Vol. 1: Haru to Aiden - Chapter 14

Aiden

Peter and Tina had just arrived, and Aiden was pouring them some wine when Noah returned to the dining room. Trailing behind the brother were Haru and Isaac, along with their friends. As the parties made their way toward the small sitting area, passing the kitchen, Aiden watched Haru, and Tina didn’t miss the intense gaze he had on the boy.

When Aiden saw Tina making her way toward Haru, he was instantly suspicious. He didn’t have any doubt she was going to probe Haru for some juicy details about the boy’s love life, again. He wanted to go after her but found he couldn’t, as Peter was talking to him about Camille, who had now apparently commissioned Peter to find her an apartment.

“What the hell did you do? She was complaining about you. It’s unlike you to treat a client like that,” Peter said.

Aiden frowned. He asked, “What did she say?”

“That you didn’t show up on time and when you did, you were cold and not very professional.”

Aiden sighed. He wondered if the woman had tried to get back at him just because he had turned her down.

He wasn’t acting professional toward her? When she herself had thrown herself at him?

And was a bitch to Haru?

He said, “And you believe her?”

Peter chuckled. “Of course not. I know you, and you’re nothing like that. So? What’s the real deal then?”

Aiden said, “She wants me in her bed.”

Peter cracked up laughing loudly, which drew everyone’s attention to them, including the curious gaze of Haru, and Aiden eyed the boy intensely.

When he managed to stop his laughter, Peter said, “Why the hell am I not surprised? And what did you tell her?”

“I’m not interested,” Aiden said. “She’s not my type.”

Peter said, “Most girls are not your type, Aiden.” The man saw his friend gazing at the other side of the room and turned in that direction. “Except for that one,” he said quietly under his breath.

Of course, Peter had known for a while now that his friend had feelings for his stepbrother Haru. Whether that feeling was reciprocated or not, however, he didn’t know.

“You should have just told her you’ve already got someone you care about,” he said.

Aiden said, “I didn’t see any point in that. I told her I’m not interested, and she left the restaurant. I just didn’t expect her to go to you behind my back and spit out all those lies.”

Peter chuckled. “I hope it’s all right with you she came to me. I’m not stealing your client, am I?”

Aiden shrugged his broad shoulders. “Be my guest. It’s her choice to go to you.”

Again, Aiden shifted his gaze to the other side of the room where Tina was currently talking to Haru and Jess.

“Wonder what they’re talking about,” Peter said. “Haru is blushing. Does he blush a lot?”

Aiden nodded. “He does.” Aiden thought it was cute.

Peter started moving away from the kitchen, and Aiden followed. The two came to the crowded sitting area, and Peter managed to squeeze in beside his wife.

When Jess saw Aiden, she stood and said, “You can take my seat, Aiden.”

Aiden gladly took the offered space and sat down, right beside Haru, squeezing the boy between him and the side of the sofa. Of course, Haru suddenly became stiff and red in the face. Aiden pretended to be oblivious to Haru’s tense reaction and proceeded to put one arm over the back of the sofa behind Haru.

Haru asked, “I didn’t know you two were coming, Peter. Aiden told us you’re busy.”

Peter shrugged his shoulders. “Tina changed her mind.”

Tina said, “Peter, love, Haru was just telling me about the university. He’s stressing out.”

Haru stressing out? That was news to Aiden.

He said, “You didn’t tell me.”

Haru said, “I didn’t want to bother you.”

“You’re not bothering me,” Aiden said. “You not telling me what’s going on is troubling me.”

Isaac said, “What are you doing, Tina? Picking on Haru again? Telling tales?”

Tina frowned. “I’m not picking on him. Jesus, Isaac, does asking how Haru is doing with his life look like I’m picking on him?”

The brother chuckled. He said, “If you’re not picking on Haru, then it has to be favoritism. Every time you come, you keep Haru to yourself. Be careful or you’ll make Peter jealous.”

Connor, Noah’s best buddy, appeared behind Isaac and ruffled the boy’s hair. “Stop butting into other people’s business.”

Isaac’s face flushed hot. “I’m not butting into anybody’s business.”

Tina reached out and pinched Isaac’s red cheek, which made it even redder. She said, “As usual, you’re nosy and adorable, isn’t that right, Connor?”

The handsome man said, “Definitely very nosy and not at all adorable.” He cupped Isaac’s face in his large hand, squeezing the boy’s chin. “Look at him. He’s beetroot red from head to toe. You just want Tina’s attention to yourself, don’t you, Isaac?”

“That’s not true,” Isaac said, shoving Connor’s hand away. He rubbed his sore chin. “And I’m not nosy. I’m just watching out for my brother. And I’m a man, Tina. I’m not adorable. Haru is. He’s a Shrine Maiden, did you know that?”

Haru rolled his eyes. “I’m a man, too, Isaac, and I’m not a Shrine Maiden. When are we going to stop calling me that?”

Reo’s voice came from the other side of the room. “Not for a long time.” He chuckled merrily. Beside him, his friends Evan and David chuckled in amusement, too.

Connor said, “Haru is a Shrine Maiden, that’s the first time I’ve heard of it.”

Jess turned to Haru and asked, “How come you never told me you’re a Shrine Maiden?”

Haru said, “That’s because I’m not a Shrine Maiden. Reo just made that up to annoy me.”

