My Hometown Love

Chapter 29 – The Big Brother

Kevin’s P.O.V.

So, Lexie just told me that Jake, my best bud in the whole world, knows that I have been hanging out with his baby sister.

This is not good.

If there is one thing I know about Jake very well is that he is very protective of his sister and will jump through hoops of fire for her. That is the whole reason I didn’t tell him that I’ve been spending time with Lexie after the wedding. I wanted to wait and see if things with me and Lexie were going somewhere before kind of asking his permission.

I take a quick glance at my watch. I have 3 hours until he comes over to watch the game with me. That gives me time to get my story straight and I can plan what I’m going to tell him, in case he asks.

I look up to people around me staring at me. It is then I realize that I have been standing in the middle of the hallway, forcing people to try to move around me as I stared at my phone.

I quickly give a small smile before briskly walking to the elevator.

It’s going to be okay.

*************

Lexie’s P.O.V

I peep down at the living room from the staircase, trying to figure out where Jakey is. Since I texted Kevin that Jakey knows that we’ve been hanging out lately, I’ve been planning to see if Jakey is going to ask Kevin about it.

I look at the wall clock above me. According to what Jake said earlier, he was supposed to leave at this time. I creep further down the stairs cautiously, desperately trying to be as quiet as possible. I spot Jake in the kitchen grabbing some bags of chips from the pantry and shoving them in a paper bag.

I slowly make my way to him, occasionally glancing around to see if there was anyone else around.

“Hey bro!”, I say as I casually lean on the kitchen doorframe.

“Hey, Lex. What’s up? I’m about to leave to Kevin’s.”, Jake replied as he closed the pantry door.

“So, what are you guys going to do?”, I ask coolly, desperately trying to dig out if he was planning to talk about me to Kevin.

“Just going to chill and watch the game.”, he replied as he pulled out his jacket from the closet.

“Oh. What else?”, I said as I pestered him further.

“I don’t know? Talk, eat, hang out? What is wrong with you?”, Jake said as he put on his jacket and glared down at me, clearly annoyed.

“Nothing. Just curious. Anyway, have fun.”, I said as I swiftly backed away and ran up to my room.

I shut my room door and leaned on it. I started to nervously bite my fingernails as I tried to calm myself down.

I hope Jake doesn’t make a big deal about it.

*************

Kevin’s P.O.V

I paced back and forth in front of my couch. I couldn’t get what happened a year ago out of my head.

Last year, Jake told me that Lexie was suddenly very distant and avoiding him. His big brother instincts suddenly kicked in and he started rambling away on how if someone breaks Lexie’s heart he will be outraged. He didn’t give up trying to reach her for days until she finally called him back. Turns out she had the flu and was bedridden for days. We never spoke about that incident again but till today, I have never seen that scary side of Jake, nor do I want to be the reason for it.

The sound of the doorbell knocked me out of my thoughts as I scrambled to open the door.

“Hey man. What’s up?”, I said coolly as I opened the door to let Jake in.

“Hey, Kevin. How are you buddy?”, Jake replied as he gave me a hug and a pat on my back.

“I’m great. How was the trip?”, I asked as I closed the door and trailed him to the living room.

“It was amazing. We had so much fun and spent quality time together.”, Jake said as he plopped down on the couch.

“That’s nice. Oh, the game’s starting.”, I said as I turned up the volume on the remote.

And so we both sat there, completely engrossed in the game as we ate, drank, and yelled at the TV.

*******

Soon, the game ended on a high note and I turned off the TV, knowing very well what was going to happen next.

“So, how was the honeymoon?”, I asked Jake as I turned myself to face him.

“It was beautiful! I wish we never left.”, he replied beaming away.

“And the house is still not ready? Must be hard for you lovebirds to not have your alone time.”, I asked, teasingly.

“Yeah, the contractor said it will be done towards the end of next week.”, he replied as he took a sip of his drink.

We sat there in awkward silence for a little while as we occasionally sipped our drinks.

“So, Lexie told me that you’ve been spending time with her ever since the wedding.”, Jake finally blurted out as he eyed me closely.

