Tell Me Why You Love Me (TMWYLM) Read online

  I scoffed at him, the way Jordan had done to me. "Come on, how can I out-do myself by making drinks?" I asked, looking down at my plate full of succulent meat. My mouth almost drooled all over the plate.

  I heard laughter from the other end of the table, seeing the twins giving me a smug look. "Free, you look like a cannibal looking at that meat!" Joe indicated.

  My eyes widened and a blush spread on my face. "S-shut up! Is it so wrong for me to like meat, if not love it?" I asked them.

  They looked at one another and laughed even more, Jordan now joining in. I gave him a look of confusion and then Kyle butted in. "Boys, don't be so inappropriate!" He rolled his eyes. I knew he was trying to hide a smirk.

  I looked at them all and thought back to what I said. And then it clicked. My eyes widened and my hands slammed on the table. "Oh my god, you guys are so gross!" I yelled at them.

  "YOU said it!" the twins said simultaneously and laughed at themselves.

  I looked at Craig who gave me a confusing look. "I don't get it." He said.

  "Meat is another word for a-" I slapped my hand in front of Josh's mouth and a blush spread widely across my face.

  "A di-" I slapped my other hand over Joe's mouth before he could finish.

  I glanced over to Jordan and gave him a menacing look. "You say anything and you're dead." I stated to him straightforwardly.

  He gave me a smirk and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know what you're implying, Miss Freesia." He replied. "But, I think Joe was trying to say co-Ah!" I kicked him below the ribs, so the wind was knocked out of him. He looked up at me, coughing a little. "You little brat!" He said giving me a menacing look.

  "I told you to not say anything!" I stated, with both my hands still over Joe and Josh's mouths.

  "Okay kids, don't fight! Your food's going cold!" I heard Kyle and I looked down to my plate.

  "Crap, my meat!" I removed my hands from Joe and Josh's mouths and they started laughing again. Dammit, innuendos.

  I gave the twins a menacing look. "You say ANYTHING and I'll kick you like I did to Jordan!"

  Jordan waved a hand. "I think you should listen to her, guys. She has one hell of a kick." He gave me an evil look that I answered with a satisfied smile and I sat happily and started with the meat.

  We all dug in to our food and, once we were done, none of us could eat another bite.

  I heard Craig whisper to Joe beside him. "Tell me what meat means later." I heard him. I cast a sharp glare towards him, but he was unfazed.

  I looked to Joe who just smirked and shrugged. "Come on, he has to learn at some point in his life!" He stated.

  I scoffed. "Yeah, when he's older!"

  "Well, technically, I will be older later. By say... 15 minutes?" he said at a guess, giving me a smirk.

  I glowered at the boys and then stood up from my seat. "I'll clean." I said, gathering the plates and glasses. I was stopped by a large hand hovering over mine. I looked to see Kyle looking at me.

  "I'll do them. You go and relax." He stated.

  He pissed me off.

  I lifted the plates to my chest and picked up all the glass in my other hand, giving him a sharp glare. "Don't pity me, Kyle." I snapped at him and walked into the kitchen.

  "Kyle? Wait, I thought you are his dau-"

  I was about to snap at Craig, but stopped when Jordan covered Craig's mouth with his hand. I gave Jordan a small smile and mouthed a 'thank you' before going into the kitchen.

  Jordan looked out for me? Why?

  Chapter 5

  I heard a careful knock on my door and I sat up, putting down my book. "Come in." I spoke.

  The door slowly opened and Kyle's head peered through. "Hey, kid." He spoke gently.

  I gave him a blank look and went on reading my book. "What's up, Kyle." I stated more than asked, far more interested in my book than him.

  He entered my room properly and closed the door behind him. "Look, I know you're still mad at me-"

  "Mad is an understatement." I butted in, turning the page in my book.

  "Alright." He lowered his voice and sat on the edge of my bed. I shuffled to the opposite end so I wasn't too close to him. I couldn't stand his scent. "But, please. I'm trying to get along with you. I don't want you to be mad-" I glanced at him. He knew why and cleared his throat. "I don't want you to hate me."

