2 - Cool Uncle

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"Jake, please be the responsible one, he may look like a man but he's only eighteen," my mom begs and dad and I chuckle at the same time.

Leave it to my mom to be worried all the time.

"What does that even mean? Didn't I take care of him and Jeremy when you guys went on your honeymoon?" He complains.

He's struggling physically since Jeremy and Wilder are hanging upside down, one in each arm, like little monkeys. That's the beauty of visiting Uncle Jake, he's always been the cool uncle, ready for some fun and not afraid to look like a kid or be reprimanded.

"Yeah, and thank God Nana was there to do some damage control, otherwise one of them would have ended up in the hospital." 

He gasps and then scoffs, feigning offence.

"Well, he's eighteen now. He can make his food and dress by himself. I'll only be needed to bail him out of jail without the both of you knowing." He taunts my mom, winking at me.

He's joking. Well, kind of, he says it as a joke but I know it's true.

He's that kind of uncle. Thank god, I am not that kind of nephew. 

I hope.

"Jesus Christ, Liam, we should have enrolled him on campus." My mom's hand finds my arm, pushing me to her as if she's ready to protect me from everything.

Sometimes she doesn't register I'm almost twice her size, now...

"I am not sure that would be the safest option, baby," he answers with a frown on his face.

Damn right, it wouldn't. 

"That's right," Uncle Jake chimes in. "Imagine all the drugs and parties he'd have access to with no adult supervising." 

"Somehow, I am not sure you can be accounted as an Adult supervisor," mom counters back.

And that's enough for me to crack up.

This never gets old, as much as Uncle Jake is the oldest of the two, he sometimes seems even younger than me in behaviour. 

And don't get me started on the trio: dad, uncle Jake and I can make Mom go crazy sometimes.

"Baby," She turns to me squashing my cheeks between her hands. "Promise me you'll stay out of trouble." 

"Of course mom, when did I ever put myself in trouble?" 

"Well, you better shut up about that, before you dig yourself a bigger hole." My dad fake glares at me and I roll my eyes.

Fine, I know I was a little... cheeky when I was younger, but Abby was always there to keep me on track.

Most of the time, anyway.

She was always able to bring my recklessness down a huge notch.

"And promise me," she lowers her voice down. "To always treat women right."

The way she looks me deep in the eyes makes me gulp. 

I know the importance of how to treat a woman right. When I was old enough, she told me her story and explained to me why she kept dad in the dark about us, until he found us. 

He's found us by chance, she usually says, I like to think it was destiny that brought us back together.

But she made it her mission to teach me the importance of "no", and everything else she deems important on how to treat a woman properly.

"I know mom, you don't need to worry," I whisper back and pull her to me.

"Somehow, I have this feeling in my chest that tells me... for you to be careful," she mumbles against my chest.

I chuckle at her sensibility and protectiveness, she's always been a worried and caring person but knowing the reason for most of it, makes me understand and respect why she is the way she is. 

My mom went through hell and fought through it. She never backed down and ended up having everything she deserves, her best friend and love of her life all in one and a happy and stable family.

"That's just your clingy ass not wanting to get rid of me." I joke, trying to lighten the mood.

 She disentangles herself from my hug and swats my arm and  I just smirk in return.

"Okay, you're settled so we're going to go back." Dad steps in, wrapping his arm around mom's shoulder.

She looks up at him with shiny eyes and I know the dam is about to break.

"Liam, you could take a couple of extra more days so we could stay until his first day," she begs and dad stiffens, looking at me wearily.

I widen my eyes in realization. He's a sucker for her, he can barely say no to her and I know if I don't chime in, he'll give in.

"No. No way, this is not kindergarten or first grade. Nuh-uh," I complain. "Go back home, prepare Jeremy for his school. I'll see you in a week or two." 

Dad chuckles nervously, probably thankful I am taking the hit for once, while mom pouts and it takes everything in me to not give in to her.

I guess he's not the only sucker for her. Yeap, I'm a momma's boy and I  don't fucking care.

"Let's go, baby, we still have two at home to take care of," Dad finally cuts in, convincing mom to go.

They spent the weekend helping us out and I appreciate all the help. It would have been madness if the only one to help was uncle Jake. 

He's even messier than me.

The house is spotless after my mom's insistence on cleaning it, saying how she needs to contribute to the fact that I'll be staying here for free for the next few years. At least until I decide to rent something for myself, once I get a job.

Dad wanted to rent a place for me but I refused. I don't remember us struggling financially but I do remember that before dad showed up, mom barely had time to spend with me between studying and working. And I know that if they're comfortable today it's due to their hard work.

I want to do the same.

I will struggle a whole lot more since I am a painter. To be accepted by society as a worthy artist is no damn joke but if my parents taught me something, is to not give up on what you love.

