April
"Daddy would you please stop staring at Aden like that. Your making this uncomfortable." I say. We're all sitting down in the living room. Apparently Jamal had to go make a run for mom and now we're all waiting for him to get back.
"How am I staring?" Daddy asked turning toward me.
"Your doing that mean mug thing you always do and you know it."
My father had a signature mean face that made most people uncomfortable when they saw it.
"I'm not. I'm just looking at the boy. I'm not making you uncomfortable am I?" Daddy said looking back at Aden. There was a clear challenge in his voice.
"No sir." Aden said.
When Aden's eyes drifted back to me all I could do was mouth the words 'sorry'. My father was the king of long pauses and intense stare downs.
"Good, because a real man should have no problem siting down with another man for a real conversation. Now I'm going to ask you this once. What are your intentions for my daughter?" Daddy said.
"Daddy, he's not here about me. His here for Jamal and the robot feast so just leave-"
"I like her, sir" Aden interrupted me.
I stare at him with wide eyes. I'm caught between being happy he said it and worrying about my father's reaction, or should I say over reaction.
This is the first time a boy has made his feelings know to my father and dad probably been waiting for a chance to flex his over baring father muscles.
"You like her? Well that's all good and dandy. I like Kitkats but that doesn't mean I won't trade it in for a sneakers if given the opportunity, hell I might even eat both of them at the same time. So I'll ask you again, boy what are our intentions towards my daughter?"
"Oh god daddy please stop." I say placing my face in my hands. This is just as embarrassing as I thought it would be. My father just compared me to a chocolate bar.
"I'd like to date her, sir. I have no intentions of trading her in or messing with another girl. April is the only one I want." Aden says.
I look up from my hands. Even though we both said we liked each other we haven't made it official, so hearing this makes my heart do cartwheel. I look at Aden and he seems confident in his words, which only makes me like him more.
Aden turns to look at me and hint of nervousness enters his eyes. It takes a moment for me to realize that he want to know my reaction to his confession. I smile because of course I would love to be his one and only.
"And what makes you so sure you can?"
Daddy asked leaning forward and blocking my view of Aden. Of course he would come in to ruin the moment.
I'm back to rolling my eyes. Just as I'm about to say something mom walks in.
"Honey, I need your help in the kitchen." Mom says to dad.
"Give me a second, I'm not finished talking with this Aden kid."
"Fine but don't say anything when your dinner comes out bad."
"What's wrong with dinner?"
My dad turns around to look at my mom for the first time. I shake my head. Very few things captures my father's attention the way his food does.
"Everything if you don't come in here to fix this stove." Momma says with her hand on her hip.
Daddy grumbles but stands up to go to the kitchen. Mom gives me a wink before turning to leave with him. I let out a sigh of relief now that he's gone.
"I'm sorry you had to sit through that." I say looking at Aden.
"No, it good. Your dad cares about you that's all."
Aden stands up and moves to sit closer to me.
"I bet your father isn't as crazy as mine." I say.
"That depends."
"On what?"
"Which father you're referring to."
I almost forgot that Aden's parents are divorced. His biological dad was some big shot who could afford to send him to the fancy schools. I realize now that Aden doesn't really talk much about that part of his life.
"So what is your family like?" I ask.
Aden shrugs. "Crazy."
That wasn't very descriptive. I've never meet a person who didn't think there family was crazy.
"How so?" I asked.
"My mom side of the family is pretty chill. That why I chose to like with her. My dad Michael has a hug family but a lot of them are down south. Holidays are pretty crazy because most of my mom's people are from Russia so when we get together it's a big mix of people. It's like we're puzzle pieces you wouldn't think would fit together but in some weird way we do."
I smile. I can tell that he really loves his family, or at least his moms side. He didn't really talk about his father's but I don't want to push.
"Yeah that's kind of how it is here. When I first meet my brothers I was so happy because I always wanted siblings."
"What do you mean?"
"I didn't know Keith and Jamal until our parents started dating."
"Wait so are you saying they're your step-brothers."
I frown. "I don't like that terminology. It makes it sound like there not my real brothers just because we aren't blood related. Keith and Jamal are my brothers and daddy is my dad, plan and simple."
"Are you sure it's that simple to everyone?"
I frown again. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing."
Aden looks away from me. My frown deepens because the way he said it didn't make it sound like nothing.
"You meant something Aden." I say.
