Muddle on! (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 16

     The laughter died down as the front door swung open and Tinley entered. Her eyes were widened with shock, darting from me to the guys. Her mouth flew open but no sound escaped. So, she closed her mouth, pressing her lips into a thin line.

     “Hey, Tins!” I grinned. “Guys, this is my roommate Tinley. She is a shy little thing so don’t scare her,” I added the last part lowly only for them to hear.

     “Um…I’d…I…Um…I mean…I’d…I mean…welcome of course…” she stuttered.

     I would stutter too if I came home to find my roommate in a company of six grown man, sitting watching some Spanish sitcom.

     After BoBo and Logan barged into my house, uninvited I might add, we ended up going for ice cream to some local park. While we were at the park Julius joined us. Actually, I remembered him from Mama RiRi’s house, so I wasn’t freaked out too much.

     After we finished with ice cream the four of us went grocery shopping. I had nothing to offer in my fridge except carrots and the leftovers of pizza. A lack of food didn’t settle well with Logan. He was a walking stomach. I even suspected that he had two stomachs instead of one. Since he managed to empty already empty bins in my kitchen.  

     When we got back to my house, the guys started cooking the dinner. Yes, I said the guys started cooking the dinner. Julius busied himself with preparing a salad, and BoBo rather professionally began rubbing spices into the chicken. Then he wrapped it in a foil, and placed it into the oven for an hour and forty minutes.

     An hour later someone rang the doorbell. As a host I had no choice but take my butt off the couch and go answer the door. As I pulled the door open, I found Justin standing on my doorsteps next to two unfamiliar men. My eyebrows shot up and I couldn’t help thinking to myself that it was a very strange day.

     One of the unfamiliar guys was holding a huge paper bags in his hands. While Justin’s hands were in his pockets and a blank expression was plastered on his face. “Welcome, I guess…” I blinked not sure if a smile was appropriate or not. Justin blinked too, probably thinking the same thing.

     So, I sidestepped and let them silently pass inside the house.

     It turned out, that the guys who came with Justin were actually fun. Plus, they brought a cake. I don’t know about you, but in my books, I automatically promoted them into the ranks of friends.

     Yes, that’s what a simple chocolate cake does to people. It bonds them. Brings families together. Fixes the arguments between lovers…cake…

     “Tins, you’re right on time. The dinner is almost ready,” I said and true indeed, as the words left my mouth I heard a ding of the oven in the kitchen. “See, the chicken is ready. Go wash your hands and come to the table,” I chirped and stood up from the floor. I hoped that I managed to distract her creeping shyness or at least alternate it. Now instead of thinking about our houseguest, she had something else to do. Like keep her hygiene in check. Dirty hands. Gross!