"I'll see you in a week or two, buddy. Behave," my dad warns with a pointed look before hugging me.

Patting his back, I roll my eyes in fake annoyance. 

"Listen to your dad, you little devil," mom pinches my cheeks and I can't help but smirk.

"Always," I singsong and my dad scoffs.

"I mean, I am here to study, only. I have a good girlfriend waiting for me back at home and Uncle Jake is here to help me. What could go wrong?" I boast but my mom just frowns in response.

Always worrying, this one.

"Mom," I tug at her, "Don't worry." I pull her against me for one last hug. "I love you guys."

With much effort from my dad, my mom eventually lets go of me and follows him to the car with Wilder perched on her hip. Jeremy sticks his tongue out from the inside of the car while Wilder waves excitedly and I just make an ugly face before laughing and waving at the both of them.

The car drives off and uncle Jake mocks at my mom for turning around, keeping her gaze on us while dad drives away. making it look like those dramatic separations the couples go through in soppy movies.

We both chuckle before going back inside the house.

Up until last year, Uncle Jake used to live in one of the finest penthouses of the city, but he's decided to build his own house, where I am staying for now. It's a sleek and modern villa with a big ass pool and a giant basement.

Funny fact, my room is in the basement and I have a direct exit to the garden. I am sure it'll be handy to sneak out, even though I probably won't need to with him.

"Kid, I am going for a run, care to join?" 

"Damn, aren't you tired after what mom made us do?" I whine.

"Dylan, I need to train daily. I am not in my twenties anymore, I am almost forty. The ladies won't like me if I am sloppy and fat," he complains.

"Exactly, why not settle down?!" 

"pfff, that's for pussies."

But I don't miss the way he diverts his gaze from me.

"Let's go then," I  change the subject and join him for the daily run.

⛓️⛓️⛓️ 

"Fucking hell, it's enough," I wheeze while trying to fit some air into my burning lungs.

"And you called me old," Uncle Jake snickers.

Fine, he's in great shape. Better than I am but then again, this summer was dedicated to Abby instead of me. 

I know that by coming here I had to give her some more attention so I focused on romantic getaways and lazy days with her. I've always been athletic, I still am but damn if I am not embarrassed to know that my thirty-nine years old uncle can beat my ass in a simple run.

"Pussy," he mutters and I punch his arm, barely making a dent on his rock-hard muscle.

"Lookout," someone yells and my head snaps to attention, seeing a soccer ball flying in the direction of a girl that's sitting by the grass, near the lake. 

Without a second thought, I run in her direction, trying to intercept the ball. Adrenaline and panic, from the possibility of having her hit, make me forget about the tiredness I was feeling just a few moments ago. 

The blood pumps inside my veins, propelling my body to move forward faster and faster until I jump and catch the ball in the air. I exhale in relief as soon as the ball lands in my hands, letting myself fall to the ground graciously.

Or so I thought. The moment my left foot lands on the ground, I trip on a twig and fall backwards, landing with a 'humpf' on something soft.

"Fuck," I groan in pain.

"Oww," a feminine moan of pain startles me, making me lift slightly to look at who's underneath me.

No less than the girl I was trying to save.

Nice one, Dylan.

"Shit, I am sorry. Are you alright?" 

"NO, I am not fucking alright!" She screeches, making me jump away from her. "What the hell were you thinking, you asshole?" 

The girl turns to face me with an angry face but even then, I'm enthralled. 

She has this chubby oval face giving her a young vibe but the strong-winged eyeliner shows she's older than she seems. Dark brown eyes and pink plump lips are complemented by this long wavy black hair.

She's gorgeous. 

"I- I," I stutter.

The girl ignores me, looking down at her clothing and that's when I notice the botched clay shape on her hands and how her skin-tight top is stained in brown.

She was sculpting something and I just ruined it. Shit.

"I am sorry," I find my voice but it comes out small and weak in comparison to my normal tone. "The ball was flying towards you and I was trying to help."

"Well, a ball wouldn't crush me against the ground would it?" she scoffed.

"I wasn't planning on falling, I-"

"Well, you did. And you fucking ruined this." 

She stands up and throws the clay into the lake before cleaning her hands into a cloth and gathering her stuff.

"How can I make it up to-" 

"Don't fucking bother," she cuts me off and stalks off, away from me, while muttering. "Asshole." 

I stay rooted to the spot, sitting on the green grass, in a daze, shocked at what just happened. 

It doesn't last long, though. Soon I hear snickering behind me and Uncle Jake approaches from behind, crouching down to my height. 

"I guess I still need to teach you a few tricks, kiddo. You'll chase the girls away if you continue like this."

⛓️ Author's Note ⛓️

It took a while, but I hope you enjoyed it. 

And who might be this girl? She sure seems fiery eheh 


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