Underneath The Mistletoe-JB (DONE)

3

"Hereeee you guys go." Dina smiles placing the plate of cheesy fries on the table. You, Junior and Joe were still at the diner talking. "Thanks Dee." You smile at her. "Don't mention it, it's nice having you kids back in here together after such a long time. Holler if you guys need anything else!" She pats your shoulder before going to attend another customer that was sitting nearby. "Man, my trainer is going to make my life hell from eating this during season." Joe shakes his head as he digs in to the cheesy fries. "First, Nans Meat loaf and pumpkin pie and now the diners food. Guys is going to chew your ass up." Junior shakes his head teasing Joe. "It's the holiday's, everyone gains a few." You shrug eating a fry yourself. "So, what's up with you?" Joe asks Junior. "He's getting engaged soon is what." You elbow your step brother making him roll his eyes in embarrassment. "That's awesome! Congrats dude, whose the lucky girl?" Joe asks and you and Junior give each other a look. "Uh well--the lucky girl is a lucky dude." You blurt out interrupting Junior. "Ah...my bad dude. But that's still really cool. I'll make sure to send a wedding gift or something." Joe gives him a warm smile. "Thanks but that's okay." Junior says sheepishly.

"That reminds me, we need to go by the stuff for the proposal without anyone knowing. Maybe Mark will take everyone out for lunch and we can tell them we're going to buy Christmas gifts so we can bring the stuff in and hide it?" You nod. "Sounds like a plan, Pop knows though." Junior agrees. "Pops & Mark can keep a secret, Mom and Nana...not so much. You remember how they ruined Pops surprise birthday that one year. " You say making the guys laugh. Marks phone then interrupts you guys and he looks at his phone. "It's Andy, mind if I take this?" Junior asks you guys. "Go for it." Joe shrugs. "We'll be here, tell him I said hi." You nod going for another fry.

Junior tells you both he'd be right back before he gets up and heads outside into the cold sunny atmosphere to talk on the phone. "So, what have you been up to in Boston?" Joe asks trying to kill the awkward tension between us. "Just working most of the time, even here I'm working from Pops and Nana's house." You shrug. "I've seen the interviews with some cool athletes you've done, think it's pretty cool you focus mostly on women in sports by the way." Joe gives you a small smile. "Thank you, New England has quite the list of female athletes so it's been real fun over there." You give him a small smile back.

Before Joe could speak up again you two get interrupted by a little voice. "Excuse me, um can I get a picture with you? I'm a huge fan!" You hear a small boy that must of been around 7 or 8 years old ask Joe, with his parent nearby. Joe looks over to him and gives him a big smile. "Of course!" Joe nods standing up and taking a picture with the adorable little boy who seemed so happy to take a picture with him. After his parent take the picture, they both thank Joe before going to sit back down at a nearby table. "Who Dey!" The little kid says to Joe before continuing his meal.

"That kid was adorable. I would never have the guts to go up to anyone like that especially at that age." You pout making Joe chuckle. "They're the only type of fans I can never say no to, I know I would have been crushed if I got told no as that age by my favorite athletes." Joe shakes his head. It reminded you of how much of a caring heart Joe had. "That's sweet, it kind of reminded me of the time I came for thanksgiving that one time and you took me to your high school & those girls were asking for pictures with you the entire time." You sip your milkshake. "We don't have to bring that up." Joe shake his head, a pink shade playing on his cheeks. "Always had this woe is me, no girl ever likes me! Victim complex going on but you had all the girls in school drooling over you and even got asked out to the prom. Not many guys can say that." You tease him. Joe tries to hold in a smile but fails miserably. "It was tough, you don't know what you're talking about." He shakes his head. "Mhm, sure." You roll your eyes at him.

"Listen...I know things between us aren't how they used to be but, I'd like to keep in touch if that's okay with you?" Joe asks a bit nervously, which catches you off guard that he was asking you this. "Um, I appreciate you trying to mends things but you don't really have to feel pressured to rebuild our friendship. I know we both live completely different lives now and this very well maybe my last time coming here unless work sends me out here for something." You shrug playing with your melting milkshake. You just wanted to leave on a good note with Joe and not have him feel pressured to mend something he probably didn't really care about.