More Than Friends

Chapter 17 - Meet The Taylor's

"HA! I won!"

Me and Johnathan groaned as Jay threw up her hands.

"You guys really suck at poker." She gathered the Skittles, M&M's, and pretzels we were playing with. We had been playing poker for hours, trying to win back our snacks.

My mom came into the living room and sat on the arm of one of our armchairs.

"Says the kid from Vegas." I shot. I'm super competitive and she knows it. The bragging was to piss me off.

"So Jay won?"

"Of course!" Jay danced a little in her seat earning an eye roll from me and a subtle laugh from John.

"Well if you two want to stay for dinner you can. I'm actually going to start cooking right now."

"I wish I could but I'm going to go. My mom and I have plans to go to that new movie theater over near the Walmart off of 33rd. Bye guys."

We all said "Bye" as Jaylen walked out the door.

"I have nowhere to be. You sure you don't mind another guest?"

"Of course not!" Mom headed back to the kitchen. As soon as my mom was out of earshot I hit John's shoulder.

"Ow!"

"What are you doing?"

"I want to meet your family," he said rubbing his arm. "I like you and want your family to like me soo."

My eyes widened and I hit him again.

"My dad is going to be here you get that, right? A-and my two little brothers?"

"Yeah, I know." I went to hit him again but he grabbed my wrist. "You have to stop doing that. Why are so freaked out?"

"Because my family is crazy! And it's just really unexpected w-we were just- John, we're technically not even dating, I mean yes we went on a couple 'dates' but w-what if-?"

Johnathan grabbed my face and kissed my forehead.

"It'll be fine. Come on." He took my hand and we went to the kitchen.

"Hey Mrs. Taylor, do you need any help?"

"You cook?"

"Mhm, you don't mind do you?" My mom turned away from the stove to face me and John. He stopped holding my hand and started drawing patterns on my leg with his finger instead. He was trying to ease my anxiety and it was definitely working.

"No, not at all! Cameron can't cook to save her life I'd love the help. You can chop onions."

"Ha. Ha."

I realized what my mom said and felt my cheeks get warm remembering the first time John cooked for me. He was obviously thinking the same thing. He spun around on the bar stool and looked at me manically. "Oh, I would love to."

He walked around to the other side of the counter and got a knife from the block on the counter.

"Hey, wash your hands, you hooligan. You know for such a smart guy..." He held up the knife. Pointing it at me, he shook his head and chuckled all while mouthing "I hate you."

"There's stuff in the sink, I'll show you where the bathroom is."

He followed me down the hall. "You're really funny, you know that?"

I turned around starting to walk backward down the hall. I shrugged. "What are talking about? I didn't do anything."

"Sure you don't." He chuckled to himself and went into the bathroom before I headed back to the kitchen.