11. Tobias
11
Tobias
“Everything is going to be fine, Tobias.” Gwen smiled at me from across the dining room table.
We set up the plates and silverware while Jude prepared prime ribs with mashed potatoes, peas, and broccoli.
I was on salad duty, which I always loved. I’ve realized I love cooking with him. On nights we had off together, we cooked some delicious recipes. Our favorite thing to cook throughout the winter has been ramen, which was amazing on those cold winter nights.
Gwen, Jude, and I would get all toasty on the couch and bundle up with our hot bowls of ramen while watching Brooklyn nine-nine. It was amazing.
Now that it’s spring, we need to think of a new dish to perfect.
“I guess I’m a little jittery.” I smiled, folding up a napkin.
“I’d say. You’ve been refolding this poor napkin for ten minutes.” She said, pinching my ear. I laughed as she took my napkin from me.
“I’m so excited! My boy is coming home tonight.” Jude covered up the ribs under tin foil and started to dance around the kitchen.
“Careful, or you’re going to hurt yourself.” Gwen laughed, dancing behind him. He threw his hands over her shoulders as they swayed to the beat of the music. Of course, he was playing his favorite song, Too Experienced, by Barrington Levy, on the speaker. It always made him want to dance.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Oh, come on. You’re involved in this, too.” Jude said, waving me over to come and join in the dancing party.
I wrapped my arms around their waists as we swayed side to side to the music. I can’t believe these two have made me into such a sap, but I love them for it. Maybe I was always this person, and they made me more of myself.
Suddenly, we heard an awkward cough coming from behind us.
There he stood. Does he keep getting taller? He’s more muscular than I remembered him to be, too. It was so hard to look away. The more I stared, the clearer it was. Elijah has changed. He looked older, more mature, and more experienced.
Even his hair still looked amazing, as always. Now, his chestnut wavy brown hair that once fell around his face is groomed and pushed back on the sides of his head. I’m happy to see the stubborn strands that love to fall into his eyes are still going strong.
Jesus, I needed to get ahold of myself.
Gwen, Jude, and I broke apart from our hug. I rushed over to switch the music off and to avoid the long-lasting eye contact that was going on between Elijah and me.
“Elijah!” Jude cried out, rushing over and nearly taking him down in a huge bear hug. I shifted, suddenly feeling very awkward and out of place. I buried my hands into my jeans pockets and watched the reunion.
“Dad!” He smiled, laughing into the hug. “I missed you.” He said, holding on tightly.
I couldn’t help but notice that a young, redheaded woman was standing back in the entryway to the kitchen. That must be the girlfriend Jude told me about.
I shifted awkwardly, passing around the two men hugging.
“Hey, I’m Tobias.” I smiled, holding out my hand.
“Hey! Katelyn.” She smiled back, shaking my hand.
I stepped back and continued to watch the two of them welcome each other.
“I’ve got so much to tell you about school, the trip, and everything.” Elijah sighed.
“I can’t wait to hear it, son. I’m so happy you’re home.” Jude said, gripping his cheeks between his hands. “But first, we feast!” He pointed up the sky.
We all laughed as Elijah said hello to Gwen, giving her a warm hug.
“Dad, Gwen, this is my girlfriend, Katelyn,” Elijah said, placing his hand on her lower back. If you asked me, he didn’t look all that enthused.
I watched as Jude and Gwen hugged her tightly. “I’m so happy you were able to make it.”
That’s when everything went silent. Normally, this would be the time that I’d be introduced, but clearly, no one knows how to navigate this situation, so here we are.
“Elijah, it’s nice to see you.” I gave a quick smile and a wave.
Elijah's eye contact was debilitating. “Right.” He answered.
Jude clapped his hands, breaking us out of our piercing eye contact. “Well, I guess we should dive into our dinner. I don’t know about you, but I’m starved.” Jude said walking to the table.
I breathed out a long breath. This was going to be fun.
***
Dinner was interesting, to say the least. It mostly consisted of Jude and Elijah catching up as the rest of us watched and listened on.
Jude made a point to try to involve me in as much of the conversation as he could, but let’s face it, this was awkward. Not to mention, Elijah sure wasn’t helping to make me feel comfortable with all of his little glances my way.
I could break this plate over his head.
“Tobias, why don’t you dish out the salad you made.” Jude smiled at me. I got up and started walking over with the salad bowl to begin dishing it out on everyone's plate.
“Oh, I’m okay dad. I’m stuffed. That was such a delicious meal. I’ve missed your cooking. So many cafeteria dinners.” Elijah said, rubbing his stomach.
“You’re too full for salad?” I asked.
His smile dropped as he looked at me dead in the eye. “Yeah, is that a problem?”
“It’s a salad. It’s not going to fill you.”
“Well, I don’t like that salad.” Elijah shrugged.
“How do you even know what type of salad it is?”
“Well, is it Caesar salad?”
“No.”
“Well, that’s the only kind I like.” He said, crossing his arms over his chest.
I bit my tongue. This was embarrassing and obviously a ruse to get under my skin. “Would anyone else like salad?”
“Yes, please!” Katelyn piped up. Elijah shot a sharp look at her, which clearly made her nervous. I thought it was hilarious.
Walking over, I realized she barely ate anything on her plate from dinner.
“Did you not have any prime rib?” I asked.
“No, I’m vegetarian.” She smiled shyly. Jude and Gwen both gasped. “It’s okay! Don’t worry, I totally didn’t mind. Everything else was so good.” She tapped her stomach.
“Elijah, why didn’t you tell us? We made so much meat!” Jude questioned. “We’re practically carnivores in this house. We’re so sorry, we would’ve prepared something else if we had known—”
Elijah looked embarrassed. “Honestly, I completely forgot.” He looked at Katelyn. “I’m so sorry…babe.”
I wanted to puke. Babe? Come on. Who were they trying to fool? I rolled my eyes.
“Do you have a problem?” Elijah asked me as I sat back down.
“No, why?” I huffed.
“You just seem like you have something to say.” He shrugged.
“It’s just sort of funny that you don’t know your own girlfriend's food restrictions,” I said nonchalantly.
“Boys. Enough.” Jude interrupted.
We both sat back in our seats, clearly too involved in each other to remember that others were watching.
“Sorry, dad.” “Sorry, Jude.”
We muttered our apologies at the same time.
Jude laughed. “Weirdly enough, you two bickering like this reminds me of when you were young.”
A sadness washed over me. Even when we used to fight, I always knew I was his favorite person at the end of the day. Fighting was always met with love at the end of it all, and now all we have is…nothing.
“May I be excused? I’m feeling tired all of a sudden.” I asked, looking at Jude and Gwen.
“Yeah, of course. You know you don’t have to ask.” Jude said, shock in his voice.
“Sorry, I just–” I pushed back my chair and headed to the guest bedroom. Sadly, it was right beside Elijah's bedroom, so that will be a weird adjustment over this next week.
I closed the door and finally was able to take a breath of air. I feel like ever since Elijah stepped through those doors, I’ve been strangled, gasping for air.
To think, I have to go through a week of this.