Something Great (Sequel to Something Borrowed)

Chapter 13: Now Entering... The Friend Zone

A/N: As promised here's another chapter!!! Michael's POV will start in the next chapter. The update may not be as quick because I'm really trying to work on an authenic male POV. Writing a woman's POV is easy but a man's will be slightly diffucult but very fun! Hope you enjoy!

“Nervous?” I asked Jacob keeping my eyes on the road in front of me. We were currently on our way to Mother’s for her monthly Sunday dinners. As soon as Mom got wind of me having a boyfriend she insisted that I bring him over to meet her. My mother had a history of overacting when it came to boyfriends so I was a bit uneasy about the whole thing myself. In addition to that Michael would be there and his last interaction with Jake wasn’t the best.

Jake sighed from the passenger’s seat. “I’m not even gonna lie. It’s been so long since I’ve done something like this.” He replied.  I’d never seen him tense like this. Jake always had this air of confidence about himself that I found very attractive. But today it wasn’t there.  I smiled sympathetically. “Don’t worry; I think she’ll like you.” I replied reassuringly. “There’s no need to be afraid of Grandma Jake. She’s just an old lady.” Harry assured him from the back seat. “Harry!” I scolded sending him a warning glare through the rearview mirror. Jacob laughs and Harry shrugs. “What? I’m just being honest.” He replied sheepishly. I smirked. “Okay. Remember that when you get a girlfriend and you have to meet her mother.”  I retorted.  Harry shrugs once again. “Okay.” He simply replies as he fixes out the window.  I couldn’t expect Harry to understand. I rolled my eyes before shooting Jacob a comforting smile. I pray everything goes smoothly.

I grabbed hold of Jacob’s hand as we waited for my mother to answer the door. He smiled at me and gave my hand a small squeeze. I was nervous too. It had been forever since I’d brought a guy home.  In fact, the last guy I brought home was Leif. What if Mother didn’t like Jacob? I don’t see why she wouldn’t but what if she didn’t?

My negative thoughts we’re interrupted by the front door swinging open and my mother’s aged yet pretty face greeting us. “Erin! I’m glad you made it!” She exclaimed pulling me into a big hug. “I’m glad to be here Mom!!” I replied with a big smile. Since I’ve become older and wiser, my mother and I’s relationship has been much closer than it once was. “Harry!! Don’t act like you’re too old for hugs. Get over here and give your Granny a hug.” She demanded. Harry blushed and hugged Mom. “Good to see you Grandma!” He spoke with a smile, his dimples showing. “There’s those dimples!” Mother gushed poking at the holes in Harry’s cheeks.  “Grandma!” Harry fussed between  giggles. Jacob stood there smiling at our interactions. Mother turned to him. “You must be Jacob.” She said. He smiled. “Yes ma’m, I am.  Pleased to meet you. I can certainly see where Erin gets her good looks from.” Jake replied extending his hand to shake. Mom smiled seeming pleased with Jake’s manners and charmed by his flattery. “Wow, I don’t know what to say. Nice to meet you.” She replied returning the hand shake, a shade of crimson spreading across her cheeks. So far this wasn’t going too bad.

“We’ll, you three can’t just stand there forever. Come in!” Mother exclaimed opening the door wide enough for us to walk through the door. I shot Jacob a grin and he returned it. I was convinced that things would be just fine. “You guys came just in time everyone’s waiting at the table for you.” Mom said leading us into the dining room. Sure enough Brooke, Michael and their three children sat at their usual seats making small talk amongst themselves. As we stepped foot into the dining room, all talking ceased and all eyes seemed to be on us.

“Hello everyone!” I spoke breaking the silence. Why is it that everyone seems so shocked to see me with a man? Especially Michael. He’s seen me with Jacob before. “Hi Erin!! Glad you made it.” Brooke replied smiling widely. Her eyes held a playful expression and I knew she was dying to know about my guest. “Brooke, this is my boyfriend Jake. Jake this is my younger sister Brooke. Those are her daughters Rowan, Emma and Sailor and you’ve met Michael before.” I spoke introducing them. “Good to met you all.” Jacob replied with a smile before pulling out my chair for me to sit down. Brooke grinned like a fool as Jacob and Harry took a seat at the table. Michael’s face just held an annoyed expression as if he’d rather be somewhere else.

