“Hold it up,” I ordered, handing her the fistful of material. She did as I said instantly, even going as far as lifting it higher so I could just about make out the bottom of the matching bra.
Gone was the Nell that worried about being interrupted. She moved one leg to the side, giving me much better access just as the doorbell rang.
Groaning, I shook my head. “No. No, no, no, no, no. This can not be happening.” I’d never hated my family before. “Be quiet,” I said. She clamped her legs together as my hand travelled up the inside of her thigh. “Don’t stop me.”
“You’re kidding, right? Your bloody parents are two walls away!”
“So?” Her mouth popped open and I groaned. “Don’t do that when I’m so close to blowing already.”
Turning her nose up in mock disgust, she stepped to the side leaving me desperate, worked up and still on my knees.
She took a deep, composing breath and fluffed her hair. “Rain check.”
“We will pick up where we left off,” I growled, standing up.
“I know. I don’t like your parents,” she grumbled.
“Yeah I’m not to keen on them now either.”
“Okay. You’d better let them in then.”
“You’ll be here when I get back? You’re not planning on climbing out of the window, are you?” I asked, rearranging myself.
Rolling her green eyes, she replied, “Bloody go and let them in!”
I left Nell in the kitchen, not wholly convinced that she would stay. It certainly looked like she wanted to run. Opening the door, I tried to smile genuinely but they’d just stopped me getting inside Nell.
“Hey, Mum, Dad,” I said tightly.
“Damon!” Mum instantly went in for a hug, I kept my distance but hugged her back. “Where is she then?”
God my mother was so excited to meet Nell and I was certain that she’d say something, or many things, embarrassing but I was on too much of a high that Nell had agreed. Today was a huge deal and that was all I was focused on. Plus I was still coiled too tight to give a shit.
“Your mum’s been talking about this since you said Nell was joining us,” Dad said, rolling his eyes.
“Great,” I muttered sarcastically.
I walked my parents into the kitchen where Nell was nervously chewing that lip again. She was going to bite it off if she kept on like that. She was leant against the granite worktop with one leg crossed over the other. As soon as she saw us she stood properly.
“Mum, Dad, this is Nell. Nell, my parents, Hannah and Nick.”
“Nice to meet you,” she said, giving them a million dollar smile. There was no way they wouldn’t fall in love with her.
“You, too, Nell,” Mum said, stepping forward and giving her a hug. Nell wasn’t at all prepared and even though she did hug her back it was a bit robotic, much like mine was.
“We’ve heard a lot about you, it’s nice to put a face to a name,” Dad said. He needed to stop saying shit like that right now. I gave him a curt look. I’d given Mum a warning but not Dad. He wasn’t supposed to need one.
“And you,” Nell replied, shaking my dad’s hand and maintaining that killer smile. “Can I get you a drink since Damon isn’t offering?” She said, gesturing to the liquor and wine on the side.
Mum laughed and nodded, and I knew she was won over already. “Red would be lovely. Nick will just have coffee since he’s driving. Damon, put the kettle on then.”
I felt like I’d stepped into an alternate universe. Nell had taken place as my girlfriend, whether she meant to or not. Probably not. You didn’t offer your fuck buddy’s parents drinks in his home.
“Damon,” Mum said again.
I peeled my eyes off Nell and looked up at my grinning mother. “Kettle. Right.”
Nell
I knew what I was doing was against everything Damon and I stood for but here I was sharing a drink with his family. We’d probably broken almost every single rule we’d made when we started sleeping together.
If there was an award for the most unsuccessful friends with benefits agreement we would be shortlisted. And then probably win. Still I didn’t leave. I didn’t even leave when Damon’s mum kept giving me secret smiles. How invested in us was she? People weren’t supposed to want more for us, it’d just lead to disappointment. If Damon had told her something he shouldn’t even be thinking about, I was going to have his balls and not in the way he’d want.
“Oh come on, Nick,” Hannah said, shaking her head. They were having an argument about when their first date was. From the amusement on Damon’s face I guessed it was something that came up often.
“Do you remember when your first date was?” Nick asked me.
I’d never been on a date so that was easy. Damon’s body stiffened and he looked like he wanted to murder his dad. I didn’t want to make a huge deal out of it or let it get in the way of having a good night so I shrugged and replied, “Nope.”
“See, Hannah, not everyone remembers,” he said to his wife.
“I remember,” Damon said.
What?
“You do, love?” Hannah asked.
“December sixteenth.”