20

Sean Peterson
“Surprise.”
It felt like my eyes permanently became wide as my eyelids had refused to come down. My heart raced in panic… because there stood the whole gang.
Eloise and Daniel Adams with their son Travis. Ariana and Xavier Knight with their daughter Amara, hugging her piggy plush toy. All having a huge smile on their faces.
“Why do you look like you have seen a ghost, Sean?” Daniel’s comment forced me to blink.
I cleared my throat. “Wh.. what are you all doing here?” I tried to act calm but from inside I was panicking.
“Don’t act like you don’t know why we are here,” Xavier said nonchalantly and I gulped.
“Well, uh, you should have informed me about your arrival.” I frowned and tried to block their view inside. As if it would help!
“What type of friends we’d be if we inform before arriving ?” Daniel grinned.
“And besides, you were making excuses,” Xavier commented. “And we bought dinner.” They all raised their hands showing bags of food. “Now, get aside.”
Before I could come up with an excuse to send them away from the doorstep…they pushed past me.
Fuck!
I frantically slammed the door shut to run back and save the situation but
“Lauren?”
“Miss Hart?”
-I was too late.
I mentally groaned and slowly walked up to them to come face to face with their stunned expressions and Lauren’s horrified one.
“What in the colorful world is going on here?” Daniel and Xavier threw the question at both of us.
“Lauren, what are you doing here?” Ariana asked in confusion.
“We thought you had flu then what are you doing here and most importantly… at this time?” Eloise asked.
I saw Lauren gulp in panic as she shifted on her feet. She then gazed at me with her wide eyes, probably asking me for an answer, but what could have I said to her? I too was robbed off of the words.
“I…I..” She stuttered.
“Goodness, don’t tell me you lied to us, Lauren,” Eloise exclaimed loudly.
“You look perfectly fine then why did you lie to us? Why didn’t you want us to visit you at your place?” Ariana questioned.
I stood there trying to avoid eye contact with Daniel and Xavier who were suspiciously gazing at me, completely uninterested in the questioning session going on with Lauren. Their faces showed that they wanted a questioning session with me too. And I wasn’t ready for it.
All of a sudden, I came up with an idea of lying to them, again, that she came for work purpose, however, for a second I forgot that we had a kid living with us too.
“Lauren, I found your phone. It was indeed in your room. I found it on your bed.”
The end.
Lauren Hart
I was doomed.
“Your room? Your bed?” All of them shouted in shock.
At that particular moment, I wanted to run out of the house, leave the city and the country, and go to a deserted island to live with indigenous species; only if they let me live.
I was in a panic and had two pairs of eyes focused on me and the other two pairs of eyes focused on equally panicked Sean.
“Will anyone of you tell us what the fu-funny business is going on here?” Xavier Knight and Daniel Adams who were my bosses questioned too.
“Sean?” All eyes switched to him.
“Lauren?” Ryan came up to me hugged my legs as he looked up to meet my eyes. “Who are they?” He asked me.
Oh, buddy, they are my doom.
Sean chose the moment to divert the conversation. He came towards me and held Ryan’s hand. “Ryan, meet my friends.” He introduced them one by one by their names.
“Hello, Ryan.” All of them greeted him. Ariana and Eloise even kissed his cheek. He blushed and hid behind me.
Amara giggled and only then I noticed her in her father’s arms. Aww, how much I missed my sweetie pie. And Travis, my bunny boy. I missed them a lot.
Daniel passed his son to Eloise and kneeled in front of Ryan. Xavier too landed Amara on her feet and kneeled.
Ryan tried to hide behind me and I felt the intense, suspicious gaze of my friends on me.
“It seems like he knows you pretty well. Why does this not surprise me?” Eloise’s sharp, mocking comment passed through my ears. I couldn’t dare look at her.
“Hello Ryan, you don’t have to hide from us. We are your uncle’s best friends. Come here.” Daniel smiled. Ryan hesitated but I gave him a little push. I wanted him to get over with it.
