Thirty-two #2
Most of that was my fault. After the on and off relationship with Diane that lasted for way too long, I was afraid to jump back into one.
I did not want to take away what Eli and I had by adding a label to it.
I felt like doing so could spiral into another situation like the one with my ex, and it would crush me if that happened with him.
Until I realized that I couldn’t go any longer without calling him mine.
All I had to do was ask if he would go on a date with me. I couldn’t lie, I was nervous. I was so afraid that I hadn’t even worked up the courage to ask yet. He knew we were going out tomorrow, but he had no clue it was a date.
Is he even going to agree to it?
I planned an entire day of fun. We would go to mini golf, I booked an hour-long cooking class since Eli had proven that he desperately needed one, then we would see a movie, and lastly end with dinner at a nice restaurant I picked out.
Okay, maybe the day was too packed, but I wanted it to be memorable.
After I nodded, he asked, "What's the dress code?"
I shrugged. "Just look nice."
"Thanks, that helps so much," he muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
I chuckled. "Nothing fancy. You can show me what you're thinking, and I'll tell you what I think."
He chewed on his lip and nodded his head as he leaned it against the window.
Not too much later I was parking in his driveway. Eli insisted that he would be super quick, he just needed to grab an outfit for tomorrow. He also needed to give his sister her math project that was due next Monday. Eli finished it for her during class earlier today.
I sat on his bed while he rummaged through his drawers. He presented a couple of shirts and told me to pick which one I liked best. My condition was that he had to pick out my outfit when we got to my place, and he agreed.
I chose the teal collar shirt with a tiny pocket on the front and buttons up the collar. "I think it's your color."
Eli held it up to his head. "You think?"
"I know."
His grin reached his eyes, but it faltered a bit when the door creaked open. His sister peeked her head through the crack before letting herself in.
Emerson gave me a small wave. "Hi, Javier."
I forced a smile onto my face and returned the wave. I didn't like either of his older siblings, but I had to be cordial with people that I did not care for.
Quite frankly, I did not want my sister being friends with Emerson.
All of the shit I had heard about the kind of person she was made me want to tell Gabriela to stay away.
Sure, she had helped my sister out into making the cheer team for her upcoming senior year of high school.
That was a miracle because it was almost unheard of to join the team at such a late start.
Still, none of that made up for how terribly her and her brother would treat Eli.
I told Gabriela this, but at the end of the day she was her own person. ‘It’s not all black and white Javier’ was what she keeping repeating to me. It seemed pretty black and white to me, but I left it alone after getting a long lecture from my sister.
His sister did not seem to have any malice intent at the moment. She turned to her brother. "Did you finish the project?"
But the way she didn't even greet him before asking if he did her entire project for her rubbed me the wrong way. The fact that Eli was so willing to do it despite everything annoyed me. I kept my annoyance to myself because she was his sister, and I had to have some sort of respect for her.
Elias rummaged through his backpack and then handed her the multiple papers stapled together. "Even did the extra credit for you."
"I love having a know-it-all brother." Emerson ruffled his hair. "Thanks. Also, Benji is in the kitchen and wants to talk to you."
Benji, that was someone I hadn’t heard of in a long time. I disliked him more than I disliked the twins because he was a damn weirdo, I just couldn’t prove it. Coming onto your girlfriend's brother was crazy.
I watched as Eli froze. “Why?”
She shrugged roughly. “Wouldn’t tell me, but he said since he’s kept his distance like I asked he wants the chance to explain something to you.”
Explain why he seemingly tried to drug him and then come onto him at the mall? I would love to hear that story.
I think Eli wanted to hear that explanation too. “Fine.”
When he left the room, I immediately moved to follow. I was not letting Benji be close to him out of my sight. Even if this all was just a big misunderstanding, I did not want to take any chances. Emerson’s voice was what stopped me in my tracks.
“Your sister is so sweet.”
My head turned over my shoulder in a slow motion. Yes, Gabriela was the brightest girl I knew. Funny how she became friends with Emerson Richardson, of all people.
Noticing my aversion to her, she took a step back. “I know you don’t like me.”
I offered her a pointed look in response.
