Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 5

am. Shit! I was late to breakfast with my family.
    Sighing, I unwrapped myself from the cozy cocoon of blankets and entered the bathroom for a quick shower. Afterwards, I put on a pair of baggy jeans, a plain white T-shirt and my comfy flip flops and rushed out the door.
    I wondered if I'd ever meet Jayden again. Stupid me, I didn't even ask for a phone number. Not that he gave any indication that he was interested in a repeat performance. Or was he? Judging by that parting kiss... Oh, dammit, I should really stop thinking about that, especially before breakfast with my mother.
    "Oh, sweetie, you're finally here!" Mom called when she spotted me at the restaurant's entrance - not a very subtle lady, my Mom.
    The table they were sitting at was huge. Both my Mom and my Dad were looking at me expectantly while Kathleen barely raised her eyes from her omelet. I spotted Jake and Will, his best friend, who waved at me and moved to make a place at the table. There was also Alicia, Deana and another woman whose name I always forgot - my sister's maids of honour, and another unknown guy who was hunched over the table, looking down at the menu. I gave my Mom a peck on the cheek and said hello to everyone, taking a seat between Will and the anonymous girl. The waiter offered me the menu and asked whether I'd like tea or coffee. I, on the other hand, was scanning the restaurant hoping to see a green-eyed brunet. Really, I was acting like a teenager. Even the voice in my head snickered.
    All of a sudden though, Jake disturbed my search by addressing me.
    "So what did you do yesterday?"
    "Umm... you know. Stuff..." I said shrugging. Mainly shagged , my inner voice whispered giggling. Gosh, it's amazing what fooling around with someone could do to your optimism. Take that, Oliver! You're not the only one who can get down and dirty.
    "Oh, right, Jayden, you remember Cole, right?" Jake said turning towards the guy who's been sitting with his face planted in the menu from the moment I had arrived. My heart skipped a beat at the sound of that name. The stranger nodded not taking his face out of the menu. What a weirdo... Oh, right, now that I thought about it, didn't Jake have a brother by that name?
    "Dude, stop being so rude." Jake said, elbowing the guy.
    "Honey, stop bothering him." Kathleen surprisingly jumped to the guy's rescue. "You know Jay felt sick this morning. He wouldn't have come to breakfast if not for you insisting. Gee..."
    "Oh, right, right. Sorry, baby." Jake's pleads interrupting her. He looked a little pale.
    My God, pussy whipped much? Will and I exchanged amused looks, trying our best to cover our sniggers.
    "Anyway, Cole, this is my brother, Jayden, you met two years ago." Jake said, gesturing towards the menu guy. I nodded. Not much to do but that. My hazy memory supplied the image of a nerdy looking guy. Right, when lil' sis met Jake, he and his brother were visiting their relatives for Christmas. Those relatives just happened to be our neighbours and family friends but, somehow, every time Jake and his brother came to visit them for the holidays, Kathleen and I were always spending the summer or winter elsewhere. That year though, Kathleen and Jake had finally met. Boy, I still felt like vomiting when I remembered how much those two flirted! The brother though... Well that one was a blurry figure indeed. All I could remember was that he was very fat and had a pair of really large, thick glasses. Super nerdy. Oh, and he always ran away every time he saw me. Weird fellow. No wonder he was hiding his face in the menu - it totally suited his character.
    "Here's your tea, sir." the waiter said, appearing almost out of nowhere. I thanked him, grabbed my cup and proceeded in dipping the tea bag in hot water.
    "So, honey, how is Oliver doing?" my mother asked in a fake cheerful voice. "It's such a pity he couldn't come to the wedding?" Right...
    "He's fine Mom. He's just busy with work. He sent his best wishes, of course." I replied faking a smile of my own.
    "Of course." Mom replied with a tight smile.
    "Who's Oliver?" Unnamed girl asked.
    "My boyfriend."
    I only had time to register a clinking of porcelain before someone yelped loudly.
    "Shit! Jay, are you alright?" Jake cried hastily grabbing a towel and wiping at his brother's hand. A very red and very slim hand in comparison to what.... Oh My God.... Don't tell me.
    My instincts all screamed at me to raise my eyes and as I did so the same pair of enticing green