“Ryan, say hello.” I urged him to say. He first looked at me then at his uncle who nodded his head at him.
“Hello.” He whispered shyly.
“Oh, he listens to you. Great! Now, that’s kinda interesting.” Xavier commented.
Oh goodness, why did I do that?
Blushing, I looked at Ariana who was standing still, frowning, and trying to figure out everything.
“So, Ryan… How do you like it here?” Daniel asked him. “Is your uncle looking after you properly? If not then you can tell us. We’ll teach him how to do so.”
“No, Uncle Sean and Lauren are good people. They always play with me; especially Lauren.” Ryan mumbled. No, no, Ryan, don’t go into the details. I quickly gazed at Sean, pleading him with my eyes to do something.
“Listen you two-” Sean tried to interfere but Xavier cut him off.
“We are talking to Ryan, not you Sean. Keep quiet.”
This is not going to end well.
“So, Ryan where were we? Oh, yeah, you playing with Lauren.” Daniel said. “So how often does she comes to play with you?”
No, don’t do this, please. I mentally pleaded. I knew what they were doing. They wanted to hear the truth from Ryan.
“Uh, why would she come to play with me? She lives here with uncle Sean.”
Dead. Gone. Finished.
All eyes again flicked to me first then to Sean and all their lips curled into a smirk.
“Kids are so innocent, aren’t they?” Xavier smirked. “Thank you Ryan for helping us.” He patted his cheek and stood up on his feet. Daniel did the same.
“Do we need to ask any further or are you two going to speak up on your own?” Xavier asked as he crossed his arms across his chest.
I head Sean sigh. “Okay fine. She’s staying here for a week.” He snapped.
“I will definitely ask you why but first…Sean, where’s your grandma?” Xavier asked. And that’s when Sean gulped.
“Uh, well…she kinda had some work back home. So, she left.” He couldn’t meet anyone’s eyes.
Eloise took a step forward. “Oh, so…you mean to say that…you two are staying alone under one roof… With Ryan of course.”
“So, you have been hiding her from us all this time. That’s why you were avoiding us. Interesting.” Daniel commented with a voice laced with teasing.
“And he’s the reason you lied to us, isn’t it, Lauren?” Eloise commented.
I flushed. All my body heat rose to my face making it hotter than it ever could be. I could bet that my face must have been glowing red.
“Lauren, would you like to explain to us further?” Ariana asked sweetly-tease included.
“Oh, no, Ariana, not here.” Eloise interfered and looked at Sean. “Would you mind if we talk to her in private?”
With wide eyes, I looked at Sean and again mentally pleaded for him not to leave me alone with them but before he could reply Daniel and Xavier gripped his shoulders.
“He won’t mind Eloi,” Daniel smirked. “Besides, we too want to talk to our dear friend in private, right Xavier?”
Why have I done to be interrogated by my best friends? Why did I agree to help Sean again?
“Oh, yeah. But first… Amara, come here, sweetheart.” He gestured his daughter to come over to him. She padded with her tiny feet to him with her plush toy in her hands. He crouched down.
“My baby, your mamma and I are going to have a short talk with our friends, till then play with Ryan, okay? You want to be friends with him, don’t you?” He kissed her cheek and asked her to say hello to him and being the chirpy and friendly girl she is, she held her hand out for Ryan.
Ryan didn’t reciprocate the friendliness, instead, he ran back to me, leaving Amara standing there with her hand in the air.
“Lauren.” He whispered and gestured me to bring my ear down. “Can I touch that baby?” He gestured towards Travis.
“Oh, sure, Ryan. Here, come.” Eloise heard him and placed Travis on the couch and surrounded him with pillows. Ryan padded to him. Amara came up to me and smiled.
“Lauwen.” She gripped my leg and I picked her in my arms. She still couldn’t pronounce my name properly. “Aww, my sweetie pie, your Lauwen missed you so much.” I showered kisses on her face and she laughed. Then she wiggled out of my hold went to Sean who too showered kisses on her face. My eyes landed on Ryan who was now watching Sean with unknown emotions. He looked sad. What happened to him? I wondered.
