Zenon's Game Chapter 68

Ding dong

The doorbell rang.

Candace's mother rested the TV remote on the green couch, closed her laptop and went to open the door. Both her daughters had keys, so she had no idea who was there.

"Hell- oh," her mouth dropped open. She stared. She stared as if her extensions were about to fall off.

A gorgeous boy – heart-racingly handsome- was standing at the entrance. He held her daughter in his arms.

Candace was lying in his arms bridal style. Her eyes were closed. Zenon faced Mrs Turner, who was feeling a strong desire to switch places with her daughter. This boy was delicious.

And she'd forgotten lunch.

He realized that Candace's mother was not about to speak any time soon. She was still staring at him like a life-sized doll, and it had already been a couple minutes. It was creepy.

So he said, "Do you mind if I come in? Your daughter isn't exactly light."

Wordlessly, Mrs Turner stepped out of the way and watched the boy walk into her home. He held Candace carefully, resting his arm under her head protectively to avoid bumping into anything.

Mrs Turner watched him from behind as he made his way to the living room. He seemed to know his way and the thought crossed her mind: He must have been here before.

What was he doing with her ugly daughter? Could it be that all this time they were laughing at Candace, she was telling the truth? Was she really friends with the hottest boy? How could that be? Why would he take an interest in her?

The questions swirled in Mrs Turner's head, making her almost dizzy enough to collapse into Zenon's arms. Zenon rested Candace on the green couch and moved the remote from under her. Mrs Turner leaned against him.

Ignoring her daughter passed out next to her, she purred, "May I ask you something?"

Surprised at the sudden proximity, Zenon took a step back.

"No," he said.

He didn't like the way she was looking at him. She was literally wishing she was seventeen again.

"What are you doing with my daughter?" she asked, unconcerned by his reaction.

The doorbell rang.

Zenon admitted, "I told Candace I want to be in her life. She ran away... and passed out."

Mrs Turner's staring took on a whole new level of crazy. Her eyeballs bulged. He wanted to be with her daughter? And she said NO?! She always thought Candace had her head screwed on wrong.

The doorbell rang again.

"Are you going to get that?" Zenon asked.

"No," Mrs Turner answered, curling a strand of hair around her ear seductively, "Let it ring."

But the doorbell kept ringing and Zenon made no attempt at continuing conversation, so she reluctantly went to answer. Zenon sat on the couch next to Candace, resting his hand on her forehead to check her temperature. Mrs Turner couldn't resist nosily watching him from outside the living room, but the doorbell rang again.

She opened it, and that's when her jaw really dropped.

In front of her was another strikingly gorgeous boy. A motorbike was parked in the driveway behind him and he held a black helmet with a red stripe under his arm.

"Is Candace here?"

"Do you have the right house?"

His cheeks were flushed, and concern was etched in his handsome face. "Is Candace here?" he repeated.

"Do you have the right Candace?" Mrs Turner asked a follow-up question.

She was convinced that either (a) they were delirious or (b) this was a practical joke - because this could not be about her daughter. But from serious expressions on their pretty faces, she doubted this was a joke. The answer must be (a).

Jake glanced over the woman's shoulder and saw the crop of Candace's messy hair on the couch. Suddenly, Zenon blocked his view. He stood protectively in front of her.

"Wrong house," Zenon growled.

Mrs Turner got out of the way, her eyes switching from one eye candy to the other. She didn't know what to do. Was this the right time to ask for a picture?

"What are you doing here?" Jake walked into the house uninvited.

"I could ask you the same thing," Zenon replied, nonchalantly.

Jake ran to the couch and bent over Candace, "Why the h*e*l*l is she passed out? What did you do to her?"

Zenon had to admit that the optics didn't look good for him.  

But he remained firm, "You don't ask the questions here. Why are you here?"

Jake laid his cards on the table, metaphorically speaking. He told the truth. And it riled Zenon up like nothing else could.

"I came to apologize. I kissed her, and she ran away."

"WHAT?!" Zenon fumed.

"What?!" Mrs Turner echoed.

Jake wasn't used to seeing his brother mad. It rarely happened, but when it did, it was not good. He tried to let Zenon calm down while he faced Mrs Turner.

"I tried to kiss your daughter, Mrs Turner, and I apologize if that offends you. My name is Jake Albert and I live across the street. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Jake offered his hand but Zenon slapped it away, "You touched her, you sick f-"

"Don't touch me!"