Well, we’ve seen the reason for the title. This certainly won’t be a comfortable stay for Jay. What happens next?

There I sat in one of the chairs in the living room, my hands between my legs as I stared straight at the television.

Vincent was seated in the other chair adjacent to me.

Awkward.

There’s really no other way to put it.

So damn awkward.

How the hell were we supposed to stay under the same roof for the weekend? How?

As far as I know, Vincent was never happy about their breakup and has been wanting her back for a long time now. So you don’t need to be a genius to know that he doesn’t like me one little bit. I just couldn’t help but wonder: where’s the logic in having your daughter’s ex and current boyfriend dwell under the same roof for a weekend? That’s just a recipe for disaster.

Why this arrangement? They were fully aware that Robin and I were coming, weren’t they? Of course they were! Robin told them!

So what the hell was this all about?

Robin was in the kitchen with her parents, in some discussion. I didn’t hear anything in particular, but I knew whatever conversation was going on in there wasn’t a happy one.

I looked over at Vincent, who was also concentrating on the TV.

“Umm…” I began. “N… ni-nice TV model, right?”

I know, I know. Worst attempt to break the ice. But jeez, I had to come up with something. The awkwardness in the air was so uncomfortable.

He nodded. “Yeah,” he replied curtly without even looking at me.

As you’d expect, that didn’t break any ice.

“So, uh… is… is this your first time here?” I asked.

Another dumbass question, I know. I promise I’m not a terrible conversation starter.

He visibly scoffed before replying, “No.”

I looked at him. His gaze remained on the TV. Yeah, it was clear there would be no success in breaking the ice.

Sorry man. I know you want her back and all, but… yo, she’s mine now. It’s best you accept that and move on.

I really would’ve loved to let that thought come out of my mouth. You know, just to get him to react.

But provoking him to fight me was not the wisest idea, was it? The dude probably already had plans of throwing hands in my direction, and he’d happily spring up and come for me if I let those words out. So I kept my mouth shut and sat back.

We sat there in silence for another twenty minutes before the Browns stepped out of the kitchen. Robin stormed out, looking quite irritated. Mr. and Mrs. Brown followed her, nonchalant looks on their faces.

Oh, and did I mention the fact that Robin’s dad also acted like I don’t exist? Yeah, he arrived from the corridor a few minutes after we entered. I stood up from my seat and stretched out my hand to greet him, only for him to totally bypass me like I wasn’t even there.

Sigh. Talk about the disappointment of expectations.

Robin walked into the living room, passed by Vincent as if he wasn’t there, and moved to me. “Babe, come with me, alright? Lemme take you to your room.”

As I got up and took my bag and followed her, I could literally feel the contempt in the eyes of Mr. and Mrs. Brown and Vincent.

Yeah, I was pissed by the time I entered the room, coz what the absolute fuck?

***

“Babe, what the hell is going on? I thought this was supposed to be our weekend with them! What the hell is your ex doing here? This is super embarrassing, you know!”

I kept my voice low as I placed my bag near the bed, but I certainly wasn’t leaving out the rage within me. It really was embarrassing. This was not what I left my home for; to be treated like some major pariah.

She shook her head. “Babe, I know. I know it’s super awkward for you, and I feel terrible that you feel that way. Why else do you think I was in the kitchen with my parents? I was giving them a piece of my mind because I hardly expected that bastard to be here. I’m seriously pissed off as I stand here, I really am. How do you go and invite my ex to come over when I’ve specifically told you I’m coming over with my boyfriend? What sort of sneaky rubbish is that? How could they?”

The girl was absolutely livid, and could you blame her?

I sighed. “Yeah, this is really fucked up. Now our plans have been turned upside down like crazy.”

“Honestly, babe, honestly. It’s not even funny. I can’t believe they’d do this to me. Arrrghhhh!”

I looked at her as she sat on the bed, her face in her palms as she growled in frustration.

“But, babe. What’s the motive behind this? Is it that they… they still want you back… back together or what…”

Robin looked up at me as I struggled to let out the words.

“Me back together with that two-timing, manipulative son of a bitch? Hell no! I’d rather jam my hand in a toaster for 12 hours straight! They’re there talking about wanting to invite him as their personal guest and some shit like that. I told them how wrong it was and how disrespectful it was to me and you as guests for the weekend and all. And they’re talking about the fact that it’s their house and they can do whatever they fucking want. I dunno if that’s their aim, but they’re dead jokers if they think there’s any level of success in that! I came with you because I chose you to be my man and I want them to get to know you. Me and that dastardly prick have nothing together, and we never, ever will!”

