LENNOX ▸ RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEK

THIRTY-THREE • MANY HAPPY RETURNS

Bennett Rousseau took the train down to London Saturday night, not quite understanding the extremity of news that was about to hit him. He'd brought his girlfriend Jessica along to help calm his nerves about seeing Lennox. The last time he'd talked to his sister, her big news was that herself and Ruben had moved in together. Before that, he didn't even know that they were in a relationship, at least he didn't find out from his sister. In fact, their mother had told him, and she hadn't even told him that they were dating, just insinuated that they were "hanging out." It was through all the Instagram posts and tweets towards one another that Bennett assumed Lennox was dating the Chelsea man.

Bennett hadn't talked to Ruben in ages. Well, he talked to him when Bennett's mum put him on the phone for a second or two the other day but he hadn't really talked to him for a while now. So, when he and Jess made their way to his parents' house from the train station, he was understandably nervous.

That is, until his baby sister opened the door with a wide grin on her face and open arms flailing about until she squeezed him in a hug. "Hey, Ben!" she squealed. "Long time, no see, big brother."

He hugged her right back just as tightly. Oh, how he'd missed her. "Hey, baby sister."

"Hey, Jess! Good to see you."

You look great, Lenny."

"Thanks, come on in. Mom's getting the casserole out of the oven. Just in time!"

Lenny scrambled into the living room as Jess and Bennett walked into the kitchen, greeting Mama Rousseau. Lenny turned to Ruben, who looked slightly nervous. He sat there, beside her, his arm thrown over her shoulder and, his sweaty hand holding onto hers. "Rubes... do I have to remind you that you two grew up together? Played football together? Nothing to be nervous about."

"I know," he sighed, trying to calm himself with her words. "Still..."

"What? You worried he's gonna ask about our sex life?" Lenny teased. "I'm pretty sure that's public info at this point thanks to that lie detector test."

Ruben rolled his eyes, a smile appearing on his face. His nerves slowly dissipated into calmness and he stared at his girlfriend, unsure of how she was so capable of making miracles happen.

He cut his thoughts off when Jess and Bennett entered the living room, hugging Papa Rousseau before turning to Ruben. Jess and Ruben shared a formal and kind of awkward first meeting, as goes with significant others of siblings.

"Hey, man," Bennett stated as he greeted Ruben, his grin only getting wider as he saw his old childhood mate.

"How's it going, bro?" Ruben replied in a typical boy manner, pulling Bennett into a bro hug and instantly feeling his nerves relax.

The two spent some time catching up as Lenny and Jess talked in the kitchen. Occasionally, she would sneak into the living room to see how Ruben and Bennett were doing. Her brother and boyfriend both seemed so happy to be speaking again. Bennett asked Ruben about Isaac (whom he also played footy with) and the others, how football was going. In return, Ruben asked him about life as a physio, which Manchester team he preferred (of course, City was the correct answer).

And just before dinner, Lenny and Jess joined the boys and Lenny's dad in the living room. Lennox plopped down next to Ruben, practically on top of his sprawled out legs. The two shared a look before quietly acknowledging that now was the time.

"So, Ben. Jess. Ruben and I have got some news."

Jess, who sat to Lenny's right, immediately squealed. "Oh, my God. You're pregnant?!"

Lennox's eyes widened in shock and slight horror as she glanced back at Ruben, who looked just as frightened.

"Uh... no. No. Definitely not. Right?" Ruben turned to Lenny, just in case, eyes glancing down at her stomach.

"No," she confirmed. "Not pregnant. I mean, maybe with a food baby..." she joked, letting out a laugh as she jokingly rubbed her tummy.

"Well, then... what is it?" Bennett asked.

Lenny and Ruben turned to face the couple, Ruben's arm wrapped around her waist and rubbed comfortingly as Lenny held her left hand up, showing the couple her engagement ring.

"We're getting married."

Jess had an expected reaction: lots of squealing and jumping around, all the hugs her petite body could muster, and tons of praise over the ring.

Bennett remained quiet as she reacted. And, when she was done, he cracked a smile and hugged both of them. "Congratulations, guys."

Simple.

But Lennox didn't expect anything different. She knew her brother would be happy for her; he was her blood, after all. Simultaneously, she didn't expect a big show of congratulations from him. In the past couple years, they'd drifted apart slowly. And Lenny didn't know how they let it be that way but it just happened.

And so, here they were. And Lenny was facing her brother with a prominent frown on her face. Nevertheless, she shook the disturbing thought from her head and had a lovely dinner with the family.

It seemed as though Ruben realized something was wrong though. He was good at that. So, the couple ended up in the backyard of her parents' home, Ruben lounging on an adirondack chair and Lenny curling up on top of him, her head resting against his shoulder. The fire crackling in the fire pit in front of them kept them from freezing in the cold London weather.

"What's going on, Len?" Lenny shrugged. "Baby..."

Lennox let out a sigh then, leaning back slightly so she could look into Ruben's eyes.

"I miss Bennett. The old Bennett. We used to be so close. And now I don't know what's happened."

Ruben remained quiet for a bit, digesting the information as he rubbed Lenny's knees, which were bent up to her chest.

"Sometimes people grow apart, love. That's just life."

"But he's my brother. We share the same blood, the same DNA. And when I told him we were getting married, he had the most anticlimactic reaction ever. I just—I wish Isaac was here."

She recalled when they had told Isaac about their engagement and how wildly happy he'd gotten.

"What?" Ruben joker, trying to lighten her mood. "I'm not good enough for you anymore?"

Lenny rolled her eyes. "Not like that. He's just been like such a good brother to me. I can't wait to be legally related to him. And Vinni. And Martell. And everyone, really. Your family is amazing; I love them."

"And they love you, bean. But your family is amazing, too. Don't you forget. I'm sure Bennett just feels a little weird after not seeing you for so long and having this ball dropped on him. I mean, we didn't really tell him about us. It must be a little weird to see your childhood mate and sister getting engaged."

"I guess," Lennox reluctantly agreed. "I just wish we were closer."

"Well, he is coming to the game tomorrow, right? Try working on it then," Ruben thoughtfully suggested.

Lenny spent the entire ride home and the rest of the night thinking about Ruben's wise words and how to apply them to her brother.