Can The Player PLAY The Player?

Point 5.

A.M

"When we get in here," I sighed with a tone of annoyance as I fumbled for my keys, ignoring the hot breath on my neck. Did he have to stand so close?

"Don't look at nothing, don't put your hands on anything, don't talk to anyone. Hell, try to keep your breathing to yourself. You understand me, Zaid?" I cut my eyes at the offending piece of human as I twisted the key in the lock, and he nodded wholeheartedly. "Yeah, it's not like you don't tell me this every time I come over," I gritted my teeth, pushing the door in so we could enter.

"You say that, but you act like you need a reminder every time," I bit back and he put a hand on my shoulder, grasping it to move me out of the way. "What the hell do you think you—"

"Hello Señor Meow!" I bit back a growl as Zaid bent down, throwing his bookbag to the side to pick up my bengal kitten. "Aw, look at you!" My cat pawed at his face gently, meowing back as kisses were placed all over his face. "Didn't I say not to talk to anyone?" I scowled, shutting the door with a roll of my eyes. "That includes my cat too." 

It was a shame he did this every single time he stepped past that threshold.

"What's all the commotion out here?" I heard footsteps leading to us and I looked up to see an older version of myself, beaming with a large grin on his face as he fixed his tie. "Oh, well I'll be," He murmured, glee evident in his tone. "It's good to see you, Zaid!" He held out an arm to pull him into a hug and I stood there, hating the way my stomach turned.

Thomas Moore deserved a father of the year award. He was the very man that I looked up to, one that I wanted to be like. He made it his lifelong mission to become an orthodontist and look at the fact that he was finally one. He was everything to me because he was so nice and so caring to his kids, and it didn't stop there. Natalia and I looked exactly like him with the exception of our smile and our cheekbones. He even tried his best to provide a father figure to Zaid, which I had to admit that it made me feel some way sometimes. 

Zaid stood up with my cat in his arms, hugging my dad from the side. "It's good to see you too, Tom," I internally grimaced at the familiarity, ignoring the fact that the Brooks and my family knew each other for almost our entire lives. 

"Aaron isn't giving you a hard time, is he?" Thomas chuckled, finally getting his tie to work. Zaid came to stand next to me and I glared at him, watching as he threw his free arm around my shoulder. Señor Meow perched his tiny body on Zaid's broad shoulder, licking my cheek. My heart instantly warmed.

"As always, Tom," The bane of my existence ruffled my hair and I fought the urge to stomp on his foot as he chuckled, looking at me with a glint in his eyes. "But you know it's nothing I can't handle." I wanted to know how long we stood there, looking into each other's eyes like that, no words or anything being said. Most importantly, I wanted to know why it wasn't bothering me. 

I shook my head, ripping my gaze away from his to face my father, who was giving us a pointed look with a smirk on his face. "Where are you going?" I questioned, clearing my throat. "Oh, uh, I'm going to meet with Roman for dinner to discuss what we can do for the office," He said, mentioning Roman Talaya, his partner at work, and I nodded.

"Cool. Where's mom?" I had half of a mind to ask why Zaid was still clutching me to him, or why my cat was loving all over him like he was the one who picked him out at the pet store, or why I was so upset about anything really.

But that was another story to be told.

"I'm right here, honey," I heard the click clack of heels as one 5'7 female with brunette curls and blue eyes sat atop high cheekbones came around the corner clad in a striped dress. "I'm getting ready to go meet the ladies." She smiled softly before walking over to kiss Zaid on the cheek and then me. That bothered me a lot more than it should've.