“And you’re twenty-one now, so you can have some eggnog!” she said cheerfully, clasping her hands together. “Let me get you some.”
I sat on the sofa across from Gary, who was enjoying his eggnog. “How’s business going, Gary?”
“Our stock company is dominating, as usual,” he answered proudly.
Ash came down the stairs. He sat next to me on the sofa, careful to leave enough room. My mom came back out and handed me eggnog. Ash had set his down on the coffee table, and he scooped it up, taking a sip.
Even though I was twenty-one, I couldn’t get used to drinking. Maybe I didn’t even really like it all that much. I took a sip, clearly tasting the bitterness of the alcohol. I hadn’t developed a taste for it like everyone told me I would.
It began to snow outside, the freezing wind making sad, moaning noises. It made me crave the warmth of my shower upstairs. I wanted to get cozy and take a shower and sleep some of the excitement of the day away.
“I’m heading upstairs and going to bed early,” I said.
“Good, because we’re going snow tubing!” Mom announced.
I sighed. My mom was always planning crazy adventures. I went upstairs, hearing Gary and Ash having some kind of a debate over the legalization of marijuana. I smiled to myself, glad to be there. There was something so safe and promising about this new life. It was like the pieces of the puzzle I’d been carrying fit together perfectly.
My room was dark and a bit cold. I turned up the heat and closed the door, locking it behind me. The bathroom wasn’t as formidable as before. I was so used to sharing it with Ash now that it didn’t really bother me that he could walk in at any moment.
I stripped my clothes off and turned the water on. I rubbed Ash’s soap all over my body, wanting to smell like him, feeling comforted by the scent and sensation. A couple of minutes passed, and I heard the door to the bathroom creak slowly open.
ASHTON
Seeing her at the airport melted most of the jealousy and hurt I’d been carrying. When she was in my arms and everything felt so right. I drove carefully, more than I normally would. She was precious cargo, after all. She was family.
I took her bag up to her room, plopping it safely on her bed. The room had been a sore spot for me all fall. Every time I walked by it to go down the stairs, I was reminded she wasn’t there. Now, I was filled with happiness. She was here, and no matter what happened, that room would be filled, and so would the place in my heart.
I made sure there were enough extra towels in our bathroom, and I went back downstairs to join everyone. Amy chatted happily with her mother, who looked so happy that she was there.
“Everyone in my office gets high all the time. I just don’t get it,” my dad said, shaking his head.
“They will legalize the stuff soon enough, so get used to it,” I replied.
“They shouldn’t. Not that it will stop anyone from doing it if they don’t, but people are not as productive when they smoke,” my dad argued.
“I think it depends on the person. I’m productive.”
“Don’t remind me that you smoke. It’s a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell thing,’ remember?”
Amy stood up and said something about taking a shower. My thoughts immediately fell on her naked body and all the things I’d wanted to do to her for so long. I took another sip of my eggnog, trying to relax.
A good ten minutes went by, and I figured it would be safe to go up to my room. I would try to be good and ignore the fact that she was naked. It would be a piece of cake. I excused myself.
“I’m going to play video games,” I said.
“Okay. See you later,” Emma said.
“Remember: ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell!’” my dad called after me.
I shook my head and smiled as I bolted up the stairs. I could still hear her in the shower.
The door to her room was locked, so I entered our bathroom from my room instead. I saw her, totally naked. The water fell off her beautiful body in silver waves. Her long hair looked dark and wet. She was rubbing soap, the suds dripping down her perfectly round ass.
She turned to me, her eyes fixed on mine. She didn’t seem the least bit shocked I was there. We both wanted the same thing. I strutted over to her and took off my shirt and pants. My boxers were still on, but I didn’t care. I got in the shower with her, feeling the hot water spray all over my body. I pushed her gently up against the cool tiles of the shower and began kissing her.
Her mouth was so soft, and she wore her signature cherry lip gloss. The taste of it was bittersweet. I raked my hands through her long, beautiful hair. She sighed, falling into me gently. Our bodies melded so perfectly together.
What I’d been wanting for months was finally about to be a reality.
AMY