MY BEST ADDICTION

Chapter 21

“Have you eaten yet?”, he asked stopping me in my tracks. I shook my head not turning to look at him. I didn’t understand why I was acting that way because Seth and I had done more than kissing but the fact that we did that at the office were anyone could have caught us made me more thrilled and I couldn’t calm myself down.
“Then let’s find something to eat”, he said walking behind me. We left the building and he drove us to one of the restaurants we used to go eat at. All the places I visited today brought nostalgia and this restaurant was no exception as some memories invaded my mind.
“What has got you grinning like that?”, I heard and looked up at Seth studying me.
“I just remembered something”
“Do you mind sharing?”
“It isn’t anything serious. It’s just that I remembered that one time we came for lunch here and a woman approached you asking for your number”, I explained. It wasn’t the fact that she asked for his number that was funny, it was how he looked at her and dealt with the situation that was funny.
“Is that what has got you grinning? I thought you had won a lottery and by the way I dealt with it so it wasn’t an issue”, he said looking back at the menu.
“You dealt with it?”, I asked raising a brow at him. “You left the whole thing for me to deal with. I even had to pretend to be your woman at that time, she was really embarrassed”, I finished finally selecting my food. He beckoned for the waiter to come for the menu when he realized I was done.
“Serves her right for intruding in our space”, he said dismissing the whole thing.
‘He looks cute’, I thought admiring him and smiling to myself.
“Do you have any plans right now?”, he asked after our food.
“Yes, I planned on visiting Haven today after taking my documents. Did you need me for anything?”
“Haven? If that’s the case, then let’s go together. It’s been awhile since I saw her so why not go together to see how she’s doing”, he said confusing me.
‘How long is his awhile? It can’t be that they haven’t spoken since the last time I saw them, right?’, I thought looking at his back as he walked ahead of me.
“And when was the last time you guys spoke?”, I asked when I entered the car.
“I guess it was the day you left? I’m not really sure when it was but it’s been awhile like I said”
“So how do you convey important information to each other if you guys are not in touch?” I asked confused.
“Penny you do realize we both own phones, right. Should there be an issue we have Marcus as our spokesperson”, he shrugged dispersing all my thoughts.
“Where are we going, this isn’t the way to Haven’s house”, I asked looking around at the unfamiliar route we were on.
“We are going to the main house, she’s been staying there ever since you left to school”, he explained and I somewhat felt guilty about the whole issue.
“Oh okay”, I mumbled and leaned against the seat to rest.
“Penny we are here”, I heard waking me up from my sleep. I looked around and realized he had packed the car waiting for me to wake up. I got out and followed after him to their house but stopped when it dawned on me.
‘If that was the main house doesn’t that mean I would be meeting their mom?’, I thought worried. I wanted to turn and leave but I couldn’t because first, I didn’t know where we were and second, it was late now and I didn’t think I could get a ride back home.
“Why did you stop?”
“What about your mom?”
“What about her?”, he asked walking to my side. “If you are that worried about her then you shouldn’t, she is on a vacation at the moment and not at home”, he said and held my hand rubbing it.       
“That’s good”, I said relieved and he smiled noticing my reaction.
“Don’t worry, this is not how I plan on introducing you to my mom”, he said kissing the back of my hand. Taking advantage of my shocked expression he pulled me with him to the house. If I thought Seth’s house was amazing then this house was awe-inspiring, everything in the house had a way of catching your attention.
We heard feet running somewhere in the house and turned to see who it was only to be engulfed in a hug. I hugged her back and heard sniffles from her so I patted her hair to calm her down.
“How did you know I was here?”, she asked after she had calmed down and we went to the hall. I looked in her brother’s direction of which she nodded. I explained how I met her brother in the company and how he brought me here to meet her. I wanted to help resolve their conflict after all I caused it in the first place.
“So how are you….”.  “I’m sorry”, we both said at the same time. I giggled when I saw her expression while apologizing. She looked as though she was scared I was going to reject her apology and abandon her.
