Noah Silas Anderson

Chapter Sixty-seven: "Guess who's coming to dinner"

"-If I don't have a six pac when I leave here, you're fired as my personal trainer," Dad went on.

I helped him put weight on the machine in Frank's gym and let him complain.

Dad was serious about getting back fit after rehab. He was thin, but not scrawny or unhealthy, and not as jacked as he used to be. So, I had him come to the gym and work out with me.

"Yeah, yeah. Just do what I say, old man."

He laughed and drank some water first.

Frank walked by and slapped my hand as he talked with a client.

"Who's that?" asked my father, Rick.

I turned back to him and said, "That's Frank, the owner. He's cool, helped me a lot."

"When I wasn't around?"

I dropped my head. "Yeah," I said quietly.

"Don't do that," Dad said, "don't get all quiet now. I didn't mean it like that, I'm sure he's a good man. Come on, tell me something."

I laughed at him. "Tell you what, man?"

"I don't know, something! How's school?"

"Almost over, thank Jesus!"

"I'm proud, good job. You still into P.T., right?"

"Yeah, I like it, I don't see it changing anytime soon."

"Good, I can see you're pretty good with this stuff," he complimented, dabbing sweat from his forehead with a gym towel.

"How was your week with Em?" I asked.

"I missed her so much, Noah. I can't wait to have her back full time, but she loves Cassie's. That's all she says 'I have a room at Cassie's house.'" He said and we laughed faintly together.

"Yeah, Cassie loves her, too - we all do," I smiled, checking my phone to see Brooklyn was calling me.

I excused myself from my conversation with my father and smiled when I heard her speak.

"Hey, baby," she said.

"Hey, girl, what you doing?"

"I'm in Walgreens, just wanted to see if you needed anything," Brooklyn spoke in the phone.

"Not that I can think of, but thank you, though."

"You don't have to thank me, dummy," she giggled, making me smile bigger. "Okay, I have to go, I'm next in line. See you later?"

"You better," I replied.

Brooklyn giggled again in the phone and then hung up first. I sighed and turned back to my father who was staring at me with this crooked smile.

"What?" I chuckled, situating myself on the seat so I could start lifting.

"Oh, nothing. I'm just waiting for your slow ass to finish this rep," he played, making me laugh.

*

"So, any new advancements in your, uh, relationship?" asked my father as we drove back to his house.

My eyebrow raised, I tried not to laugh at him. "Advancements, Dad?"

"You know what I mean. Like, are things getting more serious?"

"I guess," I shrugged, being all bashful.

"What do you mean, you guess?"

I raised my voice over his laughing and held mine back as he tried hitting me. "I guess! I don't know, things are good. They're better than good, we're perfect right now. She's... yeah."

"She's yeah? Is that code for something?"

I chuckled, swatting his hand away. "No, it just means things are good, and she's perfect."

"Why can't you stop smiling, sheesh? Just the mention of her and you turn into an idiot," he teased me. "No but I do approve of this one, she's fun - lots of personality."

"Dad," I paused to lick my lips and adjust my handle on the wheel. "I'm in love."

I rolled up on a red light and stopped second in line.

He looked at me with shock and then grinned widely.

"I'm happy to hear that," Dad said happily.

"For real?" I asked, quickly turning to see his face as the light turned green.

"Really. I'm not mad at it. Are you sure it's what you want?"

I nodded. "I think so, she's worth it, I mean. It's been, what, five months since we met? And we've been like this for two, three? I'm ready, I think. I don't know how she feels, but..."

"How don't you know?"

"I mean, I guess I do. She's always there for me, we're like best friends, and I love spending time with her. She's just such a good person, like, exactly what I needed in my life, y'know? And I know you're my dad and you might not wanna hear this, but Dad, the sex is, like, wow. Like, really-"

"Okay, yeah, I don't wanna imagine her in that way. But I get it. Sounds like something to me. Are you gonna tell her?"

"I don't see why not," I said, "I just don't want to get too serious and take her away from her options. She could be living so much better, I'm scared I'ma hold her back. She comes from successful parents, she can speak so many languages, and is so accomplished when you think about it. I'm not a fuckin' lawyer, I can't save anybodies life, o-or be whatever her stuck-up ass parents want."

"Oh, that's what this is about? Have you met them?" asked Dad.

"Yeah. Remember I told you how we met on the cruise? Her parents said Gael and I were hoodlums and shit like that. I guess I did kinda fuck up, but, they judged me too early. Now they're coming to town and I'm nervous, Dad."

"Son, you've never been nervous for anything in your life. Like you said, they judged you too soon. Give a shot, there's no way anyone can not like you, you'll see; they'll come around," Dad told me, slapping his hand on my shoulder as I parked in his driveway.

"Want me to come in for a while?" I asked so he wouldn't be lonely.

"No, Em's away, and I have a date tonight," he smirked, getting out of the Hummer.

"A date? Already? I'm proud," I said. I just hope this one's better than the last.

