Pretend (89 page)

             
“So, how’s Tommy?” Crystal said as she smiled at Mimi.

             
“Getting on my nerves,” she said as we all burst out laughing.

             
“Don’t they all,”
Jess said as we all nodded in agreement.

             
“Is he coming tonight?” I asked as I lifted my feet into the chair and tried to get comfortable.

             
“I don’t know, I haven’t asked him yet,” she said as she let out a long breath.

             
“Mimi!” I said as I stared at her.

             
“What? I told you he annoyed me last night, so I’m taking some time out,” she said as she giggled.

             
“Good, that’ll be one less guy for me and Kyle to deal with,” Aiden said as he stepped into the room.

             
“Aiden the girl is eighteen years of age and does not need you or her over protective brother ruining her love life,” Crystal said as she rolled her eyes.

             
“Exactly,” Mimi agreed.

             
Suddenly our attention was drawn to the knocking that was coming from the front door.

             
“I’ll get it,” Aiden said as he disappeared through the door.

             
“Anyway, how are you feeling Jess?” I asked as I gestured towards her stomach.

             
“Fat and tired,” she said as she folded her arms across her stomach.

             
“Don’t be silly, you look great,” Mimi said as she rolled her eyes at her.

             
“You do actually, I hope that I look half as good as you when I’m pregnant,” Crystal said as she smiled at her.

             
“When?”
Mimi asked with a slight smirk on her face.

             
“Yes, way in the future,” Crystal said as she made a sarcastic face at Mimi.

             
“Hey ladies,” Murphy said as he walked through the living room doors and
smiled at us.

             
“Oh look what the cat dragged in,” Jess said as she smirked at him.

             
“And by cat she means a lion because it could only be the king of the jung
le that could drag that ego in,”
Crystal said, sarcastically.

             
“Yeah, I missed you too,” he said as he winked at her.

             
“Hey
Taise
,” we all sang in unison as he stepped through the door.

             
“Hey ladies,” he said with a huge smile on his face.

             
“Where’s Marissa?” I asked as I looked behind him at the empty space.

             
“She’s coming later, she had to work late,” he said as he smiled at me.

             
It turned out that Marissa had secretly been crushing on
Taise
since she first met him at one of Murphy’s parties. Fortunately he finally worked up the courage to ask her out a year ago and they’ve been together ever since.

             
“Ok.”

             
“So, what are you ladies chuckling about?” Murphy asked as he leaned against the door frame, looking at Crystal.

             
“Last I heard they were talking about pregnancy,” Aiden unsuccessfully whispered.

             
“It’s rude to listen in on people’s conversations
Aidy
,” Mimi said as she raised her eyebrow at him.

             
“Not when you do it in your own house it isn’t,” he said as he winked at her.

             
“Whatever, can you morons get out, we’re trying to have a grown up conversation here,” Crystal
said as she stared into Murphy’s eyes.

             
“
Well, I know when I’m not wanted,” he said with a smirk on his face.

             
“Come on guys, we’ll get some food,” Aiden said as he started to walk towards the kitchen.

             
“Now that sounds like a plan,”
Taise
said with a smile on his face.

             
“Yeah, it does,” Murphy said as he gave Crystal one last look before walking out.

             
I turned my attention to Crystal but she was clearly trying to avoid my gaze.

             
“So, what’s happening with your car?” Jess asked.

             
“Well Anthony and Aiden are working on it but I’m not sure whether I should just
cut my losses and buy a new one,”
I said as I began to think about all of the problems that that car was giving me lately.

             
I knew that if anyone could fix it then it would be Anthony and Aiden but I was honestly just fed up of it.

             
“Yeah, it has been nothing but trouble the past few months,” Mimi agreed.

             
“Yeah, well we’ll see,” I said as I smiled at her.

             
Suddenly there was a knock at the door.

             
“I’ll be back in a minute,” I said as I stood to my feet.

             
“Hey,” I said as I opened the door to a smiling Anthony.

             
“Did you get it then?” I asked as I looked at his empty hands.

             
“Get what?” He asked with a confused expression.

             
“Jess’ candy?”

             
“Oh no!”
He said as a look of panic spread across his face.

             
“Anthony, are you kidding me?” I whispered as I stared at him in disbelief.

             
“Yeah, actually I am,” he said with a huge grin on his face as he slipped a Hershey bar out of his back pocket.

             
“That was not funny. I thought that I was going to have to plan your funeral,” I said as I hit him playfully on the arm.

             
“No, I’m not that bad. Now can you let me in, I’m sort of freezing my butt off out here,” he said as he smiled at me.

