Lexi and JC sang their song and his parents loved it immediately, and at about 4 o’clock Karen, Roy, Josh, and Lexi were still downstairs talking. As they began to laugh at something Roy said, they heard the front door open.
“Hey, Mom, Dad? Has Josh’s plane landed…” Tyler said as he entered the living room. “Josh!”
“Hey, Ty! How’s it goin’?” JC said standing up to give his younger brother a hug.
“Great. When did your flight get in?”
“About noon.”
“Hi,” Tyler said extending a hand to Lexi, “I’m Tyler, since it seems that my brother isn’t gonna introduce me.”
Lexi giggled. “Nice to meet you, Tyler. I’m…”
“…Lexi. I know. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Haha, well I’ve heard a lot about you to, Tyler.”
Tyler joined them in conversation for about twenty-five minutes. Once it got to be about 4:30, Tyler changed subjects.
“Hey, I’m going to the movies tonight with Kelly. Maybe you guys would want to come with us.”
“Oh, Tyler, I’m flattered that you’d ask your mother and I to go with you…” Roy joked.
“I was talking to Josh and Lexi, Dad,” Tyler said. “Yes I know, I’m just kidding, son.”
Lexi answered, “Sounds good to me. How about you, Josh?”
“Yeah, well I guess I can find the time to go to the movies with my little brother,” JC smiled.
“Great!” voiced Tyler. “The movie’s at 6:30. We’re seeing that new Ben Affleck movie…Kelly loves him, but I don’t let it get to me.”
The four of them laughed and continued talking for the next hour. Lexi almost felt like she was one of the family.
At 9:15 PM Tyler, Josh, and Lexi walked into the house laughing.
“…and then he said ‘I don’t think so Medusa. You can’t even dance!’” Tyler said finishing off the joke he was telling.
The trio continued to laugh as they made their way through the foyer. After about fifteen more minutes of laughing and conversating, Lexi looked at her watch.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this because it’s only 9:30, but I’m tired. I think I’m gonna go to bed. I had a lot of fun, Tyler, thanks for inviting me.”
“No problem, Lexi. We all had fun.”
“I’ll see you guys tomorrow. Good night.”
“Good night, Lex, and get some good sleepin’ in because I’m taking you into the city tomorrow,” JC added.
“Will do. G’nite.”
The two brothers watched Lexi go up the stairs, and the minute Tyler heard her close the door the interrogation started.
“So, what’s going on between you two?”
“Whatdaya mean, Ty?”
“Oh c’mon! You so obviously like her, and I felt some ‘her liking you’ vibes being emitted back.”
JC laughed in amusement. “Tyler you’re over analyzing this. I mean, we’re just friends…”
“You have to admit that you like her.”
“Well, yeah,” JC said lowering his voice finally telling his brother the truth, “But I can’t let her know that.”
“Why not!!”
“Shhh! Because I don’t know if she likes me back.”
“Josh, are you listening to yourself? You know for a fact that the best way to approach a girl is to tell her straight out how you feel. Why would you handle Lexi any differently?”
“I dunno…she’s different.”
“Different? What do you mean different…Oh my God. You’re in love with her aren’t you?”
“What? Where did you get that from?”
“I know my own brother, Josh. She’s different? C’mon just admit it, you’re in love with her!”
JC sighed in aggravation and a feeling of defeat. If Tyler could tell that he’s in love with Lexi, then how will he prevent Lexi herself from knowing? Did he really not want Lexi to know?
“Yeah, well even if I am in love with her, which I’m not saying I am, I can’t tell her.”
“Why not?”
“Because…I don’t know if she loves me back.”
“Sometimes ya just gotta take that chance. Just think about it, ok?”
“Yeah, ok.”
With that, Tyler went into the study to go online and check his mail. JC went upstairs to go to his room to get ready for bed himself. As he passed by the bathroom, he heard Lexi singing sweetly in the shower. He paused by the door and thought I'll tell you eventually, Lexi. Hopefully when I do you'll return the same feelings.
Chapter Five
Yo quiero ir a la casa!