His Proposal

His Proposal - 41

Walking over to the bed, I sit next to my sister. Looking at her, I ask. "Why didn't you answer when I called out?"

Aleysa looks at the ground, guiltily. She looks at the dog. "Tess wanted me to give her some chocolate, but when I didn't, she jumped on the table and knocked over the intercom." She turns towards me. "My mouth was full of chocolate as well, and I couldn't talk with my mouth full. It's disgusting. I would have spat out the chocolate, and that's too good to waste."

"I agree. Chocolate is good. Do you have any more left?"

She rubs her stomach. "It's all in here, you're too late."

I picked up her hairbrush and started brushing her hair. "Who gave you the chocolate?"

"Veronica did before we left."

Jai runs into the room and looks between Aleysa and me. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, she was eating chocolate, and Tess wanted some."

Jai laughs and then moves over to his dog. "Roll over, Tess." Tess rolls over, and he scratches her belly. "You can't eat chocolate, Tess. I will get you something tomorrow, girl."

Tess licks his hand. He kisses the dog on the head.

He's going to make a great Dad someday.

Tying Aleysa's hair in a ponytail. "You need to wash your face before you go to bed."

Aleysa climbs out of bed and makes her way to the ensuite bathroom. She turns on the tap. I hear the tap turn off. Aleysa walks back into the room and climbs into bed. Covering her up, I kiss her head. "Goodnight, sis."

"Goodnight, I love you, Chloe."

"I love you, Aleysa. If you get sick tonight, that's your fault for eating all the chocolate and not sharing it with us."

Jai walks over to Aleysa and hugs her. "Goodnight, Aleysa. Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite."

"Ouch, ouch," Aleysa yells.

Jai and I laugh.

Aleysa joins us as well.

The door to the bedroom opens, and Nate walks into the room. "What's going on?"

Walking over to him, I said, " Your sister was a naughty girl. She ate the chocolate that Veronica gave her and didn't share it. Tess pressed the intercom and barked. I thought something happened to Aleysa. When I walked into the room, her face was covered in chocolate."

Nate laughs. "Veronica gave me a box as well. She brought them from Belgium. They're the best chocolates I've ever had. I got some in my room if you want some."

"Yes, please."

Jai stands up and walks over to me. He puts his arm around me.

We're about to walk out the door when Aleysa says. "Love you, Nate and Jai."

Jai stops walking and looks at Aleysa. A smile spreads across his face. "I love you, too, Aleysa."

This is the first time I have heard Aleysa express her feelings to someone outside our family.

Nate opens the door and walks down the hall to his room.

Walking into the room, he pulls out the box of chocolate from the top drawer. I look at the different-coloured wrappers on the chocolate. Then, I read the different flavours from the top of the box. I pull out the red wrapper, and it's a strawberry one. I bite into it and taste the strawberry.

Nate was right, this is the best chocolate.

Jai takes a brown wrapper and shoves the whole thing into his mouth.

Taking another one, I say. "I'm going to save this one for later. Thanks, Nate."

Nate smiles. "You're welcome." He hugs me. "Goodnight, Chloe." He walks to his bed and climbs in.

Jai and I leave the room and head back up to his room. He closes the door behind us. He looks at me. "Where were we before the interruptions?"

Shrugging. "I have no idea," I say innocently. "Would you show me where we were?"

Jai takes a step towards me. He pins my arms above my head and kisses me. He kisses me like I've never been kissed before, weakening my knees. He catches me before I can fall. He carries me to the bed.

Jai made love to me that night.

***

The following morning, I climb out of bed and walk over to my suitcase. I pull out a dress and flip-flops, which I put on before I walk down the stairs.

In the kitchen, I see Nate sitting at the table. He looks at me. "What's for breakfast?"

"I have no idea. I'll look through the cupboards and see what Jai has."

Jai walks into the kitchen, wearing only his boxers.

It's more than what he wore to bed last night.

"Foods in the walk-in pantry. I was thinking of making bacon and eggs. Do you want some, Nate?"

Nate rises. "Sounds good to me. Do you want some help?"

Jai shakes his head. "Nah, I'm good. Make sure you have everything you need for school. If you forgot anything, I don't want you to drive back here later."

Nate opens his bag and goes through it. "Damn it. I left my boots in my room. I can't go on the field without them. "He runs up the stairs.

Aleysa walks into the kitchen. "Morning," she says, walking over to the table and taking a seat.

Tess sits next to Aleysa, and she starts whining.

Aleysa looks at the dog. "Are you hungry, Tess?"

The dog barks.

"Where's the dog food, Jai?"

"It's in the walk-in pantry. I will get it in a minute."

Jai cracks the eggs. This time, he manages not to put eggshells in the food.

Aleysa looks at me. "He didn't put shells in the food this time. I might have some eggs this morning." She pats the dog.

He walks to the walk-in pantry and returns with a dog bowl and food, which he puts on the table in front of Aleysa.

She pours the food into the bowl and then places it on the ground for Tess.

"Aleysa, wash your hands before breakfast."

Nate runs into the kitchen with his shoes and puts them in his bag. He looks at me and says, "I found them at the bottom of my suitcase."

Jai puts the bacon and eggs on two slices of toast and gives them to Nate. "Eat up," he says.

Nate picks up his knife and fork and cuts his food.

I walk over to the kitchen and turn the kettle on.