Yeah, stuff about Vincent always triggers Robin to high levels. Apparently, she broke up with him because he cheated on her multiple times and constantly gaslighted her, making her feel like she was the one responsible for everything wrong in the relationship. So it’s no surprise she gets really outraged. As to why her parents don’t seem to have accepted that, I have no earthly idea.

She took a deep breath. “Babe, I think I need to go to my room and lie down. This has really pissed me off. I need to calm down.”

“Sure, sure, no problem. Need help with the bag?”

“Nah, I’m good. Let’s just be texting at our ends.”

“Alright, no problem.”

As she took her bag and headed towards the door, she turned to me. “Babe, I’m really sorry about this. I dunno why they did this, but it’s shitty as fuck. And if you don’t feel comfortable about this, we can just leave.”

I thought about it. Yeah, that was the initial thought, to be honest. After all, the initial reception was nowhere near pleasant. And the presence of Vincent certainly did not excite me. But then, I was feeling kinda tired, and I’m not a nighttime driver, so leaving in the evening was not an option.

Besides, wouldn’t leaving be a defeatist move? I’m her boyfriend, not Vincent, and her parents had to get that. So nahh, it wasn’t a good idea to bounce. I just had to pick the right timing to engage them nicely and they’d eventually open up.

As for Vincent? Irrelevant. I could just ignore him.

So I shook my head. “Nahh, don’t worry about that, Robin. I’m sure things would get better. Let’s see what tomorrow brings, alright?”

She nodded before opening the door and exiting the room.

***

Ever experienced an atmosphere of painfully awkward silence?

Well, I have. A number of times. And dinner that night was the latest episode I had.

The five of us seated in the dining room, eating mashed potatoes with chicken wings. In silence.

To her credit, though, Mrs. Brown’s mashed potatoes were insanely good. Yeah, it’s not just the genes my baby inherited from her mother, she got them cooking skills too, because I’ve eaten Robin’s mashed potatoes, and they are glorious.

“Love your mashed potatoes, Mrs. Brown!” Vincent commented, looking up from his plate to the matriarch of the house. “On point as always.”

“Aww, thank you, Vincent!” she responded, giving him a big smile.

The first time I saw a genuine smile on her face since coming over.

Back to silence for a few minutes.

Then Vincent spoke up. “So Robin, you still working with that pharmacy?”

She looked at him, a glare most ferocious before shaking her head.

“Oh okay. So where are you now?”

Another nasty glare from her as she held her fork in midair. “Somewhere new,” she murmured dryly.

“Robin, stop that. Vincent’s trying to make conversation,” Mr. Brown reprimanded her. “Just oblige him, for goodness sake.”

“No. You know I don’t talk when I’m eating. I’d like to finish my food,” she shot back.

“Robin! Is that how to talk to your father?” Mrs. Brown flared up, unamused by that retort. “Don’t give that attitude, young woman. You know we…”

A slammed fist on the table silenced her.

“I said I don’t talk whilst eating! So stop talking and let me finish my food!” Robin barked.

Everyone at the table was stunned into silence. Including me.

I mean, I know my baby’s pretty feisty and all. But yelling at yo mama that way? Yeah, that threw me off balance. I get that she was extremely pissed at how they double-crossed her and all, pretty understandable. But that was still quite… stunning.

But yeah, that had everyone mute for the rest of the meal. Nobody spoke till we all left the table.

***

Look, babe, I’m too pissed to talk about this. Just let me sleep…

I sighed as Robin’s response to my question about that retort came through on our WhatsApp chat.

Well, I couldn’t blame her. After all, they did do her dirty, and they seemed pretty unrepentant about it.

As I lay on my bed, I sighed. Talk about anticlimactic. I had been hoping for a warm welcome, good conversation, great laughs, stories of Robin’s childhood… you know, a memorable evening at the Browns’ residence. But nope, it was memorable for the wrong reasons. Cold shoulders and the presence of butthurt exes.

But hey, maybe the next day would be better. Surely, it would get better…

Hmmm, will it? Mr. and Mrs. Brown don’t seem ready to be nice to him. But let’s see…