Previously...
Almost immediately after we hang up, the doorbell rings. "Bree, could you answer the door? I have to keep stirring this gravy." Says Tasha from the stove.
"Sure!" I say reluctantly as I get up from the couch.
I open the door and Leo walks in.
...
"Hey, Bree! How have you been? It's been so long since I've seen you! How's mom and the baby?" he rambles.
"We're all good, Leo. Why are you here?" I ask the ebullient boy.
"Oh, well, I know it's your birthday soon and since I won't be able to be there, I thought I'd give you your present now." he explains.
"Oh okay. Well, I'm just about to have lunch with Chase and Tasha if you want to join us." I say, letting him in the house.
He only comes in a few steps. He doesn't plop down on the couch like usual. This is strange. Why is he acting like this isn't his home? He hands me a box and I open it. It's a charm bracelet with charms already attached. "Oh, Leo! It's beautiful! Why did you get me such a nice present? It's not even my birthday for another week." I exclaim.
"Well, er, it's your twentieth birthday, so it's special. You need a special present for such a special birthday," he explains, looking to the left a bit.
"That's so nice of you!" says Tasha from the kitchen.
"Thank you, Leo," I say, giving my brother a hug.
"That's not all. Wait until you see what comes with it," he says, taking the bracelet and holding up a key charm, "See this key? It opens up your big surprise."
"Wow, really? This is too much, Leo." I say incredulously.
"So let's go see the surprise! Come on, Bree!" He exclaims.
"I want to eat first. I made Chase stop his health rant to come here and eat with me. If I ditch him he'll be mad. Let's wait and eat first." I say, taking his arm and pulling him towards the kitchen.
He frowns and stops walking with me. "No, Bree. I don't have time to eat with you guys. I'll come back in an hour. You'll be ready then, right?" He asks.
This behavior from him is very strange. He doesn't usually act so reserved, and he never turns down food. "I guess I can be ready then. Can you give me a hint as to where we're going?" I say, trying to keep the suspicion from my voice.
"It's a surprise, Bree! You can't have any hints," he says, walking toward the door.
He opens the door to leave and Chase comes in. "Hey, Leo! How's it going?" he asks him.
"Um, I'm fine. I have to go," he replies before rushing out the door.
Chase turns to look at me as he shuts the door behind him. "Well that was odd," he says, walking into the living room and sitting on the couch.
I sit down beside him, pulling my legs up under me. "Yeah, he acted strangely the whole time he was here. I didn't think too much of it. He is a strange little person." I say casually.
"So what did he have to say? How are Adam and Douglas?" asks Chase.
"He didn't actually talk about them. He did give me a birthday present, though; look! Isn't it beautiful?" I say, holding up my arm to show him the bracelet.
"Very nice. Now I'll have to go get you a better one to compete," he says with a smirk.
I laugh, "Oh, Chase, you don't have to worry about competing with Leo. I'm sure I'll love your present as well. Oh! See the key charm? Leo said that it unlocks the special surprise that he'll show me later. I'm hoping it's a car." I say excitedly.
"Really? He gave you a beautiful bracelet and another surprise? What is that boy up to?" he laughs.
"Bree, Chase, lunch is ready. Do one of you want to go downstairs and ask your father if he wants to join us?" says Tasha, coming into the living room area.
I look at Chase and we have a silent argument over who goes down to get Mr. Davenport. Finally, he gives in, as he always does, "I'll go down and ask him. You can stay with Tasha." he says snarkily.
He pretends to be mad and 'mopes' down the hallway. Tasha totally believes that his feelings are hurt and scolds me. "Bree, can't you ever let Chase win? He's so nice to you and you just give him pain."
I put on my best guilty face and turn to look at a smirking Chase, standing in the hall. "I'm sorry, Tasha. I'll try to be nicer to my sweet baby brother-who-isn't-really-my-brother-but-more-of-a-best-friend. But look at him; he's enjoying this!" I say, pointing to him.
Just then he puts on his sad face and looks at the floor. Tasha looks at me and then back at him. Just in time to see him stick his tongue out at me. Her jaw drops as she shouts, "Chase Davenport, I am appalled at you! Why are you acting like such a child?"
"Goodness, Tasha, I'm just messing with her. We don't actually hate each other, you know." He says, walking back into the living room.
"Yeah, we like messing around sometimes. It's fun to make people think that we don't get along when in reality, we're each other's favorites. Right, Chase? I'm your favorite, aren't I?" I ask playfully.
Tasha raises her eyebrows and walks into the kitchen, shaking her head. "Well, Chase?" I ask again, my eyebrows raised in anticipation.
"Sure, Bree, you're my favorite." he replies, rolling his eyes.
"That doesn't sound very convincing," I say, frowning to mess with him.
"Well, I really don't believe in having favorites, but if you mean who can I relate to the best? Who do I get along with the most? That would be you. I didn't like Leo at first, and he's grown on me, but we still don't have that much in common. Adam and I are brothers, you know, but he and I are so different. It's hard for us to bond. You and I are so close in age; only about ten months apart. We get along the best, I think." he replies, obviously trying to get out of trouble.
"Okay, I'll accept that answer. Now you go get Mr. Davenport, and I'll help Tasha set the table, okay?" I say, standing up and walking to the kitchen.
He stands up and smiles. He walks to the elevator, and I grab the silverware and set it on the table, smiling.
