Candy ✔ (In Editing)

-Chapter Eleven

Everyone has been very welcoming. I thought they would be one of those stuck up rich snobs but they were actually friendly to Cara and I as guests. Tumi seemed to be already part of the family because he seemed to get along with everyone and knew a bit of the inside jokes they told.

We hung out in the living room. Everyone was conversing and introducing themselves to me. They told jokes that had me clutching on to Cara's arm to keep myself from rolling on the floor. Another thing is I was officially off the market. Crystal's eldest son claimed me as his girlfriend the moment we were introduced. Luca was just the cutest thing ever, well him and his brother and sister.

We later on moved to the dining table where Crystal with the help of Emerald had set up the table for the family. I took a seat on my assigned table and Luca took a seat next to me. He gave me a toothy grin and I smiled back at him. I turned my head and was fairly surprised to see Justin sitting next to me. Throughout the night we have exchanged stolen glances, hidden smiles and lingering looks. No one seemed to notice though.

"Hey." I greeted him, shyly.

"You look gorgeous." He blurted out. He didn't look embarrassed to have said that. It seemed like he wanted to say that the entire night.

"Thank you." I blushed as I dished up for my little boyfriend and I. As we ate the conversations became quieter. Tristan's mom (Annalise) had already played twenty one questions with Cara and she was impressed with Cara's answers. Annalise already took such a huge liking to Cara.

"So Lerato, my daughter tells me you work for a magazine company." Annalise quipped. Everyone shifted uncomfortably. I guess they really valued their privacy and me working for at a magazine set off alarms in their brains. They considered me a threat to their privacy. They thought I was a journalist.

"Yes I do ma'am." I answered politely. I felt Justin squeeze my knee under the table and it was oddly comforting at the suddenly quiet table.

"Justin tells me he is doing a feature for the magazine soon." Ace, Justin's father, said trying to break the awkwardness.

"He is?" Crystal questioned with a look of shock on her face. She wasn't the only one.

"Yes I am." Justin answered shortly.

"Uh-yes. I'm assisting with his feature." I said quietly. Annalise nodded, "well I trust your journalism skills are good, you seem like such a sweetheart." She smiled at me.

"She's not—" Tumi started but I cut him off. I chuckled, "it's okay Tumi."

"Mrs Hudson I'm not a journalist." I stated and she looked at me confused. "I studied software engineering in coding and Justin's feature was a special request from the boss himself." I looked at Justin. His lips twitched upwards as he caught onto my wordplay.

After that everyone seemed to be at ease. I was listening to Sapphire (Crystal's daughter) ranting about how it was unfair that she couldn't have hair like mine or Cara's because hers was ginger red and as straight as hair comes.

"But I want my hair to be just like Cara's." She whined.

"I thought you loved your hair." Her father Dominic said.

"Hers looks prettier than mine." She sulked.

"That's not true sweetie, I wish I had your hair." Cara inputted.

"Really?" Sapphire quizzed and Cara nodded.

"I love my hair now Daddy." She grinned and her father kissed her cheek. From the corner of my eye I saw Tristan look at Cara with a look adoration in his blue eyes. Cara caught him and smiled shyly at him. I ship it!