Crossroads (11 page)

“I’ve never done
this
before, I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to make you think
you
did something wrong…” he sighs.  I feel his chest rise against my cheek and I squeeze him tighter.  “I have this stupid family thing I can’t get out of.  I’ve got to go.”

I
exhale with relief, a family thing I can deal with; at least it’s not another girl.  I’m not sure what is going on with us, but I do know I can’t handle thinking of him being with anybody else.  His arms tighten around me and I realise he still isn’t making a move to leave.  It makes me smile.  I’m happy he is having as hard a time as I am in letting go.  His stomach growls and it makes me laugh.

“At least eat your toast before you go.”  I pull back a little and look up at him.  He
glances behind him at the tray of untouched food and then turns back to me.

“I don’t like Vegemite.”  He smiles and relaxes his arms
, gently rubbing my back.  I stare at him wide-eyed.

“Well that’s just un-Australian!” I laugh
, burying my head back in his chest.

“I know, right?”
He chuckles.  His hand moves up to the back of my head, and I feel him relax, the mood of the room successfully lifted.  His fingers wind through my hair and his chin comes to a rest on top of my head.  We stand like that for a moment, just holding each other.

“I’ve really got to go,
” he says again, interrupting my contentment.

“Okay.” 
I reluctantly let my arms drop.  He takes a step back but still doesn’t leave.

“Do y
ou-” he stammers hesitantly, “do you want to come with me?” He seems shocked that he has just spoken those words, and well, so am I.

“Uh…” 
To a family function?

“It will probably be boring, just some family coming over for lunch.”

“At your place?”

“Yeah.”
  That brightens my mood, I would love to see where he lives.  “Ma’s cooking.”  I can tell by the look on his face that his mouth is practically watering, I know how much loves her cooking.

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to impose.”

“No not at all, there’s always way too much to eat.  It wouldn’t be any bother.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, we’re wogs remember, always plenty of food.”  He smiles at me.

“No, I mean are
you
sure you want me to come?”

“Yes,
” he replies, looking at me with an expression I can’t quite read.  Although I can tell he’s being sincere.

“Okay, I’ll just go get dressed,
” I say excitedly, and rush back to my room.

I quickly throw on a pair of jeans, strip off my t-shirt and put on a bra.  I’m thumbing through my wardrobe looking for a
decent shirt to wear when the realisation hits me.  I’m meeting Nick’s family!  I’m suddenly very nervous.  What if they don’t like me?  What does this mean for us?  It seems like an awfully big step for us, especially when I don’t know what ‘us’ is. 
Don’t get too excited, he’s leaving soon.

I find my pale blue
, short sleeve, button-up shirt and put it on.  I race past Nick who is standing in the kitchen and fumble around my bathroom brushing my hair and my teeth as quickly as possible, knowing that Nick is already late.  I hear a groan come from the bathroom doorway and turn to find him leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed.

“What?” I mumble with my mouth full of toothpaste.

“I’m having second thoughts…” I turn to him with a glare, unable to speak. 
He’s changed his mind?
  “I’m not sure I can leave this apartment right now.”  He glances down and I do the same to see the prominent bulge in his pants.  I feel my eyes go wide and look up at him in surprise.  “Em, you see what you do to me?  You look so hot when you’re flustered.  I think maybe we should just stay here.”

I’m standing here with toothpaste dripping from my mouth and he’s
turned on?
  I spit and rinse before I choke with the laughter I’m trying to contain.

“No way buddy,
you are not backing out now.”  I point my finger at him.  “Just think about something else,” I advise, although I am rather pleased that I turned him on without even trying.  I quickly spray on some perfume and then walk towards him.  He unfolds his arms and braces against the door frame not letting me pass.  “I’m ready to go.”

