IN LOVE WITH MY BROTHER'S MAFIA BEST FRIEND

Episode4

"Happy birthday!" my peaceful sleep is interrupted by summer. I groan when she starts jumping on my bed, shaking me with her.

"Wake up Avanya!" she whines, sitting down beside me and attempting to drag my precious pillow away from my face.

"Thank you and no." I reply sleepily. My efforts of keeping the pillow on my face fail as it gets ripped away by not one, but two pairs of hands.

"Happy Birthday sleepy head. I'm hungry and the guys won't let me eat until you come downstairs so hurry the f**k up." Xavier's voice informs me. I'm up at the mention of food,who wouldn't be?

I peak one eye open, "pancakes?" a lazy smile plays on my lips.

"What else?" he shrugs, smirking. I make a move to throw the covers off me but summer stops me.

"I forgot." she suddenly says and next thing i know, tiny colourful pieces are being popped on my face and sadly on my bed.

"Happy birthday!" she's so cleaning this up.

I decide to stay in my grey pyjamas shorts and tank top, and walk downstairs,it's my birthday and i'll spend the whole day at home, with no one but my family-for now-so there's no need to change. And i need to be comfortable.

Everyone greets me once in the kitchen, with hugs and wishes, the usual birthday stuff.

"I made you pancakes." hunter gives me an innocent smile as he hands me a paper box from the local diner, where i know he bought the pancakes from,but its pancakes and i love them so it doesn't really matter.

"What!? You said there was pancakes for all of us. Xavier shouts. He should know by now. I mentally shake my head at him. This happens every year. Leo 'makes' pancakes for me, but not for my brothers.

"I lied." He gives a glare back I roll my eyes and take a seat by the kitchen table and drench my pancakes in syrup. I love sweet things.

"Here, principessa." Greg puts a caramel iced coffee next to the pancake box. See, caramel. It's sweet.

"Thank you." I smile, taking a sip.

I swear this thing tastes like heaven. Thank you, for founding Starbucks, whoever you are.

With a kiss on top of my head, Greg follows, Dave and Leo into his office.

"When's everyone coming over?" Andre asks after a while, playing with the cereal in his bowl as he does 50.

"Nine, were going to set everything up around six, so we have time to get ready by the way." Leah answers and he nods but I know she isn't done. Far from it actually.

"We've invited all the seniors and Xavier has also invited some of his friends, oh and the football team! All the hot guys will be here! I probably shouldn't have said that. Just don't tell James. But come on, Avanya you'll have all the hot guys in your house! They'll walk on the floor you're walking on, they'll be here for our birthday party. Or at least I hope they know who's throwing the party.

Oh em gee! Imagine if they didn't know that were throwing the party!? Actually I don't care. Oh! Dave said that he would buy the alcohol and you guys just got to see the dresses I bought for me and Avanya! They're skin-actually I won't tell you, it'll be a surprise, but they go with matching shoes and I just need you to open the present I got you! You'll love it, but Greg said we'll have to wait 'till Hunter gets here, oh an-"

"Enough, we get it. You're excited." Paul grumbles unhappily.

"It's not my fault that you're underage and can't be here when we have it" She shrugs.

"I'm not underage."

"Yes you are just accept it honey, it'll be okay. Leave it to the grown ups." She pats his head sympathetically.

We all look at their exchange amused.

I hear the front door open and close. Seconds later Hunter walks into the kitchen. Turning around, surprise is clearly written on my face as I take in his appearance. His dark hair is gelled back and to the side and I notice a silver chain around his tattooed neck. The jewelery disappears under the white material of his plain t-shirt, and a pair of black ripped jeans hug his well sculpted legs.

I don't think I've seen him wear casual clothes for the past six or something years. He's always clad in a suits and dress shoes.

My eyes follow him as he nears my seat and eventually wraps his arms around my shoulders from behind, pressing my back against his hard chest.

Damn muscles. I have to stop.

I put my hands on his tattooed arms as he whispers a 'Happy birthday' close to my ear. His hoarse voice has me shivering.

"Thank you." I reply back. My voice coming out hoarse for some reason.

He nods against my head, where he's leaning his and continues hugging me close to him. After a few more seconds, I start to get worried. Is he sick or smothering. He never hugs me, well if he does, it'll probably be a side hug that last 0.01 seconds but now? He's been hugging me for ages.

"Hunter." As if my voice brings him out of his trance, he has his arms unwrapped from me in a flash and clears his throat awkwardly.

"I have to see Greg" He mumbles and walks out.

"Uh, Greg said that we would open presents when you came." Leah chimes in.

"I'll just tell him I'm here." He replies with a blank face. And he's back to normal.

Both of us follow he's retreating figure and meet eyes when he's out of sight. Leah shrugs, and I shake his weird behaviour off

I sit on the couch between Leah and Leo. Dave hands me my first present with a smirk on his face.

"Open this one first." I look at the light blue wrapping paper and tear it open.

"Oh my god Dave! Are you serious!?" I squeal and jump up from the couch and hug him. Because everyone loves my hugs. Yeah, no. I just hug him as if to say thank youI don't know if someone loves my hugs actually. That sounded sad.

"Yeah, you like it?" He asks once we pull away.

"Are you kidding!? This has been on my to reading list for so long! Thank you!" I almost squeal and bring the book up, flipping through its new pages after taking a sniff. It's a new hook I can't help myself.

"Here open this one next." Leah smirks and I sigh as she hands me a pink Victoria's secret bag. This can either go to ways. Both of them with terrible endings. I embarrass myself or I embarrass embarrass myself.

