On Santa's lap - S01 E09

3 months ago

On Santa's lap - S01 E09

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 9

The moment we walked outside I knew dinner was going to have to wait, or be cancelled in Nik's sake. Seeing an angry Ethan was pretty much life, when wasn't the man wearing a frown on his face?

And right now leaning against his expensive car where I could see him barking into the phone I realised it was going to be a not so fun night.

"You know what," I said turning around as Nik and Evan walked up behind me, I grabbed the bag from Nik, "I think I'll take a raincheck on the dinner,"

Nik looked at me confused, "What, why?"

"Um, I have stuff to do, Evan put your shoes back on," I said looking down to see him already stripping out of his shoes.

"But it's hot!,"

"That is why you put your shoes on, or you'll feet will burn,"

"I am wearing socks Aunt Eve,"

"Just put them on," The young boy sighed throwing his hands into the air muttering "If I have too," and started tying his shoelaces back up. He could strip in the car, not in public.

"Fine," Nik said shrugging, "I'll walk you across,"

I held a hand up, "Actually I think it's best if you don't come,"

I placed a hand on Evans shoulder steering him when Nik grabbed my wrist, "Wait, did I do something wrong?" he asked looking confused. He looked like Evan when he got sent to his room, confused and annoyed.

And then I was confused, what did he mean did he do something wrong? "No..." I said looking over my shoulder, "That is my brother,"

Nik followed my gaze and I turned back around, "Oh. Oh. Is he the over-protective kind?" and the smirk was back.

I scoffed, "Yeah totally, more like doesn't give two shits about me, I just hate the awkwardness so you can save yourself from that."

"I can handle this, I'll walk you across so you don't get run over,"

I shook my head following him and taking Evan's hand, "There are crossing lights,"

I think Nik was underestimating the awkwardness I was talking about, I wasn't. As we approached Ethan leaning against his car he looked up from texting on his phone, "Good I've been waiting for a while," he said, he wasn't angry. He was just pointing out the facts, which he was since I did take half an hour more than what I told him.

Ethan didn't do subtle, he would say it to your face like it was, if he didn't he wouldn't be one of the top business owners in this country.

"Dad look what I bought," he wasn't completely failure as a father, yet he had a lot to learn. I walked around opening the boot to place everything in and closed it, "Good that's nice," Ethan said as he lifted Evan to buckle him in.

Nik of course was standing to the side, no doubt feeling very awkward as I met his gaze from my spot on the other side of the car.

Told you

Ethan closed the door walking around the side, "You coming? Do you need me to drop you home after,"

"It's fine I'll catch the train," there was nothing worse than an awkward silent car ride, really. I walked over to my door.

"Oh Ethan, this is Nik," I said realising that my brother still hasn't noticed the tall man next to him. Ethan turned around giving Nik a look before nodding "Nice to meet you," before opening the door and getting in and I failed to hide my smile.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

I shook my head walking to the back door, to sit next to Evan, when Nik beat me to it opening the door and I raised an eyebrow, "Thanks," I guess.

"That was awkward, you're right," he said bending as I got in, I raised an eyebrow looking over to Ethan as he put his phone away, at least he didn't take risks with Evan in the car, "I know," I said grabbing the door and closing it.

My brother was the type to make anything and everything awkward. I gave Nik was nod as I saw him through the window.

"Aunt Eve do you have my crayons?"

"They're in the trunk," I replied as I fished out the money from my pocket. Leaning over I placed them in the cup holder. Ethan met my eyes in the rear view mirror, a silent word being passed between us.

"You sure you don't need the money,"

"I do but I will never accept it from you,"

We didn't have to speak out loud, it was just there and he knew better than to push me to take it, even though he knew I needed it. But I was doing fine, I didn't need it. It was like an ego problem, or more pride.

That was it, we both had enough pride to kill us. And that was bad.

It wasn't that we hated each other, we loved each other, for my part anyways, but we weren't going to show those affections. We were either too shy or too reserved to show them.

