A Deadly Affair

Ten

"I like you, but I have to kill you."

"No, please don't." I beg, placing my hand against my heart as I plead desperately.

"I'm sorry." He tells me, before shooting his arrow. The arrow bounces off my chest, and I fall back, letting my eyes flutter closed and gasping as I take my last breath. Silence follows, then I feel someone touch my shoulder.

"Aunt Jules?" Comes a tiny voice, filled with fear and hesitancy. I wait a second, before flying up and throwing my nephew over my shoulder. He squeals, then laughs as I race him around my parents living room.

"I've fooled you, you're now my captive!" I declare as my sister bounds down the stairs. Her son reaches out to her, and she grins, grabbing him from my arms.

"You've been captured by the Montgomery bandits, any last words?" She tickles him, causing him to gasp at her betrayal, as our Mom walks in from the kitchen.

"Snacks are-" She stops when she notices the three of us. "Is this what I think it is?" She gasps, holding her heart. "My only grandchild has been captured by the Montgomery bandits!" She exclaims, as Liam looks at her in desperation.

"Gigi, help me!" He pleads, reaching out to her now. Mom walks toward him, and Charlie passes him to me like a football. I race over to the fireplace, causing Mom to grin; she likes a challenge. She might be in her late forties, but my Mom is in shape and loves playing with her grandson; especially when the teams are stacked.

"I'm coming, munchkin." She assures, marching toward me. I side step her, and twirl out of her grasp, laughing as I hand Liam back to his Mom. Our Mom surprises us by throwing pillows at us, which cause me to stumble slightly before I grab the pillow closes to me and chuck it at her. My pillow lands against the wall, closest to the door, just as it opens to reveal my Dad and Drew.

"Daddy!" Liam shouts as Charlie grins at her husband. He places his hands on his hips, looking over the carnage in the living room.

"Liam, did your Mom go rogue again?" He tries to hide his amusement but can't. He moves toward his wife, and she squeals, passing their son back to me. I eye my Dad who is watching from the doorway; we share a smile, he can't go against any of his girls, so he's going to be neutral, we all know this. Liam is living for this game of being tossed between his parents, grandma and aunt; when he isn't laughing, he's grinning like a man man, or in his case, a mad mini man. Drew throws Charlie over his shoulder, and Liam wiggles down while I'm distracted. I mock gasp, looking toward them all as I'm left alone on one side of the living room, while my sister is carried prisoner across the living room.

"No," I say dramatically, as Liam's grin widens. He charges at me, and I allow him to tackle me onto the couch, and tickle me. I laugh, surrendering causing his Dad to lift him off the couch and do a victory lap with the grinning five year old on his shoulders.

"Auntie Jules, you should invite Ryan next time!" Liam calls from across the living room, causing my face to flame. The rest of my family grin at me, and I hide behind a pillow. I haven't told any of them about mine and Ryan's ever changing relationship. He took me on our date last night, and to say I didn't enjoy not being just roommates would be the understatement of the entire century. It was the best date of my life, and all we did was go for Chinese food; which we've had delivered to the apartment a lot, but going into a restaurant, hand in hand, and sitting at a table in a dimly lit room, while Ryan Pierce grins at you from across the table is so different from making small talk across our kitchen island.

"So, when do we get to see Ryan again?" Charlie asks, nudging me with her elbow as we sit at Mom's kitchen table. Mom hands us both water, then sits across from us, and smiles expectantly at me. I sip my water, while trying to keep from grinning like a love struck fool.

"Look at that grin!" Mom exclaims, smiling at me, and I feel my face flush again- total fail. My family tends to have that affect on me; embarrassing me comes naturally to all of them, even Drew who's only known me for six years. Though, we've always been close, which is due to the fact that I'm seven years apart from Charlie so he's always seen me as a little sister in need of protecting- or so Charlie tells me.

"Are you dating yet?" Charlie inquires, leaning on her elbows and gazing at me as expectingly as our Mom is. They're both helpless romantics, which means they're obsessed with any changes in mine and Ryan's relationship.

"We went on one date, and we might have kissed a week ago." I rush out, grinning when they both squeal. It's like we're high schoolers; but I secretly like it. I love being so close to my sister and Mom; lifelong best friends is definitely how I'd refer to them.

"Was it amazing?" Charlie asks, gripping my hand, and smiling brilliantly.

I bite my lip before nodding and grinning. "Incredible."

"Sound the wedding bells." Charlie comments, while Mom places a hand over her heart.

"He's such a sweet boy," She comments, nodding, while Charlie laughs.

"I would not call him a boy." She turns to me, grinning wickedly. "Have you seen his-"

"Charlotte!" Mom exclaims in horror, causing my older sister to grimace before we both laugh together.

"No," I stage whisper, before taking another sip of water. Charlie swoons in return, before leaning forward again.

"I'm so happy. Keep us posted, Julie Anne."

"I will," I assure her, smiling to myself as I think of how nice it is that when I go home, Ryan will be there.

"Mom, what colors should their wedding have? I think Julie would look wonderful surrounded by dust rose."

"Yes she would," Mom nods seriously, tapping her chin. "But Julie's always been fond of deeper colors- I'm thinking mauve."

"Or burgundy!" Charlie suggests, and Mom nods quickly.

"Yes, burgundy is a wonderful suggestion, love." She agrees, smiling. Mom is a wedding planner, who has been planning our weddings since we could speak. She's never said it specifically but since Charlie was married in between spring and summer, I'm to be married between fall and winter. 

We talk for a little while, then I head back to the apartment; the whole way home, I find myself grinning, thinking about Ryan in a black tux with a burgundy vest.