SZNS SERIES 1: Summer by Maria Writes (book series for 10 year olds .TXT) 📕

"Sorry to disappoint you, Emily. But you and dad won't have grandchildren from me until after college. Maybe expect something from my sister." Jesse led her to seat on their table without letting Emily talk. He draped his arm over his shoulder and held her closer to him.

"You shouldn't have talked to her like that, she's your mom."

"Step mother."

She didn't say anything and just look around the area. The Reeds' house is very homey and has a very cozy vibe. Not to mention the nice view it has. They party is very boring to be honest. It's full of oldies and she thinks that only her, Jesse, and Caroline are the only one who are aged 30 below here.

Chloe went up and look for the powder room and touched herself up. It didn't take her long to finish and when she exited the powder room, she saw Jesse, Caroline, and Nate waiting for her. What is Nate doing here?

She looked at them weirdly. "Is there a problem?"

"Yes, there is a problem, Chloe. This party, it's boring. That's the problem. So, let's head inside the house and play some game. But not here." Caroline said.

They all headed in the living room where Caroline brought out tons of board games. Really? What are we, preschoolers? Jesse came back from the kitchen with a bottle of bourbon and a couple of glasses. He sat beside her on the floor and started assembling the scrabble board.

Okay, here we go.

Both Nate and Caroline sat in front of them and started the game. It was very fun to spend time with her friends and her man. She felt kinda fancy for playing board games in their dresses and suits.

"You're cheating Chloe. There's no word like that." Caroline said while looking at the tiles she placed on the board.

She took her phone out of her purse and gave it to her. "Search it."

Caroline did and when the smug look on her face disappeared, she knew that the word she placed exists. Caroline threw her phone back to her which she luckily caught before it hit her face. Her friend is now looking at her with no emotion on her face and she looks like she's ready to punch her in the face.

"You're cheating. 'Eunoia' is Greek not English. Remove your tile Chloe."

Oh, it's Greek? She didn't know. "It's still a word, Care. That will do."

The game continued with Caroline still scowling. And it pisses her off every time she places tiles on the board that are not English. The game kept going until it was Jesse and Caroline left. Both of them are very competitive. But in the end it was Jesse who one.

Caroline rested her head on the center table. Nate was laying on the floor and so is her and Jesse. They don't know how long they stayed like that. She felt that she fell into a nap. And only woke up when she felt that someone is sitting her up. She opened her eyes and saw the other standing up, ready to leave.

Jesse laid her hand for her to support herself as she stands up. They exited the house and went back to the tent. The people are already eating. They were right in time as she was already starving.

They sat back on the table they left earlier where the waiters brought them foods. Their dinner is very fancy and it'll surely satisfy her very hungry belly. Jesse's parents are now sitting on a long table in front of tent. They look so madly in love with each other and it made her remember her parents.

Both of them are still in Europe, travelling. That is why they didn't make it to the party.  Looking back at Jesse's parents, she can see that they are very happy with each other, and Chloe is hoping to have that kind of love in the future. She is not sure if Jesse and her will be endgame because she doesn't know what the future has to tell. But if they are, she will be very grateful that she will have that moment that she can treasure for the rest of her life.

"Your parents looked very happy." she told Jesse while still looking at his parents sitting in front of everyone.

"You mean my dad and his wife." Jesse looked at her with boredom in his eyes. What's up with him? Chloe knows that Jesse is not close with Caroline's mother but why does it feel like his holding grudges against her?

"Why are you like this? She's a good person you know." She clung her arm with his and lean closer to him. "Is there a problem? You know you can talk to me." She's pushed back his hair that's been covering his face and looked at him intently. "What's bothering you, Jesse?"

"I hate that my mom died lonely. It should have been her who's sitting beside my father, not Emily." Jesse said half whisper, half shouting. It looks like he still doesn't like the thought of his father having another wife instead of his mother. Well, his parents aren't really married in the first place.

But no child will be happy to see their parents apart. And she gets where Jesse is coming from. However, if he continued this kind of attitude, there will be people he will hurt sooner or later. Even talking about her parents separating is not good for her ear. But Jesse has to accept and understand that his father is now happy with Emily and her mother is already at peace.

She looked closely at Jesse who is just staring at his food. It must have been very hard to lose a mother at a very young age. Plus, the fact that his father married someone without even knowing that your mother is pregnant. She may not feel the