Eleven

When I came downstairs for breakfast, at 9 a.m., I saw Erik was already dressed in jeans and a burgundy, thermal, long-sleeved shirt. His hair was slicked back into a tight ponytail and instead of his normal black winter boots, he had on his very worn Converse.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were going to work.”

He didn’t answer, just offered me a weak smile.

“No! You’re going to work? But, I thought you had two weeks off.” I leaned my back against the counter and sulked.

“Sorry, Monster High. I didn’t expect to see you until Saturday, so I thought I’d squeeze in a few shifts between now and then. When I found out you were coming, I was able to get coverage for all but today.”

“Are you working a double?” I already knew the answer. He only went in early if he had a double. He nodded, and I stuffed my hands into the front pocket of my Green Day hoodie that I had thrown on before I went downstairs. Erik’s house was pretty chilly in the morning.

He came over, put his coffee mug in the sink and kissed the top of my head. “I’ll be home after dinner, and then we can hang out.”

“Erik, if you had told me you were going to abandon me for an entire day, I would have come later in the week.”

“That’s exactly why I didn’t tell you.”

“Well, can I come with you?” I asked, hearing how pathetic it sounded. What was I supposed to do? Sit in the coffee shop for eight hours like some loser while my boyfriend brought people espresso? True, I hung out there all the time, but usually with all my friends, and if I went alone, I did homework there. I didn’t even have Calculous to fall back on. First time in my existence I ever longed for math homework.

“You don’t want to do that, you’ll be bored to tears. Hang out here. It will be great. Besides, my sisters are arriving by noon.”

“So I have to meet your famous sisters without you here? You could have at least warned me.”

“Brit, you don’t need me.” He kissed me quick on the lips and tugged on the string of my hoodie. “The day will go by so fast you won’t even know I’m gone.” He checked his watch. “I gotta go, babe. See you tonight.” He kissed me one more time then grabbed his pea coat and hat that I now realized had been draped across the island in the kitchen, and went out the back door.

I walked over to the window and watched him jog to his car, his hands in the pockets of his coat to keep warm. Erik refused to wear gloves. His collar was turned up, and there was just a touch of ponytail sticking out of his hat. His car was already running. He must have warmed it up before I came downstairs.

Was he even planning on saying goodbye? He knew I didn’t have any way out. No car, and I wasn’t even in walking distance to a train. The boy had me trapped in his Beaver Cleaver home.

I think Erik was under the false illusion that after spending one night in his house and having survived both dinner and his midnight sexual advances, that I’d be strutting around the Draxton house like a peacock. He had overestimated my abilities. You’d think he’d know by now; I was the turtle and he the hare in our relationship. When it came to new people and surroundings, I proceeded with caution.

I was showered, dressed, and currently hiding in Lani’s room. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I had asked Mrs. Draxton if she needed help with anything, but she just told me to relax. Relax. In my boyfriend’s home, without my boyfriend present. Sure, that’s totally my speed.

I had texted both Jaime and Kristen but neither one had answered me. In an attempt of utter desperation, I even texted Drama Queen, my pledge sister. She actually did write back, but I didn’t feel like getting into a whole I’m-alone-with-my-boyfriend’s-family thing, so instead I just wished her an early Merry Christmas.

Now, while Mrs. Draxton thought I was upstairs “relaxing,” I was actually unraveling at the seams. I was back to thumb nail chewing and the commotion outside in the driveway was the reason why.

Laura and Lani had just pulled up to the house, literally within minutes of each other. I peeked through the window of Lani’s room and watched as Mrs. Draxton ran outside to greet her girls, arms wide. They sort of swayed as they hugged. I thought people only did that in Hallmark commercials.

When they entered the house, I listened at the top of the stairs like a total creep. The women were laughing and squealing, and I was trying to devise a way to walk in without ruining a moment.

“Hey, Brit!”

“Holy crap!” I jumped out of my skin as Mr. Draxton emerged from the hallway bathroom. I had no idea I wasn’t alone on this floor. I should have checked the doors. I would seriously suck at being a robber.

