EPISODE FORTY THREE
THEME: Take the step
MOON STONE FORTRESS
IN THE PACK HOUSE
Jaylen stared at the pair of eyes glaring at him. “Can you all quit looking at me like that?” He groaned. “I swear Claire please just remind me to keep you out of my business for as long as I can.”
Claire huffed with no remorse.
“How the hell did you get home before me?” He asked. No response. “Claire!”
“What?! I was so eager to share the news to them. So I kinda raced passed you and your lover.” She rolled her eyes.
After they had left the restaurant, she had been the first to return home and took it upon herself to give Gabriella and Meagan a full run down of how it all went with Jaylen and Lorelei.
“How could you not see that she was jealous?” Meagan teased.
“Come on mom, not you. I can understand Claire and Grandma. But not you.” He whined.
To cap it all he was the only awake male amongst them, as his father was asleep. He had only come to the room to say hello when he almost regretted his action at the same time. There was no way he could escape any of them as they had decided to gang up against him, catching him off guard.
He didn’t understand what the fuss was all about, and it was the reason behind the surprise he felt when Lorelei had shunned him and drove off.
“Why do you keep insisting that you did nothing wrong?” Gabriella said, chewing on the slice of melon she had in the plate in front of her.
Jaylen raised a brow. “Can you all cut me some slack? I called her this morning and told her where I would be.”
“But not with who.” Meagan and Gabriella said at the same time.
“Really?” He sounded like he would cry.
Gabriella smacked her lips. “I wouldn’t blame him, he has never had a girlfriend or maybe a fling.”
“Grandma!” Jaylen groaned.
“Stop playing!” Claire screamed with her mouth agape.
“Baby, is that true?” Meagan inquired.
Looking for a means of escape but found none, he admitted that it would be too rude of him to walk out on them. “Well…let’s just say I didn’t have time.”
His grandma snorted. “You didn’t have time or you are just a social recluse.” It was more of a statement than a question.
She knew him too well. His inability to play nice and tag along with the other male friends in college, most importantly he had been going to college from home. He spent more time with his family than he did with his peer groups. It didn’t bother him in the least, since he had decided to live that way the day he left home.
“I don’t have a problem with it.” He argued.
“But it has become a problem for you.” His sister pointed out.
“Do you think no one knows of how cute you have been playing with Lorelei around the pack?” Gabriella blinked her eyes severally.
“Keeping a tab on me now?” Jaylen glared at her.
“I have never seen you this happy is what I’m talking about Jaylen.”
Meagan watched the exchange between the both of them and a pang of envy reeled through her. It was her place to know how Jaylen’s mood switches and when he is exactly happy. At the same time she can’t complain, having to share moments like this with him despite all that has ensued meant a whole lot to her.
“You don’t have to feel shy about how you feel baby.” Meagan interjected.
“What I am feeling shy about is me being in your midst and discussing this.” His facial expression was tight.
Claire let out a laugh. “Oh sorry brother.”
“That’s enough Claire, stop making your brother feel uncomfortable.” Meagan rebuked.
“What happened Jaylen?” Gabriella asked.
“I don’t know. I had spent the day with Juno since it has been a while since I saw her and I missed her too. I remember telling Lorelei that I would be hanging out with a friend. But it came as a surprise when she went all blank with me and didn’t say anything to me.” Jaylen explained.
“If I am right, you and Juno act like old lovers.” Gabriella mused and others nodded in agreement.
Jaylen scoffed. “And how is that a bad thing? Moreover Juno is more like a sister.”
“It only happen when a lady is interested in you. Now she feels intimidated having a rival so close to you.” Meagan explained.
“It has been only two weeks. I doubt if Lorelei has taken such interest in me.” His heart fluttered at the thought that she might feel the same way he feels.
Meagan let out a deep laugh. “You are just like your father.”
“He sure does.” Carl’s coarse voice came from behind as he tried sitting himself up but Jaylen was already at his side to help him.
“Were you awake all these while?” Jaylen asked him.
Carl smiled weakly. “I just woke up about a minute ago. But maybe I heard about a bit of your new love interest.”
Jaylen smacked his forehead. “Oh my goodness! Will you all ever let me hear the end of it?” He groaned. He was beginning to sound grumpy.
“He has no clue just like you.” Meagan said, sitting next to her husband as she pulled him into herself.
“You should go to her son.” Carl advised.
“What am I suppose to say?” Jaylen queried.
“The truth about how you feel.”
Everyone else in the room watched in delight as the conversation shifted from them all to the father and son duo.
“But it has only been two weeks dad. I don’t know if this is real. It’s all new to me.” Jaylen couldn’t help but admit how he feels exactly. The safety he felt sharing it in the midst of his family was unexplainable.
Carl chuckled. “It doesn’t matter, you might never get this opportunity again. It will be nice if you can take that step today.”
“What if I get rejected?” Jaylen kept on.
“Ah!” Claire mumbled. “There is no way she would reject you. Lorelei is head over heels into you.”
Smacking her from behind, Gabriella hissed. “You don’t sell your friend out just because he is your brother. Let him work for it.”
Claire threw her grandma a side glare as she rubbed the spot she had gotten hit.
“Really Granny.” Jaylen grinned.
“You should go now. It isn’t that late yet.” His father told him.
Jaylen looked around and smiled lightly at the women. “I am only trusting you dad. And not this people.”
Kissing his father’s forehead, he got down from the bed. He kissed each one of them before heading out of the room.
Carl watched his son’s receding back as happiness flowed through his weak veins. Even if he dies this minute he would die a fulfilled man.