A/N: Hola guys! Yup I kept my promise n uploaded today even though it’s a little late hehe…Hope u enjoy! Your comments really help so don’t forget to
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I was silent for a few minutes after we got in. Okay, so saying I was a little scared would be a understatement. I was downright terrified! I was meeting his family! This was a huge deal.
‘’Wow, someone’s quiet’’ muttered Jayden, while glancing at me.
‘’Keep your eyes on the road’’ I mimicked him from yesterday, and gave a cheeky grin. Okay, so this was helping with the nerves…a lot!
‘’Now, there’s the Riley we all know and love’’ he said, as he rolled his eyes. I rolled my eyes but I couldn’t help the tiny increase in my heartbeat.
‘’So tell me about your family?’’ I asked a little curiously. He glanced at me again.
‘’Okay, um, my mom’s name is Alexandria. She works at the local hospital as a nurse’’ he stated and glanced at me; as if I was gonna remark. I smiled at him, encouraging him to continue. He nodded before continuing. ‘’Zach and Zoe are twins. They’re 9 years old, and are the naughtiest kids you’ll probably see. We have a 4 year old golden retriever called Max’’ he finished. I frowned. Why hadn’t he mentioned his dad anywhere?
‘’What about your dad?’’ I asked softly. Ok so I did know what happened and I know I should have kept my mouth shut but I couldn’t help it!
His grip on the steering wheel tightened till the point where his knuckles turned white.
‘’He died 2 years ago’’ he said in a calm, blank voice. I understood. He’d put his guards up. He wasn’t going to let me in. But why would he? Why did I feel so disappointed when he didn’t want to tell me how it affected him? When he didn’t want to share it with me? I shouldn’t feel lie this! But I couldn’t help myself and I was feeling this. I just stared at him for another few minutes before staring out the window. I don’t know how long it took to get to his house but right now, I just wanted to get the hell out of this awkward silence that grown inside the room.
He sighed before glancing at me again.
‘’I’m sorry, it’s just…hard for me…to talk ab-about my…da-dad’’ he stuttered. I gently put my hand on his. He jumped and swerved the car but quickly got back into lane. He gave me a incredulous look before fixing his eyes in front again.
‘’It’s ok, I understand. My mom’s dead too remember’’ I said and he flinched. Probably at my calm and sincere tone. I understood his pain. Even though I’d only been 5 at the time, I understood what it felt like losing your parents, because I’d lost not only my mom but also my dad.
I took my hand back and placed it gently on my lap. He gave me a glance again. I turned on the radio, and ‘Moves Like Jagger’ by Maroon 5 started playing. I sang along to it, doing all the “oo’s” and choruses, since I didn’t really know the song that well.
A few minutes later we pulled in front of a small building. It was white in color and there was a little garden outside. There were roses planted in pots and a few leafy plants that I couldn’t quite name. Standing outside were two little kids, a girl and a boy.
They had the same dirty blonde hair like Jayden, but where his eyes were a beautiful green, theirs were a pale blue. The girl, Zoe, had her long hair in a plait and it came down till her waist. She was wearing a light blue summer dress, that looked the exact shade of her eyes and brown sandals. She was carrying a pink backpack. She looked adorable!
The boy, Zach, had his hair up till his chin, and looked so much like Jayden, I was actually taken back. He was wearing a purple dinosaur shirt and brown shorts. He was wearing navy blue sneakers and was carrying a green backpack. Wow, I have a feeling he and Kat are going to get along really well! They were both smiling at Jayden, I don’t think they saw me yet. Jayden got out of the car and helped them inside the car, carrying their backpacks. Zach was explaining something to Jayden, while Zoe pitched in every now and then.
‘’And then she threw the eraser at Zoe, so of course I wasn’t gonna let them pick on my little sister, so I took all the erasers from the cupboard and threw them back at-‘’ Zach was cut off.
‘’We’re twins, you can’t be older than me’’ argued Zoe.
‘’Yes I am-‘’ cut off Zach. He finally noticed me. They both did.
‘’Who are you?’’ asked Zoe curiously. I turned in my seat and smiled at her.
‘’Hi, I’m Riley’’ I said, and held a hand out to shake.
‘’Riley?!’’ they both yelled, and then surprised me with a bear hug, which was really hard since they were sitting behind me and I was in the passenger seat.
‘’Woah guys’’ I laughed. What can I say? I love kids. ‘’Don’t wanna squash your treats now do ya?’’ I questioned them and pointed my head to my lap where their treats were.