  "Hate is what fuels wars." I said to him, still looking into my book. "That's a phrase MY mom used a lot when I told her I hated somebody. And I agree with her." I finally snapped my book shut and sat up, crossing my legs and looking at them. "I don't want to start a war, so I don't hate you. I just..." I glanced at Kyle, seeing him looking at me sincerely. "I just don't see you as my dad. Or more like, don't want to. That doesn't mean I hate you. I can see that the boys look up to you, Jordan the exception, so you must be treating them well. I just... I never really wanted to be involved with you again. After how distraught my mom was when you left and how long it took her to stop crying, I just cast you out from my life. I made myself forget I was related to you... But then..." I stopped there, knowing that wounds healing will just tear open again, so I let my voice drop.

  "But then I was brought back into your life." He finished my talk with an easier line and I looked at him, his eyes sad. "I really am sorry about what has happened, Freesia. And if I could turn back time, I would. So that your mother and I were still together. So that you wouldn't have witnessed such a terrible thing for your very eyes." He told me, trying to comfort me.

  I slowly shook my head and showed him a sarcastic smile. "I'm sorry, but I can't trust your words. Not after all that's happened in my life... All that was created by you." I added, lowering my face and bringing up my knees to my chest, hugging them.

  "Freesia..."

  "Old man." A voice cut Kyle off and we both looked to my door, seeing black hair and green eyes glaring straight at Kyle.

  "There's a call for you from your company." He stated, scowling at him.

  Kyle looked at me and gave a weak smile, before leaving my room. He placed a hand on Jordan’s shoulder. "I thought I told you to not make such a lame excuse if you want me gone." He stated.

  "Well I'd rather not tell you to fuck off in front of this brat." I heard Jordan whisper. I caught it, but I didn’t think he knew I did.

  I saw Kyle disappear with a saddened face. When his footsteps all but faded from my ears, I buried my head between my knees, hiccupping. I didn't want to cry. Not here. Not in front of anybody. I don't want pity.

  "Personally, I think that guy is a sleazy bastard." I heard Jordan and I raised my head a little, looking through my trailing hair to see him making his way to my bed and sitting beside me. "Gulliver's Travels?"

  I heard him, his voice closer than before and I raised my head, seeing him lean across my bed and picking up my book. I quickly snatched it from his hands and held it to my chest. "Don't... Touch this one." I said quietly as I felt tears run down my face.

  Jordan realised and I felt his hand rest on my cheek, wiping away some of my tears for me. "Don't cry over a bastard like that old man. He's not worth any place in your heart. Even if it's loathing." His voice was gentle and serene.

  He lowered his hand and gave me a frown, staring into my eyes. "W-what?" I asked him.

  "Why don't you like talking about family?" He asked me, still gazing into my eyes, not allowing me to look away.

  Family. The sound of that word made more tears seep out my eyes. I wiped them away briskly, hiccupping a little. "I-Im sorry... I don't really want to... Talk about it." I stated, slightly hyperventilating. I tucked my hand in my sleeve and wiped my eyes with it.

  A hand suddenly grabbed hold of it, making me look up to see Jordan's face but inches away from me. "I won't force you." He whispered, avoiding my eyes and looking at my sleeve, now wet with my tears. "But... Don't hold it all in. It helps to talk about it, y'know?" He gave me a weak smile as I nodded, understanding what he meant.

  Still leaning over me
, he gave me a reassuring gaze and stroked my cheek. "Don't put a mask on everyday if it means making you like this at night. It's alright to show us your weaknesses every now and again. Face it, whether you accept it or not, we're your family now. You shouldn't have to go through everything on your own." I couldn't even think of a retort to that. And I didn't really want to.

  Instead I just nodded. "Besides-" he started, removing his hand from my cheek. "If you worry too much, your body won't grow." He gave me a smug look and I couldn't help but grab a nearby pillow and hit him with it, playfully.

  "Jerk." I mustered up my voice and I felt a slight smile on my lips. "Why don't you go back to your soccer and leave poor, flat-chested me to try and sleep?" I half-joked. After all that crying, I felt sleepy. And Jordan's words made me feel less of an insomniac.

  I saw him smirk and he raised his head to the top of mine and pressed his lips on my forehead. He drew them away and gave me a gentle smile before leaving my bed and walking towards my door. He turned back showing a soft smile. "G'night, Freesia." He said softly, as he opened my door.

