Chapter 8 Eight

Sierra's POV

"Mum," Elvis called, tapping my arm.

I could feel his face close to mine. Elvis loved doing this. I thought he would stop after five, but even at eight; he was still doing it. I hummed, covering myself even more. "What is it?" I asked, my eyes still close.

I didn't want to wake up just yet. "Mum, it's morning. And Grandma said she will prepare my favorite snacks," he said.

"That's good, baby. Go enjoy them and let mummy, sleep," I said.

"No, I want to enjoy them with you," he said, shaking my arm.

"Okay, okay," I said, forcing my eyes open.

"You go, I'll be down in a minute," I told him, cupping his face.

He nodded with a wide smile before running off. It took a lot for me not to go back to bed. I slept a little later than I had planned, making me exhausted. Sluggishly, I got out of bed. I finished my morning routine and found myself in front of my mirror.

My hair needed some styling, but I didn't have the energy. What was the need, anyway? I wasn't going anywhere today. Changing my mind was unlikely and with my hair an absolute mess, I would not dare step out.

I made it into a messy bun. It wasn't perfect, but I didn't expect my family to judge me for it. I got out of my room eventually, half asleep. If Elvis had not woken me up, I would have gladly missed breakfast.

With a wide yawn, I got down the stairs. "Easy sis," Jackson teased, walking into the dining room.

I was about to fire at him when I got into the dining room and spotted Arthur sitting at the table with a smile on his face. At that very moment, my brain short-circuited.

Of all fucking days to have the biker who kept me all night to stop by in the morning, it had to be on a day my hair was a mess, while I looked like I needed five more hours of sleep. "Good morning, Riri. You don't seem like you had enough sleep," Dad said, snapping me out of thoughts.

But I remained clued to the door, contemplating if I should run back into my room to look less like a mess. Then again, I would not want to be seen as a high school student who panicked after seeing her crush at her family's dining table.

He seemed comfortable. Like he had been here a couple of times. And I should not complain, right? He was Jackson's friend. Obviously, he would be familiar with my parents. I forced my legs to move, heading for the chair across from Arthur.

"Mum, try it," Elvis said, kicking his feet in excitement.

It was his favorite treats and from the looks of it Mum had prepared it for him. I took a bite, and I nodded, giving him a warm smile. "Good, right?" he asked, and I nodded.

"Really" I replied.

"Thanks, Grandma" Elvis appreciated.

"I don't know why he gets to have treats and I have nothing," Jackson said, and I rolled my eyes.

"Old men don't have treats," Mum said, finally taking a seat.

"If I'm old, then what's Dad?" Jackson said.

"Hey, don't bring me into this," Dad said, and we all laughed.

"Why are you all laughing? I'm not old," he said, looking around the table.

"Yes, Dad, you aren't old," Arthur said.

"Glad I have someone at this table who cares for me," Dad said.

We soon resumed eating, and for a few minutes, it was quiet until Dad spoke. "Arthur, would you take part in the race this year?" Dad asked, and Arthur nodded.

"I always do. I can't miss it," Arthur said, looking in my direction.

"I'm glad someone at least has some manners," Dad frowned. "Can you believe Dexter doesn't want to race this year?"

Arthur shrugged. "He has his reasons. Plus, not every professional would want to partake in local races," he said.

"He claimed it's too lowly. Did he forget he was part of these races before he became a professional? He isn't even as good as you," Dad said. "You top him on the charts. And you are still the same".

"Don't make him feel special, Dad," Jackson said, cutting up his chicken.

"Why? It's the truth, and you should know that," Dad said.

Jackson shoves the meat into his mouth before speaking. "Yeah, it is, but I also know the number of times girls swoon around him like flies. Arthur doesn't attend these races because he wants to enjoy the race but because of the girls, too. Ever since his last break up, he is nothing but a man whore," Jackson said.

Arthur's first gaze went to him, and I noticed he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Like the universe wanted to ruin my day, it had to use Jackson to do that; remind me of who I was lusting after.

Arthur kept staring, as though trying to get what I thought about it. I saw no reason he should about that, though. Isn't it what he loved? I would not stop anyone from doing what they wanted. All I needed to work on was my heart and my mind to stop thinking about him.

"Watch your language. We have a kid in the house," Mum scolded, signaling to Elvis.

"Sorry, kid," Jackson said. "But it's the truth, though"

"You don't need to act jealous. I can help you get a girl, if you like," Arthur said.

"I have a girlfriend, thank you," Jackson said absent-mindedly, and we turned to him in shock. His eyes widened the next minute when it dawned on him what he had said.

"You son of..." he paused, seeing the smirk on Arthur's face, but then, he could not insult him due to Elvis being at the table.

"You have a girlfriend, and you haven't told us?" Mum said, almost hurt.

"Mum, it's not like that. Shelly doesn't want to meet you all yet. We want to take things slow, and it was meant to be a secret," he said with gritted teeth, glaring at Arthur.

"You should not have spoken about your best friend like that," Arthur said.

I'm guessing that was Arthur's way of getting back at him for spilling the tea on him. But it didn't matter, anyway. He was a playboy, and everyone knew that. "It's the truth, you dumbass," Jackson flared but got a glare from Mum.

"Isn't Shelly the daughter of the librarian? The brat?" Dad said.

"She isn't a brat," Jackson said, offended. "See what you caused?" he said to Arthur, who kept eating.

"I'm going to ruin your chances tonight," Jackson said, and I could already guess what he was talking about.

This set Arthur, and they exchanged a few words, which I knew were playful but filled with truths. I tried to keep my emotions in check, but it can be hard when Jackson was literally saying all I thought. Fortunately, breakfast came to an end.

I quickly left for my room to cool off. Arthur's eyes followed my every move, and it made me uncomfortable. Not in a bad way, but in a way I'd rather not have. "Rea, you know he isn't like that, right?" Mum said, walking into my room.

"Mum," I said, giving her a look.

"What? I know Arthur. He cares for you and would not do that. Jackson likes messing with him. I saw the way he looked at you. He likes you. Don't take Jackson's words to heart," Mum said, but I rolled my eyes at her.

She keeps having the notion that I really like Arthur to the point of caring if he was a playboy or not.

Lying to myself was really hard.

She left, and for a moment, I remained in my room. However, I stepped out soon after and met no one but the person I did not want to see. "Where the fuck was everyone?"