"She was a worker at the rehab, always flirted with me," he shrugged bashfully, "she's nice, I like her."

"Single? Got kids? She cute?" I interrogated my father.

"Divorced and one kid; a boy named Jaiden, he's eight. And yeah, she's pretty cute," he laughed at me and shut the door. We waved to each other and I waited until he was inside to pull off so I could go shower and make it to dinner at The Walker's.

I didn't feel like driving after my long day. Since I hadn't yet been in Cassie's new car, Gael and I rode to Terrance and Kenya's house with Cass that evening.

I was in the backseat, wondering when we'd ever make it to dinner, if ever. My stomach was growling and Cassie was driving like someone's grandma.

Being annoying, I sat up in between the front two seats and said, "Damn Cassie, can we get there already? You're going, like, forty."

Gael laughed. "She drive better than Brooke, though." Can't argue with that, shit, Emereigh probably drives better than Brooklyn.

"Noah, are you driving?" Cassie mouthed off. "You're in the backseat for a reason." She laughed and continued down the highway.

"Okay, don't get hype because you have a car now," I teased her, sitting back, "but true."

Cassie tightened her lips to stop from laughing. "You right and if you keep talking shit, I'll drive twenty."

Afraid to risk going any slower, I just entertained myself with my phone for the remainder of the ride while Gael gave Cass directions to the house.

*

We arrived and Gael, in the front, knocked first.

Kenya opened the door almost immediately.

"I'm so glad y'all are here," she exclaimed, "come in!" One by one, she hugged us and welcomed us inside. I was last so she closed the door after me and tilted her head.

"One's missing," she noticed, referring to Brooklyn.

I spoke up and said, "She's coming, she had practice. Now where's the food?"

The house smelled great as always and Kenya looked happy and beautiful in her sweater with her hair down for once. She wore a pair of leggings to show off her curves and walked around with an almost empty glass of wine in between her fingers.

Gael laughed. "Where the girls?" he asked, noticing how quiet the one story house was.

Cassie stepped in and smiled. "It smells so good in here. Thank you for inviting us."

That's when, to my surprise, Terrence - AKA old sourpuss - decided to show his face. "They're with Kenya's parents because she thought that I needed to have company, or leave the house."

"And you made the right decision," Kenya huffed, playing with her husband. "I hope y'all like salmon!"

"I like anything you make." Gael said, taking the words right out of my mouth. "Nice to see you talking again, T."

Terrence faked a smile. "Yeah, taking it one day at a time." Aren't we all?

"How's AJ?" I asked him, sitting at the island on a stool.
Kenya listened to the conversation as she set the table in the dining room, my eyes following the food she prepared.

"He didn't wake up yet, but he'll pull through. He's a strong kid," Terrence told me and I nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, like me, Gael went to look at the food.

Terrance said, "Nice seeing you again, Cassie," making her smile.

Cass replied, "Nice seeing you too. I'm happy to hear your nephew is okay."

A sudden knock on the door made me stand upright and smile, knowing who it was.

Kenya yelled, "Come in," and as soon as the door opened, I turned to see Brooklyn walk in.

"Hey everyone," she beamed, not knowing who to greet first. So she went with Kenya first and waved to Terrance who was across the room.

She walked over to me and met my lips with a kiss.
"I showered, I promise," she laughed, squeezing my body.

I let Brooklyn go so she could mess with Gael and then hug Cassie to death and talk about whatever.

At long last, Kenya stopped teasing me and told everyone to take a seat.

"-So, anything new going on? How's work?" asked Kenya, putting food on her plate. Dinner tonight consisted of salmon, rice, and shrimp. Kenya also bothered to make her famous iced tea that I loved so much. I see why her and Terrance have been together so long; the way to a man's heart is really through his stomach and I am in loveee with Kenya right now.

Work sucked so none of us five really bothered to comment on it, everyone just sort of shrugged and shook their heads.

Terrence interjected after chewing. "I'm sorry about Venus. I heard it on the news." I didn't want this to come up. . .

Brooklyn just sighed, forking her rice, with nothing to say. It's only been a couple of days, things were still fresh on her mind, but we hadn't talked about it again until now.

"Did they ever find any more information? Like, who did it?" Kenya pried for details with a pitiful look on her face.

"No, but I hope they will soon," Brooklyn commented lowly.

Gael and I looked at each other. I gulped my food down and exhaled through my nose. This shit doesn't get any easier, it'll continue to haunt us, huh?
I put my hand on Brooklyn's thigh under the table and she put hers on mine and squeezed it sweetly.

"Me too," Kenya shook her head, "that's awful."

Cassie took a bite. "I still can't believe that happened."

Gael then tried changing the subject. "Everything been good over here?" he asked.

Terrence washed his food down with iced tea. "Can't complain. Haven't stepped foot in the fucking Playroom but once and I'm not mad about it."

"Yeah, how's work been since everything?" Kenya questioned us.

Cassie dramatically rolled her eyes at that and responded with, "Like nothing ever happened."

"See, Brooklyn," I said, changing the tone, "notice how she didn't burn the food?"

