34. Shoua
CHAPTER 34
shoua
The place we had yet to fully take advantage of was the firepit. Julie had been insistent all day that we use it to make s’mores the way she, Andy, Anthony, and Jonathan used to with Uncle Gary around a campfire. She suggested that we could tell each other ghost stories, which got the men excited.
From the top of the back porch, I could see Andy and Jonathan were bringing in more Adirondack chairs from the lakeside deck so Evelyn and Sai would be able to join in. Anthony and Julie were in a boisterous conversation as they arranged the seats closer to the flaming firepit. I was about to yell out to them that I got all the s’mores goods, when one pack of chocolate bars slipped out from my arms.
“I got it,” Kelvin said, suddenly from nowhere. I jumped slightly, surprised. I didn’t even hear him follow me back to the house. “Let me help you.”
“Sure, you can help me with half,” I said softly.
Without another word, Kelvin’s hand reached out and grabbed all the s’mores goodies from my arms. I cleared my throat as I tried not to let the shock show on my face.
“To be honest, your boyfriend should be helping you,” Kelvin said as he took a step toward where everyone was. “Instead of flirting with another woman.”
I could feel my brows knit. “What are you talking about?”
“He’s a flirt, and he’s also an attention whore. He’s always trying to make it all about him somehow. You should consider dumping him for someone better,” Kelvin said with a voice so low only I could hear. He turned to look at me over his shoulder and then tipped his head toward Anthony and Julie as if to prove he was right. “I’d treat you better.”
I took a step away from him as the wind was knocked out of my lungs.
Kelvin let out a long breath as he stared at me from head to toe. “I know you want me,” he continued.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said immediately.
“You want me.” His voice was firmer than before. “You’ve been sending me signs ever since I got here that you want me. The way you talk to me. How you look at me. There’s so many signs.”
I would’ve said something if not for the feet padding on the lush green lawn toward us. “Hey, you two,” Julie called out excitedly. She approached us and grabbed some things out of Kelvin’s arms. “Everyone’s ready for s’mores, so I’m going to grab the marshmallows to distribute.”
Her interruption was much needed for this awkward conversation. I went with her as she bounced away to the firepit; Kelvin followed slowly behind us. I masked my apprehension well enough that even Anthony didn’t seem to catch on. I tried my best not to look uncomfortable when Kelvin plopped down next to me, stealing Jonathan’s seat. I didn’t want to make it a big deal and ruin the great night we were having.
We all roasted our marshmallows while the parents were up in the house winding down and watching a movie. After everyone’s second s’mores, we all agreed we’d had our fill for the time being.
“I hope you all enjoyed this trip.” Julie giggled as Andy snuggled his face into her shoulder. They were all snuggled up and cozy in one of the Adirondack chairs across from me and Anthony. “We should come up to this place every year.”
“I doubt Tim’s going to have this house available for us every year, to be honest,” Anthony stated.
“Isn’t this their winter vacation home?” Andy asked.
“It is. But they can still use it in the summer too, ya know? They’re coming up here for Independence Day, so you all better make sure you clean after yourselves when we leave in two days,” Anthony said.
“They’re filthy rich, so I’m sure they have a cleaning crew,” Jonathan said. “Besides, weren’t they subleasing this out as a temporary vacation home anyways?”
“Just clean after yourselves please . This is still my client’s home,” Anthony muttered with a long sigh.
“His son came by to talk to you, right?” I asked.
Tim’s son, Tyler, stopped by after dinner to chat for some time with Anthony and Uncle Gary. They looked ecstatic after it but had yet to mention anything about it. A wide grin stretched across Anthony’s lips, ear to ear.
“Tyler asked Dad and me if we could help renovate their ski resort as soon as August,” he replied with bright eyes. He let out an elated, booming laugh that easily vibrated through me.
“ Their ski resort?” Jonathan gaped.
“Yeah, they own Anderson Ski Resort,” Andy replied. “You don’t remember how I mentioned it before?”
“Nope. I only remember that they’re rich and that was it,” Jonathan retorted. “But congrats!”
