Chapter 50 Nonchalant Guest
JESSICA
A second car followed it behind and I instantly knew who it was.
Uncle Brad.
The cars stopped and the front seats' doors opened first. Two men dressed in black suits walked towards the back doors and opened them.
Uncle Brad got out of the car dressed in a blue dress shirt, white pants, a white hat, and dark glasses.
I smiled as I stared at him.
Next, Kendra got out of the car, dressed in a short beautiful black dress, dark glasses, and holding flowers.
Wow.
Alex appeared from the other side of the car, dressed in a brown dress shirt and black pants. He also has dark glasses on, looking very handsome.
Oh gosh, they are really here.
I felt my heart melting and dancing at the same time as they approached.
Uncle Brad is at the front, smiling at me as he approaches. His guards are behind him with some black boxes which my head is telling me are gifts.
Uncle Brad is big on gifts you know.
"Well well well," Uncle said.
I smiled.
"If it isn't the latest nurse in town." He said.
"Uncle Brad!" I squealed, hugging him.
He chuckled, wrapping his hands around me.
"Congratulations, princess." He said, calling me his usual nickname as we unwrapped each other.
I grinned at him.
"Gifts for the celebrant." He said, gesturing at his men who walked towards me with the boxes.
I knew it!
They opened the boxes, revealing diamond jewelry.
My jaw dropped slowly.
I looked at Uncle Brad.
He smiled.
"Uncle, this is.....this is a lot," I said
"Nothing is a lot for my little niece." He shrugged.
My heart melted again. I couldn't help but give him another hug.
He chuckled.
"Thank you so much, uncle."
"Yeah, you welcome." He said as I released him.
His men placed the boxes in my hands.
They are literally four boxes of different kinds of diamond jewelry. This is huge.
"Uh....where is your....."
"Brad," mom called, cutting him off. I looked at her as she stood next to me.
"Carmen." Uncle called as I looked at him.
"You all are here." Mom said, placing her hands on my shoulders.
Uncle hummed.
"And you brought....." she paused, looking at the gift with raised brows. "Quite a lot of gifts."
"Anything for my favorite niece." Uncle said, making me smile at him.
He smiled.
"That's um.... that's great. Lydia, please help me take the gifts inside." Mom said, making me notice Lydia's presence on my right.
"Alright," Lydia said, taking the boxes from me and walking away.
"I have some refreshment for you guys. Cone on." Mom said.
"Hmm refreshments," Uncle said, following Mom away with his guards following him behind.
"Hey hey hey," Alex sang, taking my attention.
"Alex!" I squealed slightly, hugging him happily.
He chuckled.
I locked eyes with Kendra who was standing behind him and staring at me unpleasantly.
My smile fell.
She rolled her eyes as Alex and I unwrapped each other.
I lowered my gaze momentarily but looked at Alex with a smile.
"Nice dress." He complimented.
"Thank you," I said, smiling.
"Here's my gift." He said, handing over a fancy red bag.
"Aw," I took it from him and looked inside.
My jaw dropped again.
I looked at him.
He smiled.
I looked inside the bag and took out the item.
I looked at him.
"A Chanel bag?!"
He made a thinking face.
"It's that what it's called?"
I squealed, wrapping him in another hug.
He chuckled.
"Thank you so much."
"Anytime." He said and I unwrapped him.
"So, where are the cakes?" He asked, rubbing his hands like he was ready to devour as much as he could find.
I chuckled as he walked past me.
Next, I sensed someone walking a bit closer to me.
It was Kendra.
I felt a shift in the energy.
Her facial expression can kill your joy.
"Hey," she said nonchalantly, looking away.
"Hey, Kendra. You came." I said, smiling.
She looked at me.
"I uh....I love your dress. It is pretty." I said.
"Yeah, I know. Here's your gift," she said, placing the flowers in my hands before I could utter another word.
"Thank you."
"No need. My dad made me give it to you," she said, flipping her hair.
"Oh."
"Actually he forced."
I furrowed my brows slightly.
"And also forced to be here, so..." she said, looking around.
I lowered my gaze, thinking of what to say next.
I don't know why but she always makes me feel like impressing her or something.
It has always been like that since high school.
"Is there anything else you guys serve other than cakes?" she broke the silence.
I looked at her.
She raised her brows.
"We uh.....we have other pastries and...."
