Forbidden | A Jemi Love Story

One

Joe pulled up in the driveway of his parents house but also the house he grew up in with his brothers. He smiled as he saw his mother already in the doorway of the house waving at him but the expression on her face was clear that she was happy to have him home. He was just as happy to be home.

"It feels like forever!" Denise exclaimed as she pulled her son into a hug. He had left his bags in the car, greeting everything was more important to him at the moment.

"I know but you have to put up with me for the whole of summer now." Joe teased as he hugged his mother back before they pulled away and she leaned up kissing his cheek gently.

"I'll never need to put up with you Joseph." She lectured swatting his butt and Joe jumped slightly.

"Mom!" He exclaimed making her laugh. "Yeah, I missed you too."

"Come in for a drink, you can bring your bags in later." She demanded pulling him inside and Joe shut the door behind him following her into the kitchen where she put the kettle on.

"Dad at work?" Joe inquired sitting up at the counter.

"Yes but he said he'd call on his lunch break, Nick will be home at the normal time from school," Denise replied putting the instant coffee in mugs adding a bit of sugar before turning around leaning against the counter. "How's college been?"

"Yeah, it was harder than what I expected it to be but I've managed it, this year anyway." Joe shrugged his shoulders.

"Maybe if you went to less parties and studied more it wouldn't be so hard." Denise lectured adding the boiling water to the mugs stiring them before giving one to Joe sitting next to him.

"The parties are the best bits, and the girls." Joe grinned and Denise shook her head at him.

"What have I told you about using girls?" She lectured again.

"I don't use them," Joe demanded. "Not every girl wants a relationship you know."

"You're nineteen now, you should be finding someone to settle down with." Denise urged.

"No way, I'm nineteen, like you said. I'm not going to say no to a relationship, I'm just in no rush." Joe demanded.

"Promise me you'll be a good boy this summer?" Joe rolled his eyes playfully.

"I promise," He replied kissing her cheek gently before taking a sip of his coffee. "Kev coming down?"

"With Dani, we're gonna have a big dinner since we're all together again." She answered.

"Sounds good to me, I don't have to cook anything." He declared and Denise laughed wrapping her arm around her son and Joe leaned his head on hers.

___________

Nick got off the school bus wandering down the sidewalk until he was at his house making his way up the path. He couldn't help but smile when he saw his older brother's car parked in the driveway. He found it strange this year, being the only one of the three brothers being at home but they were all growing up now. He was going into his senior year the following year. He opened the door jumping when he felt something hit is skin, he looked down seeing a bullet from a Nerf gun. He looked towards the steps seeing Joe was sat there with a grin on his face.

"Well that's not nice." Nick declared and Joe shrugged his shoulders getting off the steps as Nick shut the door and they were soon fighting in the hallway. Wrestling with one another.

"Boys!" Denise stated splitting them up but they were laughing. "Why couldn't at least one of you be a girl?"

"Because we don't pick our genders mom." Joe replied straightening his clothes out as Nick did the same putting his bag by the stairs. He didn't have any homework, he could relax for summer.

"What time are you doing dinner for?" Nick questioned as he followed his family towards the kitchen. He could see that she had already started preparing it.

"Half five, Kevin and Dani will need to get home fairly early to put the baby to bed. Why?" Denise replied as she continued to chop some vegetables that she would steam.

"Can I go bowling with a group of friends around seven?" Nick questioned her.

"That's fine with me, why don't you take Joe with you?" Denise suggested looking between the two boys.

"I don't want to intrude," Joe spoke. "I'm fine just chilling here."

"You can come if you want, you won't be intruding." Nick assured him.

"Are you sure you want your big brother there?" Joe teased nudging him and Nick rolled his eyes.

"No, I don't mind but don't push it," Nick demanded. "You'll be on my team though, I stand more chance of winning that way."

"Fine by me." Joe answered giving him a high five and Denise smiled. She loved the bonds that her sons had together, she knew it might not be the same if one were a girl. She loved her family and them all being together tonight meant a lot to her. Her sons were grown up and doing their own thing but she couldn't be more proud of them for achieving what they had done.