There was a loud squeal from downstairs, and Mr. Draxton looked at me. “Oh! Sounds like my daughters are home. Have you met them yet?”

My tongue decided to go on strike, so I just shook my head no. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.” Thank you.

The girls were in the kitchen and as soon as I walked in, I couldn’t believe how much they looked like twins—but they weren’t. I knew from Erik; they were born eleven months apart.

They both had Erik’s blue eyes, and whereas his hair was light blond, theirs was strawberry blonde. It was a beautiful shade. If I notice anything, it’s people’s hair color. One of the girls had long straight locks, the other had her hair cut short into a layered trendy cut that landed in the middle of her neck.

The girl with the long hair looked at me then back at her mom. “Is this Brit?” Her voice was a little high, like she was excited. Hmm, she could totally pass for a member of my sorority. Mrs. Draxton nodded, reached out for my wrist and tugged me closer to her. Apparently, I was not able to walk anywhere on my own accord.

“Isn’t she adorable?” Mrs. Draxton squealed. I think they forgot I could hear them.

“I’m going to hug you, I hope that’s okay?” the girl with the long hair asked. I didn’t speak, just nodded. She gave me a hug and swayed me back and forth the way she had with her mother outside. “I feel like I know you! I’m so happy to finally meet you!”

“Me too,” I said, speaking for the first time, even though I still had no idea which sister was hugging me.

“Lani, don’t scare her away. Her eyes are starting to bug out, I think you’re squeezing her too hard,” trendy hair sister said.

Lani let me go. “Sorry! I’m Lani, this is Laura.” She pointed to her almost twin. Laura extended her hand, and I thought that was the end of our intimacy, but then she leaned in and kissed my cheek, just like her dad had. Her hair tickled my nose. It smelled really good. I became uber self-conscious in that moment, hoping I smelled nice too.

“So?” Lani crossed her arms and leaned back. “Where is my baby bro?”

“He had to work today,” I said, feeling his absence for the first time.

“Oh, that sucks! So what were you doing today then?” Laura asked.

Staring at the clock wishing away the day. “Um, I was reading.”

“She’s been quiet as a mouse. I almost forgot she was even here!” Mrs. Draxton giggled and scampered out of the room.

“Oh, you should come with us to lunch,” Lani said. “We’re heading out now.”

“Lunch?”

“Yeah, we always take mom out for lunch at this little cafe she likes,” Laura explained. “It’s our girl day.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to intrude.”

“Are you kidding? Erik has called me so often talking about you, I feel like we’ve already met.” Lani had a huge smile on her face, and I wondered just how much my darling boyfriend had said about me.

“He called you… about me?”

“Yup, we know the whole story.”

I felt my face go pale. The whole story? What did that mean? I didn’t get a chance to inquire. Mrs. Draxton came back in the kitchen wearing her coat and snow boots.

“Mom, Brit is coming with us.”

“Lovely! I was going to invite you anyway,” Mrs. Draxton said, and I could tell from her smile she was being honest.

I grabbed my coat and wrapped my scarf around my neck then followed the three Draxton women out the door and to Lani’s car. It was a fire-engine red Volkswagen Jetta. I sat in the back with Mrs. Draxton, itching to text Erik but not wanting to appear rude. Thankfully it was a short ride, and the girls were chatting their mom up about their jobs so I got to be pretty quiet for most of the ride, which was a blessing.

The cafe was really pretty with a fireplace and lots of poinsettias. I was so relieved the girls didn’t drill me about Erik until Mrs. Draxton had excused herself to go to the restroom. “So, Brit, tell us the truth, does Erik treat you good?” Laura asked suspiciously as she drank her tea.

“He treats me amazing.” I felt my mouth turn up at the corners. It was so difficult to talk about Erik and not smile. He was my drug of choice.

“He’s a gentleman?” Lani asked.

“He’s pretty much on his way to knighthood,” I conceded.