Reo said loudly, so that everyone in the room could hear, “Actually, I have a picture of Haru in a Shrine Maiden costume. Mom took it when he was around four. Let me get it.”

Aiden’s interest was piqued.

Haru said, “I don’t remember that.” And before he could stop his half-brother, Reo, was out the door in a flash, as if he couldn’t wait to show the picture to everyone.

Jess said, “I can’t wait to see it. Haru must have been so adorable.”

Mason said, “Haru was very adorable when he first came to America. He looked like a Japanese porcelain doll.”

Isaac said, “I remember thinking he was a human-sized doll, and I thought he was a girl. He even wore dresses.”

Haru snapped, “You made me wear them with you.”

Mason said. “Yep. They were a pair of adorable little girls, all right.” He laughed.

Noah said, “One with black hair and another blond. I wonder if we still have those photos.”

Isaac said, “Please don’t bring that up.”

Noah laughed. “You brought it up first.”

Aiden chuckled, which drew Haru’s attention to him. When he saw the sharp look Haru gave him, he stopped immediately. But of course, the reminder of little Haru and Isaac wearing dresses made him smile. It couldn’t be helped that their stepmother, Sana Ono, had encouraged the two to play a dressing up game, since she had always wanted a daughter. He guessed seeing little Isaac and Haru in girls’ clothes helped her satisfy that craving, if only a little.

Reo returned with an album, and it wasn’t long before everyone gathered around and was looking through the various old photos of Haru, Reo, and their mom’s life back in Japan. And then, there it was, little Haru in a Shrine Maiden costume of white and red. He looked adorable standing in front of a shrine.

Haru could only stared at the picture, astounded.

Reo said, “Brings back memories. Uncle Jin keeps asking us to visit. We haven’t since Mom and Stepdad passed away.”

Aiden said, “Maybe we should do that.”

Reo raised his head and asked, “Do what?”

“Visit your uncle,” Aiden said.

Haru asked, “Like, all of us? Going to Japan?”

Aiden gave Haru a smile. “Mm-hmm.”

Tina butted in. “Does that include me and Peter as well?”

Aiden said, “If you want to come, pay your own way, Tina.”

Isaac said, “But I thought we didn’t have enough for a holiday yet.”

Aiden nodded. “Not yet. Not for another three to four months.”

Isaac seemed like he wanted to make sure he was hearing this right. He asked, “So, we can afford a holiday in another three to four months? Like going overseas and doing stuff?”

Aiden nodded with a smile.

“Yeah! Awesome! I’ll save up for some spending money, too.” He sounded excited.

Suddenly, Noah announced, “All done. Let’s eat.”

Everyone started moving toward the table, which was filled with an assortment of delicious food. For the next two and a half hours, everybody ate, drank, and chatted. Then the younger ones started playing video games again, with Jess joining them while Haru watched. Meanwhile, Aiden hung out with Peter and Tina. When the two left at around eleven that night, Aiden, Noah, Reo, and Mason started cleaning up. Haru and Isaac came to help, and once done, Jess appeared and said, “I’m exhausted. Is it all right if I crash here for the night, Aiden?”

Haru said, “Where are you going to sleep? There’s no room.”

Jess smiled cheekily. “In your room, Haru, where else?”

Haru said, “But I only have a small bed. You can’t possibly—”

“You can sleep in Aiden’s room.” She turned to Aiden. “Is that all right, Aiden?” She gave him a pretty smile.

Beside Aiden, Reo cocked his head to one side and asked, “What are you trying to do, Jess?”

The girl blushed. “I’m not trying to do anything.”

Reo smirked with a knowing smile, indicating he knew what she was up to.

Jess realized Reo was onto her, and her blush deepened. Ignoring the Japanese man who seemed to always catch her red-handed with her little tricks in trying to get Aiden and Haru together, she turned to Aiden once again and batted her long, blond lashes at him. “Aiden?”

Aiden chuckled. “That’s fine. Make yourself at home, Jess.”

“Thanks, Aiden. You’re a godsend,” she said. After giving Reo a triumphant smile, she turned and took off, humming to herself.

Reo smiled, his eyes twinkling. He said, “That girl is always up to something. She’s a piece of work.”

Noah said, “And you’re always onto her. Reo, if you keep picking on her, she’ll stop coming, and that’ll make you sad.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Reo asked, frowning. “Shouldn’t it make Haru sad?”

Mason chuckled. “Yeah, Haru would be sad. But you’ll be sadder.”

Reo didn’t reply, and Haru suddenly wondered if Reo liked Jess in that way. Holy shit!

Suddenly, Ryan’s voice came from the sitting area, “Can we stay the night as well? It’s too late to bus back.”

“Yeah,” Isaac said as he put the clean plates away. “Slumber party.”

Noah said, “One of us can always drive you all back.”

“But we want to stay the night.” Ryan pouted.

Noah frowned. “What about tomorrow? You guys have classes, don’t you?”

Ryan shook his head furiously. “Not until in the afternoon. We’ll be fine.”

Mason said, “Let them stay, Noah.”

Noah sighed. “Okay, but don’t stay up too late, and especially, don’t be too loud.”

“Yeah!” Ryan chuckled.

Noah said, “They’re nineteen yet they act like kids.”

Mason chuckled. “I think you and Aiden are just about the only ones who act older than your age.”

Noah frowned. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Mason said, “Calm down, old man, and let the kids have some fun.”