Another Wrong Turn?

Chapter Twenty-Five: Say You Love Me

            “That’s not going to happen,” I said, my voice firm with sureness. Joanna looked at me, her eyebrow raised. “It’s not going to happen because I know that my brother is not going to ask her to move in. After all, I’m still living with him and it would be awkward, right?”

            Joanna shrugged. “Maybe, but you never know.”

            The front door opened and our last two guests stepped in. I excused myself from Joanna and stood up, my heart pounding. I know I’ve just seen Ian last three hours ago but I think my heart is always going to pound whenever he’s near or he’s coming.

            Yes, I know he loves me. And I know I love him. But he thought that I only wanted us to be friends so he keeps it that way. Even though I want to say ‘I love you’ at him desperately, I just can’t find myself saying it. As a result, I’m very much annoyed with myself. Nothing is stopping me from being with Ian now, right? We both love each other, he got my mother and brother’s approval, I got his brother’s approval… But what am I waiting for?

            The question echoes inside my mind like a broken CD tape.

            “Victoria.”

            I turned around and came to face-to-face with Ian. I smiled at him as I glanced at him, up and down. He was wearing an apple green button-down shirt, dark blue jeans and black Converse shoes. Simple and casual. But it made him look like a god.

            “Hi,” I breathed.

            He smiled. “You look pretty tonight.”

            “You, too.”

            Ian cocked an eyebrow. “I look pretty?”

            I laughed. “You look handsome tonight.”

            He gave me a lazy, sexy as hell smile. “I know.”

            I rolled my eyes at him. “You’re so modest.”

            He chuckled quietly and then we heard my mother’s voice saying, “Oh is everyone here?”

            “Yes, Mom,” Vince said, as he appeared inside the living room, hand-in-hand with Suzanne. “Can we eat now?”

            “Patience,” she replied, smiling.

            Everybody was gathering inside the living room now. I caught sight of Evan, who was standing beside Miranda, while he was talking with Edward and Hannah. Joanna was sitting on the couch beside Naomi. Joanna was talking while Naomi watched at her. I’m not sure if she even understands—or hears—what Joanna was saying.

            Mom cleared her throat and everybody turned quiet. “Thank you for attending this small dinner party. As you know, it’s my twenty-third anniversary with my husband. I know he’s been dead for over fourteen years dead but I don’t want his memory to die.”

            Everybody nodded and I noticed that Ian’s hand was on my waist while his other hand was running a hand through his hair. “Your mom loves your dad very much,” he whispered at my ear.

            “I know,” I whispered back.

            “So let the dinner begin!” Mom announced, smiling at her guests.

            Everybody cheered and I smiled for no reason.

            One hour later, I was finished eating and some random people—from the guests, of course—went up from the stage from our backyard and sing some song. It turned out that Vince and Mom prepared the dinner on our backyard and then made a make-shift stage so everybody could climb up and entertain the guests.