Chapter 82. A lunch
Jackson Johnson
Johnson Enterprise
I watched as Lilly walked toward the elevator and then disappeared from my sight. If Jacob hadn't called for lunch, I would have canceled my plans to go after her. But I understood that you don't always get what you want.
I smiled like a fool watching the elevator doors close. I heard someone clear their throat, wiped the smile off my face, and put on a serious expression as I turned to the two men.
"Gentlemen, as I was saying..." I led the new Administration manager who would replace Máxima's position, and an employee from the team showed the other man his workspace. Then I left for the department located above my office in the same building.
The private doors opened, and Jacob was setting a couple of bags on the dining table.
"Ready for lunch?" he asked in a tone loaded with a kind of "emotion." I took off my jacket and hung it on the coat rack near the foyer, then walked over to him as he was busy setting the food plates on the table. "I brought pork loin, your favorite, and some cold beers." He wasn't looking at me. I crossed my arms and let out a long sigh.
"What's going on, J.J.?" He stopped what he was doing, hesitated to look at me, but finally did.
"Nothing's going on, I just want to have lunch with my brother. Can't I do that?"
"Of course you can, we have each other. But it's strange you show up out of the blue, unless..." I trailed off. He pressed his lips together.
"I'm hungry, aren't you?" I nodded, agreeing that I was. I pulled out a chair, and he set everything up, arranging the plates and bringing the drinks from the fridge.
"I'll just have one. I'm on my lunch break and need to get back to work."
"Alright, me too."
When he finally sat next to me, I could see how he tried to hide a smile.
"Speak." He nodded.
"I'm going out for the first time with a woman who really interests me." I paused my cutting of the meat to turn my face toward him. "And I know what you're thinking, but I don't care," he cleared his throat, "but don't be offended, I really want to give it a shot."
"Okay." I resumed cutting my meat and took a bite. I looked at Jacob, who hadn't started eating yet, his brow furrowed, maybe confused or something by the response I had given him.
"Just 'Okay'?" I took a sip of my drink, then looked at him.
"I could tell you many things you wouldn't like, but it's all because I care about you and don't want you to get into trouble again. But recently, someone told me, 'We can't interfere, it's their life and will be experiences for both.' And I understood that you're a grown-up who knows what's good and what's bad. I should stop worrying that you might make a mistake. But you know what? Live, enjoy, take risks, make mistakes. In the end, we can't take any of this with us," I pointed around the place, "but the memories of what we've lived will remain. And I'd be worried if you didn't." I finished my words, which had been completely sincere to him. I noticed how his face crumpled, and I was immediately alert. "What? What's wrong?"
"It's the first time you've talked to me like a younger brother."
"Don't boast about those few seconds you have over me, Jacob Johnson." He burst into laughter and reached out to pat my shoulder.
"Really, thank you. You've left me with something I can't explain."
"Could it be that you were worried about my reaction to you dating Leah Bradley?" He opened his eyes wider than usual.
"How did you…?" He stopped mid-question, imagining. "Did Leah say something to Lilly?"
"I don't know, I just assumed it from our recent conversations," I paused. "So, am I right?"
"Yes. I asked her out, like on dates, just like you with her sister."
"Well, I haven't shared much about my private life with you." He smiled.
"Our mother is excited that finally, her son Jackson is going on more than one date with the same woman."
"I don't doubt she has future plans for the two of you," I complained. He smiled and started eating.
"No, that was our father." I almost spit out my beer hearing that. I wiped my lips with a napkin and gave him a look.
"What did he say?" I was dying of curiosity.
"Well, I stopped by to say hello, and they told me about the dinner with the Vans' daughter. They told me everything, and my dad was more excited, imagining a wedding soon in the family. If that happens, he would give you the vacation house in Hawaii as a wedding gift for the future family." I opened my eyes wider than usual.
"The Johnson house? But, but… that house belongs to our great-great-grandparents, and since you were born first, it should go to you."
"No, I don't like Hawaii. So it's yours if you get married." I was still surprised.
"Well, but I wouldn't marry Lilly just for that."
"But you would marry her." He countered my words. I looked in his direction when I had lost myself in my thoughts for a moment. "Have you thought about a future with her?"
"I'll say it out loud, but yes, I've imagined a future with her, with kids…" A smile appeared on my lips. "Two boys and two girls."
"Four?" Jacob said almost in shock. "I didn't think you'd want many kids, maybe one at most."
"I'd like more…" I resumed eating before my food got cold. "So, when's your first date?" I asked, changing the subject.
"Next weekend at the company's annual party."
"In a place full of people she doesn't know?" He now hesitated.
"I'm new at this dating thing. My mom suggested it, but… what would you recommend?" I then remembered my first date with Lilly.
"Well, a dinner and a good conversation to start getting to know each other. If you take her to the annual party, there will be music and people around, it might make her uncomfortable, and you won't be able to give her the attention you want…" He furrowed his brows.
"Wow, everything you say makes a lot of sense," he paused. "How was your first date?"
"Well, don't laugh, but everything I planned went wrong." He raised his eyebrows.
"What? You, the one who controls everything around him?"
"Unbelievable as it may sound, that's how it went. But the ending was unexpected, like I never would have imagined." Just remembering that night, a sigh escaped my lips.
"Wow, sounds like you lost your virginity." He then started laughing at his own words. I didn't find it funny, so Jacob realized he was right. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make fun of that," he cleared his throat and took a sip of his beer.
"Anyway, just focus on getting to know her more, listening to her, that's what they like." I continued eating, but he didn't.
"Thanks, Jackson." I just smiled and nodded slowly. We finished lunch, and he got ready to leave. There was something new about him… a spark in his eyes that I had never seen before.