Love Struck (The Taylor Brothers Book 4)

 

"Nelson, Nick, come down now. Your dad wants to talk," yelled their mom, Pauline Taylor.

The twenty-year-old twins groaned in Nelson's room. Nick had come over to Nelson's room to try out his tee shirts since he hated his own collection. "Shit, dad wants to lecture us. Hide," he said, pushing a horrified Nelson into his walk-in closet.

"A lecture so early in the morning?" grumbled Nelson Taylor. Their dad, Nolan Taylor, looked after their fast-food restaurant, Quick Bite, while his older brother Henry Taylor looked after their largest and main multi-cuisine restaurant, The Grub Club. He lived on the same road, kitty-corner from them with his wife, Hannah Taylor, and their five boys, Stuart and Sean, Denver and Daxton and Drake and, of course, their dog, Timmy. Their dad's younger brother, Benjamin Taylor, lived opposite to uncle Henry with his wife, Patricia, and two sons, Ryan and Nate, and of course, their dog, Queen. Uncle Benjamin looked after their hotel, Sterling Plaza. 

"Tell me about it. I don't want to work. C'mon, we're just twenty. It's the time to have fun," grumbled Nick. While he was the naughtier and the more outspoken of the two, Nelson was just the opposite. He spoke less, his sparkling green expressive eyes did most of the talking. Although he too had his share of fun with his friends and cousins, he didn't do it as explicitly as Nick Taylor did.

"Nick, Nel, haven't you heard me?" asked Pauline Taylor as she climbed up the stairs to catch them and drag them downstairs to face their dad.

"Quick, hide," said Nick, trying to camouflage himself with the clothes.

"Seriously? In the closet, of all places?" groaned Nelson, doing the same.

"Nick, I can see your butt and legs sticking out. Come out, both of you. Your dad doesn't have all day." Pauline Taylor rolled her eyes at the two.

"Yes ma," sighed Nick as he and Nelson came out and followed their ma downstairs.

"Sit boys, " said their dad with a stern expression on his face. They sat down at the table where their dad was having his breakfast.

"Both of you are now twenty. Shouldn't you be more responsible? Sean and Stuart have joined our business and I want you both to do the same," said their dad.

Nelson sat with a brooding expression, quietly listening to his dad while Nick was ready to protest and put up a fight. "But dad, they're twenty-three and we're just twenty. Give us three more years, at least?" asked Nick.

"Three years doesn't make much of a difference, Nick," said their dad. "You have three options. You can join your uncles or me. I want to know your decisions by tonight, " said their dad with finality in his tone. That being said, their dad got up from the table and went to his room to get ready for work.

"At least give us three years to grow up, ma," begged Nick.

"I think you have grown up a lot. It's time to do something worthwhile with your lives, son," said their ma, serving them their breakfast and going into the kitchen.

"How can you be so quiet, Nel? Why didn't you protest, bro?" asked an agitated Nick.

"What's the use? Do you think they'd listen to us? We don't have a choice, Nick," said Nelson. He ate his food while Nick grumbled and complained. It was a weekday, and they had college. After an hour, they both were ready. While Nick was pursuing Financial Management from the Bauer College of Business under the University of Houston, Nelson was in his second year of the undergraduate program in Hotel and Restaurant Management at Conrad College in Houston. They left for their colleges. By night, they would surely come up with something.

Nelson reached his college and parked his car. He just didn't want to face his dad tonight. Maybe he would hide at Sean and Stuart's house for a few days.

"What are you brooding about, man?" asked Carter Mitchell, as he walked up towards him after parking his car. They had both been best friends since grade 1 in school and their friendship had grown over the years. Now they were almost inseparable, just like brothers.

"Dad wants me to join his business asap. I don't want to hurry this. C'mon, we're just twenty. Can't we just enjoy till we graduate?" asked Nelson with frustration.

"I know what you mean. My life's no different, dude. I have to get this internship else my life will be doomed. Dad won't let me be," sighed Carter. He too faced the same pressure from his parents and had applied to a leading company with a chain of restaurants all over Texas.

Levi Knight, another friend of theirs and the bad boy of the college, came towards them after parking his motorcycle. "What happened to you two? Are you mourning or what?" he asked with an amused expression on his face.

"You won't understand. We're both supposed to join internships asap. We ain't as lucky as you are," said Carter. At twenty, Levi Knight had everything that he could ask for. Looks, money, fame, he had it all as he was the celebrity chef of their college, having already co-hosted a television food show. He was the most sought-after guy at Conrad College as girls swooned in his presence, boys hero-worshipped him, and professors took his example all the time. There wasn't a thing that he couldn't do, singing, dancing, football, playing the guitar. He was into everything. He was a topper, excelling at his studies, and all the top companies were ready to recruit him.

"It's not luck, Carter. It's sheer hard work. You can't run away from hard work. My family is poor. I've worked hard for what I've achieved. So, I could say that you two are very lucky indeed to have everything offered to you on a platter. I'm the sole breadwinner in my family. I had nothing offered to me. If I could do it, couldn't you both start getting serious about your careers?" asked Levi. Both Carter and Nelson stared at their friend. He was right.

"You're right Levi. I'll talk to dad and join his restaurant from today itself, " promised Nelson. Levi's little speech very influenced him. If Levi could do it, why couldn't he? Carter stood gaping at his friend in disbelief.

"I can't promise. If I get the job, I'll slog hard. Till then, I'll enjoy, " he told them, eyeing Levi in case he lectured him again. Levi chuckled. Carter could never be serious.

"Nel, you're very bright and will go far in life. Start off dude," said Levi, patting his arm and walking off to class, leaving Nelson starry-eyed. His green eyes twinkled with determination after hearing Levi's words.

"Man, you look so hypnotized," said Carter, and Nelson chuckled.

"I'll start off from today, Cart," said Nelson.

"Oh no, what about Adam's party? Won't you come along?" asked Carter with worry.

"No, you go ahead. I need to talk to dad about this internship thing tonight, " he said as Carter sulked. They had always gone everywhere together, and this was the first time Nelson had declined. Carter's mind was also made up, although he didn't tell Nelson so. If Nelson wanted to do something out of his life, so would he. He wouldn't want to go to Adam's party alone.

Nelson's mind was made. He would do something worthwhile out of his life. But the question was, which restaurant would he join? Or would he go to their hotel? Or maybe apply elsewhere? They went towards their class. Adam Steele was another close friend of theirs who was hosting tonight's get-together at his house on the occasion of his birthday. The moment he saw them, he rushed forward. "Hey, guys. Hope you're coming tonight. No, don't even think of canceling. I'll drag you from your houses if you two don't come," said Adam, glaring at them.

"Okay done. I'm up for it. Nel? What about you?" asked Carter, giving up, thinking of the delicious food Adam's housekeeper always made.

"I'm undecided, dude," said Nelson, still thinking. Adam smacked his arm.

"I'm not taking no for an answer. You'd better make an appearance, Nel," warned Adam.

"Okay, I'll be there," said Nelson. He would return home early before his dad retired to his room for the night. He could talk to him then.

"Hey, Levi, are you coming or what?" asked Adam.

"Of course, no doubt about it," yelled back Levi as he stood near the corridor talking to some girl. He was always surrounded by girls and enjoyed their attention.

The classes went on and the four friends sat in the back seat, texting one another. They laughed at the crude jokes Carter forwarded them. "Yes, Mr. Carter Mitchell, could you share your joke with us too?" asked Professor Grant, standing beside him and staring at him typing on his phone.

"Shit, sir. Did you read it?" asked Carter, and the entire class burst into laughter.