“Rightfully so, since you like my brother.” She clasped her hands together. “Gabi has really opened my eyes.”
My arms folded against my chest, now curious. “Has she?”
“She is such a bright person with a big heart. I guess all of the Cortez’s have that trait because you don’t hate my brother. You have to have a big heart to do that.”
My head recoiled at the backhanded comment. “You don’t have to have a big heart to be kind to someone who doesn’t get much kindness at all.”
Emerson twirled a strand of her. “Don’t take it so deeply. I’m just saying that it’s very noble of you to get past all of the dickish behavior my brother has thrown to you for years.”
My jaw tightened at her words. While I did believe she was not trying to be offensive, it did not change the fact that she was.
This was who my sister was hanging around?
All I could hope was that Gabriela was trying to make some life-changing differences on Emerson’s personality.
It was the only reason I could see my sunshine sister hanging out with someone like her.
“You mean like when you were touching all over me at the mall?”
The shouted sentence took both of our attention. I wasted no time going to the kitchen with my fists balled by my sides at the sound of Eli’s raised voice. Thoughts raced through my mind.
Is Benji coming onto him again? Is he threatening him? Surely he wouldn’t act like a creep when everyone was home.
I was not well versed in fighting, but I would do whatever it was that I had to do. I expected him to be standing close to Elias and for me to have to force my way between them. That was why I was shocked to find Easton standing between the two, his eyes shooting daggers at Benji.
He was angry with Benji?
Easton pushed against Benji’s chest and it made him stumble backward. “You did what to my brother?”
Eli stood behind his brother’s protective figure and his widened eyes showed that he was equally as surprised as I was. Emerson stood close to me as we watched the scene unfold.
“Easton, chill out.” Benji raised his hands in defense. “I didn’t do shit to Eli.”
“That’s not what he just said!” Easton yelled. “You date my sister and then start acting weird with my brother? Are you fucking insane?”
Macy was captivated by the altercation as she watched from the couch. The woman made no move to diffuse the situation that was bound to end terribly. No, she watched like this was a show that she paid for.
“Dude, do you think I’m gay for him or something? Why the hell would I like your twink-ass little brother?”
Eli’s fingernails dug into his palms as he watched uncomfortably. He was too stunned to speak up for himself, to share that Benji had been acting odd for a while. Did he flat out do something to Eli? No, but the uneasiness of it all was worth mentioning about his brother’s best friend.
“You tried to drug him at a party,” I blurted, causing everyone’s heads to turn.
Benji’s lip curled in anger. “No one was talking to you, Javier.”
Eli gasped. “You did what?”
Easton pushed hard against his best friend's chest and then got right in his face. “Tell me why I shouldn’t beat the hell out of you right here and now.”
Benji pushed back. “Get off me, man!”
But Easton did not back off. In fact, he got closer than he had been before. His face was so close to Benji’s that I knew he could smell Easton’s breath. The two angry men were in a stare off, both of them waiting for the other to do something.
“I was apologizing to Eli, and he got pissed,” Benji seethed. “I was never going to hurt him.”
“Why have you been so weird lately, Benjamin?” Easton used his full name like a mother scolded her child. “First you get with my sister—I let that slide because she loves you. Then you start being a shitty boyfriend to her. Now you act like a creep toward my brother?”
“Because I love you!” he shouted.
The room went dead silent that you could hear a pen drop. My jaw dropped practically to the floor, Macy’s eyes widened in entertainment, Eli stood idly in place behind his brother, and Easton’s anger changed into stun.
And Emerson? She was fighting off tears.
“I have loved you for so fucking long, Easton,” Benji confessed. “I got with Emerson because she was the closest thing to you, but she’s so goddamn whiny. It made me think Elias was the next best thing, but I felt like shit for scaring him the way I did.”
Benji being gay for Easton and jumping between his siblings to satisfy the attraction? That was not on my bingo card.
“What the fuck?” Emerson screeched. “Are you saying you’ve liked Easton this whole time? I was just some placeholder until he finally reciprocated feelings for you?”
Benji ignored Emerson’s distress. “I’ve been wanting you to notice me, and I was trying to do something to open your eyes.”