27. Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Sloane
A fter I introduce Ky to my parents and sisters, we gather around the dining room table for dinner. My mom has cooked a delicious meal, and as we enjoy pork tenderloin with vegetables and baked apples, my parents ask Ky all sorts of questions while trying not to act like they are interviewing him.
"So," my mom says as she shakes salt on her mashed potatoes, "have you lived in Thomasville all your life?"
"Yes, ma'am," Ky says, and his use of the word ma'am makes his slight southern accent thicker. "Born and raised."
"Isn't William Andrews from there?" She asks, mentioning a player for Atlanta's football team.
"He is," Ky says as surprise lights his eyes. "Are you a football fan?"
My dad laughs before my mom can answer. "Louise is the biggest football fan I know," he says, smiling sweetly at my mom.
"Yeah," I add, "huge fan. If you don't like them, don't say anything because she will fight you," I joke, but not really.
Ky smiles, and I feel myself melting right there in my chair. He looks at my mom, "I'm a huge fan, too, and we're all pretty proud that William Andrews is from Thomasville." Ky wipes the corner of his mouth with his napkin. "There are quite a few football players from Thomasville, but maybe even cooler is one of the founding members of The Temptations is from there."
"No way," I say. "That's so cool."
"Yeah," Ky says, "Elbridge Bryant."
“Uh-oh. Are you going to sing My Girl to Sloane?” Bryn asks as I try to laugh off her comment. She has an affinity for music and despite her learning challenges, she has quite a memory and knows the lyrics to practically every song. I’m sure it’s because she’s constantly listening to the radio. Ky takes her comment in stride which quells my embarrassment.
He chuckles. “I might just have to, Bryn.” He smiles at her and she grins, pleased with herself for coming up with that idea. My heart clenches at his sweetness toward my sister.
"Isn't Thomasville the City of Roses?" Erin asks, and I’m grateful to her for moving the conversation along.
"Yeah," Ky says, "There's a rose festival every Spring. It's really pretty."
"Oh, how neat," my mom says. “I bet that’s beautiful.”
"So, Ky," my dad says, and I get the feeling he's about to ask something a bit more serious by his tone. "Sloane tells us you're going to a local community college back home."
"Yes, sir, I'm taking core classes while I figure out what I want to do."
"Do you have any idea what it is you'd like to do?" I'm kind of embarrassed because it's not like we're getting married or anything.
"I'm not really sure," Ky says, "but I know I don't want an office job. I don't know if I could sit at a desk all day." My pulse rate quickens as Ky pauses, then adds, "Sloane says you get to travel a lot, and I think that would be pretty cool."
"I do," my dad says with a smile, "but I also have to sit at a desk quite a bit."
"You've got time to figure it all out," my mom says, and I'm grateful for her sensitivity on this topic. My mom is so supportive, and I know she wants this visit to go off without a hitch.
Since I know I'm not going to get a moment alone with Ky for a while longer, when my mom starts collecting plates, I stand and say, "Mom, you sit, you've been cooking all day and throughout Christmas. Ky and I can clean up."
"But he's our guest," my mom says.
Ky stands. "I insist. Sloane is right, you've done enough. Let us clean up."
My mom smiles at Ky, and I can tell his good looks and charm are winning her over as her eyes sparkle. "Such a southern gentleman." She looks at me and smiles. "Thanks, sweetie. I'll just get the coffee brewing."
My sisters look elated that they don't have to help clean up and quickly head to the family room with my parents to watch television. Unfortunately, the family room has a case opening with accordion doors which are wide open and don’t give us much privacy. So, as we're clearing the table, I pull Ky to the side of the dining room, away from the door to the kitchen and plant a kiss on those lush lips of his.
"I'd volunteer to clean up more often if this is my payment," Ky jokes and I feel my cheeks heat up as we move to finish our task.
I don't think I've ever had such an enjoyable time washing dishes. Ky and I steal moments together as he washes, and I dry. When we're done, we head into the family room with dark paneling on the walls and mauve carpet. Ky and I bring coffee for my parents and ourselves. My parents are on the love seat, Bryn is on the sofa, and Erin is on the floor. This leaves room for Ky and me on the sofa, and I take this opportunity to sit as close to him as possible without freaking out my parents, or Bryn. As we watch TV and chit chat, I start to grow impatient.
After a little while, my mom says, "I'm going to go get blankets for Ky. Why don't we all head upstairs and give these two time to catch up."
Wow, who knew my mom could be so cool. I smile at her. "Thanks, mom. Do you need help?"
"No, sweetheart, I'll be right back."
After my family leaves the room, I grab the remote control, and we search for something to watch on TV. "We can always put in a movie," I tell Ky. "We have a few tapes in the cabinet."
My mom returns with blankets and pillows for Ky. "Don't stay up too late," she says as she sets everything down on the love seat. "It was great getting to know you Ky. Goodnight, you two."
"Goodnight!" we say, almost in unison.
I continue to flip through the channels, buying time until the coast is clear, and Ky says, "Oh, this show is great. Have you seen it?"
I see what looks like a weird B-movie and silhouettes of a person, and two other characters that look like they are sitting in a movie theatre. "No, I don't think I have."
"It's called Mystery Science Theatre 3000," Ky says. "This guy is imprisoned on a spaceship and they force him to watch B movies as a form of torture. He builds two robots to be his friends, and they basically make fun of the movies. It's hilarious."
"Sounds interesting," I say. I set the remote down and snuggle up under Ky's arm. Honestly, I'd watch almost anything he suggested because I’m just happy he’s here. The butterflies start to flutter. "I'm so glad you're here," I tell him as I place my right hand in his left hand.
He brings my hand up to his mouth and kisses it. "Me too."
I sit up and face him. Gosh, he's cute. My insides feel funny, and my pulse quickens. I smile at him, and then we kiss. As the kiss grows deeper, I pull away and whisper. "I'm going to go close the doors. Bryn has a tendency to spy." I walk over to the case opening between the kitchen and family room and try to quietly and slowly close the squeaky accordion doors without making too much noise. I grab a comforter my mom left and sit next to Ky, covering us in the blanket. I look at Ky and can’t stop smiling. "I'm so glad you held my hand at the concert."
He cups my cheek with his hand and says, "Me, too." He gently kisses me. Our kisses grow more passionate and my body tingles all over. When I kissed Dave over the summer, it wasn't like this. At all. The chemistry with Ky is definitely different. Kissing Dave just felt…awkward. Ky kisses my neck and that sends an entirely new sensation through me. I run my fingers through his hair, "God, you're a great kisser," he says.
I lean back. "Really?" He nods with an eager look in his eyes as he moves toward my mouth again.
When we come up for air, I say, "I don't have a ton of experience." I look down at my lap as I feel embarrassed admitting this.
"Then you're a natural," he says with a twinkle in his eye.
We kiss some more and when footsteps sound from the kitchen, we freeze. I hear the refrigerator door open as I cuddle under Ky’s arm again, and we're back to watching TV. "I bet it's Bryn," I whisper. "Sorry."
He chuckles. "It's okay." He kisses the side of my head. "We probably needed to take a break anyway." He hugs me tighter, and I feel so happy and safe. I wonder if Ky would come up here for my prom, I think to myself.