Anthony chuckled. “Thanks. I’m grateful he and his son keep coming back to ask us to do more projects with them.”
Jonathan smiled. “As they should! You do good work, Anthony. I was looking at all the renovations you and your team made around here, and it’s amazing. No wonder your dad almost cried during dinner the other night.”
“To be honest, I could do better.” Anthony nodded confidently. The cocky grin he wore made him look so handsome I almost leaned over to kiss him.
Andy laughed. “I bet you could. Can’t wait to see what you and Dad do with their ski resort. What did they want you to renovate anyways?”
“Their entire lobby and reception,” Anthony said.
“Sounds like you’ve got a big project on your hands soon.” Andy let out a low whistle.
“It’ll be a pain to come all the way up there every day, but it should be well worth it,” Anthony said.
Anderson Ski Resort was a good thirty-minute drive south from here and over an hour’s drive from home. However, the Andersons brought plenty of lofty projects and many connections to Hughes Developers Incorporation and this was another great opportunity for them to show their expertise. Anthony and his dad would be silly not to accept the job.
“Enough about me,” Anthony said, glancing at everyone around the firepit. “How was the lake trip for you all?”
“I’m surprised I’m enjoying it so much,” Sai said softly. He was never much of a talker so to hear him say this was a surprise.
I looked over at him with a raised brow. He was looking at Evelyn, who wasn’t sparing him a glance. I saw this morning that they had started rooming together when I saw my brother’s things laid out in her room when they left the door wide open. It looked like it was only the two of them sleeping in there now.
It turned out Kelvin started rooming with Jonathan, who also hadn’t said anything about it to us. I expected him to usually blabber his mouth off, but he had been strangely quiet about it.
Either Evelyn’s face turned red from the heat of the fire or because she was embarrassed, I wasn’t sure. But everyone’s eyes were bouncing between them.
“Y-yeah, it’s been . . . great,” she stammered.
Sai reached out and grabbed her hand, confirming what we already suspected. Evelyn quickly pulled her hand out of his grip, immediately drawing an awkward tension over all of us. My brother’s lips pulled into a wobbly frown as his hurt eyes tore away from her. Quietly, he got up with tense shoulders and left our group, heading toward the dock.
I expected Evelyn to follow him, but Jonathan, who pursed his lips and glared pointedly at her, was the one to go after him instead. She stayed put as she glanced at me for a second and quickly looked away, embarrassed. Without saying another word, Evelyn got up and left.
I considered saying something but decided not to, so she could leave quietly. Anthony spoke up softly, breaking the awkward silence we were all sitting in now. “How about you, Shoua? Did you enjoy this place?” From the light tone of his voice, I figured he was trying to diffuse the tension.
“I love it,” I said as gently as I could. He turned to me with a gentle smile, and I did my best to flash one back.
“Yeah?” he asked.
“This place is great,” Kelvin said, and Anthony’s smile tipped up a bit. “Thanks, Anthony. You’ve really made my California trip by bringing us here and showing me all these beautiful sights .”
He looked directly at me and smiled. I could feel everyone’s eyes on us now as tension continued to build. I politely returned the smile along with an awkward laugh while Anthony cleared his throat.
“Well, I’m glad you all enjoyed it,” he said, his voice slightly terse. “I know it wasn’t perfect, especially with my little mishap.” He touched his nose gingerly, eliciting sympathetic chuckles from the group.
“Anyone want more s’mores?” Kelvin asked, leaning over to my side and placing a firm hand on my thigh to grab the marshmallows that were sitting between Anthony and me. A chill ran down my spine at his touch and my heart began thumping wildly; I panicked and pushed his hand immediately off of me.
Anger immediately flashed across Anthony’s face, and his eyes narrowed. I looked at Kelvin in disbelief. “Kelvin, you’re making me uncomfortable,” I said firmly.
He pretended not to hear me as he motioned to grab the graham crackers and chocolate that were also between Anthony and me. His hand was about to be on my knee again, when Anthony stood up. All our eyes were on him as Anthony leaned over me and handed Kelvin all the ingredients in a tense, thick silence. This all felt so childish and dumb. I wasn’t sure what game Kelvin was now playing at, but I didn’t like it.