“So am I
,” he says, looking at me seductively.  Just those few words from Nick’s mouth send desire flooding through me.  I shiver.  Then I slowly move closer to him, putting my arms around his neck.  I pull myself flush against his hard body and, standing on my tippy-toes, I kiss his neck softly before moving my mouth to his ear.  I suck on his ear lobe, letting out a small breath which makes him shiver, but he keeps his arms pressed to the door frame.

“
Laters baby,” I whisper and then take two quick steps back from him, breaking all contact.  I can see the lust in his eyes as a sexy smirk slowly takes shape on his face. 
I love this new found power!

“
Laters?
” he asks, cocking his eyebrows in amusement.

“Yes. 
Laters baby, it’s a reference to Fifty Shades of Grey,” I explain.

“
Riiiiiggghht,” he looks at me in amusement.  “I always knew you were trouble.  You are so gonna pay for teasing me like that!” he taunts as he takes hold of my hand and pulls me from the apartment.

“Really?
  Is that a threat or a promise?”

I want to take care of Em but when I tried to comfort her earlier she ended up comforting me, by making a joke about Vegemite, of all things.  She is not as fragile as I thought and constantly surprises me, in the bedroom and out.  And referencing that smutty book series I’ve heard so much about?  Definitely not as innocent as I first had her pegged.

I don’t know how she does it, but being around her makes me feel so conflicted and yet at peace at the same time, if that makes sense.  One minute I’m angry, then I’m laughing and the
next I’m totally shocking myself by asking her to come to lunch with my family.  She bewilders me and makes me crazy, it’s like riding one big roller coaster with her.  When she asks if I’m sure that I want her to come with me, it shocks me to realise it’s a roller coaster ride I never want to get off.

I was standing in her kitchen waiting for her to get ready when she rushed by me in a flurry.  Her cheeks were flushed
my favourite shade and as usual I was drawn to her like a magnet.  I followed her to the bathroom and watched her get ready.  I found it virtually impossible to hold myself back in the entrance of that room when all I wanted to do was go to her and touch her.  Even doing the most mundane of things, like brushing her hair, she turns me on.  I don’t think I will ever get enough of her. 
How am I supposed to go overseas now?

I’m not sure
I’m ready for her to meet my family - they might scare her off once and for all.  Not only that, I’m not sure I’m ready to share her, or our new relationship, with anyone.  I’d much rather stay in our little bubble in her apartment.

Walking towards my parents
’ house I begin to feel nervous.  I’ve only ever snuck girls into my room a couple of times, late at night, or when my parents weren’t home.  Once or twice they may have met a girl at the front door but that’s it.  I’ve never brought a girl home to
meet
the family.  This is going to shock the absolute shit out of them.

I notice a lot of cars lining the street as we walk closer to Nick’s house.  When we start walking up the footpath of a pale green weatherboard home where the majority of the cars seem to be gathering, I begin to get the impression I will be meeting a lot more people than I first thought.

“Just some family for lunch you said?”

“Yep,” he looks at me sheepishly, giving my hand a quick squeeze.  “It’s kind of a going-away-party slash early-Christmas-get-together thing.”

“Right,
” I say, eyeing all the scattered parked cars.

“Did I forget to mention that I have a big family?”
he asks with a smirk.

He pulls me up the two front steps to the porch
then I’m suddenly engulfed by loud chatter and laughter, when he opens the front door and pulls me inside.

“Big family?
  Are
all
these people family?” I ask in a surprised whisper as we enter the hallway and the volume increases.  He gives my hand another squeeze and turns to me with a nod.  We enter what appears to be the kitchen though it’s hard to tell at first between all of the bodies that are squeezed in.

“NICK!”  People seem to shout from all directions at once.  “Hey Nick!”

“Hey you finally made it cuz!”  A guy, presumably his cousin, slaps him on the back.

“
Nicho!  You’re here!”  An older lady comes up and touches his face, looking up at him admiringly.  She gives his cheek a pinch then pulls him in for a hug.  Nick doesn’t let go of my hand but it’s like she doesn’t even notice me standing behind him because her eyes are focused on Nick with such love.  He gives her a firm one-armed hug in return and kisses her on the cheek as he lets go.