“Ryan, be careful with the baby. Don’t lift him, okay?” Sean warned him politely. Amara wiggled out of his hold too and padded to join Ryan to play with Travis.
“Now, it’s time for the explanation,” Daniel said and dragged Sean to the kitchen but I saw Sean mouthing ‘Don’t lie anymore’.
Oh no!
“Why don’t we find a room to start with the conversation?” Ariana proposed.
Why do we not talk at all? I wanted to say but before I could say I felt myself being dragged away.
“Uh, can I hold Travis first?” I dared to say.
“Oh, he isn’t going anywhere. You have to some explaining to do first.” Eloise gave a tight-lipped smile, dragging me.
:
Hands crossed over the chest, a smirk on lips, intimidating look, they raised their eyebrows at me. In response, I lowered my head.
“So, he’s the reason you didn’t want us to visit you at your home,” Eloise said. “Not because you had flu.”
“Why did you lie to us? I was worried sick about you.” Ariana asked.
“I…I…” I wanted to speak but wasn’t able to form words.
“So, you lied to us just to spend time with your boss, in his house? What could have we said if you had told us? Why you kept it a secret?” Eloise asked. I knew where her mind was going. I had to tell them the truth.
“It’s not what you are thinking. Sea-He…blackmailed me.” My voice somehow came out confidently. They raised questioning eyebrows at me and sighing, I told them how I got entangled in the situation.
They both shared a look and smirked, widely. They both crossed their hands at their back and took two steps towards me. I couldn’t move, I was frozen in my place. My heartbeat could be heard clearly.
“Lauren? Sweetheart.” Eloise held my chin. I saw her eyes glistening with amusement. God, they were enjoying this.
“You do know that you could have come to any of us, especially to Ariana when he blackmailed to fire you from the job. He can’t say no to any of us.” She smirked mischievously.
“Eloise’s right, Lauren.” Ariana too passed a sweet, taunting smile.
“Uh, yeah I know that. But uh, I just wanted to pay back for the damage I had done to his car.” I stuttered. Eloise let go of my chin and again crossed her arms across her chest.
“Oh, yeah, the car; the damage…that couldn’t be repaired without your help, right?” Eloise said and faced Ariana. “Ariana, do you remember my wedding day?”
“Yes, I do,” Ariana replied without removing her eyes from my face.
“Then you must remember the bouquet I threw that landed in our dear friend, Lauren’s hands?”
I gulped. “Listen, you two are-” I tried to speak but was cut off by Eloise.
“Tell me one something, Lauren…and be honest. Are you and Sean a thing?”
“What? No! Of course, not. How could you say that? We share a strictly professional relationship.” I gasped in shock. I was deeply flushed.
“Aha, professional relationship. But as far as I am concerned…professionalism is played at the workplace, not at your boss’s places by hiding things from your friends.” Eloise smirked evilly.
“Lauren.” Now Ariana came closer to me. “You know, you have done this to me a lot of times. Now, it’s my turn.” She then poked my cheek. “You are blushing, Lauren.” She then laughed.
“I am not blushing. I do not blush.” I swatted her hand away and stepped back, and rubbed my face with my palms.
“Don’t wipe it, Lauren. Blush suits you.” Eloise laughed and forcefully engulfed me in a hug. “This girl can blush.” Ariana too engulfed me in a hug.
“No, I am not blushing.” I pushed them back. “And don’t assume things. I told you I came here to help him and to save my job, that’s it.”
“Why do I feel like there’s something more to it.” Eloise wiggled her eyebrows.
“Goodness, just stop it. Why don’t you question your oh-so brotherly Sean? After all, I’m in this situation because of him.”
“Sean huh?”
Oh, goodness.
Sean Peterson
After being dragged to the kitchen I was forcefully made to sit on a barstool. I sat without saying a word. Xavier sat to my left beside me.
“Before we start with the interrogation; do you have anything to eat? I’m starving and the situation here states that we won’t be having dinner anytime soon.”
