Emma followed Blake up the steps to Alex's friend's door. Faintly, she could hear the children's laughter on the other side. It was a beautiful brick house with a white fence surrounding it, toys scattered on the grass lawn, probably from the kids inside.
Blake knocked on the door before looking down at her. "He'll be so happy to see you." She smiled softly as they both waited for the door to open. "Who are his friends that live here?" she asked curiously. Alex never really mentioned having friends.
Blake knocked on the door again, thinking the adult inside probably couldn't hear over all the children yelling. "Alex calls them Nat and Matt, but their real names are Natalie and Matthew. They're twins, just as hyperactive as him," he said while shaking his head. "Their mom actually works with Mom and Dad. I think their dad is a chef." He shrugged while playing with his rings. Emma couldn't help but grin, thinking about all the trouble the pair of kids probably get into. It was nice to hear Alex had friends.
The door finally opened, and out stepped a white woman with curly brown hair past her shoulders, wearing light blue jean overalls with a white T-shirt underneath, a friendly smile on her lips. She looked between the pair of them before her brown eyes settled on Blake. "Hello, Blake, here to pick up Alex, huh? Come on in, the kids are in the living room."
As they walked inside, the woman faced Emma. "You're Emma, right? It's nice to meet you. Alex and their mom have told me all about you. I'm Grace, and my husband is in the living room with the kids; his name's Logan." Emma nodded with a smile, barely able to hear her over the kids playing.
They made it into the living room, seeing a white man with short, straight brown hair spinning Alex around on his shoulder while two other kids jumped up and down around him, laughing. The kids hit the man with foam play swords.
There was a little girl with curly hair like her mother's, sticking out the bottom of a backwards black snapback. She was wearing red shorts and an oversized Panic at the Disco shirt. Emma could tell she was the tomboy type. The other kid was a little boy with short brown hair, faded on the sides, wearing jeans and a wrestling shirt.
"Wow, I hate to ruin all the fun," Emma said. They looked like they were all having such a good time. Alex finally stopped laughing, looking over at them. "Miss Pear, hey!" he yelled, waving a hand, which she returned before Alex was thrown onto the couch softly by the man, making him laugh.
The curly-haired woman shook her head. "Alex, please go grab your bag, honey. They're here to take you home." He rolled off the couch onto the floor before standing up, making his way upstairs to get his bag, the little boy following behind him. The little girl set the sword on the ground. "I'm Nat," she said to Emma. Her father smiled, rubbing her shoulder.
"Her name's Natalie, and I'm Logan." He held out his other hand towards her. Natalie rolled her eyes at her dad's comment before turning and running up the stairs, probably to join the boys.
Emma shook his hand with a smile. "I'm Emma, sir. You have a lovely home." He smiled while Grace laughed softly as she picked up a few toys off the ground.
"What a respectful young lady! Keep her around, Blake." He pointed a finger at Blake, the smile not leaving his mouth.
Blake rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly as the kids finally came from upstairs. As the little boy made it to the bottom, he said, "I'm Matt." Emma smiled at him, making him blush slightly while looking away. Nat laughed at him, hitting him on the back. Alex whispered to him, "I told you, just like a Disney princess, right?" The little boy nodded, rubbing the top of his head, not about to meet her eyes again.
Alex grinned, putting the bag on his back. "Well, it was nice having you, Alex. Visit anytime, honey, we'd love to have you here," Grace said, putting the toys into their play box in the corner of the room.
Alex smiled, giving her and Logan a hug. "Thank you, ma'am," he said before facing his friends. "Bye, Matt!" The boys gave each other a hug before pulling away. He turned, facing Nat. She smiled at him. "See ya, Nat!" He gave her a wave before making his way to the front door. Emma saw Nat's smile fall slightly as Alex walked away without thinking. The little girl was clearly upset about not also receiving a hug. The twins ran back upstairs.
Blake waved at the parents. "I hope he wasn't too much trouble."
Logan shook his head, waving off Blake's comment. "Of course not! If you would believe it, Alex actually keeps Natalie and Matthew out of trouble." Blake simply laughed as if it was a crazy statement to make before opening the front door.
Emma faced them, smiling. "It was nice to meet you both." Grace smiled while Logan gave a wave. "You too, honey. Have a good day." They walked out the door, closing it behind them. Alex walked ahead of them towards Blake's car.
Blake opened the back door for him. "Why didn't you hug Natalie goodbye, Alex?" Emma asked as she got into the passenger seat. Alex climbed into the car. "Dad always told me not to hug a girl I don't like as more than a friend because they may get the wrong idea," he said while putting on his seatbelt.
Blake rolled his eyes as he got behind the wheel. "But you do like her more than a friend, so I'm confused too, Alex." He chuckled as he looked back at his brother's cheeks turning bright red.
"I do not!" he yelled, looking out the window. Blake began to drive home, a smile on his lips. "Sure, kid... sure." Emma laughed, shaking her head.
YOU ARE READING
It Started With Hello
Romance***** Emma Pear knew she wasn't the most popular girl in high school. Her nose was usually buried in a textbook, and her grades were as spotless as her reputation for always following the rules. "Nerd" was a label she'd long since embraced. Her pare...
