“Hi beautiful,” she says, picking Caylen up.
“I’m jealous,” I kid.
“Kids love me.” She shrugs.
“Dinner’s almost ready,” Mrs. Scott calls from the kitchen. The previously sleep-ridden Mr. Scott rises.
“Excuse me ladies,” he says, brushing past us with a wide, almost charming, smile. The first I’ve seen from him since I met him.
“I can take her,” I tell Lisa. She waves me off.
“We’re fine,” she says with a wink before following Mr. Scott into the dining room. I go to grab my purse when I hear the door open.
“Straight ahead.” A tall guy holds the door open as Chris comes in holding a big white box. Once he’s made it inside and puts it down, I see it’s a high chair.
“You went and bought a high chair?” I laugh.
“She’s the guest of honor. She should have her own seat,” he says.
“You’re Lauren?” the blonde guy asks me with a chuckle in his voice. I’m not sure if I want to answer the question from the way he says it.
“That would be me,” I say hesitantly. He looks back at Chris and chuckles.
“Twelve,” he says, his eyes devouring my body.
“I’m sorry?” I ask, confused.
“Excuse his numerical outburst. An aftereffect of his post-traumatic stress thing from combat,” Chris says tightly, and I’m not sure if he’s joking or not.
“He’s joking,” the blond guy says, seeing that I’m not smiling at all.
“Christopher can be so rude,” he jokes, and extends me his hand.
“I’m Aidan. I thought I was Chris’s best friend.” I look over at Chris questioningly and see that he’s staring pretty hard at Aidan.
“Nice to meet you,” I reply. He’s Chris’ height and build but he has a buzz-cut, though his hair’s long enough to show he’s a blonde. He has ocean blue eyes and his smile reveals perfect teeth. They sure know how to grow ’em in Michigan.
“Welcome home!” I say, realizing Chris told me earlier that he was out on tour.
“The best welcome I’ve had all day,” he says, our handshake still lingering. Is this dude really flirting with me right in front of my husband?
Well, I’m not exactly sure how I should refer to Chris. I let go of his hand but he’s continues to smile at me his eyes directly on mine. I wrap my arms around myself.
Is this guy for real?
“Can you take this in the dining room?” Chris says, shoving the highchair box into Aidan’s chest.
“Sure buddy,” Aidan says tightly and makes his way into the dining room.
“Don’t mind him. He can act like an idiot around a beautiful woman,” Chris says.
A smile a mile wide spreads across my face. Chris looks down at his feet embarrassed. Maybe having realized he paid me a compliment.
He thinks I’m beautiful.
Chris thinks I am beautiful.
That manages to get me through the rest of the night and I don't mind as much that Aidan, has been staring at me like I’m wearing a bra and thong at the table and that Mr. Scott is ignoring my presence entirely. Mrs. Scott is trying to keep the dinner conversation pleasant and uncontroversial. That's been difficult since Lisa seems to love talking about politics, religion and every awkward thing in between. I manage to stay out of the fray, pretending to keep myself busy with Caylen. The food is mouthwateringly delicious. Mrs. Scott makes cooking seem as easy as breathing. The pasta was to die for and I’m biting into what’s left my chocolate cake. The boys have drifted off into a debate about the upcoming football season. Lisa starts to look bored. It’s nice seeing him with them. Carefree, light, and not like a dark cloud’s following him. It’s good to see him so ‘Chris-like’, not guarding his behavior, afraid of saying the wrong thing. Seeing him like this reminds me more of Cal when we first met. Mrs. Scott is starting to clear the table and Lisa turns her attention to me.
“So Lauren, how did you and Cal meet?” Annnd the room becomes silent except for Caylen, who is hitting her plate with her spoon. My eyes find Chris’s and they’re a little wide. He’s biting the corner of his lip.
I thought Lisa liked me but she obviously hates me. Why else would she bring up such an awkward topic, one that Chris and I have been tiptoeing around so carefully. She’s just thrown it in the middle of the table for everyone to see.
“Really, Lisa?” Chris says tightly.
“What? I’d like to know. Wouldn’t you like to know?” she asks innocently, glancing at Aidan,
“I would,” Aidan chimes in. I remember that earlier Chris said that they liked to double-team him when they were little. It seems the tactic has persisted. I wait for one of the Scotts to intervene and say it isn’t appropriate but Mr. Scott just sits quietly with a frown on his face and Mrs. Scott continues clearing the table, not making eye contact with anyone. I really wish I would have accepted that glass of wine she offered me earlier.
“I worked at a popular club while I was in college. We met there,” I say in a quick breath.
“What type of club?” Aidan says, his voice dripping with innuendo.
“Not that type of club,” I say with a deliberate edge to my voice.
“Was it love at first sight?” Lisa says excitedly.
“Come on,” Chris says, exasperated.
“What? It’s romantic!” Lisa says, a hint of a slur in her voice. I wonder how many glasses of wine she’s had.
“Aren’t these just obvious things everyone wants to know?” she looks around the room for someone to agree with her.
“I’d really prefer not to hear this right after I’ve eaten.” Mr. Scott sounds disgusted.
Something in me starts to rise, thinking about how he lied to me, his hatred for Cal, and how he’s pretty much pretended I haven’t existed since I’ve gotten here.
“No, not love. Just lust, pure unadulterated lust,” I say with a tight smile. Mr. Scott’s mouth drops open a little. When my eyes find Chris’s face he’s turned completely red.
“Oh shit,” Aidan says, covering his mouth and laughs.
I shouldn’t have said that. I shouldn’t have let him get to me like that but I couldn’t help it.
“But isn’t that all love at first sight is? Just lust?” Lisa is completely unfazed. It's as if she’s about to turn this into a talking point. She should be a philosophy professor instead of a pre-school teacher.
“On that note, everybody have a good night,” Chris says sharply and gets up from the table.
“Come on, Chris, we’re just having fun” Aidan says, lifting his hands innocently. He doesn’t look at anyone except me.
“Stop being such a baby, Chris.” Lisa laughs.
“Are you ready, Lauren?” Chris asks, ignoring Aidan and Lisa’s nudges.
“Yeah,” I say, unsure of what is happening but I’m pretty glad to be rescued from this nightmare. I lift Caylen out of the highchair.
“Where are you going?” Mr. Scott asks sternly.
“I wouldn’t want to ruin your appetite anymore, Dad,” he says. I can’t hide my smirk and quickly follow him towards the door.