rude.
The
story jumps to Roger coming back to pick her up at seven. He's
chatting with Jon in the living room and doesn't notice when Devon
enters the room. She taps her foot a little and, when that gets no
response after a few minutes, sits down and takes off her coat to
read a magazine. Don't ask me why she didn't say something to Roger
or tap him on the shoulder. Anyway, eventually Roger looks up, is
amazed that it took Devon so long to get ready and says they have to
leave or they'll be late. Roger calls Devon on being late in the car
and she calls him on not paying attention. Well, it's not his fault,
Jon's conversation is so enthralling and dreamy... To be clear, I
don't think Roger's gay (probably), I'm just amused that he was that
unaware of his surroundings. Roger gets Devon to admit that she
doesn't like Jon. He asks the logical question, “Then why are you
living with him?” Devon gives him a flippant answer, and oh hey
look! The game!
When
they get back, Devon yawns and Roger says he'll take the hint and
leave. Devon explains it's a legit yawn and that he can come in for
a bit, but he's gonna let her rest. So then Devon has to face Jon
alone when she comes back in. He fell asleep with the cat on his
knee, but when Devon comes in the cat stands up and stretches and
digs her claws into Jon's thigh. Cats are nice like that. Anyway,
Jon and Devon chat about the game, teaching, Jon's wife Sylvia or
Stella (he calls her both names and defends himself by saying her
name is Sylvia Stella Hardesty). Really, if they had the internet,
the whole mystery of whether or not he has a family would be solved
quickly and easily. The Viking said he had a wife, but I'm not sure
if I believe that's still true. He mentions how his wife calling
might be problematic, but I'm wondering if she's dead. Of course,
since Devon says she doesn't believe his family exists, they just
might exist, still be married, and all be alive... Possibly.
Anyway,
they also get to argue about having parties (Devon wants to and Jon
says he'll have his out-of-class sessions at the apartment as well),
Devon being able to get a date with the double handicap of being an
English major and having Jon for a roommate, also Jon becoming
friends with Roger, and the two generally get quite annoyed with each
other. Yup, this guy is the one she falls in love with because she
starts out fighting with him all the time. Because that's how every
relationship starts. At least in romance novels. Also, we learn
that Jon's family isn't likely to visit because his kids are so darn
studious, and he's not likely to visit them until spring break.
Also, also, as Devon admits to her cat, “I can't help liking the
scoundrel myself.” Of course you can't. You're bound by your
genre.
All
right. For the next chapter I predict... Devon will discuss Jon some
more with her (boy)friends, still hotly tell them that he's not a
good guy, and slowly decide that maybe he is. Also, it's high time
we had a check in with Julie. That wedding's not going to plan
itself. Devon may only be a bridesmaid (not the maid of honor), but
I'm sure there's something that will come up. Oh! When Devon needs
a date for the wedding, Jon will be her only option that that more
than anything will spur them to become close. But what about his
wife? Moral quandaries abound, but only if Jon has been truthful.
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