As promised the next installment. How is Steve, the Big Brother, react?
Alyssa looked up at Chin. "Here?" She said. "Now?" She noticed with irritation that her voice had gone up an octave between those two questions. She huffed in frustration. She was a grown woman and here she was getting flustered by her brother's presence at her boyfriend's house. She smiled crookedly. Somehow the term "boyfriend" did not seem an appropriate description for Chin. She shook her head to clear it. "Well I was going to need to tell Steve about us sooner or later anyway," she said, "it might as well be sooner."
Chin looked at her, reached out and pulled her into his arms. "I know that this is a little," he paused looking for the right word, "...awkward. But it will be OK. I promise," he smiled. "And I've not broken a promise to you yet." As Alyssa went off to take a very quick shower and change, she was thankful that she had not taken out her work duffle which contained some clean clothes.
Chin too started to dress, he hoped that he was right and that everything would be alright when Steve learned that Aly and he had become more than friends. The last thing he wanted was to come between Aly and her brother and frankly, he was not looking forward to explaining things to a possibly, very pissed off Navy Seal who also happened to be his boss and one of his best friends. Chin sighed as he pulled on shorts and a tee-shirt. "No time like the present."
Chin opened the door and was met with the grinning faces of the entire team. Steve was in the front with the donuts followed by Kono and then Danny with Grace. Grace let out a squeal of happines and threw herself into Chin's arms. "Uncle Chin, I'm so glad you're OK." Chin smiled and returned the hug. He stepped out of the way and let the entire Ohana into the house.
He caught Kono's questioning look. She knew what was coming. He nodded ever so slightly and she just shrugged lightly. There was nothing to be done, but to face the situation head on.
"I don't know where Aly is," Steve groused. "I texted her, but she's not answered."
"That's because I'm right here." All eyes pivoted toward the door to the Living Room as Alyssa walked in, dressed in shorts and with her wet hair pulled back into a low, loose ponytail. Alyssa's face turned pink in embarrassment, but she entered the kitchen with her head up and met the eyes of her friends and family. All eyes grew wide as understanding dawned and Alyssa smiled shyly as she walked over to Chin, put her hand on his shoulder and let him wrap an arm protectively and somewhat possessively around her waist.
Not surprisingly, Steve was the first to break the silence. He had been sitting at the table, but now his chair made a loud scraping noise on the wooden floor as he pushed away. Without taking his eyes off of Alyssa, he said quietly, "Chin, can we talk? Now. Outside." It was not really a question.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. More to come here. I am always grateful for your comments, thoughts and reviews. Thank you for taking the time.
