Zenon's Game Chapter 59

I slept two hours and woke up hungry. The buzz from Axel's lemonade had waned, and I went down somberly to the kitchen. No one was home yet. I opened the cabinet, searching for boxed mac'n'cheese.

I know Jake had invited me to his place but (1) I'm sure he's forgotten and (2) I'm hungry now.

The doorbell rang.

He hadn't forgotten. Jake had come to pick me up. He must have known I wouldn't appear without his insistence. With great sadness, I left the mac'n'cheese box on the counter and Jake escorted me across the street to his home. 

"It's date night tonight," he explained as I stepped into their home.

I froze. Date night?! Is this a-

"For my parents," he hastily corrected himself, "Sorry, not for us. My father and step-mother are at a restaurant tonight."

I relaxed at that. This was the first time I've ever stepped foot in the Albert home. Zenon had never invited me and neither had any of his family members. I've known them my whole life and they never once extended an invitation. Now Jake was here for one month and he invited me for dinner.

Kindness. It's underrated.

"Thank you for having me over. I wish I brought a gift or something," I said.

I was annoyed at myself for sleeping instead of buying flowers or chocolates or something.

"I have some mac'n'cheese that I could-"

"That's very sweet of you but no need," he smiled sincerely at me, "I'm happy you're joining us."

I seriously need to forget about this mac'n'cheese.

We walked into their dining room where five plates were set. Baked lasagna was in the middle, with steam rising from the surface. It must have just come out of the oven. Their home was so nicely decorated. The curtains matched the carpet and beautiful family photos decorated the walls.

"My half-sister and brother will be here soon," he said, "Do you like lasagna?"

My mind was stuck on his first sentence. The half-brother part.  Zenon. I'd forgotten that he would be here.

The doors swung open behind us and I jumped. 

False alarm. It wasn't him. Phew.

Two girls walked in. I recognized his sister immediately by her long, flowing, blonde hair. She was holding a large bowl of salad. I also recognized the other girl. She was the same one I had seen the morning Zenon picked me up (in Chapter 29). Her hair was also blonde, though it looked dyed, and she was carrying roasted brussel sprouts.

"Who is this, Jake?" his sister asked before approaching me directly, "I've seen you before with my otherbrother."

I noticed that she didn't refer to Jake as her half-brother, the way he had talked about her.

"I'm Candace. I live next door."

"Really? I used to never see you and, suddenly, you're everywhere," she laughed.

In that moment, I realized that Zenon's charm was a family thing. They all had it. A smile that lets them insult you without you even realizing it.

"I'm Charlotte Albert and this is my best friend, Nicole," she introduced herself and her friend.

Charlotte leaned in and kissed me on either cheek, in the European way. She then set the salad on the table and Nicole set down the brussel sprouts. I made a mental note to sit far away from those.

"Where's Zenon-"

Nicole had barely uttered his name when the front door slammed open.

Jake called out, "You're late!"

"Give me five minutes! I'm going to take a shower."

That was Zenon. Undoubtedly, unquestionably Zenon. I'd never really seen him interact with his siblings before; he tends to keep private about that.

"Let's get started then. My brother can join us when he's ready. Would you like anything to drink, Candace?" Charlotte asked me.

She poured some cranberry juice and we took our seats.

"You should sit here," Nicole pointed at the chair next to Jake, "Zenon sits in the one you're in."

I moved out of Zenon's seat and into one on the other side of the table. We weren't waiting long before Zenon walked into the room, casually dressed. His messy hair was wet from the shower.

"Hey," he nodded at them before his blue eyes landed on me. And they stayed there. "Candace?"

"I invited her," Jake piped up, "Apparently, you haven't gotten around to doing that yet."

"No," Zenon answered. His voice was ice, "I haven't."

Oh, brother.

"Well I'm excited to get to know you," Charlotte rubbed her hands together, "You have both my brothers all riled up!"

The tension was palpable. Thankfully, we were saved by the bell. The doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Jake offered and left the room. He was keen to escape Zenon's glare.

"What's wrong with you?" I snapped, now that Jake was out of the room.

"Me? Nothing. I'm in my own home," he acted innocent, "Unlike you."

Nicole offered to cut him a slice of lasagna. 

Zenon handed her the plate and leaned forward, still focused on me, "Since when do you hang out with my brother?"

"Since the last time you saw us hanging out."

"I don't like it."

"I didn't ask you to."

Nicole interrupted us, "Zenon, would you like some salad with that?"

"Yes."