"How's work?" I asked deciding to start a conversation, my brother was always the quiet man, never spoke unless you approached him. It was good to see at home he was a bit different, Janelle got to him, which I was happy about.

The man that claimed he was never going to marry, got married before me and had a child. So he was doing something right, my brother, was a very successful man. For which I was proud about.

"Good, the economy is doing great," he replied turning into the garage. Well for you it was, if you were rich and had a good paying job, or owned a company, you were doing great. It was the rest of the country that was struggling.

"That's good," I said, the end of the conversation as I got out and started helping Evan out. Ethan opened the door as I fished Evan's stuff from the back.

"Hey how was the zoo?" Jan asked from the kitchen as we entered through the side door that led into the laundry room which was next to the kitchen. She had her hair tied up in a bun with a frilly orange apron on.

"Good, I saw all the animals," Evan replied as his mother bent down to kiss him, "That's great,"

"Are you staying for dinner Eva?"

"Nope. I have to go," I replied. She gave me a nod as I went upstairs to collect my things. I was going to change back into my clothes but then realised I couldn't be bothered, "I'll bring these back later, that okay?"

"Of course," She smiled as she stirred something, "Do you want me to pack you some to take with you? Are you eating properly?"

She was like a mother, well I guess she sort of was.

"I'm fine Jan," I said but she already had take out boxes and started placing the pasta into it, "I remember you liked Alfredo Pasta," she said smiling as she poured the sauce into another container.

Alfredo pasta was to die for, it was simple, creamy and tasty.

"Thanks,"

"Wait for your brother to get out of the shower, he'll drop you home,"

"Nah I'll catch the train,"

"Eva it's not s-,"

"I'm fine, besides he takes like three hour showers, we all know that. I have some stuff to do anyways,"

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Jan sent me a disapproving look but packed the take away boxes into a bag handing it, "Fine, are you coming over for lunch on Christmas," she asked as she walked me to the door. I shrugged, "I don't know, I'll call you,"

She gave me a hug before I walked down the stairs and the extremely long driveway to the big gates and out. It was summer, and now that we had three hot days in a row, it was going to randomly start raining.

The wind picked up as I walked down the footpath when I heard a honk and looked over my shoulder confused.

"You're not getting out of dinner that easily, get in,"

I raised an eyebrow as Nik shrugged at me from the drivers seat and sighed, "Come on it's going to rain," he said as he leaned over opening the door, "Get in,"

I shook my head as I got in throwing my things on the ground, "Seriously?" I asked as I closed the door, "You followed us home?"

He shrugged, "Told you, not getting out of dinner. Besides not going to let you catch the train this late,"

"It's not even late,"

"I didn't think you'll be inviting me over this fast,"

I looked over my shoulder confused to see a sly grin on his face, "You know what, I'm this close to pushing you down the emergency stairs," I said as I gave my apartment door a tug open as Nik laughed a hearty laugh as he walked in.

I was starting to regret dinner at mine, I just didn't want to wast Jan's pasta, what was the point of eating out when you had food?

"I'm joking," he said as he plopped himself down on the couch picking up the remote.

"Shoes off," I told him as my eyes narrowed on his shoes. He raised an eyebrow, "Okay warden,"

"I don't like my carpet stained," Not to mention my landlord was going to take my bond back if it wasn't clean.

I grabbed plates and picked up my phone messaging Rachel to come over, there was plenty of food and with her I would be more comfortable with a stranger in the house. Well not a complete stranger.

I'll be over in ten, do I need to change out of my Pjs :(

I laughed at her text,

Nah, it's only a creepy Santa over

Grabbing plates I walked over to the coffee table, moving the things on top of it away and placing them there, "Did you want any help?" He asked for the third time.

"I'm good, just find something to watch,"

"I am here, miss me folks," Rachel kicked my already open door and I raised an eyebrow, "If you break the door, you're paying for it,"

"Whatever, oh hey Nik," she said as she walked over to the counter after kicking the door close again.