‘’We love you already!’’ they yelled in unison, as Jayden laughed and started the car once again. I laughed along with him.
‘’Nuh uh uh guys. You’ll get these once we get home’’ I told them and winked as they both groaned.
‘’We’re taking our hug back’’ Zach said, as he crossed his arms across his chest. We all laughed again before Zach and Zoe told us another story about a girl in their class call Anna May.
‘’Hey do they know who I am? Like really know?’’ I whispered to Jayden, as I leaned closer to him so that the twins wouldn’t hear.
‘’Yup they do know. Didn’t you see the way they reacted?’’ he said and then said, ‘’By the way, why are we whispering?’’
I shrugged. ‘’I honestly don’t know’’ I said as we both laughed again. Zach and Zoe gave us both questioning looks but then went back to talking to each other.
In a few minutes we stopped in front of a house. It had a white picket fence and was painted a light crème color. There wasn’t much of a garden, but I think there was a tiny backyard. Jayden parked the car in the driveway, and turned off the car. Zach and Zoe jumped out of the car and ran to the front door, and me and Jayden followed them.
‘’Come on Jay, you’re so slow!’’ whined Zach and Zoe. Gosh them talking at the same time is creeping me out!
‘’I’m coming, I’m coming’’ Jayden yelled back as we stepped up the 2 stairs and got to the door. He put the key in and unlocked the door. As soon as the door opened, a big golden dog charged at us. I squealed and clung on Jayden's arm. It fell on the twins and licked both of their faces.
''Hey Max, we missed you too'' laughed Zach before him and Zoe jumped back into standing position and then ran inside, and dumped their bags by the table.
Max then looked at me and growled softly. I jumped a step back and pulled myself closer to Jayden so he was shielding me in a way. Okay so maybe I was a little scared of the dog...just a tiny bit.
''No Max, this is Riley. No growling at her'' Jayden scolded. He grabbed me and pulled me in front of him. Max growled warningly. Jayden just smacked him behind the head before taking my hands again.
''It's alright, he won't bite you'' he cooed at me, while sneakily taking my hand nearer and nearer to the dog.
''Jayden no'' I said as sternly as I could, but I was panicking really. Max didn't look like he was happy to see me and I have no doubt that he would bite my hand despite what Jayden said. I tried to pull my hand back but Jayden just held on tighter.
''Trust me'' he said, unleashing me to the full power of his gorgeous eyes. Damn it, that wasn't fair play. I reluctantly let him take my hand near to the dog. He smiled at me. He stopped when my hand was in front of Max's nose and let him sniff my hand for a second. Max suddenly licked my hand and playfully pawed my legs. I gave a shriek because I wasn't expecting it which caused Jayden to laugh. Jerk!
''See, now that wasn't so bad, was it?'' he asked, amused clearly. Okay, I admit it wasn't.
''Maybe not'' I muttered as I reached down slowly and cautiously scratched Max behind the ear. He seemed to enjoy that, and I grinned.
''What was that? I don't think I heard you'' he teased me, cupping his left ear with one hand and bending down a bit to pet Max with the other hand.
''Shut up, you jerk!'' I teased back, grinning, and took a step forward to take the remaining steps into the house.
''Oh no you don't'' he said in a playful voice before I was pulled back and was being carried in his arms, bridal style. I involuntarily gave out a squeal of surprise and immediately grabbed onto his neck. One of his hands was on my back and the other beneath my knees. His face too was close to mine.
''What was that again? I'm a jerk?'' he teased. Somewhere during this, Max had run back inside the house.
''Yup'' I breathed out popping the 'p'.
''Really?'' he taunted again, just as he slacked his arms a bit so I was lowered a little, as if I could fall any minute. I squealed again and held onto him closer and buried my face in his neck. He laughed at my reaction.
''Am I still a jerk?'' he questioned, playfully dipping me again. I just held him tighter and removed my face to stick my tongue out at him and then just buried it back in his neck, breathing in his scent. Again he laughed and then started walking forwards.
''What are you doing?'' I mumbled, my voice muffled because my face was still at his neck, but he could hear because my face wasn't that far away from his ear. I pulled my face away to look at him questioningly.
''Don't you remember what Darren said?'' he said, cocking an eyebrow at me. Ok now that looked really sexy. Wait, no! No thinking that Riley! I tried to remember what Darren had said. What? Oh wait...no! No he wouldn't. He must have seen my expression and figured I understood. He chuckled at me,
''Are you freakin serious? Put me down! Put me down right now Jayden Dean Andrews!'' I yelled, hitting his shoulder twice. He winced but looked confused.
