The next day
Hey y'all! This is the second chapter! I didn't really have time to edit it so I'm sorry for any mistakes! please read and review!
Today was the day! I was going to meet my future husband. I was nervous, scared, and a little sad. I didn't want an arranged marriage! I want love! Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Gulp. I went to open the door.
Right as I opened the door, my eyes instantly locked with two beautiful brown orbs staring deep into my eyes. It was a very handsome boy with luscious brown hair. He looked about 5'7" and he had the two cutest moles on his cheeks. Lets face it, he was hot! Was he the boy I was set up to marry? Eh, I don't really mind!
"Hi I'm Kim." I said with a smile.
"I'm jack!" He returned the smile.
"So I guess your 'the one' right?
Just then his mother walked up behind him.
"Oh no sweetheart! My darling Milton is the one for you!"
She introduced me to a scrawny ginger boy who was quite pale. Appearance wise, he was the complete opposite of jack. Jacks smile dropped, and so did mine. Milton bowed to me.
"It's a pleasure, my darling."
I put on my best fake smile and curtseyed to him.
"Hello I'm Kimberly Crawford. Please, come in." Milton, his mother, and his father walked straight past me. Jack walked by and glanced over at me. He had a bright twinkle in his eye. He was so perfect. What am I saying? I'm marrying his brother, not him!
Our families mingled and made small talk for a few minutes. Niles-our butler- announced that dinner was ready. My father sat at the head of the table with my mother on his left and mr. Brewer on his right. Mrs brewer sat next to mr brewer and Milton sat next to my mother. I sat next to Milton with jack across from me.
Niles brought us our food as soon as we all sat down. I have to admit I wasn't very hungry. I was marrying a guy who's brother I was completely drooling over. Yay me. I looked up only to be looking straight into those familiar brown orbs. I smiled and he smiled back. I started turning a bright shade of pink.
"Don't you think Kimberly?" I heard my mother say. I was instantly snapped out of my thoughts.
"Huh?" I was confused.
"Don't you think it would be great if we all went on a picnic tomorrow? You know, so you and Milton could spend some time together?" She said.
I looked over at jack and saw his hand clenched into a fist. He was angry about something. What was it?
"Oh, um yes mother dear." I replied.
She smiled and squealed. She went on about how cute Milton and I would be together. However, my mind kept wandering back to jack. I seriously said three words to the guy! Why was I feeling this way?
About 45 minutes later, we had all finished dinner and niles was starting to clear the table. I snuck out to the front porch, hoping to escape from the torture of inside. I was sitting on the swing thinking about how my life with Milton would be, when suddenly the door opened. I looked up and saw jack. I felt butterflies in my stomach when I saw him. I smiled and he smiled back.
"What are you doing out here?" He asked me.
"Just thinking." I replied. He sat down on the bench across from me.
"Look, I know Milton isn't the most handsome guy. Maybe not even the sweetest; but you should still give him a chance. You don't have much of a choice anyways." Jack said to me.
I sighed,"jack, it's not that I don't like Milton. He seems nice! It's just that I want to marry for love, not money."
Jack nodded.
"So why did they choose Milton to set up with me?" I asked.
Jack sighed," my parents think Milton is their golden child. They spoil him to no end and give me nothing. I'm not even related to either of them."
My eyes got wide as he said that last sentence. I guess he noticed my shocked expression and continued. "My mother was married. She had died soon after I was born. My father was so upset about her death that he went to Las Vegas to clear his mind. While he was there, he got way too drunk. He had met this woman who was also hammered." He looked up at my to see if I was following along. He continued, "they snuck off later that night and got married." They woke up the next morning in the same bed in a hotel room. They had both remembered parts of that night. They vaguely remembered getting married. They stayed together for about 2 months, then my father passed away from cancer. She had full custody of me now. About a month later she had met Milton's dad. They moved in together. I was about 9 months old when he proposed to her. She got pregnant with Milton about a month after that. Neither of them ever payed attention to me. Mostly because I wasn't their kid. I was like a pest. They didn't want me, but I had nowhere else to go. Ever since we were little, Milton got everything he wanted and I hardly got anything. That's why when your parents wanted to set you up, my parents thought Milton was the perfect choice." He finished. I was in shock.