“So Michael, how’d you get to meet Jake before us all?” Brooke asked as Mother began placing plates in front of us. I shot Michael a smirk as I spread my napkin over my lap.  Now he’d have to explain himself. “I uh, ran into them at the Thai restaurant downtown a few weeks ago.” He replied. “Right. He had dinner with us.” Jacob replied a slight hint of annoyance in his voice recounting the event.  Brooke nodded. “I wish I would have been there.” She spoke. She looked a bit upset that she’d been excluded from such an event and by the look she was giving Michael I could tell he’d hear it later. Mother sat down at the head of the table and cleared her throat. “Let’s say Grace, shall we?” She asked. Simultaneously everyone at the table grabbed hands and bowed their heads. After the prayer the questions began flooding in.

“So, Jacob. I’m going to get straight to the point. What are your intentions for my daughter?” Mom asked while cutting into her slice of roast. Wow, blunt much, Mother? Jake smiled. “I like your daughter very much. My intentions for her are completely positive.” He replied politely. Mother nodded slightly, Brooke smiled and Michael suddenly began coughing violently.

“Are you okay Daddy?” Emma asked as she forked over the rice on her plate.  Everyone looked at Michael with worried expressions. Everyone except me. He wasn’t really coughing. He was just being a smart ass.

“I’m alright Princess. “ Michael replied before taking a sip of water. I cut my eyes at him. He cleared his throat and stared back down at his plate of food. If he thinks Jake’s intentions for me are negative then what the hell are his for me?? “You know, it’s been forever since Erin’s brought a guy home. How’d you two meet?” Brooke asked. “We live in the same apartment building. We met on the elevator.” Jake replied. I smiled. “It’s funny because he came off as really annoying at first. I had a really bad day at work and I wanted nothing more than to get from him. I left my camera on the elevator and Jake came to my apartment and returned it. I thought that was really sweet.” I finished smiling at Jacob. “Aww that’s so sweet!!” Brooke exclaimed. Typical Brooke. She always acted like this when it came to my relationships.

Michael rolled his eyes while he reached over and whipped Sailor’s mouth. “Sounds super cliché.” He declared casually. My God! Michael just couldn’t be happy for me. Gosh he’s so unfair.

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After dinner the family sat in the living room listening to Emma practice her piano solo. Jake and I held hands sitting while sitting on the sofa. I wasn’t really listening to Emma play. My mind was focused on Michael’s unfair and envious attitude. Michael was my best friend. Friends supported each other in relationships. Friends were happy for one another. But that was the problem. Michael wanted to be more than my friend. But maybe it was best if we just stayed friends.

Emma had finally finished her piano solo and everyone clapped politely. “That was beautiful Em!!” Mother exclaimed walking into the living room with another batch of chocolate chip cookies. “I made more cookies.” The children’s hands rushed to the cookies. “Your mom make the best cookies!” Jacob whispered as he helped himself to a cookie or two. I smiled. Everyone seemed to be distracted in some way or another so I thought now might be a good time to talk to Michael and get some things off my chest.

“Can I talk to you for a second Michael?” I asked Michael who sat in one of the chairs opposite the sofa. He looked at me with an unenthusiastic expression. “Sure, why not?” Michael replied. I rose from my spot on sofa and followed Michael into the kitchen. Michael leaned his thin frame against the counter. I stood in front of him a considerable amount of inches away from him. I didn’t know how he was going to what I was about to say but I hoped he would take it well.

“What is it you wanna talk about Erin?” He asked folding his arms against his chest. He seemed remotely interested in what I had to say which was a shocker considering his cavalier attitude lately. I took a deep breath and straightened my skirt. “From now on I think we should just be friends.”