Saturday morning. Ethan's sixteenth birthday. I'm in for one hell of a ride.
I woke up extra early to go on a run and shower before Ethan was ready to wake up. That kid could sleep all day if we let him, but unfortunately for him, he doesn't get that privilege.
I walked back into the house from my run and almost everyone was already there. Erin was the only one we were waiting on. Nick and Viki left sometime in the middle of the week. Of course, they weren't here for Ethan's birthday, but at least they left a gift.
"Good morning," Ashtyn sang as I walked in.
"Morning," I said. "You seem awfully happy right now," I pointed out.
She rolled her eyes at me. "That's because I am happy, East. I am here with my friends on an amazing Saturday morning, what could be better? Besides you taking a shower," She giggled and waved her hand back and forth by her nose.
I couldn't help but chuckle at her and wrap my sweaty arms around her, causing her to scream at a high pitch while laughing.
Julia walked in scolding us because we were making too much noise and could wake the birthday boy. I doubt it. He could sleep through an earthquake.
"Good morning, honey," Julia said to me after the scolding. "I'm not hugging you until you take a shower," She said firmly.
"Good morning Julia," I chuckled.
"Mason is starting on the bacon and I'll start the pancake batter for you," she smiled at me.
"Thanks, Julia. I'm going to hop in the shower. I'll be back to work on the pancakes," I said.
It was a tradition my mom started when we were kids. We always woke up to the smell of bacon and sprinkle pancakes hot ready for self-topping. We've kept the tradition going strong ever since, except for my sixth birthday. It's one of the only things I have left of her.
After I finished in the shower, I changed and went back downstairs as fast as possible to work on the pancakes. When I walked into the kitchen, Ashtyn was sitting on the counter next to Mason as he cooked the bacon.
I started on the pancakes. The batter was already made, thanks to Julia. I saw Ashtyn snag a piece of bacon while Mason wasn't looking.
"Hey," Mason yelled in protest when he turned to see his niece with a piece of bacon in her hand.
"Hey what?" Ashtyn asked innocently as she batted her eyelashes and had a big smile on her face. She was trying her best to hide the smirk spreading on her face.
"You know what," Mason said with a smile on his too.
"I didn't do anything," she giggled.
He reached up his hands and tickled her. She jumped off of the counter and onto the ground as she tried to fend off Mason. They were both laughing and I couldn't help but laugh along at the scene in front of me.
They were close and comfortable with each other. He was like a father to her as well as a best friend. I know that Mason thinks of her like a daughter, he said so himself. I wish I had a relationship like that.
"Okay okay, truce," Ashtyn called when she couldn't take the ticklish torture anymore. She laughed as she and Mason put both hands in the air and slowly backed away from each other.
"Truce," Mason agreed and reach out his hand for a handshake.
Ashtyn smiled as she took his hand in hers and they did some sort of handshake. I smiled at the scene. I don't know a lot about Ashtyn's life besides the fact that she lives with her uncle and not her parents. It must not be up to 'perfect' standards. Standards are stupid anyways.
I flipped the two pancakes I had on the pan as Ash walked over to me.
She leaned against the counter on my right. "You're quite the cook, aren't you?" she asked as she watched me cook the pancakes.
"I guess. I've pretty much been cooking since I was six," I shrugged. I know it's not normal to let a six-year-old use a stove, but then again my life wasn't exactly normal. My dad didn't want to cook or he was drunk and couldn't cook. So I was the only one who could.
"So you're pretty much an expert?" she teased, not even mentioning or batting an eye at the fact that a six-year-old was using a stove.
"Pretty much," I agreed with a laugh.
I finished the pancakes and it was time to wake up Ethan, almost an impossible challenge. Almost. Erin came just in time and we all walked upstairs to his room. It was almost pitch black in there.
He was peacefully sleeping in his bed, but not for long. I walked over to his bed and Julia walked to the window. She opened the curtain and I ripped the blanket off of him.
"Rise and shine sunshine, get your ass out of bed," I sang with a smirk on my face. He tried to swing at me, but I easily dodged it. "Too slow there, asshole. Come on breakfast is ready."
"Shut up Jackass, let me sleep," He grumbled into his pillow.
"No can do, kid," I laughed. Mason and Julia went back downstairs and left the four of us in Ethan's room. "I will drag your ass out of bed if you don't get up in the next ten seconds. I don't think you want Erin to see that," I smirked.
He popped out of bed and looked around the room. His eyes focused on Erin. He was in his boxers and a tank top.
"You might want to change before you go downstairs," I said and with that, I left and took Ashtyn with me.
We looked at each other for a second before busting out laughing.