             
“Yeah sorry,” I said as I stepped to the side to let him in.

             
“So, how’s my car getting along?” I asked as I prepared myself for the worst answer.

             
“Yeah, it’s ok, it’ll be as good as new in a couple of days,” he said as he smiled.

             
“Really?”
I beamed as
I smiled at the thought of getting my freedom back.

             
“Yes really. Me and Aiden didn’t just set up a business for the fun of it you know, we are actually good at what we do,” he said as he nudged me, playfully.

             
“Yeah, I don’t doubt you guys, it’s that car that I worry about,” I said as we both began laughing.

             
“Well even if we can’t fix it then you know that we will sort you out with a new one so you have nothing to worry about,” he said as he smiled at me.

             
“Thanks Ant.”

             
“Hey baby,” he said as we walked through the living room door.

             
“Hey,” Jess said as she smiled up at him.

             
“Here you go,” he said as he handed her, the Hershey bar, much to her delight.

             
“Oh
my gosh
, my favourite! Thank you baby,” she said as she kissed him and then began ripping open the packet.

             
“Wow, she really takes this eating for two
thing
seriously,
doesn’t she?
” Crystal said, earning her a dirty look from Jess.

             
Suddenly my phone began to vibrate, so I left the room so that I could hear the other person.

             
“Hey,” I said as I picked up my phone.

             
“Hey April!” Jinnie shouted in an excited tone.

             
“Where are you?”

             
“I’m stuck in traffic but I’ll be there in like ten minutes, save me some food,” she said as I burst out laughing.

             
“Ok, I will,” I replied.

             
“Bye.”

             
I chuckled to myself as I walked back into the living room where everyone was now congregated.

             
“Who was that?” Crystal asked as I sat in between her and Jess.

             
“It was Jinnie, she was making sure that I saved her some food,” I said as everyone burst out laughing.

             
“Typical,” Jess said as she rolled her eyes.

             
“So, what time
do the games start?” Anthony aske
d as he sat forward and rubbed his hands together.

             
“Why? You’re only going to lose if you’re up against me,” Aiden said as he smiled to himself.

             
“Dude, you really need to get over yourself,” Anthony said as we all began laughing at the pair.

             
“Scared?” Aiden said as he smirked at his best friend.

             
“Of you?
Dude, you’re like a little pussy cat,” he scoffed before sitting back in his chair.

             
“That sounds like a chall
e
nge,” Aiden said with a big grin on his face.

             
“Now baby you know that you don’t like to lose,” Jess said as she tried to hold in her laugh
ter
.

             
“You know, your lack of confidence in me is insulting,” he said, sarcastically.

             
“Ok but don’t say that I didn’t warn you,” she said as she took a bite out of the apple in her hand.

             
“Yeah, yeah.
Let the games begin,” he said as he turned to face Aiden with a smirk on his face.

* * *

             
“Dude you’re a cheater man!” Anthony roared as Aiden beat him for the fifth time. 

             
Forty minutes had passed by since they began their challenge. They had been playing Mario Cart and so far Anthony hadn’t won one race. The living room was practically pouring with people who were either team Aiden or Team Anthony. I did notice that Anthony’s team had slowly diminished over the
past
forty minutes as Aiden continued to win. I felt quite sorry for the neighbours as everyone roared with laughter when Aiden beat Anthony again.

             
“How can I be cheating, I’m just that good, face it,” Aiden said with a big smirk on his face.

             
“Now, now Aiden stop teasing the poor boy,” Susan said as she tried her hardest not to laugh.

             
“Yeah at least let him win one game,” my mom said as they both burst out laughing.

             
“It’s not even on the hardest level Aunty
Kels
there is not much else I can do to help him,” Aiden said as he smiled at her.

             
“I don’t need your help! He cheats that’s why,” Anthony said as he raised an eyebrow at Aiden.

             
“Come on man it’s time to let someone with more skills have a go,” Kyle said as he took the remote from Anthony’s hand.

             
“That’s it Daddy you kick Uncle Aiden’s butt!” Tammy said as she jumped up and down in excitement.

             
“Tammy,” I said as I raised an eyebrow at her.

             
“I mean that’s it Daddy you win,” she said with an innocent look on her face.

             
“That’s better,” I said before glancing at Crystal who had a huge grin on her face.

             
“You guys need to get off of this now and play a game that everyone can play,” Jinnie moaned.

             
“Yeah she’s right,” Marissa agreed.

             
“Ok, so what do you suggest?” Kyle said.