Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 5

eyes that I had been searching for so frantically all morning met mine with a look of horror. "Shit" we both whispered at the same time. Me- shocked, him - guiltily.
    ****
    "So... got a bit of a make-over, didn't you, Jayden?" I said smiling tightly while cutting my sausages with unnecessary vengeance.
    Jayden coughed and took a sip of his coffee avoiding my eyes.
    "Doesn't he look awesome?" Kathleen butted in, most likely - scratch that - hopefully unaware of the tension between us. God, I just slept with my brother-in-law's brother! If Jake found out I was dead meat. Not that I couldn't pack a mean punch myself, but... Kathleen would never forgive me. Damn... Did Jake even know that his brother was gay?
    I should have known he was too good to be true. And that idiot. What was he doing flaunting himself at me? Didn't he recognize me?
    I looked at his still blushing face and the way his eyes darted nervously towards me. The hell he didn't! It's not like I was the one who lost a bunch of weight in the past two years.
    Kathleen kept chatting in the background about how hard Jayden has worked to lose weight but I only half listened to her, still shell-shocked. It was a good thing though since everyone took Jayden's blush for him being shy. Oh, but I knew better. The little bastard.
    "Actually, Cole, I kinda have a favour to ask of you," Jake said when Kathleen stopped talking to take a sip from her coffee.
    "What is it?" I asked sighing with relief at the change of topic.
    "Well, Jayden has just found a job in New York." So... not a change of topic.
    "Jake!" I heard Jayden whisper horrified while pulling at his brother's shirt. He looked like a frightened kid. For a moment the image of that same look on his face when he was getting undressed on my bed flashed before my eyes. Ugh... Mrs. Porter breastfeeding, Mrs. Porter breastfeeding! I inwardly chanted in the hopes of banishing away my sudden burst of desire. Mrs. Porter was my fat neighbor who's just given birth to her third child. I'm sorry Mrs. Porter, but this always works.
    "Cole, you still there?" Jake asked waving a hand before my eyes while everyone around the table started laughing. Who knows what kind of expression I must have had?
    "Go on." I said waving a hand dismissively.
    "Like I was saying, Jayden found a job in NY and he'll be moving out next month. But, you see, he doesn't know anyone there."
    Shit, I could see where this was going. I looked at Jayden who was blushing furiously hiding his face while pretending to scratch his forehead. My God, was Jake offering me his little brother on a silver platter? How would I be able to stay away from him like that?
    The waiter came with a cup of coffee handing it to me and I took a sip grateful for the pause. I quickly set the cup down after the liquid burned by tongue.
    "So, you want me to babysit your brother, huh?"
    Jake snickered and I laughed looking at Jayden. He stopped hiding his face and was now watching me with an expression of pure indignation. He was so freaking cute! Which reminded me... I didn't even know how old he was. He was definitely legal, that's for sure. Wasn't he?
    "Thank you very much, but I can manage on my own." Jayden spat out, shooting a deathly glare towards Jake and me.
    "Oh, don't be shy, honey." Kathleen interjected looking at Jayden "I'm sure Cole would love to show you around NY."
    "That's right," my mother said nodding in agreement. "He doesn't have a job anyway."
    From the corner of my eye I could see my father elbowing her gently. I inhaled softly, trying my best to keep my cool. You'd think by now I'd have gotten used to it, but it still hurt hearing my mother's obvious disapproval.
    "I do have a job. It's called journalism."
    "Oh, nonsense. We all know that's not a real career choice, honey. Really, I don't understand why you didn't want to be a lawyer like your father. It's such a shame! All the money we spent on your education."
    "Mom, will you go with me to try on the dress again after breakfast?"
    Oh, my sweet, sweet Kathleen! I sent her a telepathic love declaration with my eyes to which she replied with a discreet smile.
    Exhaling softly, I got up and taking a last hasty sip from my coffee and waved goodbye to everyone.
    "You're leaving already? You barely ate anything," Will said, always one to bring up unnecessary things.
    "I'm full. Besides, you can't waste your time in the hotel when you're in Maui, right?"
    "True," Kathleen and Jake both agreed.
    "Goodbye,