  "Night, Jordan." I replied quietly, wiping the remaining tears from my eyes and seeing my door close shut, leaving me on my own sitting on my king-sized bed.

  I felt like a weight had been lifted from my chest and I looked towards my bookcase to the picture of me and my mom. I smiled gently, nestling myself into bed. "Good night, mom." I whispered before I felt the weight of my eyes lower them shut and, before I knew it, I was sound asleep…

  "Freesia!" I heard a male voice yell at me. "Freesia, get up! Mom's home!"

  Mom!? My eyes shot open and I nearly jumped out of my bed. I looked around to find I was in my king-sized bed. Wait, mom?

  "Dammit, Joe! Don't say that!" I heard Josh's voice from behind my door and he opened it, a sheepish look on his face. The same one Joe had, who was hiding behind his twin. "Morning, Free... Our mom is back. You wanna meet her?" He asked me.

  My eyes lowered and a frown grew on my face. I suddenly laid back down and covered my face with my sheets. If it wasn't MY mother, I’m not interested in meeting any woman.

  "Joe? Josh? What are you doing, boys?" I heard a feminine voice from outside my room and I peered out from underneath my sheets.

  The two boys had grins on their faces. That means their mom must be a nice person... They pointed to the inside of my room and smiled. "Mom, meet Freesia." They said together, releasing laughter after they realised they were completely in sync. Sometimes, that scared me. Just a little bit.

  "Freesia? Oh, you mean your dad's dau-"

  "Er, yeah! That's her!" Joe interrupted her, a look of slight panic on his face.

  I let out a sigh and threw the sheet off my head. "It's alright, Joe, she can say it if she wants to." I mumbled to him, my voice still croaky from sleep.

  "Oh, you must be Freesia." I heard the woman say.

  "Yup, that's me. Nice to meet you." I said with a kind smile on my face as she walked into my room.

  When I saw her, my eyes dropped.

  *

  I sat at the table with the boys, Kyle, and his wife, dumbfounded to see her sitting next to me with a smile on her face. She’stheir mom!? I gave her a quick glance to make sure I wasn't imagining it.

  Her long brown hair set lightly on her shoulders and her green emerald eyes were so striking. I could see the resemblance of all 4 boys on her face. But what took me by surprise, was how young she looked! She only looked to be in her mid-twenties. But that couldn't be right, considering Jordan was 18.

  When she turned to face me, I quickly looked away, burying my face in my cereal. She chuckled slightly. "It's alright to ask me my age you know. I'm not that sleazy of a person to hate you for it!" She gave me a gentle smile, but before I could ask, she answered my question. "42 years young." She spoke.

  42!? She honestly looked half her actual age, it was amazing!

  "Um..." Wait, how am I supposed to refer to her? My mom? Her first name? Mrs? She was a complete stranger to me!

  "Oh, you can call me Miriam." She stated, seeing my inner confusion. She frowned a little and leaned in to me, whispering. “I heard about your situation. You don't have to call me your mom." She pulled back. I turned to her smiling. "Plus, it'll be far nicer to have a girl friend here! It's too full of boys for my liking!" She winked at me and I couldn't help but smile. She was a nice person... But, as she said, not my mom.

  I heard the twins click their tongues. "Trust us, she's more like a guy than any of us" They said together, this time knowing it would happen and referring to 'us'.

  "Yeah, her bodily structure's practically the same, too." Jordan decided to add in on the conversation. I threw him a sharp glare, with nothing near me to throw at him. "What, no pillow?" He asked teasingly.

  "Oh trust me, I'd throw worse at you." I stated to him, scoffing.

  Kyle looked at the two of us slightly perplexed. "What are you kids going on about?" he asked.

  "Nothing." Jordan and I mumbled together, looking away from Kyle. We suddenly sat there wide-eyed, realising we said it simultaneously in the same tone and we lightly laughed to ourselves.

  So that's why the twins found it amusing. It surprises you, realising how much you're on the same wavelength as another person.

  "So, you guys got any plans for today?" I heard Miriam say, leaning forward in her seat. We had all finished our breakfast and were sitting there with looks of deep thought.

  "Nope."

  "No clue."

  "Read." Jordan muttered. The only person with a solid answer. Even I didn't have one.