She scoffed. "Aren't they all in the same category as cakes?"
I opened my mouth to speak but....
"Don't you have something else that doesn't have thousands of calories? I am a dancer. I need to be in good shape and eat healthy."
"We um...."
"You are a nurse. You should know that."
"They've got salad." Michael's voice interrupted, making me look at him.
He is sipping wine from the glass in his hand and staring at Kendra.
"You should try them. Very healthy." He added, smiling.
I looked at Kendra.
She is staring at him from head to toe.
I felt a bit nervous from where I stood.
"Who is he?" Kendra asked.
"Michael," he answered before I could speak. "Jessica's colleague and friend," he said, extending his hand to her.
She looked at his hand and they at him.
I prayed internally for her not to ignore his hand.
Sighing, she took his hand.
"Kenzy Sterling," she said.
"Sterling?" He asked as they released each other's hands. "As in the former...."
"Yeah, yeah. His daughter," she said nonchalantly. "Excuse me. I will go try that salad now. I hope it doesn't kill me." she said, walking past us.
I heaved a tiny sigh.
"She doesn't seem friendly," he said.
I nodded, looking at him.
"I didn't think you were related to the former commissioner."
"He is my dad's best friend."
"Oh."
I nodded.
"That's nice. Where is your dad though?"
My heart tightened as I lowered my gaze.
"Is he here?" he asked, making me look at him. He is looking around.
I opened my mouth to speak as he looked at me.
"You haven't introduced him to me."
"He had an emergency at his company so he had to leave," I said.
"Oh."
I nodded, lowering my gaze as earlier this morning had made my heart tighten.
"Is something wrong?" He asked, making me look at him.
"Hmm?"
"You look sad. Is it something that I said?"
I shook my head. "No, I am fine," I said, smiling. "Did you enjoy the cakes?"
"Oh good lord," he said, closing his eyes and opening them. "I haven't tasted cakes that good."
I smiled again. "Really?"
"Yeah. Your mom has magic hands. She said she made all of them."
I nodded. "Yeah, she did."
"They are very delicious. Where is her bakery though?"
"Not far from here. It is called Carmen's Bite."
He nodded. "Yeah, she told me. She's gonna bake my sisters' cakes for their forthcoming birthdays," he said, taking out his phone and staring at it.
"You have sisters?"
He looked at me. "Yeah. Younger sisters. And twins."
"Wow. I love twins."
"Really?"
I nodded.
"You can have them someday if you want," he said, smiling.
My cheeks heated up, making me lower my gaze.
He chuckled. "Ignore me. I make lame jokes."
I would love to have them someday though.
Kids are joy givers.
"They are turning sixteen in a few weeks," he said, making me look at him.
"Your mom will handle their cakes," he said.
"They are going to love it," I said.
"I have no doubt."
I smiled.
He stared at me quite intensely.
I lowered my gaze shyly.
"You didn't say anything about going out with me for dinner tomorrow night."
I looked at him.
He is staring at me.
"Will you go out with me?"
I pursed my lips.
"Have mercy on me already and say yes."
I smiled.
His lips formed a smile too.
"Is that a yes?" He asked.
I nodded. "Yes."
He smiled again. "Awesome. Thank you for the sweet answer."
I smiled.
"You have the prettiest smile." he complimented.
My heart reacted.
"Thank you."
He smiled at me.
I lowered my gaze shyly.
I can't help it. The way he looks at me is.....
He took my hand, catching me off guard as I looked at him.
He is staring at me.
Oh gosh.
His blue eyes are so beautiful. You could stare at.....
"What's going on here?" Alex's familiar voice interrupted, making me withdraw my hand gently from Michael's hold and hold the flowers properly as Alex stood next to me, biting his apple while staring at Michael.
Oh boy.
Michael looked between Alex and me.
"Jessica," Alex called without looking away from Michael.
"This is Michael, a doctor at the hospital where I work. Michael, this is Alex, my potential big brother." I said, like he always calls himself.
Alex nodded while still staring at Michael.
"Potential big brother?" Michael asked.
"That's what she said, dude," Alex said.
I heaved a sigh.
Here we go.
"So, are you interested in my sister?" Alex asked.
I moved my eyes to Michael.
He looked at me and then at Alex.
"Yes. Very much." Michael said, making my heart react.
"Hmm. You wanna marry her?"