"Jack, I had no idea." I said. He shrugged.
"Well, I hope they chose well. I hope you and Milton will be happy together."
"Jack, the weddings not for another year!" I reminded him.
"Oh well. Kim, I hope we can be great friends." He said with a half hearted smile. I nodded and smiled back.
"Yeah, me too." I have to admit, the whole friend thing hurt, but we couldn't be anything more! I was destined to marry Milton. Jack and I talked for another hour after that. We laughed and joked around. He was a real great friend to have around. I learned he was a black belt in karate and his dream was to become a lawyer.
"Jack, I'm really glad a met you." I said and smiled at him. He returned the smile.
"Me too." He said.
We sat in a comfortable silence for another few minutes. Suddenly the front door flew open.
"Kimberly my darling! I have been looking for you everywhere!" Milton said as he ran to give me a hug.
"She was just showing me around." Jack said.
'Thank you' I mouthed to him. He smiled and winked at me. I felt butterflies again. Milton pulled me into the house and jack followed behind us.
"I found her!" Milton said to the parents.
"Oh Kimberly! We have been waiting for you! This is Kelsey. She just arrived!" my mother said.
"Kelsey is ms. Seldman's daughter. You remember ms. Seldman- your kindergarten teacher- right?" She asked.
"Um kind of." I said and shrugged.
Kelsey had long straight brown hair and blue eyes. She was actually very pretty.
Why dont we all go out on the back porch? Kimberly, Milton is dying to dance with you!" My mother said.
Milton pulled me out on the back porch. Everyone else were lights hanging from the ceiling to make it more romantic. There were plants everywhere and a small pond. There was classical dancing music playing. It was a very romantic place to be; but I wasn't with the person I wanted to be with. Milton took my hand and I my other hand on his shoulder. You could tell he didn't workout by how scrawny and bony his shoulder was. We had a respectable amount of distance between us. I looked around and saw my mother and father dancing and the brewers dancing. I looked over and saw Kelsey taking to jack. I clenched my jaw. She was talking and playing with her hair. He didn't seem interested. Suddenly he looked up and locked eyes with me. I could feel my cheeks turning a light shade of pink.
"Aw, Kimberly, do I make you blush?" Milton said and winked at me. It wasn't a wink like jacks. It was an awkward wink. I'm not sure how to describe it. Jack's was fast and subtle; Milton's was slow and was very distinct.
"Kim?" Milton said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Um, haha yeah I guess." I lied.
Soon the song ended and we all went inside for dessert. We were having a double chocolate cake with whipped cream. We were sitting in our previous seating arrangement.
"Kimberly this cake is almost as sweet as you." Milton said. I saw jack chuckle.
"Aw! You two are so cute!" said. I faked a smile and took a sip of my iced tea.
After dinner, both families were near the front foot saying their goodbyes. Mr and mrs brewer were walking to the car leaving Milton and jack to finish their goodbyes.
"Thank you for a wonderful dinner mr and mrs Crawford." Jack said politely. He shook my fathers hand and gave my mother a light hug. He come over to me and gave me a hug. It was warm and comforting. My heart was practically beating out of my chest. I think he held on for a little lighter than he should have because Milton cleared his throat. Jack and I quickly pulled away. He held out his hand for me to shake. I took his hand and he gave mine a light squeeze. I smiled and he smiled back.
"Goodnight Kimberly." He said to me.
"Goodnight jack." I replied. Jack walked to the front door and waited for Milton.
"Goodnight my love." Milton said. He wrapped me in a hug. It wasn't warm like jacks or comfortable in any way. Milton had so small and bony, compared to jack who was muscular and fit. He pulled away and then have me a kiss on the cheek. Out of the corner of my eye i saw jack tense up.
"Well go ahead Kimberly! Return the favor!" Milton said to me. He meant to give him a kiss on the cheek like he did to me. I gave him a light peck on his cheek. I looked over at jack to see his hands were now clenched in fists. What was he so angry about?
With that, the brewer brothers walked out of my house.