I rolled my eyes at Daniel and gestured towards the snack rack for him to find something to fill his always empty stomach.
“Daniel, when will you grow up?” Xavier grumbled. “You have a child now, don’t act like one.”
“Where is it written that after having a child you have to stop being who you are? I love the way I am; suck it up.” Daniel snapped as he rummaged through the rack and took out a Cheetos packet which was meant to be for Ryan.
“If you are done then can we get over with it?” I snapped impatiently. I knew it was of no use to hide anything from them. I just wanted it over.
“You, Sean babe, are in no state to order us around. Speak… only when asked to.” Daniel commanded as he opened the packet of Cheetos and stood on the opposite side of the counter.
“Now, from start to end. Speak.” Xavier ordered. I huffed and told them everything as to why Lauren was at my place.
Both of them stared at me without blinking for a few seconds and then burst into a fit of laughter. I clutched my hands into a fist and patiently waited for them to stop laughing. They did stop, but only after good five minutes.
“I don’t think there was anything worth hiding for. You could have told your grandma the truth. Or do you deliberately wanted you P. A. to stay with you…in your house.” Xavier asked still grinning.
“And you couldn’t think of any other woman’s name? Why her?” Daniel wiggled his eyebrows.
I groaned. “I already told you I wanted to bring Ryan to my place for a while and grandma would only agree if I had a woman living with me. And Lauren chose the moment to call me and everything got jumbled up I don’t know how! Now, here I am sitting in front of you paying for my foolish mistake.”
“Oh, you two are on the first name basis now?” Daniel grinned teasingly as he stuffed the Cheetos in his mouth.
“Oh, come on Daniel, you are concerned about the name? I’m thinking of the other things that might have happened between these two. You know, living under one roof without grandma might I add.” Xavier commented.
What?!
“Are you guys insane? Nothing happened!” I snapped. I only kissed her without her consent.
“I asked for her help and she agreed, that’s all. Besides grandma left only a day before.”
“World could flip in a day. I don’t think I need to say any further.” Xavier again commented as he patted my shoulder.
Fuck! He was indeed right. I was feeling a flip in my feelings towards her. But I couldn’t blurt it out to them. Not a chance.
I rubbed my face with my palms and cursed my destiny. Why do I always have to deal with annoying people? Why can’t people around me keep their mouths shut?
Daniel leaned on the counter by placing his elbows on it. “So, you and Lauren, huh?” He smirked.
I hastily picked up anything that came in my hand and almost threw it at him when he looked at me in horror. “That’s a knife, Sean. Do you want my wife and son to lose the most loving and caring man in their life?”
“Then stop making up things, you fool.” Instead of a knife, I threw an apple at him which he caught, and took a bite out of it.
He’ll never change.
Xavier too shook his head at him and again faced me. “So, how have you been handling all of it? You know your P. A can be a little extra…”
“Handful? Troublesome?” I completed his sentence. “I know and I have been handling her just fine.”
“Well, I was going to say talkative.” He smirked teasingly and amusement lingered in his eyes. “But whatever you say as you have been living with her for five days now; obviously, you get to know her more.”
Why are they my friends again?
Daniel threw the empty packet in the trash bin and came to me and circled his arm around my shoulder. “You know, Sean babe…Ryan seems to be more attached to her than you which means she has succeeded in gaining his trust and love. I am wondering how is it possible that you don’t feel anything for her yet?”
I abruptly stood up from the barstool and pushed him away. “If you dare say a word more I swear I’ll slit your throat.” I narrowed my eyes and pointed a finger at him.
“That’s brutal.” He looked at me in horror.
“Oh, come on Sean, you don’t have to hide your feelings from us. I swear we won’t tell a soul.” I almost punched Xavier but he backed away, laughing hard. Daniel joined him too.
“I don’t have feelings for her or anyone. Just stop with your stupid questioning.” I snapped at them.
I was busy glaring at them and they busy laughing when we heard a cry.
“Momma, Daddy.”
“Amara?” Xavier got worried and ran out of the kitchen and we followed.