“Good,” Lani said and helped herself to another spoonful of pecan pie. “Ya know, when he first told me about you, I was against it.”

“Against it?” My heart sank. All this time I thought his sisters supported our relationship. At least that was the picture Erik had painted for me.

“Yeah, you were with this other guy…” Lani was waving her spoon like she was writing the scandal in mid-air.

“I wasn’t with any other guy,” I snapped. I could feel myself blushing. Did they think I was some slutty girl that bounced from Jaime to Erik?

“She means mentally, not physically,” Laura corrected.

“Oh.” Was that better?

“Hey, it’s fine.” Lani shrugged. “You’re allowed to love whoever you like, but I just didn’t want to see my brother get his heart crushed, ya know?”

I nodded. Feeling a bit better. It wasn’t me. They were just looking out for Erik, and that was warranted.

“I just knew he hadn’t gotten serious in years and that relationship ended pretty twisted,” Lani said. I wanted to know what she meant by twisted, but Laura jumped in.

“I mean, we know he’s a guy, and he’s dated other girls and whatever, but the way he was going on about you, we just wanted to make sure he didn’t lose his head.”

“But now you’re here, and you are everything he said and more.” Lani beamed a smile at me. The way they looked alike and finished each other’s sentences made my head spin. I could easily picture the two of them drilling Erik on how to be the perfect gentleman.

Mrs. Draxton returned from the bathroom, and I was glad the girls didn’t continue with the Erik’s past lovers conversation. It was like a cheesy college soap opera.

Laura and Lani insisted on paying the bill, and while they took care of it, Mrs. Draxton showed me a painting she admired over the fireplace. It was of kittens and horses running in a field. I didn’t really see the appeal. But then again, I couldn’t appreciate any art right now, I was too focused on what Lani had said.

What relationship in Erik’s past had ended so twisted that they still felt such a fierce need to protect him?

“What do you mean by family game night?” I looked at Erik like he had spoken to me in an ancient language that I didn’t have the decoder for.

“Well, we’re going to play a game together, as a family,” he spoke very slowly, like that would be more helpful. Everyone was gathering in the den, and I had pretty much figured that much out.

“Thanks, Captain Obvious.”

Family game night. Seriously? Perhaps I really was Dorothy, for it was quite clear I was no longer in Kansas. But here I was, surrounded by Draxtons who were eager to indulge in some good old-fashioned fun. I couldn’t even remember the last time I played a board game. It was probably with Jaime. We used to play a lot of Clue when we were kids, and far too much Monopoly. Jaime was banned from being banker, he always robbed from the kitty to win.

As nice as a family wanting to spend some time together was, the thought of rolling dice and skipping a metal top hat around the board was not very appealing to me. Now bringing up the X-Box and playing Assassin’s Creed, I could get behind that.

“All right. It was Lani’s pick on Thanksgiving so Erik gets to pick tonight,” Mrs. Draxton said to her children. It was rather simple to envision her saying the same thing to the three of them fifteen years ago. From the pictures I had seen of little Erik hanging around the house, it was even easier.

Erik started pumping his hands up in the air in slow motion like he had just won an Olympic medal. Laura rolled her eyes. “Ugh. Erik always picks the same game.”

He stuck out his tongue like a child. “There’s no rule against picking the same game.”

“We should make a rule,” Laura added, pouring herself a glass of wine.

“Don’t be a sore loser.” Lani handed Laura her empty wine glass to get a refill herself. “Besides, we have Brit on our team.”

“No you don’t! Brit is on our team!” Erik pointed between him and his father.” It was nice being wanted, but I didn’t even know what we were playing. What if I sucked at it?

“No way! That’s a total unfair advantage. You can’t have two professionals on the same team!” Lani snapped at Erik. “You take mom, we take Brit.”

“She’s my girlfriend, therefore she’s automatically on my team,” Erik whined like he was five years old. Shit. Did I just time travel? Maybe it really was fifteen years ago.

“Stop! Stop! I’ll be on Laura and Lani’s team…” Erik looked stunned, like I had betrayed him. I rolled my eyes at his facial tantrum. “Now what are we even playing?”