“I’m going to go use the restroom,” I announced.
I needed a breather. This guy was making the obscenest claims about me and the motives I supposedly had towards him, and I wish I knew why. I let out a long breath as I glanced at myself in the bathroom mirror. I took in another deep inhale and closed my eyes. Aunt Sue, Evelyn, and Kelvin were only going to be here for another few days.
Only a few more days , I kept chanting to myself as I opened the door of the hallway bathroom.
My stomach immediately dropped at the sight of Kelvin waiting there. His dark, unreadable eyes made me rigid with apprehension. The taut smile across his face was a mere decoration. He moved forward and I stumbled a step back into the bathroom.
“Why are you looking at me like that, Shoua?” he questioned softly. “All I want to do is talk to you alone.”
Down the hallway, I could hear my aunts and Uncle Gary enjoying a movie in the family room—too far from this bathroom. The surround sound speakers were loud, and I doubt they’d hear me if I screamed or made a scene.
“W-why?” I stammered. “Why would we need to talk alone?”
“Because I’m in love with you,” he easily answered.
The blood in my body froze as my heart stopped pumping for one second from the sheer shock. “What?”
“I’m in love with you, Shoua,” Kelvin said louder.
I shuddered. “I’m sorry, but?—”
“I’ve seen the way you look at me, and I know you want me too,” Kelvin interrupted. His voice was firm as a divot formed between his brows. The smile on his face melted into pursed lips. His dark eyes glimmered and looked slightly crazed. “I’m tired of playing these mind games of yours. It’s about time I made myself clear. You’re mine , Shoua, and you’ll only be mine.”
My heart pounded wildly as I took another step back into the bathroom to form some distance between us. But he followed me, taking another step toward me. I parted my lips to say something— anything —to diffuse the situation. But the words wouldn’t leave me. I could barely mumble out a single syllable as fear dripped down my spine.
“Get the hell away from my girlfriend!” Anthony’s roar echoed from down the hallway. Before I could let out a breath, he was already wedged in between Kelvin and me protectively. “Step the hell back, man.”
Kelvin didn’t budge as he raised a brow. He stepped into Anthony’s space, not backing away. “Your girlfriend wants me! She’s been sending me signs this whole entire trip, and I’m simply telling her that I won’t stop at anything to make her mine. Even with you in the way.”
My aunts and Uncle Gary clamored into the hallway as Andy, Jonathan, and Julie arrived at the scene. They watched and gawked at the three of us as I tried to pull Anthony away from Kelvin. He didn’t budge.
“Take a hint, Kelvin. If she didn’t want you last year when you sent her an unsolicited picture of your pencil dick—” Anthony started.
“Anthony!” Uncle Gary said sternly.
But he paid no heed to his dad as he continued through gritted teeth. “She didn’t want you then, and she doesn’t want you now. Shoua never wanted you.”
Kelvin’s face turned a deep shade of red. His eyes churned darker with fury, never looking away from Anthony for a moment. He opened his mouth to say something, but I immediately pushed myself in between them and spoke up. “Kelvin, I think you’re confused. I never tried to lead you on. I was simply being nice to you since you kept to yourself this entire time. I thought I’d chitchat a bit with you. That was all. I never intended to make you believe I wanted you.”
His lips opened and closed like a fish out of water. He looked at me with wide eyes, surprised to hear what I had to say. “You—” he started.
“That wasn’t my intention, Kelvin,” I said through my croaking voice. “I’m not interested in you. Like I said, I was just being nice to you.”
Embarrassed, he spun around on his feet to see everyone watching us. “Fine,” he spat, glaring at Anthony and then at me. His face was darker red than before as he trembled with anger. “Fine. Whatever the hell you two have to say.”
“Please, this is no way you should be treating each other,” Uncle Gary said firmly. “There clearly seems to be just a misunder?—”
Kelvin stormed off with his heavy, stalking footsteps echoing in the hallway. Andy, Jonathan, and Julie quickly moved aside for him. Aunt Sue and Auntie Gao stepped forward with worried expressions.