''How do you know my full name?'' he asked, cocking an eyebrow again. God he needed to stop doing that! It was distracting me a lot. Actually this was a slip of tongue. Whenever me or Kat were mad at each other or angry at one another, we'd always use full names. But I couldn't tell Jayden how Kat had snooped some info on him from the school. That conversation would not end well!
''It was on the marriage certificate?'' It came out more like a question. He seemed to buy it though so I let out a sigh of relief, before asking him, ''You have that right? The certificate I mean?''
''Yeah'' was all he said, as we stepped into the house. Woah, he actually carried me over the threshold! He set me on my feet slowly and I too, reluctantly removed my hands from around his neck. I looked around.
It was a pretty house, but it lacked color. The walls were all bare, or a crème color like the outside. I walked into what I presume was the living room and I was right. Zach and Zoe were sitting on the couch watching a cartoon. There were a lot of pictures hanging up on the walls here.
I saw them one by one. There was one of a very pretty lady who I assumed is Jayden’s mom and a handsome middle aged man holding a 4 year old Jayden. I knew it was Jayden because of his eyes, which he apparently got from his dad. There was one of a 13 year old Jayden at the beach, making a sandcastle, while his mom and dad each carried one of the twins, and was sitting on the beach chairs. There was one that had a 15 year old Jayden and his dad, both holding up a fish, probably gone fishing… There was a couple more, like a few with the twins and their mom and dad or with Jayden.
‘’Hey you want something?’’ called Jayden’s voice from I think is the kitchen?
‘’Nah, I’m good’’ I replied, still looking at the pictures. My hands involuntarily reached up and brushed the glass frame of a picture of Jayden and his mom. He looked around 10 or 11 and the way he was smiling was adorable. I smiled despite myself.
‘’Riley can we have the cookies and chocolates now?’’ asked Zach, while Zoe was nodding her head furiously. I smiled and bent down to their level.
‘’Not right now guys, maybe after you have some proper food in your tummies? How does that sound?’’ I asked them.
‘’It’s not fair, Jayden’s eating a muffin right now’’ whined Zoe. What? Sure enough when I got to the kitchen, where Zach and Zoe had kept the treats, Jayden was sneakily munching on a muffin, with his back to us.
‘’Jayden Dean Andrews! How dare you eat those muffins?’’ I scolded him. He immediately turned around and grinned sheepishly. I glared back. Zach and Zoe snickered.
‘’Someone’s in trouble’’ said Zach and Zoe and began laughing. Jayden just glared half heartedly at them, but I knew he was more amused than angry.
‘’I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it, that first one was just so good’’ he whined at me then, just like his sister had a minute ago.
‘’Unbelievable’’ I mumbled as I took out two chocolate chip muffins.
‘’Here you go guys. Enjoy’’ I grinned as I gave one each to Zach and Zoe.
‘’No, not the chocolate chip ones! Those are the best!’’ whined Jayden. Again Zoe and Zach snickered.
‘’Oh shush’’ I said and waved a hand dismissively, as my hand went in and took out my favorite blueberry one. I nibbled on it happily till someone snatched it from my hand.
‘’Hey!’’ I yelled, as my hand went to snatch it back. The hand quickly pulled back and my eyes went up to see my muffin snatcher. It was, of course, none other than Jayden. He grinned mischievously at me.
‘’Jayden I swear if you don’t give me back my muffin right now…’’ I warned him, narrowing my eyes.
‘’Or what?’’ he taunted. ‘’What’re you gonna do Riley?’’ I tried once again to grab it back but the jerk held it above his head, making it impossible for me to reach it. Damn him and his height! Aha! If he’s gonna use his height, I’m gonna use my charm.
‘’Please Jayden’’ I whispered, as I took a step close to him, and lightly trailed my finger up his chest. I inwardly grinned when he gulped. Hah! So he was affected by my charms…well to an extent. I continued my trail till my finger stopped at his heart, which seemed to be racing under my fingers. I placed my other hand on his chest too and lightly, fisted his shirt underneath both my hands, and pulled him nearer.
‘’Riley’’ he whispered huskily. Gosh, that voice was turning me on. No, no I have to focus. He stole your muffin Riley, now focus. At least that’s what I told myself.
‘’Mm?’’ I mumbled as I breathed in his wonderful scent again. Right that moment, his hand came down to my hips, but he was careful not to stain my shirt or cardigan for that matter, with the muffin. I quickly let go of his shirt and ducked down and grabbed my muffin back. Sweet victory was mine!
