Set Me Up

Chapter 2. Brunch

Most of the night was spent between fights of sleep. I couldn't get the conversation with Bash out of my head. I kept going through the checklist I'd so meticulously made. Were there important things in a partner I was overlooking in favor of a handsome face?

After what felt like 20 minutes of sleep, and 4 alarms later, I shot out of bed with a curse and took a quick shower. I threw on a yellow sundress, which complimented my dark skin, and white sandals, leaving my hair down, black curls reaching almost to my butt. I flew out the door, hailing a cab and giving him the address on the opposite side of town.

A half hour later I'd pulled up to a quaint brownstone. I hopped out and, glancing at my phone, let out a small curse before flying through the front door. A cacophony of sound greeted me.

"Alex, I said no skateboarding in the house!" my sister, Farah, yelled to her oldest son. She smiled broadly at me, pulling me into a tight hug that smelled like cinnamon. "Hey love, everyone's in the kitchen." I couldn't help but relax into her embrace, giving her a quick squeeze before pulling away.

With a smile, I followed the sound of raised voices and laughter. I entered the dining room to the sound of cheers as my nephew held up a spoon, grinning ear to ear. "You're out Grandpa!" he yelled, pointing the spoon at the older man in front of him.

Dad chuckled, both hands in the air as he surrendered. "Well someone has to fry up that bacon. Guess it might as well be me." Dad stood and as he turned his smile grew wider. "Hey baby girl!" Around him was a chorus of hello's as he folded me into a tight hug. I loved that he hugged me like he hadn't seen me in ages even though we did a big family brunch every Sunday.

"Need some help dad?" I asked as I pulled back from his embrace. Someone in the room gasped loudly and there was a smattering of very decisive no's. "It was one time!" I cried.

"And the fire department had to come out. I prefer my Sunday's uneventful, thank you," Mom called out from the kitchen.

Dad smiled with a shake of his head. As he turned, tucking me under his arm, he gestured at the full table, "You can take my spot but be weary, this table is full of heathens!" Dad patted my shoulder as he walked toward the kitchen shaking his head. I watched as he walked up behind mom, wrapping her in a tight hug. She grinned as she continued to whisk the pancakes and he kissed her cheek. I fought the urge to rub the ache in my chest that the sight of them gave me. I loved that my parents were in love and happy, but it's hard to see that when you don't have it for yourself.

I turned back to the rowdy group in front of me before plopping down next to a familiar head of brown hair. Sebastian was focused intently on the cards in his hand. "I think the day I beat you to brunch will be the day hell freezes over." I picked up my pile of cards, sorting through them quickly as everyone geared up for the next round.

He smirked, "Probably. You like sleep too much."

"Not all of us can function on 4 hours of sleep."

Around us the table grew deadly silent as cards started sliding from player to player. Spoons was serious business in the James household. My parents had taught all four of us as children to play it and it quickly became a family favorite. Every Sunday, members of the James clan could be found, heads bent over a hand of cards, spoons lined up down the center of the table. It had only gotten better as the family grew. Siblings, a brother in law, 2 sister in laws, and nieces and nephews aplenty filled the table and made for a very spirited game. The sight of it made me excited to bring my own children. I smiled at my 1 year old niece balanced on my brother's knee.

Out of the corner of my eyes I caught movement. I turned my head ever so slightly to see a flash of silver metal slip under the table, my 12 year old niece smiling slyly. As covertly as I could, I reached forward. The cool metal had barely touched my fingertips when chaos erupted. Sebastian's arm flew out, desperately grabbing at spoons as everyone at the table began shouting, arms flying as they reached for their own spoon. I couldn't help but laugh as my brother frowned at the empty table.