Open To Love (Edited)

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚃𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚟𝚎

∴Zach∴

I slump back in my seat and groan to myself. "We do this every year, Dad. And every year we do it, something bad always happens. Especially to me."

He keeps his eyes on his laptop. "That's just what you think, Zach, when in reality nothing bad actually happens."

It's that time of the year again. When my family hosts a 'gathering' at our family estate. The reason why I don't call it a family gathering is that the Kingston family is actually really small.

My mom was an only child, my dad is an only child, my grandparents on both sides are dead, and it's only me, my sister Beatriz, and, I guess, you could say Patrick.

So because of that, the people that come to the gathering include business associates, partners, random acquaintances, and family friends you don't know the names of.

"Nothing bad happens to you, but something always happens to me." I throw my head back and groan again. I know I'm acting childish, but you don't understand how much I hate these types of things.

It's the definition of a train wreck or maybe even a poorly scripted horror movie where the ending is always the same and always predictable.

"Maybe this year you should actually consider bringing a plus one. Perhaps that friend you mentioned to me on the phone." I take the time to think about what he's saying. Having Aria there with me would be the best distraction for me.

I'd just spend the whole night glued to her and ignore everyone else. Yeah, that would be absolutely perfect, and maybe this time around the night won't end badly for me. I hope she'll say yes.

"I think you're right. Also, I'm almost done with my proposal."

"Were you able to talk to Patrick and work together?" He finally looks up from his laptop and looks at me.

I press my lips together and look away from him. ". . . No. But I can do it myself. That meeting with Mr. Emerson is coming up faster than you think, and I don't have time to work with an airhead like Patrick."

"How would you feel if someone were to talk about you the same way you talk about Patrick?"

"I wouldn't care because that's their own opinion. I know who I am." I shrug casually.

"Oh God, Zach, I don't have time for your attitude. Leave my office." I stand up with a smile on my face.

"I love you too, Dad."

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"No, seriously, how do you always find these places? And how come I've never heard of them?" Aria sits in front of me with a smile on her face.

She looks a bit tired today, with dark circles around her eyes, and she's dressed in casual clothing. It has me wondering what may have happened, but I don't want to interrogate her and make her feel some type of way. I'm just glad she agreed to come out today. So now I can initiate my plan.

Butter her up with good food, then ask her to accompany me to the gathering this weekend. And this isn't just any food. It's some good Ethiopian food.

The type of food that will make her marry me on the spot. . . that's not what I want, but you get my point. It's just that good that there's no way she'll reject my offer.

"I have an antenna in my head that just immediately locates these restaurants."

"Oh, no wonder why your head is so lumpy." We both laugh, but I can't tell if she's being serious or not. Have I been walking around with a lumpy head for my entire life?