We're Not Related Anymore...

Dinner

Jacob: Three Years Ago

"What was with all the fighting earlier?" Shelley asks me, trying to peel a carrot. She's failing miserably considering she's holding the peeler the wrong way round.

I take the vegetable from her and set it down on the cutting board, not bothering to answer her question. Shelley's always fishing for gossip and I'm not in the mood right now to fulfill her daily dose of drama.

Shelley huffs at my lack of response and punishes me by washing her hands and abandoning me to make supper by myself. It's fine by me. Everyone else slows me down when they try and help me in the kitchen. The only other two people who are decent cooks are Maddie and Keegan. Keegan's somewhere in Italy right now and Maddie's avoiding me. Again.

I clench my jaw as I pick up the carrot and peel it with fast efficiency. How dare she? Setting me up with her best friend? What kind of person does that?

I'm so angry that I cut up all the vegetables in record time. Before I know it, the stew is already cooking on the stove and it's barely even six.

I lean against the island, watching the pot boil. I can't help but think about my interaction with Tessa earlier. She found me in the library at school and didn't waste any time before she asked me out.

She caught me off guard. I can't remember exactly what I said to her, but I'd tried to let her down easily. So much for that though. Maddie was counting on me taking Tess up on her offer. What the hell does that girl want from me?

Before I realize what I'm doing, I take my phone out of my jeans pocket and pull up Tessa's social media account.

I don't think as I type out my DM to her, letting my anger and confusion control my actions.

JacobOliverIsaacs03: Hey, sorry about earlier. I've had some time to think. Why don't you come over tonight? I'm making supper.

We don't follow each other on Instagram but her reply is almost immediate.

MessyTessy23: Oh, sure! What changed your mind?

JacobOliverIsaacs03: Your friend did.

-

The doorbell rings just as I'm dishing up the food and Maddie peers into the kitchen.

"Who's showing up at this time?" She queries. I ignore her. It's petty, I know, but she's been driving me insane lately. Every time I think I've gone two steps forward with her, she runs back five.

In the dining room, I can still hear Josh and the twins noisily setting up the table.

"Set another space," I call to them, following Maddie into the foyer. I want to see her reaction when she opens the door.

"Tess!" She says, surprise and confusion on her face when she opens the door and sees her best friend's beaming face. "What are you doing here?"

Tessa doesn't give Maddie too much attention when she sees me standing behind her friend. Her gaze shoots to me and her face flushes the same color as her hair as she tucks a strand behind her ear.

"Uh... Jacob invited me," she explains, sheepishly and pushes past Maddie to enter the house.

Maddie turns to me, her eyes narrowing and I shrug.

"I thought more about what you said," I tell her, pleased with how annoyed she seems. Now she knows how it feels when someone meddles.

"Good," she says, storming past me on her way back to the dining room.