“Yiayia I’d like you to meet my…” he falters. 
Friend?  Girlfriend?
  “my Emma.” 
My Emma, I like that.
  He gives me a glorious smile and yanks me forward.  “Em, this is my grandmother.”

She is a fair bit shorter than me and rather fragile looking.  She has wrinkles all over her face and completely
grey hair that is pulled tightly into a bun.  She eyes me suspiciously and looks back and forth between Nick and I, her eyes finally resting on Nick’s face.  She has a look of concern in her eyes and she appears to have a silent conversation with him.  I look to Nick just in time to catch what appears to be a wink. 
He’s winking at his grandmother?  What does
that
mean?

I look back to her and watch as her face morphs from one of worry to one of pure happiness.  Her f
eatures, which at first appeared harsh and almost scary, change completely when her mouth breaks out into one of the widest smiles I have ever seen.  She smiles with her whole face and her eyes change from a look of suspicion to one of absolute joy.  She is mesmerizing to watch.  She suddenly pulls me in for a hug and I find that even though she may look fragile, she is rather strong.  She squeezes me tightly.  Nick lets go of my hand and I find my arms have a mind of their own and encircle her without me instructing them to.  She is an excellent hugger. 

“It’s nice to meet you,
” I mumble over her head.

She pulls back and firmly grips my upper arms
, her warm brown eyes searching my face.

“Emma,
” she says, as if she is tasting my name.  Then she shrugs and pulls me in for another hug. It brings a smile to my face, to be welcomed into her arms like this.  I look over her shoulder to see Nick grinning down at the two of us.  He looks pleased with himself too.  She abruptly ends our hug as she grabs the arm of a woman who is trying to get by us.

“Marie, Marie, look what your boy brought home
,” Yiayia says, pulling on the woman’s arm.  She drags her over to us and I can immediately see the resemblance between Yiayia and Marie, they are obviously mother and daughter.  I also see the same look on her face as she eyes me with suspicion too, although she doesn’t scrutinise me for nearly as long and only looks to Nick briefly.

“Ma, this is Emma,
” Nick answers her questioning look.

“Emma, it’s nice to meet you,” she
smiles warmly as she pulls me in for a quick hug.

“Ma, where do you want this?”
  A man that is an older (not quite as handsome and definitely not as fit) version of Nick appears in the kitchen holding a large tray of cooked unidentifiable meats.

“And that is my other son, always so
helpful,” she says sarcastically, rolling her eyes and causing me to giggle.  “George let me take that.  You come meet Emma.” She walks over to him and grabs what appears to be a rather heavy tray, effortlessly from her son’s arms.

“Well, well Nick brought a girl home, I never
thought I would see the day!” he teases Nick as he makes his way over to us.  “Emma was it?” he says extending his arm.  I nod.  “I’m George Jr.”  He smiles in a way that reminds me of Nick, but without the thrill that Nick’s smiles give me.

“Hi, nice to meet you,” I say, shaking
his hand.

“So how much did my brother pay you?”

“Excuse me?”

“Well he must have paid you to get you
to come into this mad house!” he jokes with a twinkle in his eye that I do recognise.  Some kids run through the kitchen laughing and knocking into everybody.  “Outside!” George booms with a wave of his arm and then follows them out of the kitchen.

“Well it’s nice of Nick to show up.  What was his excuse
, hey?  Did he even ring to let you know he wasn’t coming Marie?”  I hear a grumpy looking man say when he enters the door George just went through and addresses Nick’s mother.

“Nick is right here George,
” Yiayia interrupts in a stern voice.  She rolls her eyes and walks further into the room.

Nick turns to the man
, “Hi Dad, sorry I’m late.”

