"So, you guys, how has everything been?" Ken asked.

"Fine, I guess...OH! I have to show you this really cute top I found offline!" I told her.

"Is it from Zusco? I love their clothes."

"No, the other one."

"2 Be Free?"

I shook my head.

"Uhhmm...ah, Sinclair's?"

"Yes!"

"Oh my god, I love Sinclair's, you know they're having a sale right now? They also got in a new stock of shoes. Their stilettos are beautiful."

"Really?"

"Mhm."

"I need new tops for work."

We looked at the boys and noticed they were just glaring at each other. Jesse leaned back against his seat with his arms crossed and Eli scratched his nose with his thumb a little but never broke eye contact.

"Hello?" I said to get their attention.

"What's up?" Jesse answered, still glaring.

"Hey." said Eli, still glaring.

"I don't like you." Jesse stated.

"I don't care." Eli replied.

"Okay, maybe this wasn't a good idea." Ken inferred.

Our food arrived.

____________________________________

"Jesse, how's work been coming along?" I asked.

"Fine, they're making renovations to the gym so I have more days off than before for the time being." he responded.

"That's good, plenty of time to hang with Kendall and give me a niece or nephew." I smiled and sipped my drink.

"Absolutely not." Ken laughed.

"Aww come onnn." I pleaded.

"Nooo, why don't you give me a niece or nephew/godchild? Do you want kids?" she asked.

"Um...I don't know, maybe not. It depends." I shrugged.

I felt Eli's hand on my thigh and he leaned into my ear and whispered with a smile, "Thought you said you wanted to have my baby?"

I felt an entire swarm of butterflies in my stomach and a chill down my spine.

I forgot I said that. It was months ago and I was too...preoccupied...to think straight.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Jesse asked.

Eli sighed and looked at him.

"You're too close, move." Jess demanded.

"Jesse, stop it." Kendall said.

Eli moved his face closer to me while still looking at Jesse.

"There's no way you're fucking serious." said Jesse.

Eli moved even closer.

"Bro, I'm about to kick your ass."

Eli gently placed a kissed on my neck then held my chin between his thumb and index finger to bring my face to him and his tongue slipped into my mouth as he kissed me hungrily.

I heard a slam and I jumped and stopped the kiss but it looked like Jesse's aggression didn't bother Eli. He just side eyed my brother with an annoyed gaze.

I looked at Jesse and he was angrily looking at me and then Eli.

"You're just gonna let him do that, huh?" Jesse grunted.

"Fucking idiot." Eli sighed.

"Jesse..." I called him.

"Jesse, Leyla and Eli are together." Kendall explained. I'm glad she said it for me because if I would have had to I probably would've broken into tears before I could get the words out.

"Are you serious right now?" He looked at me with a face that showed nothing but disappointment.

"I'm sorry." I claimed. "I should've told you sooner." I looked down and played with my hands.

"For how long?" he asked.

"..."

"For how long Leyla?!"

"Next week makes seven." Eli answered and I knew he was having a blast with this.

"Seven what? Weeks?"

"Months."

"Oh my god." Jesse huffed and threw his fork down then got out of his seat and went outside.

"I'm so sorry. I'll go get him." Ken said and slid out of her seat as well.

"Why didn't he know?" Eli asked me.

"Because..."

"Because?"

"Early on, in January, he saw you getting out of my car and he didn't like it, so he told me to stop hanging around you. He thought you would have been bad for me, judging off of your appearance. We had an entire argument about me never speaking to you again and obviously I couldn't do it so I just...kept us a secret." I explained.

"Okay."

"Okay?" I questioned.

"Yes, okay. I guess it's an okay reason. Wish it wouldn't have gone on for so long but it's still a valid reason. You didn't want him to hate you but you didn't want to leave me. That's fair. I'm not mad."

I kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

After a few more minutes, maybe ten, Kendall and Jesse came back inside and sat down.

"Seven months huh?" Jesse repeated.

"Yea..." I responded softly.

"Alright. Are you happy?" Jesse asked me and I nodded.

"That nod doesn't do it justice." Kendall began. "She smiles more, laughs more, she's gotten up to make breakfast, she's glowing, I once heard her singing in the shower-..."

"Kendall!"

"The point is, this might be the happiest I've seen her in a while, Jesse. Don't take that away from her."

"Yea, I noticed it." Jesse began.

"Noticed what?" I asked.

"Your mood change throughout the months. I gradually saw your smile get bigger, you're more outgoing, confident, not as shy, I thought you just really liked your new job." he laughed. "But I guess I get it now. Even if I hate it, I get it."

"You're both embarrassing me." I stated and covered my face.

"I still don't like it. God, do I not like it. Hate it even. Did I mention I don't like you?" Jesse asked Eli.

"Did I mention I don't give a fuck?" Eli asked then took a bite of his food.

"See it's shit like that, that makes me wanna-..."

"Jesse!" Kendall and I called.

The people in the restaurant looked at us.

"Alright. Fine. I'll accept it. You two go and be merry or whatever."

I smiled at his blessing.

"But if I see you two make out one more time? You're both getting a fork in the eye." he threatened.

I laughed.

The waiters came and picked up our plates.

"You." Jesse called and looked at Eli.

"Me." Eli answered.

"How do you feel? My sister's not a bad person so you tell me she's a bad girlfriend and I'll know you're lying and kick your ass right here."

"Jesse!" Me and Kendall called simultaneously.

The restaurant looked at us again.

"Shut up and eat your food!" Ken yelled at them and they murmured but they still turned back around.

"She's not a bad girlfriend. She's the best one I've had. I tell her almost everyday that I don't deserve her. And she's not going anywhere anytime soon so if I were you, I'd get comfortable."

"Awwww." Ken said and held her face.

I looked at her.

"What?" she asked.

'I'm the best girlfriend he's had?' I tried to contain my smile but I knew I was doing a poor job at it.

"So you love her?" Jesse asked.

It almost felt like the entire restaurant fell silent.

"Uh..." Eli began.

"Yes or no." Jesse pushed.

Eli still didn't answer.

"Well...I mean..."

Everyone just stared at him.

"Um...I'm gonna...go to the restroom." I said and waited for Eli to slide out of the booth so I could go.

I got to the lady's room and just leaned against the wall.

Something in my chest burned. My throat was dry. I felt like I wanted to cry but I didn't out of fear of messing up my makeup.

I think what hurt me was that he couldn't answer but I would've said yes in a heartbeat.

I love him but I guess I have a while before I could get him to love me back.

Did he only not answer because the answer is no and he didn't want to embarrass me?

Did I begin to love him too soon?

Was this immature of me?

I can't not love him.

But he doesn't feel the same.

Tears began to fill in my eyes so I got a napkin and took the corner to soak it up before they could fall.

After I was done and felt like I'd gathered myself enough to go back, I left the restroom and saw that Eli stood next to our booth alone and on his phone.

"Where did they go?" I asked.

"They left after she paid the bill. Something about helping Ca-" he looked up from his phone and at me. "...Were you crying?"

"No..." I said and walked past him to head to the car.

____________________________________

We got to our street and he drove down.

The entire ride was silent and I just stared out of my window.

He pulled into his driveway.

"You're gonna make me walk?" I asked.

"You're not going home." he said and got out of the car.

We walked inside of his house.

"Leyla, I-..."

"I love you." I cut him off and watched his eyes widen. "And it's okay that you don't love me back. I can't force you to. But I love you. I will continue to love you, maybe one day you'll love me like I love you but if you don't then...that's okay, too." I smiled softly even though I felt tears pool into my eyes. "Can I use your shower?" I asked and before he could even say yes or no, I walked to his bathroom.