Convincing her (Jen and Lucas)

Chapter 473: Standing Order.

It was almost midnight when everyone was just gathered in the living room and enjoying their drinks. Even though the group that had gone to the lewis family did not eat much, everyone else ate to their fill. Only two people were missing among them. Brian had gone to his room to take a shower because he smelled too much like food and Jason disappeared to god knows where.

Most of them were relatively sober, except Laura and Leanna, who did not have a drop of alcohol the entire night. Even James and Rachel were pacing themselves since they had work the following day. Jen also did not drink much because she had classes the following day.

What was surprising was how Michael seemed to be getting drunk. Jen looked at Alex, who was being the bad influence she was and pouring him more drinks. Unlike her, Michael had classes the next day.

He had to go to work with David, his superior, who was currently acting like he did not know what was going on and he also had to work with Alex afterwards. In short, drinking like this was a bad idea.

"Alex, you should give him a break," Jen said, trying to intervene.

"I am sorry Jen, I won't listen to you this time. I have been here for months and not once have I ever seen him drunk," Alex said, and everyone there realised that they too had never really seen Michael relatively tipsy before.

"Maybe you shouldn't since you've never seen him drunk," Jen said and Michael, who was being discussed like he was not there, put his glass down.

When Alex saw him put his glass down, she mock glared at her sister but did not push for him to drink. Lucas chuckled when he saw this and said nothing else. It looked like it was too late already, because Michael did not drink much anyway.

"What's so funny?" Jason asked as he walked in with Brian, who was changed into a pair of sweats and another tank. He made a beeline for Rachel and sat on the carpeted floor next to her.

"Alex was trying to get Michael drunk," Laura reported. When Jason looked at the youngster and saw his unfocused gaze, he knew that she was successful.

"Heh, anyway, today, I got everyone their own bottle of the wine," Jason said and put the box he was carrying on the floor.

"Drink at your own risk, I had to wait for quite a while to get this," Jason said and quickly pulled out two bottles.

"I won't make the mistake of leaving my share outside again," he added and pointedly looked at his young brother and sister-in-law. Jen's cheeks flushed when she remembered the marathon that happened afterwards.

"Then I won't be polite," Lucas said and pulled out two bottles before anyone could respond. Jen was right behind him and took out another two bottles. Laura pulled three out because that was the most she could carry.

She also knew that James would not get up to take them. Leanna elbowed Ethan who looked unconcerned, and he too went to get two bottles.

"What do you need them for? Are you planning on making another medical malpractice?" Jason teased and everyone laughed. This time, even Leanna could not stop herself from laughing. No one was clearer than her on how careful Ethan normally was. Her pregnancy was really a happy accident.

"What malpractice?" Ethan said with furrowed eyebrows. Why did he feel like this will be a joke that he would need to live with for the rest of his life?

"Isn't Leanna pregnant?" Jason asked as he poured himself some brandy.

"I won't be pregnant forever. Get another bottle," Leanna said, standing up for her husband. This time, Ethan took another two with a cocky smile. He was just listening to his wife's orders, okay!

"Do you want to try it out?" Brian whispered to Rachel, who had been staring at the box that was at the centre of the living room. Rachel pursed her lips together but did not answer.

"I personally don't think we need it," Brian said, his fingers lightly stroking the inside of her arm.

Rachel could tell that the only way she was getting a bottle was if she went to get it herself. Without humouring her boyfriend, she went to take two bottles with as much dignity as she could muster. Her expression almost broke when he saw the heat in Brian's eyes. She sat back down next to him and placed the bottles on the side he could not reach.

"Don't be anxious, I've put a standing order of fifteen bottles every month. They'll be delivered here so if any of you want more in the future there won't be a problem," Jason said as he looked at the last two bottles in the box.

Nancy promptly pushed David to go take the remaining bottles and smiled happily once they were handed over to her.

"Good call," Laura said, and had to stop herself from laughing out loud.

"Today's batch was a present. In the future, I need to be reimbursed," Jason said.

"No problem," Lucas said and fiddled with his phone, sending money over to Jason. A series of pings rang through the room as Jason pulled out his phone and laughed happily. This is more than enough to get supply for the next ten years. It wasn't just Lucas that sent money, everyone else did the same, hence the outrageous amount.

"I'll do it once I start dating," Alex said with a pout.

"Mmmh," Michael agreed while resting his head on her shoulder. Alex glanced at the slumbering Michael and patted his head before continuing the discussions with everyone else.

"This guy will be happy receiving such a large batch of loyal customers," Jason said as he sent the money over to the 'manufacturer'.

"Well, I have a busy day tomorrow, so I have to turn in early," Lucas said as he stood up. After he and Jen said good night, they disappeared up the stairs.

"Michael, wake up," Alex said as she shook him gently. The only response she received was a groan that was followed by silence. Alex tried shaking him more vigorously this time, and he opened his eyes. When he saw Alex there with him, a bright smile lit up his face. James almost laughed at the youngster. He was privy to his feelings for Jen's sister, so seeing his innocent, happy expression upon seeing her was amusing to him.

"Let's go to your room, can you walk?" Alex asked him and he nodded. Alex then stood up and pulled him up with her. After stumbling a bit, Michael regained some semblance of balance.

"Goodnight everyone," Michael said, the rare to see sweet smile still on his face and everyone responded.

"Do you think anything will happen?" Brian asked after the pair disappeared up the stairs. It had become obvious to everyone but Alex that Michael was into her.

"Isn't he a bit too young?" Laura asked and James scoffed.

"That should be a cause for worry," James said and pinched her slim waist.

"But he is drunk?" Rachel added.

"And did that ever stop us?" Brain whispered and secretly bit her earlobe. She was reminded of the first day they met and how alcohol actually helped to push things along.

"Something will happen, he will at least say something," Nathan said with a barely perceptible smile.

"We'll know tomorrow," James said, and forgot about it because of how Laura was wriggling on his lap. Maybe he shouldn't have touched her back. Laura subtly scratched his side in response and glared at him.

James knew that trailing his fingers up and down her spine was enough stimulation to make her release an involuntary moan. What was he planning to do by stimulating her like that in front of all their friends. She knew it had become an unconscious behaviour of his since they became sexually active but wasn't doing this now too much.

"Sorry," James said and stopped his movements while smiling apologetically. Laura who had a fatal weakness to her boyfriend's face became speechless. He wouldn't even let her get upset! How unfair!

[.]