Chances That You're Burning Through

Original | Chapter Nine

~Joe's POV~

"Hello?" I answer my phone.

"Joe, I want you to come by the house," my mom orders in a soft tone. "Your brothers will be here, too. I'm inviting some people over."

I resist a groan. This is going to be another one of my mother's awkward dinners with guests that I have no intentions of introducing myself to, let alone sharing a meal with.

"Who are the guests?" I force an interested tone.

"I'll tell you later," she replies, causing me to roll my eyes. "Can you just, please, be here?"

"Can I bring Ashley?" I inquire with an arched eyebrow.

My parents, especially my mother, have never been too fond of Ashley and probably never will be, not that I care. Who I date is my decision, not theirs. They can learn to deal with it. She sighs.

"Of course, Joe," she responds in a less than enthused tone.

"Great, I'll be there soon."

I end the call with my mother, quickly dialing Ashley's number.

"Hello?"

"Ash, are you doing anything this evening?"

"Not that I know of....why?"

"Care to join me for dinner at my parents?" I dryly question.

"Another one of your mother's 'meet the guests' dinners?"

"Yep," I sigh.

"You owe me."

I chuckle.

"Of course. Meet me there?"

"Yeah, I'll see you then. Bye, Joe."

~

"I'm surprised you actually showed up," Frankie smirks upon opening the door.

Rolling my eyes, I push past him.

"Mom, I'm here!" I call out, heading towards the kitchen.

"Your brothers are upstairs," she informs, not even looking up from placing some dish in the oven.

"Are you going to tell me who our guests are?"

"You'll see when they get here."

I groan before bounding the steps with Frankie behind me. I find Nick and Kevin in one of the lounge rooms, watching the television.

"Joe, I'm surprised you showed up," Nick raises his eyebrows.

"Why?" I scoff, claiming a seat on the arm of the leather couch.

"Mom didn't tell you who our guests are, did she?"

"No," I glare at him. "She told you?"

He nods with a slight smirk.

"You, too, Kevin?"

"Yep. I'm pretty sure you're the only one who's being left in the dark," Kevin chuckles.

"Of course," I mutter under my breath.

"Are you inviting Ashley over?" Kevin inquires.

"Of course. Why?"

"'Cause that makes things a whole lot more interesting," he laughs, clearly amused.

"How does-," I'm interrupted by the doorbell ringing.

"You'll see," Kevin smirks, shutting off the television.

After the three leave the room, I drag my palms down my face, wracking my brain for who might be downstairs. With a heavy exhale, I get up and trail after my brothers.