“What happened?” Auntie Gao asked, confused.
“Why are you two arguing, Anthony?” Aunt Sue asked, almost out of breath. She glanced at me, and I could’ve sworn I saw her narrow her eyes. She frowned as if she was frustrated at me like she was my mother.
“It’s all just a misunderstanding,” he answered.
“Kelvin thought I was interested in him because I was being nice to him,” I muttered. Although I didn’t want to say much, I thought I’d at least owe everyone an explanation as to why we caused a scene.
Aunt Sue raised an accusatory eyebrow at me as her lips twisted into a small scowl. “Well, were you? My nephew isn’t one to just jump headfirst and make these claims unless necessary. He’s a good young man.”
“No, of course not. I’m happily in a relationship with Anthony. I was simply being nice to Kelvin. He seemed like he needed company and all I did was be kind to him. I?—”
“Exactly how kind were you?” Aunt Sue interrupted. “If your kindness confused him, then clearly you’ve done more to insinuate you wanted more from him.” Rage colored her voice and tinged her face crimson. She was furious at me.
I had never seen this side of her. I had always seen her as an easygoing, fun, and kind aunt. Especially kind . But with her inching closer and closer to me with this spiteful look etched on her face, I realized she was only nice when it suited her. Then nasty and completely malicious when things didn’t go her way.
Just like my mom.
“That’s enough, Sue,” Auntie Gao said rather softly. She cast her friend a look of mild disdain. “Don’t try to make Shoua out to be that sort of person. She’s a sweet young woman, just as Kelvin is a good young man. It sounds like it was just a misunderstanding.”
Aunt Sue glanced at her with slightly widened eyes, now looking flustered. Did she expect her friend to agree with her?
“Sue, just let the kids deal with it themselves. They’re adults,” Auntie Yee said.
Anthony wrapped a protective arm around my shoulders. “Exactly, we’re adults, and we can deal with it ourselves,” he said. His voice was flat with annoyance. “Sorry about the ruckus. Shoua and me are going to call it a night.”
We left quickly and once we were inside our room, Anthony pulled me into a tight hug, burying my face in his chest. We stood there, cloaked in darkness, for some time.
“Are you all right?” His voice was nothing short of a sigh of relief.
“I’m fine,” I breathed and then let out a shudder. He pulled me closer to him, if possible. I needed to feel his warmth. “I was scared, Anthony.”
He let out a shaky breath. “So was I. That asshole claimed he wanted to wash his hands, so I gave him three fucking minutes to do so before I ripped him a new one. He just got lucky that our parents were there. Or I would’ve broken his fucking nose.”
A hard laugh erupted out of me, surprising us. Tears burned my eyes, and I blinked rapidly to keep them from spilling over. Someone had to laugh at all these stupid and childish antics, and it might as well be me.
“All of this has been so ridiculous,” I muttered.
“Yeah. Aunt Sue didn’t need to be so rude by insinuating that you’ve led him on.” Anthony rubbed comforting circles into my shoulders. “I’m glad my mom spoke up and defended you. She would’ve never stopped if anyone else did.”
“True,” I sighed.
“Let’s shower and head to bed. Tomorrow will be another day. Just two more days here and three more days until these people leave for a while.” He kissed my temple.
“I have a feeling that we may never see Kelvin again,” I said as his lips brushed across my cheek.
“Good riddance,” he whispered to the corner of my lips. The laughter bubbling out of my mouth died on his lips as he pulled me into a chaste and sweet kiss. “Let’s take that shower, baby.”
I pulled away from him and immediately started to pull off my clothes in exhaustion as he began to do the same. I grabbed hold of his hand and pulled him into the bathroom. Once in the shower, Anthony gently lathered up my hair in shampoo. His fingers rubbed gentle, soothing circles into my scalp, relaxing me.
“Let’s go straight to bed after this,” I murmured.
Anthony let out a husky sigh, making my lower belly clench. “I’m tired.”
“Me too.” I was. I truly was.
My boyfriend kissed me on my wet temple and sighed. His hot breath fanned over my face and down my neck, smelling of chocolate. “I can’t wait until June ends.”