“It’s okay and I’m sorry too for leaving that way”, I apologized holding her hand.
“Now that all is cleared is there anything you want to ask? I don’t want to hide anything from you anymore”, she asked looking cheerful like the Haven I always knew.
“Um yeah, how is the Nest doing if you are always home?”, I asked because if I could remember Haven always stayed at the Nest whenever I went there.
“About that….”, she started to say and turned to look at Seth ruefully.
“Don’t tell me you closed it down”, I asked shocked about their exchange.
“No that’s not it. Do you want to come back?”, she asked surprised at my outburst.
“No I was just asking….”, I started to say but was interrupted.
“You do know your room is still waiting for you, right? I never gave it out”, she explained and I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding in. “But should you want your key you would have to ask my brother for it”, she concluded and I turned to look at him.
“Oh”, I said and was reminded once again about what happened on my last day at the Nest.
“The Nest is fine, it’s just that we miss our favourite dancer”, she said and Seth cleared his throat as a warning and she rolled her eyes at him mumbling about how unreasonable he was. I giggled at their interaction longing for a sibling. It was moments like these that I wished I wasn’t an only child.
“Come to think of it, you guys have different names so how are you guys siblings? Or are you steps?”
“We are biological siblings. It’s just that after our parents’ divorce I kept our dad’s name while Seth kept our mom’s name”, she explained and I nodded in understanding. We spoke about different things regarding our daily lives and later had dinner together.
“Penny you have to sleep with me today, I miss our sleepovers and gossip nights. You have to tell me all about the handsome guys around you in school”, she said pulling me to her room but Seth stopped her by holding my hand.
“Penny stays with me, we have things to discuss”, he said dismissing her causing her to pout at us.
“Whatever”, she said and left us alone in the dining room.
“Let’s go”, he said leading me to his room. I thought his room would be full of boys’ stuff like posters and movies since that was his room during his childhood but was disappointed when it looked neutral, it looked like his room back at his house. I wanted to see how he was during his childhood and teenage years.
“Why don’t you freshen up first”, he said showing me his bathroom. I thanked him and went to freshen up feeling excited all of a sudden. I dressed in one of his clothes and laid in bed watching as he prepared to freshen up. I looked around his room and found a frame by the bedside. I inspected it and smiled looking at the picture of an excited young Seth with a woman, I think his mom, at the beach.
‘He’s so cute’, I thought and placed it back down when I heard the door opening. He dressed up and laid by my side pulling me to him.
“I didn’t properly apologize for my behaviour that day at the Nest. I’m sorry I said those words and I’m sorry I hurt you. I know it sounds like I’m making an excuse but I was really angry when I saw you in that dress and felt betrayed in a way. I realized how much I had hurt you after you left but felt very guilty that I couldn’t bring myself to call you and apologize”, he said moving away to look at my face. I sat up and looked away from him sighing.
“Why would you be angry? Why would you feel betrayed Seth? There was nothing between us like you severally emphasized. I was just doing the job I was paid to do, so you did nothing out of context. If anything I am to be blamed because I knew what was agreed upon and did what was not needed, so let’s forget it and leave it at that”, I said sadly still looking away from him.
“What happened to you? Why are you so calm about this? You were like this that day too. Why won’t you get angry with me? What happened to the person who stood up to me during her internship?”, he asked holding my face so I had no other choice than to look at him, and boy did he look worried and a little bit scared. He pulled me to him hugging me muttering words I couldn’t catch. I stroked his hair to calm him and moved away when he was calm enough.
“Getting angry with you isn’t going to change anything. We both did what was required of us and so do not owe each other anything. We can still remain as friends if that’s okay with you”, I said and tried my best to smile at him. I wanted him as more than a friend but there was no way he would want that so being his friend was also a good thing, after all I could still call and see him.
“No I’m not okay with it”, he said shattering the little hope I had left. “I don’t want to be your friend, I want to be more than a friend if that’s okay with you”, he finished.
“Huh?”, was all I could say.