Laughing as he stood from my bed, I watched as AJ pushed the sleeves of his white, thermal shirt up to his elbows. “Well, while you sit here and pout, I’m gonna go talk to your dad for a while.” I continued to frown when he leaned in and touched his lips to the top of my hair and then disappeared down the stairs.
I fell back on my bed and pushed the last of my unladylike thoughts aside and became nostalgic. It was in this very spot after homecoming that AJ and I first acknowledged the chemistry between us. Being honest with myself, it was that night that I fell for him. After I snuck him over to my house that next day, it was a done deal. He had me hook, line, and sinker, even if I wasn’t ready to admit it to myself. And now, here we were, six years later, still in love. More in love.
“What’s got you over there looking like you’ve got a winning ticket in your pocket?” my mother asked from her post in my doorway.
I sat up and laughed. “Just thinking,” I replied. “Life’s funny, isn’t it?”
While pondering her answer, she walked over to my bed before sitting beside me. “At times. Yes, I suppose it is.”
I leaned on her shoulder and grinned when her cheek rested on top of my head.
“It’s so good to have you home,” she said softly, touching her hand to my cheek for a second.
I nodded. “It’s good to be home. I won’t stay away that long again.”
“Promise?”
I smiled again. “Yes, Ma. I promise.”
She patted my thigh and nudged me a little. “Good. Now come downstairs and help me get dinner together.”
Laughing a bit, I did as I was told and followed her down to the kitchen. Everything was mostly done, she just needed me to test the iced tea to make sure it was sweet enough and I buttered the tops of the rolls.
“Go get AJ and that father of yours,” she said, setting glasses out on the dining room table.
I returned the butter to the fridge first and then traipsed across the foyer and through the living room to get to my father’s den. The door was open and I could hear him and AJ talking quietly until they heard me approach. All conversation ceased which made me suspicious. I raised a curious eyebrow at their behavior.
“Time to eat,” I finally announced.
My father smiled at me and AJ just kind of smirked. These two were definitely up to something.
“Okay. Be right out,” Daddy replied.
They continued to sit there, unmoving, so I shot them another weird look and retreated.
“Your husband’s being strange again,” I said to my mother when I joined her in the dining room.
She smiled. “And yet…I’ve never loved him more.”
I laughed and shook my head as I sat down beside her. It wasn’t until maybe two minutes later that the men finally decided to grace us with their presence, still sporting those questionable looks on their faces – like they were fighting back a smile because letting it out would get them caught. My mother wasn’t paying much attention, but I was all over it.
We finished our meal and AJ volunteered us both for dish duty. My mother happily accepted his offer so we were posted at the sink for a half hour before I finally dried the last pan.
“What do you say we go for a drive,” AJ suggested as I was folding the towel to set it on the rack.
I frowned. “But it’s cold outside.”
Rolling his eyes, he smiled and took both my hands in his. “What if I promised to keep you warm? Would you come with me then?”
Well…when you put it like that.
“Where’re we going?” I asked.
He pulled my arms around his waist and then hugged me. “Just for a drive,” he repeated.
I rested against his chest, listening to the rhythm of his heart, and agreed. “Fine, but I’m holding you to your promise.”
He chuckled. “I fully expected you to. Get your stuff on so we can go,” he added.
One more kiss just for good measure and then I hurried upstairs to throw on a sweater over my shirt because I was sure that the temperature had dropped quite a bit since we arrived. I met AJ in the foyer where he helped me into my coat and we were on our way.
We hung a right at the corner, and despite the fact that I knew he wouldn’t answer, I asked, “Where’re we going?”