"Alex!" I whispered.
"Hush, little sis," Alex said, moving his attention to Michael.
I heaved a sigh.
"Do you want to marry her, Michael?" he asked again.
God, I want to bury myself right now.
"I uh...."
"Cause if you do, there are a lot of procedures you need to do." Alex retorted.
"Procedures?" Michael asked, making me look at him.
He looked at me.
I shook my head slightly, trying to tell him to ignore Alex.
"Yes. Procedures. She got four men in her life." Alex said, making Michael furrow his brows.
Oh boy.
"Actually five but the fifth one is not old enough to make decisions. So there is her dad, my dad, uncle Xavier, and then there is me."
My heart picked up at the mention of Uncle Xavier's name.
"You gotta get the approval of all four of us before you marry our little girl," Alex said.
Seriously, Alex?
"Wow. That's quite a number." Michael said, making me look at him.
He smiled at me.
I am sorry.
"So if you are not ready, you have to keep your distance, dude," Alex said.
"Okay, Alex." I chipped in. "Don't you want more cakes?"
"Nah, I am full." He said while staring at Michael.
"You haven't tasted a particular cake. Come," I held his arm, giving Michael a signal.
He nodded.
"I am full, Jessica," Alex whined as I took him away.
"You have to taste this one, come on," I said, taking him towards the table.
"I got hot space for any more cakes, Jessie. Come on," he said as we got to the table.
I reached for a tiny slice of velvet cake and pushed it into his mouth before he could protest.
"Hey," he protested while chewing.
I raised my brows as he chewed.
He hummed, still chewing.
I smiled. "Good right?"
He nodded.
I reached for another piece and gave it to him.
"Oh, I will have like ten more." He said, walking past me towards the plates area.
I chuckled but something caught my attention ahead.
I saw my mom and Uncle Brad a bit far away from the table, talking.
More like......like a heated argument.
I furrowed my brows slightly.
What could they be talking about? I can't hear them. And mom seemed very upset.
I heaved a sigh at the thought of Dad.
She must be reporting Dad to Uncle.
Perhaps Uncle can help talk to Dad. I don't want to believe Dad hates me.
Uncle Xavier was wrong.
Dad doesn't hate me.
He is just.....he is stressed out with work and all.
I turned away from them as Uncle Xavier filled my head.
He is not here yet.
Why am I expecting him, though? He is clearly not coming.
Stop hoping, Jessica.
He is not coming.
My heart clenched slightly as I aligned with my thoughts.
It is okay. I have almost everyone here.
Even though dad and David are not here, I have mom, uncle Brad, Alex, Lydia, and all the guests.
Michael.
I looked at where he is. He is still at that spot I left him, typing on his phone and sipping his wine.
He asked me out.
Again.
I am definitely going. He came to my party after I invited him. I should go out with him.
He is really hand......
Kendra approached him, claiming his attention and snapping me out of my thoughts.
I furrowed my brows slightly as I stared at them.
She began saying something to him. What is she.....what is she saying to him?
"Jess," Lydia took my attention momentarily as she approached me but I moved my eyes back to Michael and Kendra.
"What is that snob doing with your boyfriend?" Lydia asked.
"He is not my boyfriend, Lydia." I almost whispered, still staring at Michael and Kendra.
"Yeah right. But seriously, I don't like that girl one bit. You should see the way she reacted to the nice salad your mom made."
I looked at Lydia.
"With disgust." She said.
I moved my eyes back to Michael and Kendra.
They are both smiling.
I raised my brows.
Lydia scoffed. "Wait, now they are smiling at each other?"
I lowered my gaze.
"Go get your man, Jess."
I looked at Lydia. "What?"
"Go get him."
"No. They might just be having a socializing or something. It is not a big deal." I said, turning to the table and trying not to see it as a big deal myself.
Lydia scoffed. "Look, Jess. Now she is touching him."
I looked in their direction.
I saw Kendra touching his arm.
"If you don't go over there, I will do it for you," Lydia said, making me look at her.
"No, drop it, Lydia. Don't cause a scene." I said.
"Oh I am going there." she said, heading towards Michael and Kendra, catching me off guard.
"No no, Lydia!" I whispered, following her behind.
She kept walking.
"Lydia, wait. What are you...." I paused the minute we got closer, claiming Michael's and Kendra's attention.