“Well it’s be
tter late than never, I suppose,” his father says rudely.

“Dad I would like you to meet-”

“Marie I need some paper towel, hand me some will you,” he says cutting Nick off and turning away from him.

In the hustle and bustle of the busy kitchen no one seems to notice how rude Nick’s father is or the hurt
and slightly pissed off look on Nick’s face.  I grab hold of his hand and give it a squeeze.  He looks down at our joined hands and shakes his head then looks back at me with a forced smile.  How can he treat his own son like that?  And me?  Seriously, I am a guest in his home, whether I was invited or not, surely that at least warrants a second glance and a hello.

Nick leans down and whispers in my ear, “Sorry about that, I
kinda have a shitty relationship with my dad.” 
He’s got that right.
  “C’mon I’ll introduce you around.”

Nick introduces me to so many aunties, uncles and cousins that I know I will never remember a
ll of their names.  Platter after platter of food gets passed around and I am unable to do much but stuff my face and make polite conversation.  Nick never strays from my side and constantly makes me smile, putting me at ease in what could have been a very overwhelming experience.  We are seated at the edge of the garden on a couple of metal chairs with Nick’s mother and I am trying to defend myself for living alone when Nick’s grandmother comes over to join us.

“I don’t understand.  What’s a nice girl like you living on your own?  It’s
just not right.”

“Lea
ve her alone.  These here are modern times Marie!”  Nick’s mother stands and makes her excuses to leave, his grandmother takes her seat and then turns to me and speaks with a thick Greek accent, “Don’t worry about her, that’s just her way of saying she likes you.  She wouldn’t be concerned for you if she didn’t like you, you see?  She’s a worrier.”  I eye her sceptically and she pats my knee.

“It’s true,” Nick i
nterjects with a warm and reassuring smile.  “She really likes you.”  I’m momentarily frozen looking into Nick’s beautiful eyes when Yiayia begins to talk.

“You know
Emma, I understand these days young women like to live on their own, because I’m a modern woman myself.  Though I am forced to live on my own since my husband died, it still has its perks.”  She gives me a toothy grin.  “You know, I’m even on da faceybook you are all on, my husband would never have understood that.  Did Nick tell you about our trip to Greece?” she asks, changing the subject.

“Did I forget to ment
ion I was taking Yiayia?” Nick interrupts, slightly embarrassed.

“Yes Nick
, you did neglect to mention you were taking your grandmother.” I laugh, thinking how funny it is that he was embarrassed by the fact.  It’s sweet to think he will be travelling with this little old lady that he obviously has a close relationship with.

“Well I’m not really fluent in
Greek and I need an interpreter, and she’s cheap,” he laughs a deep belly laugh as Yiayia swats him away.

H
e stands up and gives me a look that I understand is him asking for permission to leave me for a bit.  I give him a nod, and he gives me a squeeze on the shoulder and a breathtaking smile before moving away.  He is so considerate and thoughtful.  This is supposed to be his time with his family, his going away party and he has spent the entire time with me.  Of course I’m more than happy to sit with his grandmother while he circulates, I really like her anyway.

***

“So Nick’s got a girlfriend?” I hear a female voice say from the next room when I leave the bathroom and head to the back door.

“Yep, her name i
s Emma.”  I grin at the thought,
Nick’s girlfriend.

“No, he said
they’re just friends, that’s all,” another voice says, crushing my momentary happiness.

“That makes more sense. 
Nick, settling down?  I don’t see that
ever
happening!”  Yet another voice laughs.

“Yeah,
have you seen her?  She’s not his type anyway.”

It’s never wise to eavesdrop.
  But the overheard conversation was what I needed to snap back to reality.  No matter what happened between Nick and I, the change I thought had occurred, it didn’t matter.  His cousins, or whoever those girls were, they knew him better than I did.  Plus I always knew he was a player, that he didn’t do the whole relationship thing, and even if he did, we were running out of time.