‘’Hah!’’ I yelled in his face, as I happily finished my muffin. He just stood there stunned for a moment, his eyes glazing over a bit, but they snapped back to reality when I spoke.
‘’What the…’’ he muttered, as he ran a hand through his hair. I smiled but that was short lived.
‘’Can we open our eyes now?’’ asked Zoe. Me and Jayden both quickly snapped our heads in their directions. Shit, I’d completely forgotten they were in the room too!
‘’Um..ye-yeah’’ I stuttered out. Me? Stuttering? I quickly cleared my throat as Zoe and Zach peeked slowly through their eyes. They both gave a sigh of relief before removing their hands, and then their faces turned mischievous.
‘’Riley and Jayden sitting in a tree. K I S S I N G’’ they both chanted together. Oh my god, not again! To my surprise Jaden busted out laughing.
‘’We were not kissing, I was just getting my muffin back’’ I muttered, defending myself. Jayden was laughing so hard, he was holding his stomach.
‘’Oh shut up already, you jerk’’ I said and lightly punched him in the shoulder. He was still chuckling, just then we heard the front door open. I cocked an eyebrow at Jayden.
‘’Were you expecting someone today?’’ I mumbled to him. He shook his head, also confused, because not only did he have a visitor but someone who had a key to his house.
‘’Thanks for the ride Linda’’ a woman’s voice said, just as they closed the door.
‘’Kids, I’m home’’ yelled the foreign voice. Oh shit! Jayden’s mom was here!
‘’Mom’’ both Zach and Zoe yelled as they rushed out of the kitchen and as soon as they did I elbowed Jayden in the ribs.
‘’Ow’’ he exclaimed, clutching his stomach.
‘’You didn’t tell me your mother was coming home’’ I whispered harshly.
‘’Well sorry but I didn’t know’’ he replied back.
‘’How could you not know?’’ I said rhetorically, as I rolled my eyes.
‘’Why are you freakin out?’’ he demanded.
‘’I’m not freakin out, I just…oh come on Jayden, I’m meeting your mom as in my mother-in-law!’’ I exclaimed.
‘’You were fine meeting Zach and Zoe?’’ he said.
‘’It’s not the same thing!’’ I told him, putting a hand on my hip.
‘’Wh-‘’ he started but was cut off by another voice.
‘’Aren’t you two already fighting like an old married couple’’ said a much amused voice. I turned sharply to see Jayden’s mom standing there, full out grinning at the two of us. I quickly straightened m posture. She was a very pretty lady, but you could see that the last few years had taken a lot outta her. She had beautiful dark brown hair and the same pale eyes that Zach and Zoe had inherited. She was wearing worn out boot cut jeans and a light green shirt.
‘’Uh hey mom, this is Riley, Riley this is my mom, Alexandria’’ Jayden introduced us. I walked up to her with a smile, and held out my hand to shake.
‘’Hi, it’s nice to meet you’’ I said. Instead of shaking my hand, she grabbed my hand and surprised me with a hug.
‘’Nice to meet you to sweetie’’ she said, pleasantly. I awkwardly hugged her back. I wasn’t used to these motherly hugs, the only ones I’d gotten while growing up were ever from Sarah, but Alexandria’s were somehow different from even those. When she finally released me, I gave her a genuine smile and stepped back to stand next to Jayden.
‘’Um mom, what are you doing home? I thought you were coming home late today?’’ asked a much confused Jayden.
‘’Oh sweetie, they let me off early since there wasn’t much to do today, so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to see my daughter-in-law,’’ she stated and sent a wink our way at the end. I blushed at that.
‘’Anyway Jayden, I think Zach and Zoe want your help with something in the living room’’ she vaguely said but I caught on. Apparently Jayden didn’t get the hint.
‘’I don’t think so, they’re just watching TV’’ he said confused. I face palmed and elbowed him in the ribs again.
‘’Ow! You need to stop doing that, you have really pointy elbows’’ yelled out Jayden as his mother and me busted out laughing. He muttered something along the lines of both us ganging up on him or something.
‘’I have pointy elbows huh?’’ I questioned, putting a hand on my hip and cocking an eyebrow at him.
‘’Yeah you do’’ he retorted back. And just as I was about to say something back, Jayden’s mom cut us off.
‘’Break it off, you two,’’ she grinned.
‘’You’re so lucky you’re mom’s here’’ I told him. Again just as he was about to respond, Jayden’s mom cut him off.
‘’Okay, Jayden can you please go help your brother and sister, I just wanna have a word with my daughter-in-law for a minute’’ she again winked at me.
