The Seaside Café

Chapter 24- Are You Trying To Be Discreet, Jace?

 Chapter 24- Are You Trying To Be Discreet, Jace?

Jace's Point of View

“It’s totally not too late to change your mind about this,” Emma informs me over the phone the following night, which is Monday.

“Em,” I chuckle, sifting through my closet for a shirt to wear. “Even if I wanted to change my mind, which I don’t, it’s too late,” I remind her.

I’m still at my house, trying to get ready for tonight. Tonight is the night that I’m going to Emma’s place and having dinner with her and her brother and sister-in-law. She’s been against the idea from the get go, and I really just don’t understand why. I mean, sure her big brother does seem a little bit…invasive and just a smidge protective of her, but that makes sense. She’s his little sister, after all. If I had a little sister, I’d probably be protective of her too, I think.

And no, Anna doesn’t count as my little sister, because well, she’s not actually my sister. Even when Heather and my father tie the knot, Anna still won’t be my sister because she’s not even Heather’s kid. Don’t get me wrong though, I like Anna, she’s a cool kid. I’m still a little bit bitter with her for barging into my room yesterday morning though when Emma was over and we were making out. I know that it wasn’t intentional, but still. I’m just really glad that she, Emma, got to meet Heather and my dad so sparingly because I don’t doubt that if time had permitted, Heather or my dad would have blurted out something embarrassing about me.

I do really want to meet them though, Michael and his wife and the kid, if he’s going to be there. Admittedly though, I am a little nervous about it. They’re Emma’s people though and Emma’s amazing so, really, they can’t be all that bad, right? Right, I’m sure of it. Emma doesn’t like talking about her childhood or anything, I’ve noticed, but I already know that her mother’s dead and her father’s in jail thanks to that one phone call and that her sister is apparently ‘unstable’, but that’s all I really know. My guess is that Michael’s the one that raised her. He doesn’t look too much older than Em, so I would guess he’s probably in his late twenties or early thirties, which makes that theory very possible.

“No, it’s actually not too late,” Emma quickly assures me. “I can tell Michael that you have like, food poising or something. Or the chicken pox. Hypothermia? Anything would work out, really. Besides, Caroline’s making like, Fettuccine Alfredo or something like that. Do you even like Fettuccine Alfredo? You don’t look like you’d like Fettuccine Alfredo.” Emma rambles and that’s how I can tell that she’s actually really nervous for tonight, because she won’t quit with all the rambling.

That’s something she does, I’ve noticed when she’s either scared or nervous, and I’m pretty sure that the latter’s most likely what’s bothering her. I think it’s a little ridiculous for her to be so nervous though, because it’s not like she’s going to be the one getting interrogated, that’s me. It’s adorable though because as weird and unusual as Emma’s rambling is, I think it’s just really cute. 

“Emma,” I reply once she’s done ranting before she has the chance to start up again. “I don’t have food poisoning. I had the chicken pox when I was eight and hypothermia is just so unbelievable. It— ”

“Hey, hypothermia is very believable, thank you very much. It’s January, you know,” She counters with a giggle.

“Yes, I’m aware, but Em, it’s January in California.” I chuckle. “And I happen to like Fettuccine Alfredo,” I confirm. “Now, should I wear a tie or do you think that’ll be pushing it?”

“No, I think that you should wear one. I’m wearing a dress and I think that Mikey’s dressing up too. So is Caroline, I believe. Just don’t wear like, a full suit type thing,” Emma explains with a defeated sigh when she realizes that I’m not going to change my mind and cancel our dinner plans for the night. I just don’t think that’ll be a nice way to start things off with her family.