"I can hear you, Jackass," Ethan called from his room, and Ashtyn and I ran downstairs in laughter.
"What are you two up to?" Julia asked with a knowing look.
"Nothing," Ash and I answered at the same time. That wasn't suspicious at all, note the sarcasm.
"Mm hm," She answered sassily with a hand on her hip and looked at us knowingly. "Where's the birthday boy?" Julia asked.
"He'll be down in a minute," I said and walked into the kitchen.
Everything was set out and ready for the tradition. The whipped cream, chocolate syrup, maple syrup, sprinkles, chocolate chips, and powdered sugar. Everything you could ever need for a pancake with a side of diabetes.
Everyone walked in with Ethan and Erin a minute later. Ethan sat in the chair and, as per tradition, made his pancake. He piled on the whipped cream, sprinkles, syrups, and chocolate chips. Mason added the birthday candle to the top and lit it.
We all sang him happy birthday. He sat there squeamish. While Ethan doesn't mind being the center of attention any other day, his birthday is different. I don't know why. We finished the song and he blew out the candle.
"Happy sixteenth birthday, Eth," I clapped him on the back.
"Thanks, East," he smiled at me.
This was one of the rare moments when Ethan and I didn't tease each other or fight. There was a string of various happy birthdays from everyone in the room.
"Does this mean I get to drive?" He asked me.
"Oh hell no. Not in my car you don't. Get your own car, then maybe you can drive," I shouted.
Everyone laughed, aside from Ethan. We all got our pancakes and put on the toppings I wanted. Some whipped cream and chocolate syrup and I'm happy.
"Get enough sugar?" Ash teased as she topped her pancakes with fresh fruit and whipped cream.
"Never," I teased. "You hardly got anything good on there. What about the chocolate and the sugar?"
"I have whipped cream. I'm a simple girl to please," She shrugged.
We all ate and talked. I might have brought up some treasured memories of our childhood. They might have had a little something to do with Ethan doing something extremely embarrassing. His face was red for all of breakfast.
After breakfast was over and all cleaned up, we moved to the living room so Ethan could open his presents. Ethan sat in the middle of the couch and we all surrounded him.
Mason, Julia, and Ashtyn went first. It has three small gifts put together. He opened it to reveal a hoodie and sweats, a new speaker, and a small Pepsi mini fridge. I swear that kid was made up of 60% Pepsi instead of water.
He thanked all of them. Erin's preset was next. It was a basket filled with candy, Pepsi, cool ranch Doritos, Pepsi socks, and a new wallet, which he needed desperately. His old wallet was so worn out I'm surprised his money didn't fall out.
He hugged her and I saw Julia secretly take a picture. I needed that picture for blackmail and teasing purposes, or their wedding and I want to embarrass him. Either way, I needed it.
I was the next one, besides Nick and Viki, who gave him a credit card to buy a car, he just didn't know that yet. I stood up and walked into the other room. I hid it in an extra room, so he would never know it was there. I kept it from him for two weeks.
I grabbed the present and carried it out to the living room. I loved watching Ethan as his jaw dropped when I carried in the surfboard. The expression on his face was priceless and I couldn't have asked for a better reaction.
"Holy shit," he exclaimed and walked over to me. He took it in his hands and examined it. "My God, Jackass you didn't. This is a lie."
The surfboard was an off-white, red-rimmed shortboard. I knew he wanted one for a while now.
"Nope not a lie," I shook my head and smiled. He punched me in the arm before crushing me in a hug. We all laughed as I hugged him back.
"This is the best birthday present ever," He exclaimed.
He might be 60% Pepsi, but the other 40% was saltwater. I swear it ran through his veins.
He raved about his surfboard. I decided to wait to tell him he was also getting a new car. There's only so much Ethan I could handle at once. Mason and Julia went off somewhere and I sat back on the couch with Ashtyn.
"You are a really good brother," she told me.
She didn't have any clue what she was talking about. I was not a good brother. If anything, I was the worst brother ever.
"I'm the shittiest brother ever. Ethan deserves so much better than me," I told her.
She looked at me with a sincere look. "Easton, that boy is so lucky to have you as a brother. You're there for him when he needs you. You give him not only what he wants but what he needs. You make him smile and laugh. You are the best thing that he has in his life. You can tell by the way he looks at you that you're more than enough for him."
I didn't know how to feel about that. I wasn't a good brother when I left him alone after we found out our mom died. I wasn't a good brother when I beat the ever-loving shit out of someone. I wasn't a good brother when I almost got sent to juvie. No, he deserves someone that's not me.
For the moment, I felt good. Ethan was happy. I was happy.