Aden looks back at me and sighs. "It's just that Jamal is really close with you and-"
I sigh and stand up from the couch. "See that's why I don't tell anyone. The moment I say that we're not blood people start to look at us strange."
For the most part it came from the girls. Last time one of Jamal girlfriends found out we weren't blood she gave me the evil eye ever time I came near him. Having some one think that your trying to seduce your brother away from them is by far the most uncomfortable thing ever. As if I would ever want Jamal for something other than a brother.
"It's not you April. It's just that Jamal acts a little strange when you're around." Aden said.
"That's because he's an over bearing a$$ not because he likes me."
I feel the need to defend the relationship between Jamal and I. It's not like I'm a complete idiot. I know that Jamal's been acting strange. The things he does are a bit much even for an over protective brother, but there are a thousand reasons I'd be willing to believe before I even considered that Jamal like me like that.
The thought of it was just...just...hell I couldn't even imagine it.
Aden stood up and placed his hands on my arms. His eyes held mine with a look of apology.
"I'm sorry April. I shouldn't have brought it up. Can we just drop it." Aden said.
I sigh. I hadn't realized how much talking about it had upset me. My mind completely rejected the ideal of Jamal having feelings for me.
Most of my anger had come from that defensive feeling you get when someone asks a question you don't have the answer for. Because , although I was willing to accept a million different reasons for Jamal's behavior, I couldn't come up with one.
I pushed the thought out of my head, not even wanting to question it.
I looked back at Aden and tried to focus my mind on something else.
"Did you really mean it?" I asked.
"Mean what?"
"That you only wanted me?"
I can't even look at him when I ask the question. My gaze is focused on my shoes.
Aden lifts my chin up so that I'm looking into his green eyes.
"Of course I meant it April. Your the only girl that makes me feel this way. But what about you?" Aden asked.
"Isn't that that obvious."
I try to look away but Aden holds me in place. His eyes darken and I feel myself being pulled towards him.
"I need to hear you say it." Aden voice was a dark enchanting whisper.
"I..."
My heart was pounding and I was suddenly more nervous then I'd ever been before. Something told me if I said it there would be no going back. I'd be handing my heart over on a platter.
In the game called love the stakes were always raising higher and higher, but so were the rewards. For once I tried to imagine the brighter side of this. There was a possibility that I could have Aden all to myself. He would be mine and I would be his.
If Aden really was as loyal as he said he was. I would have someone who really loved and cherished me.
"Say it, April." Aden said leaning in closer. I could feel his breath against my lips.
"I only want you."
As soon as the word left my mouth Aden's lips were on mine. His mouth was even more possessive than our first kiss. But unlike the first kiss my sense weren't dampened by the shock.
I kissed him back, not even caring that my parents could come back at any moment. The sense of danger thrilled me in ways I'd never expected.
When Aden's arms wrapped around me and pulled me closer I felt a heat pool between my thighs. My fingers moved through his hair pulling him closer. I needed more of him.
Aden's tongue licked my bottom lip just like he had the first time. But this time when I gasped he used the opening move in.
As Aden's tongue moved against mine it dawned on my that his skills did not match that of an armatures. For the first time I considered the fact that Aden might be more experienced then me.
The revelation made me self conscious and my movement became awkward.
Aden pulled back, reluctantly breaking our kiss. He stared down with a look of concern.
"Is everything okay?" Aden asked.
"Yeah no, I just-it's just a bit..." I was stumbling all over my words. It shouldn't have mattered that Aden kissed other girls, but I couldn't help wonder how many and how far they went. What if they were better than me.
I started to over analyze everything I did. What if it been too sloppy or too wet. Sometimes I heard people complain about bad kissers, what if I was one.
"Hey, look at me, April. It's okay. I went too fast."Aden said taking a step back.
Panic ran through me. "No I don't want you to think that I don't want it. I do I just..."
"It's okay." Aden said he brushed hair back from my face and smiled at me. "We don't have to rush. Your already mine."
"Am I?"
"Yeah and I'm not letting you go." Aden said with a smile.
ðððð
Author's note: another chapter that turned out longer than I was planing. Aden's got some balls putting the mac down on April with her parents in the kitchen.smh
So April's trying to deny what going on with Jamal but Aden starting to question. It'll be fun to see how Aden interacts with Jamal now that he knows that juicy bit of information.
But most importantly they're officially exclusive!ð
Alright I could say more but I'm tried of typing and real life is waiting for me.
Peace and love my dear readersâð¾ï¸â¤ï¸