"Oh my god is that Jan's pasta?" she asked as I placed the pasta and the sauce in a larger bowl mixing, "I love her, why can't she be my neighbour,"

"There's drinks in the bar fridge,"

Rachel nodded plucking a piece of pasta out and placing it in her mouth and I wrinkled my nose at her, "Manners," I scolded her as she waved her hand walking over to the mini fridge in the corner, with plants on top.

"Hey Nik, want anything to drink? There is beer, beer and more beer," she looked over her shoulder.

"Beers fine," He said looking at me, "Didn't take you as a beer type of girl,"

"I'm not," I picked up the bowl walking across, "I just have it for when people come over,"

"Thought so,"

The rest of dinner was quiet, relatively quiet. I just listened as Nik and Rachel talked as I rolled my pasta onto my fork.

"This is great,"

"My sister-in-law used to work in a restaurant, she has the best recipes," I said as I leaned over grabbing my glass of Soda.

"There's cake in the fridge by the way," I told Rachel as she took her plate, she stopped her eyes wide, "Oh my god you baked?"

I shrugged, "I got bored," the other day.

"You bake?" Nik asked looking surprised.

"Why can't I?"

"No...just....interesting,"

There was a little squeal from the kitchen, "Cake!" Rachel squealed bringing the whole cake to the coffee table, "Hey don't drop it," I yelled moving the left over pasta out of the way before she dropped it.

'You baked this?!,"

"Why didn't you get plates," I said as I watched her stab her fork into the perfect untouched cake, sure it's been in the fridge for more than a few days, but cakes usually last long. Especially freshly baked ones.

"I'm going to eat all of this," She said giving me a pointed look, "Less dishes for you to wash up,"

I shook my head taking the dirty dishes back to the kitchen and getting new plates, I was sure Nik wasn't going to eat like an animal.

"Plates and spoons," I said as I pushed them onto the counter.

"Aren't you going to have any?" Nik asked looking at the plates.

"I do-,"

"She's weird," Rachel said reluctantly grabbing the plate I was holding out to her, "She bakes like a mental person but never eats the stuff she bakes,"

"I do too," I said definitely as I grabbed my glass of Soda and leaned back into my couch.

"Yeah, once in a blue moon," Rachel scoffed. I rolled my eyes leaning back in my couch.

"I think I'm sick," Rachel said after a few minutes, as she struggled to finish her second piece and rolled on the floor.

"I told you, that much sugar is not good for you," I said narrowing my eyes at her, she better not puke on my floor.

"Shut up, stop making nice cakes then,"

I got up placing my things down, "Come on, I'll take you to your apartment,"

"No, don't touch me. I'm going to sleep here," She muttered grabbing the pillow from the couch, "Get me a blanket,"

I raised an eyebrow, "At least get your arse to the guest room, you're going to complain the floors hard,"

"Eva I am too full to move, get me a blanket," she was being deadly serious. I walked into the guest room grabbing the blanket of the bed and walked back in throwing it at her, "You puke and I'll seriously kick your arse," I grabbed the cake walking back to the kitchen.

Wrapping it with glad wrap I placed it back in the fridge turning around to see Nik.

"You didn't have to," I said as I saw him put all the plates into the sink, "It's fine,"

"Are there any left?"

"Nope," he washed his hands turning around and I chucked him the tea towel for him to try his hands.

I nodded turning around and froze hearing his chuckle. I looked over my shoulder, somewhat annoyed, "Did you just slap my butt with the tea towel."

"Nope"

I narrowed my eyes at him and went to turn around, out of the corner of my eye I could see him doing that trick where you wave the towel to make it skinnier and turned back around, "Stop it," I said before he even hit me.

"Make me,"

I did, the next time he did it I grabbed the towel and gave it a tug, except he was stronger and when he tugged back I lost my footing and crashed into him.