Challenges

Part XXVI

***2015***

Justin sat at the table with Eddie and Lori talking about his adventure of a three day date.

"I think it was the most fun I have had in a long time." Justin sighed as he looked at Lori and then Eddie. "And thank you for letting us crash here the other night."

"No problem." Lori giggled. "I am sure Jason didn't mind either." She took a sip of her coffee.

"How was your trip Eddie?' Justin turned his attention to another topic.

"It was good." Eddie was the marketing manager for Matt's company. He had gone to a conference that explored some of the newer technologies that were coming out. "I think I have some new ideas I will run by Matt, but in general, I think we will just keep things going the way they have been."

Justin nodded as the front door opened and closed.

"Hey everyone." Matt called from the entryway.

"In the kitchen Matt." Lori called out.

"Hey Justin." Matt said, walking in and clapping his back. "Glad you stopped by before heading back to Socorro."

"I wanted to say bye to Lori before I left, and I was surprised to see that Eddie was back." Justin nodded to Eddie.

"Hey beautiful." Matt leaned over and gave Lori a kiss and then moved over to Eddie. "Hey handsome." and gave him a kiss as well.

"Have you guys told Chris yet?" Justin asked absently playing with a frill on the table cloth.

"No." Lori responded. "We are going to wait till he is older."

"He is used to Eddie staying here," Matt interjected, "But we want to make sure he knows it's not something that you should spread around to others."

"And by others," Justin mused, "you mean mom."

"I still think you should tell her Matt." Lori interjected pushing her coffee cup to the side. "It may take some heat off poor Justin here."

"Or," Justin retorted, "It may cause me more problems. She is still under the impression that I turned Nate and Cody. Imagine if I brought the curse down on my brother."

"One day." Matt said simply. "But that is for another day."

Lori got up and grabbed some plates with turkey sandwiches and chips laid out on them already and placed one in front of each of the guys and then grabbed her own plate.

"So Justin," Lori said, picking at her chips, "What are the plans for the rest of your visit?"

"I am not sure." Justin laughed, "I have done more than I intended to do to begin with." He tossed a chip in his mouth. "I was just going to stay at dad's house and read and do absolutely nothing."

"Well," Matt grinned, "You broke up a wedding, got in a fight with your brother, met a guy and spent three days with him, and now you're sitting here eating sandwiches with that same brother."

"A fight?" Eddie coughed on his sandwich he was chewing on. "Again?"

"It was just a romp in the dirt really." Justin blushed. "I was being stubborn, and Matt had to make me see the light." He rubbed his eye, "Or at least make me feel the light."

"It's not like we fight all the time." Matt blushed.

"True." Lori said thinking. She still hadn't touched her food.

"Are you okay?" Eddie asked Lori.

"Yea." She looked at her food. "I am just not that hungry. I thought I was, but now..." She pushed the plate aside. "I was the same way with the other pregnancies."