Max
Do you know what heaven looks like? No? Well, neither do I, but I do know what it tastes like: lasagna. Sophie`s lasagna to be more exact.
„My God, this is bloody brilliant. Why aren`t you a chef?”
„He`s right. I`ve never eaten anything as good as this in my entire life,” Ema says.
„You two are very sweet, thank you. I wouldn`t enjoy cooking in a big kitchen, under pressure. I like cooking for family and friends, and at my own pace, so I`ll stick to that.”
„You could do a food blog,” Ema says between bites. „Or better yet, a vlog. I bet you`d be the next big thing. ”
„That`s a great idea,” Simon adds, looking adoringly at his plate.
„Me? I don`t know; the thought never crossed my mind. I like cooking, but I`ve never seen it as a career opportunity.”
„I think you`d be great at it” I finally join in. It feels kind of weird to have other people in our circle. I`m used to it being just the two of us, and I feel weirdly pissed off that I didn`t come up with the vlog idea. I love my sister, and I`m glad Simon is back home, but I can`t wait till they`re gone so that it can be just the two of us, and we can relax and watch a movie.
„You think I`d be a good food-vlogger?” she asks me.
The high I get from the fact that my opinion seems to be the only one she cares for should worry me, but I`m too pleased for that.
„Of course. You`re a great cook, and you`re charismatic as hell;I think you`d be a hit.”
„Well, that`s a hell of a lot better than hobo” I hear Simon mumble to Ema, but I don`t pay him any attention because Sophie is giving me the smile, the one that always has me smiling back and makes me feel ten feet tall.
„Thank you, sunshine. I`ll consider it. Now, if everybody`s done eating, how about we go to the living room and relax.”
„I`m all for that, I`ve never been so full in my life” Ema pats her stomach and heads towards the living room. „You coming, buttercup?”
Simon lets out an annoyed huff before getting up and going after her.
„Those two are adorable together,” Sophie says with a smile.
„Yeah, they`re freaking precious.”
She raises her eyebrows at my tone.
„Why are you pissy?”
„I`m not pissy. I`m a damn linebacker; we don`t get pissy.”
„Okay fine, why are you upset ?”
„It`s just that we had plans, that`s all. And now we have all these people in the house, and I wanted to watch a movie. And you promised you were going to make caramel popcorn.”
She smiles at me like she thinks I'm cute, which is not what I was going for. Does the woman not realize I`m an intimidating guy? I scare two-hundred-pound men on the football field, and she dares to look at me like I`m a kitten or something.
„All these people? There are only two people here besides us : your sister and your best friend. And we can still watch a movie and have popcorn; we`ll just have company.”
I don`t want us to have company, this is our thing, but I can`t tell her that because that will only confuse her. First, I kiss her. Then I tell her it was a mistake and now I`m mad cause I want us to be alone and not have to share her with others.
It turns out I`m not the most stable guy in the world.
„Fine, as long as there`s popcorn.”
„I promise there will be plenty of popcorn. Now go and set everything up in the living room while I get started on the caramel.”
„I can help if you want, those two can entertain themselves. They`re probably roasting each other as we speak.”
„Yeah, I`ve noticed that they have a unique relationship. Did they used to date or something?”
„I wish they would go ahead and date since it would put me out of the misery of seeing them do that weird-ass flirting they do, but unfortunately, it hasn`t happened.”
She gives me a curious look.
„You wouldn`t mind it if they dated?”
„Why would I mind?”
„Well, I don`t know, don`t big brothers go all berserk when their sisters date their friends?”
„I don`t see why. Simon is a great guy, or I wouldn`t be friends with him, and besides, Ema is a grown woman and is free to date whomever she chooses. The fact that I`m two years older than her and a man doesn't mean I know what`s best for her.”
She stares at me for a moment, and then she bites her lower lip in a distracting way.
„Max?”
„Yeah”
Why does my voice sound so hoarse?
„I`m going to need you to get out of this kitchen. Now.”
„What, why? What did I do?”
„Nothing, but you being so mature and level-headed is a big turn on, and if you don`t leave now, I'm going to jump you.”
Is that suppose to make me want to leave? Because it doesn't, and she must see it on my face because she smiles at me and pats my cheek.
„Me jumping you wouldn`t be a good idea since you want us to be just friends, and besides, we have guests.”
Right, I want us to be just friends. I forgot.
„I`ll go see what they`re up to. ”
She nods, and I can`t help but feel like she`s disappointed again even though she`s trying to hide it. Of course she is, I`m giving her so many mixed signals that even I`m starting to get dizzy.
Sophie
I don`t feel like eating popcorn or watching a movie. I want to go up to my room, go to bed, and wallow in peace. This day has been a roller coaster of ups and downs, and it`s left me feeling exhausted.
I need to do something because I`m in real danger of heartbreak, and I have no one to blame but myself. I should have done something the moment I started having feelings for Max.
