Just My Cup of Tea

thirty

My door slammed open and I knew who it was before he even opened his mouth to speak. 

'Artemis whatever the fuck your middle name is Adams, get the bloody fuck out of my house right now!' I screamed into the pillow, groaning loudly when I heard him shut the door after ignoring my wails. 

'Lovely to see you too cousin in law.' 

'Fuck you!' I growled, snapping my face to glare at him standing in the doorway, holding bags of...groceries?

He blinked at me warily before placing those groceries in the kitchen and coming back into the living room, sitting down opposite me with a soft look in his eyes.

'There are some pads in there too just in case.'

'That's it!' I lunged at him, punching his shoulder and he struggled to scoff down his laughter, quickly grabbing hold of my wrists. 

'I hate you!' I screamed. A look of hurt flashed in his eyes and instantly, I felt terrible, an unsettling feeling sinking into my stomach. 

'Oh no. Oh, no, no, no! I didn't mean that Arty, I'm sorry.' I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged myself to his chest. His chest shook gently with laughter but the asshole really seemed to be enjoying it. 

'So if you don't hate me, then it must be love.' he proclaimed, hugging me back and rubbing soft, comforting circles on my back.

'Don't get ahead of yourself pretty boy, we're still at "tolerating just enough to not cut off your balls" stage.' I got up from his lap and fell back onto the couch I was on earlier, burying my head in the cushion and groaning.

'You think I'm pretty!' he yelled as if Obama had just told him he was a princess. I didn't reply feeling too exhausted to move yet alone retort to an idiot with witty comebacks. It was quiet for a moment before I felt someone stroking my hair. I turned my head to meet Arty's soft brown-eyed gaze. He blinked at me, with genuine concern in his eyes. 

'You okay Banana Lanna?' he murmured, continuing to stroke my hair. 

I automatically nodded. 'Yeah I'm probably pmsing so actually, thank you for the pads, I was running out anyway.' I gave him a sad smile and hid my face in the cushion once again. Suddenly I felt my weight being lifted and I squealed like some kind of demonic pig before realizing that Arty had sat me down on his lap...and taken my spot on the couch. Arty acted so childish I had a tendency to forget that he was indeed a grown man with a...relatively good looks and...a good amount of strength. 

I had always seen Arty as a little brother and just the way calling your little brother "hot" would be weird is how I felt when admitting he was attractive. But I wasn't blind and his brown hair and brown eyes especially didn't pass the endless lines of ladies. It was amazing how much of a child he acted around me when in banquets, he was the womanizer, winking his way into their sheets. Gross, but whatever, it worked for him. 

'Are you okay?' he repeated, his eyes burning into mine. 

'No.' I admitted quietly, shaking my head and looking down at my fingers. 

'Wanna talk about it Lanna Nana?' I turned and scrunched my nose at him. 'What do you mean "nana?" I'm younger than you!' he blinked for a minute. 

'Oh yeah!' I smiled softly at him before looking back down at my hand and resting my head gently on his shoulder.

'I don't really want to talk about it.' I mumbled softly, closing my eyes. I felt his chest rise and fall gently from his breathing and sighed contently.

'Is it because of my stupid, dumb ass cousin who doesn't realize what he has? Because we can go over there right now and egg his house.' I laughed gently and fiddled with the edge of my oversized shirt. I would have loved to do that, honestly, but I didn't want to go back to that house. Not now, not ever.