Tricked

Many people would admit that life as a younger sibling was hard. Going toe to toe with people who made being nosy about your life their business, just because they were older than you by a few years was difficult. Eric's sister being the first born, could be very overbearing at times.

If an issue concerned Eric, then she made sure that she knew as much as possible about it.

Beth Daniels nee Fisher was a full five years older than Eric. A fact that she loved to remind him of, especially when they were having a disagreement. Luckily for him, the two of them were currently getting along.

Which was why when Eric made his way to her house for the Sunday meal. Which they had together every last Sunday of the month. A tradition that had started while their parents had still been alive. One that they had kept up even after the deaths of the older Fishers, Eric felt at ease, not threatened at all. 

He should have known from that very moment that it was a trap. First there had been Beth's too long hug upon seeing him. Then there had been the too long looks that she kept giving him when she thought that he was not looking. 

That should have tipped him off to the fact that something was off about the family dinner.

But Eric had been too busy playing with his niece and nephew, to pay too much attention. A huge mistake on his part. Had he paid more attention to how odd Beth was being, Eric would have guarded himself better. But as things stood, he was completely unprepared as he faced his sister. "Is James going to be able to make it today?" Eric asked. The kids finally tired out, were taking a nap, allowing him to sit at the counter while his sister finished preparing the food that they would be having.

"No, he's working the night shift," She said, her attention completely on the potatoes that she was peeling. Despite the fact that she would not see it, Eric accepted the news with a nod. Brushing off how odd it was that Beth was avoiding eye contact.

He would have loved to have James around, the two of them always had good conversations, but work was work, and Eric understood. His sister's husband was a firefighter. Which meant that on the nights that he was on duty, he could not spend time with his family. Not wanting to dwell on it and upset Beth, Eric found something else to talk about. Asking her about her current translation project.

A topic that she latched on to with gusto. They talked about her work for a little while, then 

the two of them moved on to other things. Like the twins playing at the park, and how Beth's neighbours were getting a divorce.

"Not everyone is meant for relationships," Was Eric's input on the matter, which earned him a huge sigh from Beth.

"It's a pity, people should give love a chance,"

Her statement had alarm bells going off in Eric's head, but he ignored them. By the time that the kids woke up from their nap and the four of them were at the table digging into their meals. It was easy to fool himself into thinking that all would be well. That the relationship conversation was over.

When they finished their meals and Beth produced his favourite...chocolate cake...for dessert, he was too busy eating to wonder what exactly he had done to earn such a treat.

So busy humming around a particularly delicious bite, he almost missed the look that Beth was giving him. But the moment that he caught sight of it, he slowly pulled the spoon out of his mouth and set it down. Every single sign that Eric had been wilfully ignoring became impossible to push aside.

"This is a trap, isn't it?" Beth blinked at him, her eyes too wide, for the expression to be genuine. 

"A trap? What sort of trap are you talking about, Eric? Can't an older sister cook a meal and then enjoy it with her children and her brother?" Now Eric was really scared. She wad playing the familial devotion card, which meant something serious was coming. 

"Beth, whatever it is that you want to say, just come out and say it. Do not prolong this. If you do, I might just take the opportunity to jump out of the window. What do you want?" She placed a hand over her chest in mock hurt. 

"How could you say that to me? Can't I just give you chocolate cake without wanting something from you,"

"Beth..." He raised a brow at her, indicating that he did not wish to play games. She held his gaze for a short while before her shoulders slumped and she gave in.

"Alright, but it's not about what I want, it's about what you need," 

Oh, no.

Wherever this was going, Eric just knew that he was not going to like it. 

"And what exactly is it that I need?" He asked. Beth brightened at the question, instantly coming alive as she smiled at him. Moments later, she leaned to the side, her smile vanishing as she deftly dodged the cake piece that was thrown her way. Grabbing a napkin to pick it up, she gave the twins a look. "Do that again," The glare she levelled at the twins made it very clear that it was in their best interest not to. Proving that they were way smarter than their four years, the duo resumed eating, focusing on their food and not looking anywhere else.

Kids handled, Beth turned back to Eric and he found himself wishing that one of the kids would shove cake up their noses to get her attention. Unfortunately for him, he was not so lucky.

"So Eric..." The -so-was dragged longer than it should have been. That set Eric on edge. Whatever it was that Beth was going to ask for, it was a big ask and she knew it. 

"...Do you remember Claude from high school?" Eric wrecked his brains, and when he came across the memory of the girl, he shuddered. 

"How could I forget? You mean Claudia with the crazy eyes, the one who was dating the captain of the football team, and by the time they split up, the poor guy could no longer look anyone in the eye, and he stuttered with every word he spoke," Beth shrugged like he'd just mentioned perfectly normal behavior from somebody who had been dumped. 

"Well at least you remember her. The thing is I ran into her a few days back and guess what she's single, and ready to mingle..."Eric shook his head so hard that he was scared his brain would come loose and start oozing out of his ear. 

"No. The answer is no. A big fat no. I am not going out with crazy Claude. That's final," But Beth was not listening. Leaning over, she wiped food from his niece, Kayla's cheeks. Bopping the little girl on the nose before turning to look at him. 

"Come on, Eric, it's just Claude. She's harmless," If Beth believed that, then she needed to get her head checked.

"That woman is as harmless as a ravenous snake seeing a mouse," Beth just shrugged like it was no big deal. 

"Will you go on a date with her?" He shook his head. 

" No way. I would do anything but that. I am not about to throw away my entire life just because you think I am lonely," He said, rather than looking dejected, Beth brightened even more. 

"Good. You said you would do anything but go out with Claude, right?" The look in her eyes was triumphant, and Eric realised that this was the trap that he should have seen coming. "What is it? What are you going to make me do? There was no point in resisting anymore," Beth always got her way. Whatever nefarious plans she had in store for him, he would find himself carrying it out, whether he liked it or not. 

"Relax little brother. I will not do anything bad to you. All I want is for you to attend a few dates to see if you are compatible with anyone. Please, just go out there and date. I even have a list of people that I've set up," A list, she had a list.

"Ten blind dates, that's all I ask. Go out there into the world again. See what love has to offer. I cannot stand the thought of you living in a shell all because that..." She cut herself off before she could finish the last part. But her brow still furrowed in anger, and she glared at something only she could see before visibly smoothing her features. 

"Please, Eric," Eric was done for. Had she just continued with the mind games, he would have been able to hold firm. To refuse, but her pleading tone undid him. His sister was a proud woman. For her to be begging him like this, he must have been worrying her more than he'd thought. So instead of refusing outright, like he had planned to do, He nodded, "All right, ten dates, but that's it. After that you cannot force me to go on any more dates,"

"Thank you," With that they dropped the conversation, and Eric turned his attention to the kids. During his and Beth's talk they had finished eating, and they now wanted to tell Eric about everything that they had done during the week. Desperate to get his mind off what he had just agreed to, Eric let them regale him with their innocent stories.