Page 12 of Filthy Uncle To Go

Dang, this is pathetic. Snorting, I hop off the bed and walk over to the pile of clothes. I have to hurry up and throw something, anything, on. He’s probably on his way over right now, and I don’t want to keep him waiting. Digging through the pile, I pull out a pair of jeans and a soft pink sweater. It was the first outfit I’d chosen, but after staring into the mirror for too long, I’d quickly taken it off and tossed it to the side.

My cell phone vibrates on top of my bed. I quickly grab it, checking to see who it could be. Sure enough, it’s a text message from Uncle Drake saying that he just found a spot in the visitors’ parking lot. Oh no, I’m not even dressed yet! It looks like I won’t have time to change my mind about my outfit this time. I quickly struggle into the blue jeans and then put on the pink top. Leaning toward the mirror, I scrunch my curls with my hands to give them bounce before stepping back to stare at myself, taking one last look at my outfit. It’s fine. Everything is going to be fine.

My phone vibrates again. I glance over at it as I slide my feet into a pair of black flats, then rush over to read the message. It’s Drake again; he wants to know which dorm building I live in. Oh gosh! I was nervous before, but now that he’s minutes away, I feel like I’m about to faint. I take a seat on my bed as I text him back before quickly spraying my favorite perfume on my neck and the insides of my wrists.

Then, I turn into a whirlwind of activity. I gather the articles of clothing I’ve tried on and toss them into my wardrobe, hiding them out of sight. I don’t want him to think I’m a slob, especially since I always keep my dorm room as clean as a whistle. Quickly, I scan my bedroom with my eyes to make sure everything else is in place. Good. Nothing else appears to be out of order.

OMG, Drake is going to be here in mere seconds. I pace back and forth, wearing a hole in the carpet. I can’t believe Mom convinced him to come here. If Natalie hadn’t thrown a huge fit and forced our parents to take her on a college visit, I wouldn’t be on the verge of having a panic attack right now. How am I supposed to stay calm around Uncle Drake for an entire weekend?

After all, there’s nowhere for me to run and hide this time because we’ll be by each other’s side for the next two days. Darn it, how will I be able to appear normal for so long? I should have told Mom that it was alright to spend this weekend alone. Now, I’m caught in a tight spot, and I don’t know what I’m going to do.

A knock at the door startles me, causing me to practically jump out of my skin. That’s got to be him. My heart stops as I stare at the door, unable to move. My feet are stuck on the fuzzy pink carpet. I want to take a step forward, but I can’t. Then, a knock comes again, making my heart flutter. I have to let him in – I can’t just leave Drake out there in the hallway the entire weekend.

“Jenna?” he calls out from the other side of the door, his voice deep and powerful.

I clear my throat as I slowly walk toward the door. My hand trembles as I turn the doorknob, and then it happens. The door opens to reveal my gorgeous uncle. He looks even better than I remember, with his tall, broad frame dwarfing our small hallway. Our eyes lock, sending a wave of tingles through my body and neither of us says a word, but I swear I can feel sparks flying all around us.

I can’t believe he’s actually here! I feel like I’m dreaming, but I’m wide awake. Then Drake smiles, flashing his pearly white teeth. I love that smile because it’s contagious and puts me at ease. Naturally, I smile back, my grin spreading from ear to ear. I know I should let him in, but I just want a few more seconds of gazing into his eyes. My pounding heart is so loud that I’m certain he can hear it as well.

“Hi, Uncle Drake,” I finally say.

“Hey, Jenna. It’s good to see you again,” he says.

“It’s good to see you, too,” I reply, still smiling a bit too widely. Then, I step aside and hold the door open for him. “Come in.”

“Thanks.” He steps into my dorm. His eyes are immediately drawn to the paintings covering the walls. He stops in front of one of the piece of art and stares at it for a bit. “Nice artwork. Where did you buy it?” I giggle as I walk over next to him.

“Silly, I painted it myself,” I say softly.

“You did?” he asks as he turns toward me, impressed.

“Yeah, I painted all of these actually,” I say, gesturing with my arm. He slowly makes his way around my dorm room, admiring each piece that’s hanging on the walls. He stops, then slowly turns toward me.

“You’re amazing,” he utters. “I know a bit about art, and they’re really good.” My entire body goes warm, and I instantly begin to blush.

“Thank you,” I reply softly. “I appreciate that.”

Drake nods, still looking around.

“So you have this place all to yourself?” he asks.

“Yeah. Mom and Dad had to pay a little extra for me to have a single, but it’s worth it. My roommate last year was really nice, but I prefer privacy,” I explain.

“Understandable. My college roommate and I are still really good friends, but I know that isn’t always the case. I’ve heard horror stories about people getting stuck with inconsiderate slobs,” he says.

“That would drive me crazy. My room has to be clean at all times because a messy bedroom makes me feel anxious,” I admit. He glances around the room again.

“I can see that. I would expect a woman your age to have clothes and makeup all over the place, but your floor is clean enough to eat off of,” he jokes.

“Yeah, I’m a bit of a neat freak,” I say as I blush. He takes a few steps toward me, stopping just in front of me.

“That’s a great trait to have,” he says. “Some of the women I’ve met don’t even know how to use a broom, let alone wash a dish. Do you cook?”

I beam.

“Almost every night. The food in the cafeteria is okay, but I’d much rather prepare my own meals. It’s healthier. Plus, I’ve always loved cooking,” I say as I stare into his crystal irises. “We have a shared kitchen at the end of the hall, so I get my own groceries and whip up dinner just about every night.”

“You’re amazing, Jenna,” he murmurs, causing me to blush again.