‘’Ok fine, just don’t scare her off’’ he warned but there was amusement in his voice too, as he exited the kitchen. We stood there for a moment in silence, before she spotted the treats I’d gotten for the twins.
‘’What’s that?’’ she asked curiously as she made her way over to where I stood.
‘’Um, they’re chocolates and muffins and sweets. I got them for Zach and Zoe.’’ I said timidly with a smile.
‘’Thank you’’ she replied, also with a smile.
‘’Um what should I call you?’’ I blurted out suddenly. The question had been on my mind since she entered the house. I mean I didn’t know whether to call her Jayden’s mom, Alexandria or Mrs. Andrews, though I’m a Mrs. Andrews now too. Oh my god, that is so not cool! To my surprise, she started laughing. I just stood there a little awkwardly, till she gained her composure.
‘’You can call me Alex, sweetie’’ she said, smiling at me and then her face changed into one of sadness. ‘’Um…Jayden told me, how your mom passed away and I just wanted you to know that even though you and Jayden got into this marriage under the influence of alcohol, I already consider you a part of this family, so if you have any problem, any at all please don’t hesitate to come to me’’ she finished, her eyes silently pleading with mine.
Suddenly she hugged me and said, ‘’Oh sweetheart, don’t cry’’ I hadn’t even realized that silent tears were running down my face. I quickly swiped at my cheeks.
Mom was a touchy topic.
‘’I’m fine’’ I said, my voice cracking a bit so I cleared my throat. ‘’And thank you’’ I told her, really grateful for it. She pulled away then.
‘’Hey mom, I thought you said a minute, you two have been in there for-‘’ said Jayden’s voice before he walked into the kitchen. He stopped talking when he saw me.
‘’Riley why are you crying?’’ he asked incredulously, before rushing to me, looking a little panicked. He swooped down to my height and gently wiped my tears away.
‘’I’m fine really’’ I reassured him and smiled. He still didn’t look convinced so I continued. ‘’Your mom just said a few things that got me a little emotional, that’s all’’ I waved a hand dismissively.
‘’Are you sure you’re fine?’’ he asked me again, cupping my face in his hands. I nodded, once again lost in his beautiful green eyes.
‘’Mom, can I speak to you for a second’’ he said stiffly. Woah what was the change in his tone? And why was he being so rude to his mother? However his mother just smiled and gestured for him to speak. ‘’Alone’’ he hissed. Still she didn’t seem fazed; if at all her smile grew wider.
‘’Of course’’ and they went outside, and into one of the rooms that were downstairs. Okay so, if you know me at all, you’d already predict my next move. Yes, I tip-toed to the door and put my ear on it to hear what they were talking about.
‘’I thought I told you not to mention her mom!’’ I heard Jayden whisper/yell.
‘’I didn’t, well; I just wanted her to feel like she could come to me if she had a problem. I just want her to know that she’s now a part of this family’’ mumbled Alex.
‘’You could’ve done it without mentioning her mom too’’ he fumed but I knew he wasn’t as angry as he was before.
‘’Okay, I’m sorry, though you should watch your volume, you know, she could hear us’’ pointed out Alex. I heard a chuckle from Jayden before footsteps. Was he pacing now?
‘’Mom, if I know her at all, I know that she’s right outside this door’’ he said just as the door was opened and it revealed a smirking Jayden and a shocked but smiling Alex.
‘’Hey Riley’’ the jerk said as I stood up straight again. I just stuck my tongue out at him which had him laughing.
‘’Okay come on you two, time for some dinner’’ said Alex, behind us.
‘’Dinner? What time is it?’’ I asked confised.
‘’Its 5 sweetie’’ smiled Alex. 5 ‘o’ clock? Really? Wow time flew fast! And we didn’t even start on our project.
‘’Woah time flew by fast’’ I mumbled.
‘’Come on then, I’m starving’’ Jayden said, as he put his arms around my shoulder and turned us towards his kitchen.
‘’How can you be starving? You just had two muffins not so long ago?’’ I asked him rhetorically as he let go of my shoulders to wash his hands at the sink. I too washed my hands.
‘’What can I say, I’m a growing boy’’ he commented back.
‘’Growing boy? Zach is a growing boy Jayden, but you my dear, ever so sweet husband are not’’ I grinned, and that’s how we both fell about laughing. I didn’t know this family for that long but I already liked them, and that was gonna be a problem. I just hope after this whole annulment thingy is done, they’d still be just as friendly and loving towards me. I guess I can only hope but a part of me already says that no matter what, this is gonna be my family now too.