Accident Prone

~ Seattle, the Anderson family villa ~

Sunday

6:54 PM

Max parked the car into the driveway and went to the other side, to open the door for Liz.

"My lady…" Max said in a singing voice while offering his hand to Liz, to help her get out.

Liz smiled and placed her hand into his.

Max looked over Liz's shoulder and his expression turned complex at the sight of Sabrina's car approaching.

"Let's go inside." Max mumbled.

Liz could not believe how petty he is. "She is your sister, and Ashton is the man she chose. Can't you respect that and be more accommodating?"

"It's difficult." Max admitted. "So far, I saw Ashton as a kid who plays around with Hunter, and now I'm supposed to see him as my senior who is sleeping with my sister?"

Liz was not sure how to respond to this. She is the only child, and she does not understand this bond the Anderson siblings are sharing. But she did her best… "Not as a senior. Can't you see him as a man who is making your sister happy? You saw Rina at the hospital yesterday… even with all that mess, her eyes were smiling, and that was because of Ashton."

Max puffed his cheeks and exhaled. "I know. I know. I will behave."

"Rina will need more than that." Liz reminded Max. "Your sister is about to tell your parents that her eight years long relationship is a lie and if she survives that, she will tell them that she is dating Ashton. She will need your support."

Max's mood improved at the thought that Rina is about to throw a bomb at their parents. Two of them! Yup, he will be supportive.

Liz was not aware of Max's thoughts, but she saw that he smiled.

Liz hugged him and spoke in a soft voice: "That's the spirit. Be the good brother Rina needs…"

Max smile fell slightly when he saw Ashton come out of the driver's side and perform a sleek butt-slide over the hood of Sabrina's car on his way to open the door for her.

Sabrina got out of the car and landed in Ashton's embrace.

Sabrina and Ashton whispered and smiled and kissed a few times before turning to Max and Liz and greeting them.

"Do you have a plan for how you will break the news to your parents?" Liz asked Sabrina. She remembers the dinner when Mia joined as Hunter's fiancée… it didn't end well. Actually, it ended with them thinking that Liz is pregnant! That was stressful.

Sabrina took a deep breath and bobbed her head. "There is no easy way to say this. I hope that Hunter and Mia are inside so that we can get over with this as soon as possible."

"They are not here yet." Max said while gesturing toward the cars. Other than his and Sabrina's, there are two more, but neither is Hunter's.

"Well then, we will get inside and smile and wait for Hunter and Mia." Sabrina responded. "They will be here within five minutes, Hunter is never late for food."

Sabrina turned to Ashton. "I hope you don't mind. Until I clarify things, my parents will think that you are here as a friend. Hunter's friend, probably. But I need to tell them about Jackson first."

Ashton assured Sabrina that he is fine with it. He knows that if she tells them first that the two of them are dating, her parents will be confused. One thing at a time. "We talked about it. This is your family and I will follow your lead. Don't worry about me, and know that I support you. Even if you don't tell them about us tonight, there will be next time."

Sabrina melted from the inside. There is no one as sweet and understanding as Ashton. He is the best. And he is hers.

Liz, Max, Sabrina, and Ashton walked inside the villa where butler greeted them with the information that Master and Madam are expecting them in the living room.

Madeline's eyes lit up when she saw Liz and Max and then Sabrina and then… "Where is Jackson?"

Sabrina frowned. "Why do you think that Jackson will come?"

"You said that you are coming with a date." Madeline reminded Sabrina.

Sabrina paused and concluded that her mother is correct. Well, even though Hunter is not here, she can start setting the records straight. "Jackson is not coming. Ashton is here as my date."

Madeline was visibly disappointed. She was looking forward to this 'important announcement' and she even made several dishes herself, Sabrina's favorites. Madeline imagined that this dinner will be joyful, with good news and good food and now Jackson didn't show up. It must be hard on Sabrina to have a fiancé who is working so hard.

In Madeline's opinion, Jackson is absent too much. He and Sabrina are young and he should prioritize Sabrina over his work. But on the other side, neither of them has many responsibilities, and this is the right time to focus on growing business so that they can enjoy later, when their family expands. Madeline reminded herself not to voice her thoughts, it's not her life, and if Sabrina and Jackson are happy with this arrangement, who is she to meddle?

"I see… I am sorry that Jack couldn't make it. Is he working again?"

"He is busy." Sabrina responded curtly. Not exactly busy, but Sabrina will explain everything in a bit.

