Tangled Love

CHAPTER 105

"This looks amazing." I breathe out, taking a seat next to Ivory at the table. Myra beams at me.

"Thanks honey, it's nothing really." She waves off her effort and I glance at the table, my mouth watering at the feast in front of us. There are two different types of grilled meat, noodles and rice, battered prawns, pastry parcels and a rainbow salad laid out in front of us. Ivory grabs a plate, putting one down in front of me.

"Mum is like the most amazing cook, she'll fatten you up in no time." Ivory giggles and I grin back at her. I'm so glad to finally be reunited with Ivory, she's like a sister to me. She cried when I got back from the hospital and filled me in on all the gossip going on in college. I've planned to see Trish tomorrow but I'm yet to see Tobias. Apparently he'd gone AWOL ever since he knew I'd be back today.

Jake waltz in, running a hand through his damp hair. I can tell he'd just showered and my eyes roam over his appearance, a small smile on my lips. He subtly raises an eyebrow at me, smirking before turning towards Myra.

"Food smells amazing Aunty M, thank you."

He kisses her cheek before taking a seat next to me. My heart warms at his sweet relationship with his family . . . something I wouldn't have expected from him at all.

"So honey, how are you feeling? We've all been so worried." Aunty Myra says, pouring me a glass of red wine. I motion for her to stop as the glass was starting to become way too full. I'm a lightweight and a sip of wine would probably have me crawling on the floors. . .

"I feel so much better now I'm here, a little pain but the doctor gave me painkillers. Plus Jake has been taking care of me very well." I tell her, taking Jake's hand in mine. I give his hand a little squeeze before turning back towards Myra. She was smiling warmly in Jake's direction and I could tell how much love she has for him.

"He is a very loving boy," Myra replies and Jake cleared his throat beside me —

"I am sat right here and don't call me loving, it's embarrassing." He grimaces, shoving a prawn whole into his mouth.

"Jake, please don't eat like an animal," she replies, shaking her head at Jake's caveman habits. He shrugs, grabbing another prawn —

"I'm hungry and I'm a man, sue me."

"He's wrong about the man part." Ivory whispers on my other side sniggering and I bite back a laugh.

"Hey! I heard that, you're shit at whispering." Jake says, narrowing his eyes at Ivory.

"Jake, no swearing at the table please." Myra says, loading food onto her own plate. I sit there patiently until everyone plates up their own foods before adding some chicken and rice to my own.

"Is that all you're having?" Jake asks me, eyebrows raised at my plate. I nod —

"I'm not that hungry."

"Emily, you need to eat more than that. Remember what the doctor said?"

"How can I forget? He repeated it like three times," I responded, taking a sip of my wine. I immediately scrunch my face up at the disgusting taste of vinegar in my mouth. It hits me straight away and I swallow it quickly, choking a little from the effort. Myra chuckles at my reaction —

"First time drinking wine honey?" She asks and I nods, pushing the wine glass away from me.

"I think I'll stick to water."

Ivory leans over and takes my glass, pouring the wine into her own.

"More for me!" She says cheerfully and I chuckle at her alcoholic ways. The kitchen door opens and I pause, fork hanging in mid air. Tobias mutters a greeting to his mum before sitting opposite me. I feel Jake physically still beside me and I place my hand on his knee, giving him a reassuring squeeze.

"Hey Tobias." I say quietly, breaking the tension at the table. The conversation has been light and friendly until now and I didn't want that to change. Tobias completely ignores me and grabs a plate, loading it high with food.

"Emily spoke to you Tobias. Don't be rude." Myra says firmly, giving him a sidewards glare. All she got in return was a grunt before he turns and walks back out of the kitchen with his plate in his hands. I shuffle uncomfortably in my chair and fiddle with my fork and knife, scraping it against the plate.

"Idiot." I hear Jake mumble beside me and Myra slams her fork and knife down, surprising us all. She pinches the bridge of her nose, looking very annoyed.

"Whatever is going on between you two needs to end soon Jake! This has been going on for years, I cannot have you two fighting under my roof any longer!"

"Aunty Myra, I haven't done anything! It's him, he's an asshole!" Jake hisses, slamming his cup down onto the table. I feel Ivory stiffen beside me, clearly uncomfortable from the situation.

She isn't the only one.

"I know he hurt you Jake but it's been years! Can't you at least try to get along, for my sake?" Myra asks desperately, taking a large drink of her wine. Jake's chair scrapes back before he stands up —

"I'm sorry Aunty M, I'd do anything for you but forgive him is the one thing I can't do. Every time we get somewhere, he ruins it again!"

The door swings open forcefully and Tobias stands in the doorway, fire in his eyes. He glares at Jake, his fists clenched on either side.

"It's been years Jake! I've said how sorry I am, it was a mistake!" He yells, his voice filling the kitchen. I slide lower in my seat and close my eyes, the arguments between these two just never ends.

"How is sleeping with my ex a mistake?" Jake yells back at him.

"She was all over me man! I was weak and it was a mistake!"

"That is enough!" Myra screams, standing from her seat and stepping between the two boys. She points at Jake and Tobias, her chest rising and falling quickly from her anger.

"If you two don't find a way to get past this, you're both leaving this house! I will not have this fighting and anger in my home any longer!" She screams before placing a hand over her chest. She sits back down in her seat, leaving the two boys staring at each other in shock. Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

Ivory's eyes widen at her mum's words and so does mine. The tension in the room grows and everyone remains frozen to the spot, unsure of how to react. Tobias is the first to cut through the silence.

"Mum?" He asks uncertainly, his chest rising and falling heavily.

"I mean it Tobias, I've had enough," Myra says firmly, pouring herself another glass of wine. At this rate, she'd go through the entire bottle within minutes.

Living with Jake and Tobias can do that to you.

"Unbelievable!" Jake mutters, shaking his head. He pushes past Tobias and storms upstairs, his heavy footsteps echoing through the house. I hear his bedroom door slam shut and I slide further down into my seat until my knees were practically touching the floor.

Hello drama.