Hooked on love

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

“I hope you like homemade curry, because that’s what’s on the menu for tonight.” He opens the front door for me to go in, “curry’s fine.” It smells good.
 The layout of his house is very peculiar, as soon as you walk in there’s a small, narrow hall way with two doors, one I presume is a back door to the garden and the other a closet for shoes a coats. We head up the first set of stairs and I see that there are the basic rooms of a normal house, a kitchen on the left, with a laundry room beside, then living room straight ahead. Jackson leads me to the kitchen.

“Hey dad, smells good.” I stay behind him with my arms in front of me.
“Hey, where’s Ava?” They both look behind him, I’ve never met a dates parents before so I don’t know what to do. “Why are you hiding? C’mere,” he places his hand under my elbow and brings me into view for his dad to see. “Hi, I’m Ava.” I say sheepishly, “I love your house, I’ve never been inside a 3 story building before.”
“Thank you. Uh, I’m Daniel.” He holds out his hand gesturing a handshake, very gentlemanly. I shake his hand and smile. “It took a while for my legs to get used to the stair though,” his smile is just like Jacksons but more mature, it see where he gets his looks from. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you all had muscly legs in the family from them.” We both chuckled, Jackson cleared his throat.” How long until tea?” What’s his problem?
“5 minutes, would you set out the table and shout your brother please.” So I’m meeting two family members tonight, come to think of it, where is his mother? This house has no trace of femininity whatsoever. I grab the plates while Jackson beckons his brother, Seth was it? I’m not as nervous as I thought I would be, surprisingly. “Oh, thank you for inviting me, it’s really nice of you.” He has a soft look on his face, “it’s my pleasure love, and I had to get the first girl Jackson dates home somehow.” First girl? I thought he’d be quite popular. “Hasn’t he dated before?” I feel like I’m prying, I should ask Jackson himself.
“I assume so yeah, he’s just never wanted to bring them home.” He manages a small smile, it pulls at my heart strings. “Well, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t persist.” It’s got me thinking now, why hasn’t he brought anyone home?
“So that’s how it went down, you must have some control considering he listened, would you like a drink? I have wine.” Lot’s please.
“Yes please.”

Two glasses later and I have Daniel telling me about Jackson’s childhood moments, how he has always lifted one eyebrow up since he was a baby, I find it incredibly cute. Speak of the devil, he walks in, followed by his brother. His eyes find my face and quickly shifts away.
“Already on the wine are we?” He lifts one eyebrow, I can’t help but laugh. “What?”
“Your dad’s literally just told me that you’ve been being lifting your eyebrow since you was a baby and you’re still doing it now, it’s cute.”, Daniel and Seth join in laughing, he notices he’s doing it and immediately stops. “Thanks dad – Cut it out Seth before I do something I won’t regret.” Is he angry?
“Uh, let’s sit down and eat,” Daniel frantically rushes around the kitchen, is that because of what Jackson said?
“I’ll help,” I grab the glasses and the bowl full of rice off him, something has definitely changed since that comment. I shouldn’t feel irritated towards him, but I do. It’s his dad for crying out loud! I place everything down and take a seat next to Jackson, I look up and catch Seth staring at me, I smile and he quickly looks away. “It’s Seth right? I’m Ava.” I hold my hand out just like Daniel did. He hesitates, looks a Jackson and quickly shakes me hand and goes back to what he was doing. What’s that about?
“Nice to meet you,” I can barely hear him, is he shy? He won’t properly look me in the eye. Something is definitely going on here.
 Daniel takes a seat next to Seth and dishes out the food, mmm…I say thank you and dig in.

An empty plate, so many laughs and however many glasses later, I don’t remember anything.