Madeline looked at Sabrina with compassion. It must be hard when your fiancé is not present and cancels on short notice. And this is definitely NOT the first time. "It will get better, Rina. Jack's business is picking up and he is busy, but soon it will stabilize, and he will have more time for you…"

"Mom…" Sabrina called. "You are making Ashton uncomfortable."

Madeline forced a smile while talking to Ashton. "Sorry, my boy. You are such a good child. You are an angel to come as Sabrina's date. So far, she would come on her own, without Jack, and like this, she at least has the company…"

Max hid his laughter behind a couth. Madeline is super disappointed that Jackson is not here. What will her reaction be when she finds out that Ashton is not a temporary replacement for Jackson? Ah, this will be a fun evening!

"Can we sit?" Sabrina interrupted Madeline's monologue. "I have things to tell you, but I would like Hunter and Mia to arrive so that I don't need to repeat. And can you stop talking about Jack?"

Madeline understood that Sabrina is upset because Jackson is not present and that is why she does not want to talk about him. They were supposed to announce their wedding date (or maybe pregnancy), and Jackson again didn't show up and Sabrina will need to do all that on her own. Her daughter is such a pitiful child… Considering Sabrina's behavior, Madeline suspected that Sabrina and Jackson quarreled. Probably because he chose to work instead of coming here.

"Of course, of course…" Madeline moved and gestured toward sofas where Nathan is.

Nathan watched this from the side. He nodded in greeting to the youngsters that arrived, and he felt that something is off. Something critical. He dismissed his thoughts, after all, Sabrina said that her announcement is important and Jackson is not present, and that must be the 'off' part.

Outside…

"How do I look?" Hunter asked Mia while patting his shirt below the waist level, to smoothen out the creases which formed while he was sitting in the car.

"You look yummy." Mia responded cheekily.

Hunter shot her a side-glance. "Mia… Can you be serious for a minute? This is important."

"I am serious. You are yummy." She grinned and a second later, indulged him. "You look fine."

"Just fine? It should be better than fine." Hunter was checking himself in the reflection of the car window.

Mia thought that Hunter is hilarious. "Really? Is impressing Sabrina's love interest so important?"

"Mia, you are obviously not aware of the fact that Rina never said that she loves a person. Never." Hunter emphasized the last word. "That tells me she is serious about it and I need to leave a good impression on my future brother-in-law."

Hunter wondered, who the man could be and what's with all the secrecy? No matter how much he pestered Max and Liz, they refused to tell him and Sabrina's phone was off. Does he know him? Is he someone famous, like a celebrity? Or is it a woman?

Hunter paused and looked at Mia suspiciously. "You really don't know who he is?"

Mia rolled her eyes. Hunter asked her that ten times already. Well, she has a hunch that it might be Ashton, but she didn't have a chance to talk to Liz because Hunter was always nearby, so she is not confident. Anyway, they will find out in a few minutes.

"I don't know." Mia responded and gestured toward Max's and Sabrina's car. "Can we go in? They are inside, waiting for us. And they will start dinner without us."

Hunter slightly panicked. "What's the time?"

Mia giggled and pulled Hunter toward the villa. "Let's go. We are not late, but if we keep on lingering here, we will be... and Max will get the best pieces of food for Liz… and you are making your awesome future brother-in-law wait…"

Hunter took a few deep breaths while walking down the hallway. For some reason, he was nervous.

Mia went behind Hunter and she almost bumped into him when he froze at the door of the living room.

Mia peeked on the side of Hunter and grinned when she confirmed that it's Ashton next to Sabrina on the sofa. Ha! Her hunch was right! But why is Hunter not moving?

Mia poked Hunter in the back, to remind him to move.

Hunter walked into the living room robotically, while his eyes didn't leave Ashton.

Hunter's mind was refusing to process that his adventure-buddy, Ashton, is the love interest of his big sister. Ashton is that amazing brother-in-law he needs to impress? What a joke! This must be a joke, right? What about the age difference?

Hunter remembered that at the Fourth of July party Ashton was sticking to Sabrina, and they even went to his apartment! And when they were searching for Max and Liz, Ashton was the one who suggested that he goes with Sabrina! Hunter was recollecting all the times he caught Ashton staring at Rina and how he brushed it off as not important! For how long is this going on? For how long is Ashton pretending to be his friend only to get close to Sabrina? Rascal!

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