The size of the bag actually scares me. The only thing I have from VS is a couple of underwear. Grandma underwear. Actually I take that back. Its sexy grandma underwear. Yes I'm eighteen and don't own any fancy thongs. Sue me.

"Oh god". I hear someone mutter under their breath.

My younger brothers have their faces scrunched up in disgust and my older, and Hunter, have fearful expressions on their faces.

Smiling at Leah, I keep my eyes trained on hers and dig my hand inside the bag. The satisfying crunch of the pink paper reaching my ears.

I pick up the first item and gasp. It's a beautiful black sateen, pyjama top with lace at the top. All the boys sigh in relief.

"Thank you, babe!" I squeal and hug her as she laughs.

"Keep going." She smirks and all of the boys take in a deep breath again. I pick up a matching pair of shorts.

"Now's the good stuff coming." She smirks for the hundredth time.

I pull out three lacy items and hold them up to my face. When my brain registers that I'm holding two black and one red lace thong in my hands, I gasp and throw them back inside the bag again.

Leah laughs at my flushed face.

"Oh dear god please help us." Leo mumbles looking up at the ceiling, increasing her laughter.

A chuckle escapes me but i shake my head and continue. What I hold up next though, is the cherry on top.

A black lingerie body set. The only thing I get the chance to see is the lace covering the stomach part before I put it back down in the bag.

"Are you seriously making me open those things in front of them!?" I widen my eyes and bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. Lingerie excites me. I've never had any before but the fact that my best friend bought it for me and especially that she makes me see it in front of my six brothers and Hunter makes me embarrassed.

"What the hell was that!?" They shout in unison. Hiding my flushed face as best as I can behind a curtain of my dark hair, I put the bag on the floor beside my feet and receive a few more gifts before Hunter hands me his

I meet his emotionless eyes before I open the black velvet box. My eyes almost buggle out of their sockets at the silver chain that's neatly placed on black cushion. An A covered in small diamonds by the sides hangs in the middle.

My brain doesn't get the chance to register when I throw myself in his arms. As said, everyone loves my hugs. I hope.

"Thank you," I say softly. His strong arms wrap around my waist and I almost fall on his lap as he tugs me tighter. "I'm glad you like it." He whispers in my ear. I shiver and let go.

Greg hands me a small red box. "Are you proposing?" I tease and he laughs nervously. Everyone is giving me odd looks except Paul who's just waiting for me to open it.

I see a silver bracelet inside with a diamond in middle. At the top of the red box, in golden letters, says Happy 18th birthday, Ava.

I recognise the nickname my mom called me. Blinking away the sweat in my eyes I look at Greg. Tears is just a negative word to use on birthdays. Eye sweat it is.

"Dad said to give it to you. It was from mom." He replies simply at the questioning look on my face.

"Oh," is all I say.

"Food!" Leo yells from down the hall. Me and Leah are on our feet and out of the movie room in seconds. I don't think we even paused the movie but can you blame us? It's food we're talking about.

The four bags of Taco Bell on the counter brings a grin to my face. I lick the corner if my lips, preparing myself for a foodgasm. Food and orgasm. Orgasm is pleasure, food is too...yeah.

"I'm so hungry!" I groan and open the paper bag, taking mine and Leah's tacos and fries out

"Yeah, I see that" Leo chuckles. The rest of the boys come in to the kitchen and we all sit around the kitchen island eating. I catch Hunter's gaze a few times, but as soon as our eyes meet, he just looks away and continues speaking Italian with my brothers.

I need to learn that language.

"I'm out." Andre says, getting up and throwing his trash in the bin.

"Where are you going?" Greg asks him, taking a bite of his food.

"Xander's house," he walks out of the kitchen but stops before turning the corner. "And Dave?" He asks.

All of us look up at him and his smirking face. "Please don't f**k some chick from my school!" He says quickly. All of our eyes widen but the door slams shut behind him before we get the chance to say something.

"He's right," Hunter mumbles, making us all laugh at Dave's unamused face. His eyes meet mine once again, but I'm the first to look away this time.

Everything is set up downstairs, the drinks in the kitchen along with the red solo cups, the lights, snacks, music and all the furniture is pretty much out of the way.

People have started arriving, around half an hour ago and the party is on, but neither me or Leah have gone down yet, since Leah wanted to do a grand entrance.

I look at myself once more in my full length mirror. The red sateen dress, Leah bought me matches her black one. It hugs my curves and hangs off my shoulders from noodle straps. It might be tight but it's covering my chest and ends a few inches above my knee, so hopefully my brothers will be okay with me wearing this. It's my eighteenth birthday after all.

My long, dark hair is hanging in loose curls over my shoulder and the smokey eye, Leah made me, makes my green eyes look even greener. I have on the bracelet from my mum and Hunter's necklace hanging around my neck.

"You look hot!" Leah complements, spinning me around.

"You too, girl look at you!" I say and she laughs. "Put these on!" She says handing me a pair of black heels. I shake my head and hand them back to her. "I can't walk in these."

"Yes you can!" She whines I shake my head. "Do you remember a few days ago when I feel down the stairs?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Yes, and you said you were fine."

"I lied. I didn't want to worry you guys, so look," I grab my white sneakers. "I'll wear these!"

She sighs unhappily but agrees anyway.

Before I even open the door an inch she grabs my hand. "Are you sure you don't want to wear red lipstick on? It matches your dress."

I shake my head smiling a little. "I'm fine. Red lips aren't for me."

"Lets go, then." She interlocks her arm in mine and I step out of my room, making sure to lock it behind me.