“Pictionary,” the family said in unison. It was like Draxton surround sound, and it woke me up faster than my morning cup of joe. Fighting over the artists. Now it all made sense.

“It’s the only game he picks because he wins every time.” Laura sipped her wine.

“What makes you think I can beat him? I mean… I am an art major, but I admit Erik is better than me. I mean, his speed alone is intimidating.”

“Oh, I didn’t pick you for your art skills. I just figured you could distract him. You know, blow him kisses and stuff,” Lani said.

I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. Hadn’t he tried to seduce me last night? If anyone was going to be distracted over smoldering eyes, it was going to be me. They had no clue what they were working with. I was awkward and anxiety wrapped up with a big ol’ bow. “I think we have a better chance with my artwork.”

“Maybe both?” Lani suggested.

Erik tied his hair back into a ponytail and winked at me over the easel. “I love you, but I will show you no mercy in this war of art.”

“I love you…” Lani and Laura sang together making fun of us, and I felt my cheeks heat as I took the first card out of the bowl. I refused to make eye contact with any Draxton. He had said he loved me, in front of his family! Then I realized—Erik was trying to shake me! I looked at the card, snapped my head up and stared him down.

“Game on.”

The game actually proved to be more fun than I had expected. I was placed against Erik every time, and I don’t know if I was picking better cards, if he was letting me win—which I doubted, or if my occasional wink actually was distracting, but my team was in the lead. I was laughing with his sisters, and I saw his parents kept smiling at me.

“All right, all comes down to this card. We get this, we win, Brit,” Lani said, sitting on the edge of the couch.

Laura refilled her wine glass. “Yes, no pressure or anything.”

I picked up the card and looked at it then smiled. “We got this.”

I drew a bowl of cereal and a gun. The girls shouted the answer at the same time. “Serial killer!”

“Yup.” I smiled and showed everyone the card.

“Boom! There goes your winning streak,” Lani said to Erik, jumping up because he was almost a full foot taller than her.

“Great job, girls!” Mr. Draxton said and gave us each a high-five.

“Dad, you can’t high-five the opposing team.” Erik looked completely unhinged. I hadn’t realized just how competitive he was. I thought Kristen was the competitive one in my little circle.

“I don’t think you and Laura should be on the same team. You have a weird psychic thing and you cheat.”

“Wow, way to be a sore loser,” I said, surprised at this side of him.

“Anyone want a rematch?” he asked hopefully.

“No way.” Laura grabbed her glass of wine off the coffee table and the full bottle she had just opened then signaled for Lani to join her. Lani grabbed her wine with one hand and took my hand with her free one, lacing her fingers through mine like we were the best of girlfriends. I didn’t even do that shit with Kristen. Then she tugged me out of the room and over to the stairs. I glanced up at Laura. She had an empty wine glass in her hands and a big smile on her face. Whoa! Were they inviting me to drink with them? Had I been admitted into their tribe?

“Hey! Where are you three off to?” Erik asked as he followed us.

“We’re going to go celebrate our win. Without you.” Lani stuck her tongue out at her brother. We are? Yay! We are!

“Come on, I was at work all day. Let’s watch a movie or something,” Erik pleaded.

“You can watch a movie, I’m sure mom and dad will be happy to hang out with you. We’re kidnapping Brit for the night.”

“They’re kidnapping me,” I repeated, looking at Erik and shrugging. My hand was still attached to Lani’s. Erik stepped onto the first step.

“Mmmh. I may have to rescue you later.” Was that a reference to last night? Could I be expecting another midnight rendezvous?

I looked at him and then the girls. Laura waved the bottle of wine at me then turned to go up the stairs. Lani gave my hand a tug, and I shrugged and followed her upstairs, leaving Erik with the most bewildered expression. The thing is, this was the first time since I had arrived that I felt like I actually belonged here.

He wanted to rescue me, but I was pretty sure, just for tonight, I didn’t want to be rescued.