Challenges

Part XXVIII

***2015***

Justin had spent the day piddling around the house, reading a book, playing on his laptop, and watching TV. The night before Jason had called him and they had spent several hours on the phone talking.

Justin was bummed that he wouldn't be able to see Jason till the following Friday due to work, but the upside was that he would get longer stretches of time with him when he was off work. Of course he was also concerned he was jumping the gun with the relationship, and that it would burn out just as quick as it heated up.

"Justin!" his mother came into the living room. "Your brother will be here soon. Clean up this living room."

He got up and started to pick up the book and laptop he was working on, and straightened up the cushions. He took his stuff back up to his room. It was just his brother, so he wasn't sure why he had to make the house look nice for him. He used to live here after all.

Justin walked back down the stairs and found his dad putting another leaf on the dinner table to extend it.

"Why are you doing that?" Justin asked, counting the chairs. There was an extra chair.

"Your mother is playing matchmaker." His father said, clicking the leaf into place. "She invited a woman from the church to introduce her to Eddie. She thinks he needs to settle down finally." He sighed and looked at Justin. "She needs to leave the poor boy alone."

Justin opened his mouth but nothing came out. This was not good. "Um, I will be right back." Justin went to the living room and grabbed his phone and then headed back up the stairs dialing Matt's number.

"Come on." He whispered as the phone rang. "Pick up."

The voice mail picked up. "Damn it." He said under his breath, and dialed in Lori's number.

"Hey Justin." Lori said, "We are just pulling up."

Matt looked out his window and saw the car drive up.

"Hey," Justin said, willing himself not to sound dramatic. "I just wanted to warn you that mom had someone coming over to introduce Eddie."

"Hold on." He could hear her tell Matt and Eddie about the set up.

"Mom!" Justin could hear Matt say loudly in the background.

"It's okay." Eddie responded, but not as clear. "I will humor her."

"Thanks for the warning." Lori said. "See you on the inside."

Justin hung up and went back downstairs just as the front door opened and Matt came in, bristling with anger.

"Mom?" He called out.

"In the kitchen dear." his mother responded back.

Matt headed to the kitchen, bypassing Justin totally. Lori followed close behind giving a shrug as she passed Justin.

Justin walked to the door to see where Eddie and Chris were. Eddi was standing at the steps of the porch, not sure what to do.

"I told you," Justin said leaning against the frame of the door. "You are always welcome here."

"I know." Eddie said blushing. "I just don't know if I want to go in there right now. Matt is pretty hot."

"Well he cares." Justin said, walking outside and onto the porch. He looked around. "Where is Chris?"

"At Steven's house." Eddie rubbed his arm. Justin thought he looked like a little kid at a new playmate's house.

"Come on, let's sit out here for a bit." Justin chuckled.