Brooklyn laughed and pushed me over a little. "Stop. My cooking is getting better!" She claimed, slouching in her seat as everyone laughed at her.

Okay, okay, I have to admit: she is getting a little better with the cooking. Now the next thing we have to work on is her driving and she's all set.

"It better if you wanna keep him around," Kenya blurted, cackling at Brooklyn's expense but it was all in good fun.

As we went off on a tangent, I quickly noticed Terrance wipe his mouth and ask Cassie something. They excused themselves to the kitchen and had their own conversation that I couldn't hear and didn't try to eavesdrop because it wasn't my business. I am curious, though.

However, Cassie left after their conversation and Terrance said, "Dinner was good, honey. Good night, y'all," then went to his bedroom and shut himself inside for the rest of the night.

We listened to a car start in the driveway and drive off, assuming it was Cassie.

Everyone, just as confused, darted our eyes around the room.

Gael said, "She was our ride."

"I can take y'all home," Brooklyn offered.

"That's what we're scared of," I joked, earning another playful push from Brooklyn.

It got kind of quiet, none of us knew what to think. Maybe it was something Terrance said? I don't know but it must've been seriously bad if Cass stormed out like that and didn't say anything to us.

"Well," Kenya sighed, "how 'bout dessert?"

*

"-Brooklyn, I don't know, I might have to leave you for Kenya," I teased, "Lemon meringue pie is my favorite, how'd you know?"

Brooklyn gasped and removed her arm from my body, pouting.

Kenya laughed, pushing her plate away. "Boy, please, you always flirting with somebody. And everyone knows your ass can eat," she sassed.

"That's true," Brooklyn swallowed, "he claims everything is his favorite."

"What, I love food!" I defended myself, Gael just laughed and kept his eyes on the basketball game we tuned into.

"Kenya, I love the artwork in here," Brooklyn raved, wandering her eyes around the living room filled with African decor, "I think I said that last time but I'm still not over it. I've been looking at these paintings all night."

"Thank you, girlfriend. Yeah, I got them online - all my black love paintings. I can show you around if you want?"

"Please!" Brooklyn agreed eagerly.

"Okay, Brooke," Kenya smiled, standing, "then after that ya ass can help with these dishes and give Noah some space."

Brooklyn and I both got on Kenya right back and she laughed, saying she was just messing.

"It's not my fault he's so clingy," Brooklyn laughed, walking away with Terrance's wife for a tour.

***

Later that night, Brooklyn and I were in her apartment. We randomly bought a tent from the store and set it up in her living room after moving all the furniture. Honestly, it was a pretty childish idea but we made it fun, I think.

"Are you getting sleepy?" I asked her, noticing her eyes getting lower.

She nodded under my body and blinked slowly.

"Wanna go to bed?"

She shook her head no.

"Okay, we can sleep out here, I guess?" I laughed, rolling over so I could be on my back like her.

I yawned and let my eyes start to shut, too.

"You know my parents are coming," Brooklyn spoke softly.

I was listening but didn't care to comment.

She continued. "I told them about you and I think they'll grow to like you, but don't worry if they don't."

Silence.

"You know what I talked to Kenya about tonight?" Brooklyn paused. "She was telling me about how her and Terrance have lasted so long against, like, the odds. She said her parents didn't really approve of him either at first. I'm not comparing us to them, that's totally different, but still."

"And she asked me about us - me and you. She asked me how I feel about you and if I think we'll last, or whatever. I told her I don't even know if I'll live to see tomorrow, but she said I shouldn't think like that," Brooklyn yawned and then went on to say, "Then I got to talking about my past, about William, and my upbringing. She said 'Well, what do you want right now?' I said 'Like, romantically?' And she laughed. She said 'Yes.' I shrugged and told her I don't know. She said 'That's bullshit, everyone knows what they want.' So I thought about it and it's corny, so don't laugh. But... I want someone to be leftovers after a long day. You know? Like when you go to your favorite restaurant but you get full fast so you take it to-go and the next day, you're so excited to go home and eat it? I want that," she gushed.

"But all I've ever had instead is, like, when you had a really shitty day and then you drop your keys when you try to unlock the door, and the only thing on your mind - the only thing that'll cheer you up - is those leftovers. Except, someone ate them."

"You don't have to worry about that with me," I finally said something, rolling in between her legs.

"No?" She cooed, kissing my nose. I shook my head and blinked, my lips turning into a faint smile.

"No," I said surely, "I'll never eat your leftovers."

Then I started laughing because it was corny, but she's cute.

"Hey, how was it with Rick today? Did you do some male-bonding?" Brooklyn asked me.

I thought back to earlier when I was with Rick and what we talked about.

Could I have told her what I told him? Yeah. I'm not necessarily waiting for anything, there's nothing stopping me.

But I didn't tell her.

"Uh, yeah we bonded. He had a date tonight," I told Brooklyn.

Her eyes went wide in shock. "Wow, already?"

"I know, that's what I said."