“Oh Yeah. I felt bad thinking that she might be bored. So, I asked her if she wanted to come along with me to the Farmer’s Market I usually go to. We’ve also been here and there, just chilling.”, I reply in the most relaxed, unemotional way.

“Ah, I see. It’s funny you didn’t mention it to me when we met last week. Lexie too, until she accidentally blurted it out while we were fishing.”, Jake replied suspiciously.

“Well, I didn’t think it was so important. But now that you mention it, I should have told you, bro. I’m sorry.”, I reply, trying my best to do some damage control.

“It’s okay, man. Relax. I was just curious. In fact, there is no other guy I trust more to be around her than you. Except for my Dad of course. Anyway, I’m glad you took the time to hang out with her and make sure she was okay. So, thank you.”, Jake replied as he patted my knee gratefully.

“Oh, it was no problem. It was my pleasure.”, I said back as I clinked my bottle against his.

**********

And so we spent the next hour or so, chit-chatting about various other things as we used to. I, on the other hand, was so relieved. It was nice to chat with a friend without having to be worried if he suddenly going to pounce with questions about you and his sister. 

Jake got up from the couch, signaling that he was about to leave. So, I got up and followed him towards the door. I opened the door as I watch Jake put on his jacket.

“Thanks for coming, man!”, I said as I slapped his back.

“Thanks for having me, bro. So, same time next week?”, he replied.

“As long as I’m not on-call, sure!”, I replied as he slowly stepped out of the door.

I was about to close the door when Jake stopped walking and turned around suddenly.

“Are you sure there isn’t anything going on with you and my sister?”, he said bluntly.

I found myself desperately struggling to find the right words to say as my brain froze.

“Definitely not.”, I finally managed to spit out.

“Okay then.”, he replies as he turned around and resumed walking to his car.

My consciousness was killing me as I watched him take each slow step back to his car. He is my best friend, who I tell everything to. Keeping this from him was eating me alive. I bit my lip hard as I considered telling him. I knew it might not be a good idea to do so.

I slowly shut the door as I watched him closely approach his car. I thought about Lexie and how close she was to her brother. I knew I need to make things right this time and not mess things up again.

I yanked the door open and looked out to Jake who is opening his car door.

“Jake, wait!”, I yell as I shut my door and ran after him.

“Jake, listen. There’s something I have to tell you.”, I say as I stand in front of him.

“I’m listening.”, Jake replies as he shuts his car door.

“Here’s the thing. I don’t know how or when it actually happened. But it’s been building up for some time now and I do plan to do something about it.”, I say after taking a deep breath to compose myself.

“What are you talking about?”, he replies confusingly.

“I think I may be falling for Lexie.”, I reply directly.

“What?!”, Jake responds before turning towards his car and leaning on it with his back facing towards me.

“Jake, I’m sorry but I really couldn’t bear to keep it from you any longer. Please say something.”, I beg.

I can Jake taking a deep breath and sighing deeply before turning to face me once again.

“Took you long enough to tell me.”, Jake replied as he slowly started snickering.

“Wait, what?!”, I answer, completely surprised at his response.

“You really think I didn’t notice how you look at her? Dude, I guessed as much already. I just wondered when or if you were ever going to tell me.”, Jake replied as he slapped my shoulder, hard.

“So, you’re okay with it? Just like that? Are you sure?”, I asked to further confirm his decision.

“Yeah! Come on. It’s my best friend and my sister! I can’t think of a better match than you two.”, Jake said as he leaned his back on his car and tapped the spot next to him for me to do the same.

“So, you let me worry all this time on how mad you’re going to be if you found out or if you’re going to disown me or something while you enjoy the show?”, I said angrily as I glare at him.

“Hey, it was fun while it lasted.”, he replied as he started laughing.

“It’s nice that you support my feelings but I have to admit, I am not sure if it’s going to work out. I don’t think Lexie will agree or be willing to take things further with me. So, don’t get your hopes up, okay?”, I said as I sighed deeply.

“Oh, you poor fool. You can’t see it, can you?”, Jake said as he stands up straight and looks me directly in the eye.

“What?”, I respond as I too stand up straight.

She has feelings for you too.