  "Well, why don't we all go out somewhere? The 7 of us! It'll be fun." She smiled, looking at me. "Plus, I want to get more acquainted with young Freesia, here." She wrapped an arm around my shoulders and I couldn't help but show her a gentle smile.

  Kyle stood up from his seat. "I think that's a great idea! How about you guys?" He looked to the boys who all looked away and focused on practically the same spot on the table. I knew they weren't wanting to go, you could see it on all of their faces. Except Jordan. He looked like that anyway. "Aw, come on, kids! Let the two girls bond and we can go to the game arcade! How about it?"

  This time, the boys all perked up and looked at Kyle with happiness sparkling in their eyes. Except for Jordan. He was still looking at that same spot.

  I paused for a second and looked to Miriam. "Hey, is it alright if I have a look in the new bookstore that's opened up in the city?" I asked her, a look of gentleness in her lips and eyes.

  I glanced at Jordan, his eyes more interested in me than that previous spot. "Of course, sweetie! Y'know I love to read books, too!" Miriam replied.

  "Really? That's awesome!" I replied, a smile on my face. A pure smile. I felt it creeping to my eyes, too.

  So the entire group of us set off to the city. Kyle took the twins and Craig, and Miriam took me and Jordan in their separate cars. I feel a little sorry for Kyle, I thought to myself. Having to cope with Craig AND both the twins. But I guess he's used to it, having to live with them for...

  I looked across to Miriam, next to me in the driver's seat. "Um, is it okay if I ask you something?" I gave her a curious look and she smiled.

  "Of course. But be warned, there is a guy in the car!" She teased and chuckled to herself. Jordan rolled his eyes in the backseat, just gazing out the window looking completely bored.

  "Oh, it's nothing like that!" I reassured both her and Jordan. "I was just curious... How long have you two been married?" I asked. I didn't want to call him Kyle in front of her, but I was in no way going to call him my dad.

  Jordan looked at me, slightly surprised. But Miriam happily answered my question. "I'd say... About 3 years now."

  Really? That’s quite surprising. I'd expect Kyle to have married straight after his divorce with my mom.

  "I see." I looked out the window, watching the colours zoom past us.

  "Hey." I heard Jordan behind my seat, slightly leaning his body forward, whispe
ring in my ear. "Why the sudden question?" he asked me.

  I gave him a soft smile. "Just curious. Don't worry, I'm not gonna be bitchy about her. I like your mom." I answered.

  It seemed my answer caught Jordan by surprise, too. He leaned back in his seat, a slight pout on his lips. "Like I care..." he muttered.

  Miriam looked to the both of us and frowned. "What're you guys talking about?" She asked.

  Jordan looked away and back out the window. I smirked at him and looked at Miriam. "Nothing. Just wondering what books Jordan would recommend me reading."

  "Oh, really?" Miriam thought, raising an eyebrow. "Like what ones?" She asked me.

  I shrugged at her and smiled. "He said David Baldacci's works are the best! I haven't read any of his works, personally, so I'm gonna check him out." I gave her a smile and Jordan's attention set on me. I turned to him, giving him a wry smile, mouthing 'Craig' to him. He knew almost instantly and refocused his attention on the colours of outside whizzing past.

  We arrived at the city centre a few minutes later and Miriam parked the car next to Kyle's. We all got out the cars and the boys wouldn't stop talking, Jordan being the exception, of course. But even Kyle was doing it! So much for the responsible fatherly figure...

  I looked to Miriam, who just chuckled at the sight. "Are they always like this?" I asked her, completely confused if they were all Craig's age or not.

  "Only if their father tells them they're going to the game arcade." She sang. She leaned over my shoulder and smiled. "Let's ditch them before they get too rowdy and we're noticed to be with them." She winked at me and I agreed almost instantly.

  I turned to Jordan, just standing there looking into the distance. "You joining us?" I asked him, grabbing his attention by gently tapping his arm.

  "Whatever." He stated, shrugging at us, before following us to the new bookstore.

  Chapter 6

  "You asked to come here because of Jordan, didn't you?" I jolted as I heard Miriam whisper to me over my shoulder. She looked at the book I was glancing through in my hands and nodded. "Oh, that's a good one. You should get it. Good read for rainy days." She stated.