Secrets And Lies

Chapter 28: Friendsgiving

Ryan's POV

"Everything going good with Mathews..." Quade asked, pulling leftover side dishes from the fridge. 

"Nothing bad to report," I answered.

      Something bugged me, but it had nothing to do with how Axel and I were.  Quade hadn't been around much to interact with anyone. He has been keeping his distance from Foster and Taylor again.

I'm not going to rub it in his face that I've been on cloud nine for the last couple of weeks. Or gush about seeing each other every day since he asked me out. And I sure as hell wasn't going to bring up how much fun we have been having together when my brother seemed to be avoiding us all. Tonight would be the first time that we were all together at the same time and place in a while.

"I know you're only asking to make sure Axel hasn't turned back into the asshole he was, so I will spare you the details and only say that he's treating me right. I'd much rather talk about you, anyway." I said from my place at the kitchen counter, putting leftover turkey, potatoes, and corn in a casserole dish.

Quade glanced at me out of the corner of his eye before grunting.  "What about me?"

"You've been avoiding us."

"Sorry, your public displays of affection don't exactly thrill me to see."

"Come on, Quade! I get that you don't want to see your sister kissing anyone..." 

"Gross..." He fake gagged.

"Hey, it's not like we make out in front of the whole world! Hand holding and pecks aren't exactly gag-worthy, even if I am your sister. You've been avoiding Taylor and Foster again and using my relationship with Axel as an excuse." 

"And?" He asked with annoyance.

"And, I just want to make sure you'll be okay with being in the same room with Foster and Taylor all night."

"I appreciate the concern, Ry... and I admit that it will be awkward for me, but I miss her. If I have to take Foster and her being a couple as part of the package, I'll have to get over it. I'm hoping that with everyone coming, I'll be too busy to pay attention to them. Plus, she's been bugging me to hang out, and I ran out of excuses for being too busy a week ago. Hell, last Monday I even said that I had to wash my hair! Who does that? Taylor knew I was lying."

"Is that why you started to use Axel and I 'making out' all the time as a reason?" I asked with a smirk. 

"Yep." He laughed, bringing a covered bowl from out of the fridge.

"That better not be what I think it is!" I pointed at the bowl he set on the counter, scrunching my nose. I had purposely shoved them in the back of the refrigerator.

"Green beans? Yes...yes it is."

"You are not putting them in the casserole!"I shouted.

Quade held out a spoonful of green nastiness. I've had an aversion to them since I got sick after my grandmother made them last year. Now it was the only food that I would never let past my lips. 

"But I like them." He pouted, holding one between his fingers and slowly making his way to the casserole dish. I smacked his hand, but it didn't do any good. He put his hand on my forehead, pushing me away from the dish, and dumped in half of the damn bowl.

"Damn it, Quade!" I tried hard not to gag at the sight of the little assholes in my food."You just ruined it!"

"No, I made it better." He grinned as if he just created the best dish in the world. I swear the dip-shit didn't have taste buds.