His Proposal

His Proposal - 25

Jai pulls the car in front of our place. He looks at me. "You should have a shower and put on dry clothes. I don't want you to catch a cold wearing wet clothes."

"I never get sick, but I'll be having a shower." Leaning close to him, I whisper. "I would ask you to join me, but I don't think my brother would approve it." I tease. I kiss his cheek. "Bye," I step out of the car and make my way to the house.

Nate puts the key into the door, and he opens it. "What do you want for dinner? I will order something while you have a shower. What movie do you want to watch?"

"I don't mind what we watch. Just choose something." I start to shiver as I make my way to the bathroom. I turn the heater on before I strip out of my wet clothes.

After adjusting the temperature of the water, I step into the shower, pick up the cloth, and start washing my body.

After the shower, I stepped out and blow-dried my hair. I then went to my bedroom and put on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.

When I get to the living room, I find the table set and two glasses of Coke ready.

Smiling. "Thanks, Nate."

"You're welcome. While you were in the shower, I invited someone to have dinner with us. I hope you don't mind."

Wrapping a blanket around me, I turn towards Nate. "Who did you invite?"

"Your boss. He'll be here soon if you need to change."

Shaking my head, I say, "Nate, what are you doing? First, you don't like the guy, and now, after spending some time with him, you want to have him over for dinner?"

He looks out the window. "I should have given him a chance, but as your brother, I want to ensure that the guys you date are right for this family." Nate looks at the ground. "You're all I have now. When Aleysa goes, it will be just the two of us."

"Aleysa's not going to die. Why are you two so set on telling me that she won't recover? She beat it before. She can do it again." I ball my hands into fists. "Why am I the only one thinking positively?"

Nate touches my arm. "I watched her go through this before. She was so sick, and it took a toll on everyone. I stopped going to school to help out around the house." He removes his arm. "She can't stay at the hospital any longer. She will come home and you'll have to look after her twenty-four seven."

I can look after my little sister when she comes home. I must talk to Jai about working at the club when Aleysa comes home.

There's a knock on the door.

Nate rises. "I will get it. It's either the pizza or Jai. I hope it's the food." He takes the money off the table and opens the door.

I hear a few words spoken before Nate returns with two pizza boxes.

He sets the pizzas on the table. "It's nice to sit around the house with you, " he says, turning towards me. "Are you going out with your boss?"

Looking at him, I say. "Do you mind if I'm dating him?"

He pulls a slice of pizza out of the box and puts it in his mouth. "No, he seems interested in you as well. I'm not standing in the way if you like this guy, but I don't want to see you get hurt."

Smiling at him. "I'm not going to get hurt, Nate. He's the first guy I've been interested in since Brock cheated on me with my roommate."

He shakes his head. "I knew you were better off without him in your life. I used to see all your pictures in New York with him. You looked in love, but there was something about him in those photos I didn't like."

"Nate, this is why I don't like to talk to you about my life and the people in it. You're too observant for your good, and that makes me feel stupid being around you when you can pick up on all sorts of things."

He smiles. "Do you want to know what I see when you're in the room with Jai?"

I pick up a slice of pizza and put it in my mouth. When I finish the mouthful, I say, "I don't want to know."

He leans forward. "Too bad I'm going to tell you. He can't take his eyes off you. Wherever you go, his eyes are trained on you, and if you are not close, he looks around the place to ensure it's safe for you."

That sounds like him. I've noticed that in the club. It's like when a fight broke out at the club, and he carried me to the office and cleaned the wounds I got from the smashed glasses. He was sweet.

I smile. "I've noticed that as well. When he's in his office, I think he spends most of the time staring at the CTV screen, ensuring I'm alright."

A knock on the door, and I walk over to it. I open the door and see Jai standing there.

He's in a pair of jeans and a leather jacket. He pushes his sunglasses onto his head. "Nice pj's."

Looking down, I see I'm wearing an Elmo top and shorts.

I forgot that I was wearing this.

Jai crosses his arms and leans against the door. He looks at me. "Are you going to invite me?"

"Hmmm," I tap my chin. "I'm not sure if I should let you in. After all, I'm ready for bed."

He laughs. "Your brother promised me pizza and watching a movie with you." He looks at the stairs. "I can go if you want."

Opening the door, I step away from it. "You drove here. You might as well come in for what my brother promised. I know he hates to break promises to people."

Jai steps into the house, and he walks to the living room.

Nate rises and fist pumps Jai. "Hey, man. Thanks for coming here." He picks up the pizza box. I'm going to eat in my room. Have fun." He walks to his room, and I hear the door shut.

Jai looks at me. "Did you talk to him?"

"I don't know what my brother meant by talk, but I can tell you whatever we did wasn't that. Do you want wine or Coke?"

"I'll take a Coke. I don't want to be pulled over heading home later for having a drink here."

Walking to the fridge, I pull out a can of Coke and take it back to the living room.

Jai looks at me. "You're fired from Club Lusive. I think it's best that you stay at home to look after your sister. Somebody will pay for the hospital fees, and I will pay for this place's food, electricity, gas, and water bills."

Shaking my head, I say. "I can't ask you to do that."

He touches my hand. "You didn't. You have to stay with Aleysa. She's going to need you."