TWENTY-FOUR #2
And two days ago, while we were making out in her dorm room, she grabbed my hands and placed them over her breasts.
And I came in my pants.
Definitely one of the most embarrassing moments of my life—despite my girl assuring me it was a compliment—and the walk back to my dorm was very uncomfortable.
Worth it, though, to have this beautiful girl be mine.
My hand trails up Emerald’s body, and she lets out a soft moan as she closes her legs around my waist—
Two sharp knocks at the door make us freeze, “Breakfast, five minutes! ”
“Ruby,” Emerald sighs, licking her kiss-swollen lips.
Ruby’s steps fade down the hallway. I sit up off Emerald, gently pulling her up and helping her right her tangled pajamas. She giggles and pulls me down for another kiss.
“If we start again, we’re not going to leave this bed, and I want your dad to like me,” I mutter against her lips, powerless against the spell in them.
God, they’re so plush and warm, maybe we could just...
“My dad does like you,” she mumbles, gently nibbling my top lip. She doesn’t play fair. “We can have five more—”
“Hayden, get off my daughter,” Tim’s voice sounds through the door, making me fly off Emerald and crash to the ground.
In my panic to get off Emerald, my elbow and knee slam against her bedframe and side table, almost knocking over the lamp and books there.
“Shit,” I hiss, wincing.
“Dad!” Emerald says, jumping off the bed and rushing to help me up.
The only sound through the door is Tim’s fading laughter.
“Alright, that did it,” I wince, taking Emerald’s hand and standing up from the floor.
Every ounce of fire in me died the second I heard Tim’s voice.
“Sorry,” Emerald whispers, pressing a kiss to my cheek and gently rubbing my elbow.
I grin. “Worth it.”
◆◆◆
Linda Osgood is a force to be reckoned with, and she possesses the same magic her daughter does, able to see me. Breakfast was incredible, as was Christmas Eve dinner last night .
My holidays have always been catered meals prepared by top chefs that my parents can brag about to their friends.
My mother always acted like she cooked everything herself, even though her friends oohed and aahed over the spread.
Hell, I’ve been to Michelin-star restaurants, and they don’t compare to Linda’s cooking.
This was the best meal I’ve ever had, and when I told Linda that, she gave me a bone-crushing hug and pressed a kiss to my head.
“I’m glad you enjoyed, sweetheart.”
Tim asked for my help after breakfast to run out and grab some firewood from the backyard. When I met Tim, I was intimidated immediately. He’s shorter than me, but looks strong like an ox. His blue eyes studied me, and he squeezed my hand hard enough for me to wince when Emerald introduced us.
But that man melts for the women in this house. That’s as clear as day.
He can barely take his eyes off his wife when she’s in the room, looking at her with a look so tender it’s almost painful. When Ruby was explaining about a particularly difficult professor she had at Northwestern, they both wore matching expressions of distaste.
And with Emerald, well, she’s Emerald, impossible not to love.
We gather in the Osgoods’ living room for their Christmas night tradition.
Dorothy, their dog, is an older black Labrador with gray around her snout, snores softly by the brick fireplace.
Toto is their brown tabby, a grumpy one-eyed beast that Emerald said she and Ruby found when they were kids, and is sleeping on Ruby’s lap.
Linda is putting the DVD in, and Tim walks in from the kitchen, holding two mugs of hot cocoa. He walks right over to Emerald and me, sitting on the loveseat .
“Thank you, Daddy,” Emerald beams up at Tim as he hands Emerald one of the cups.
“You’re welcome, munchkin,” he grins, before passing me a cup. It’s got a mountain of marshmallows and a stick of cinnamon in it.
“Thank you, sir,” I nod.
“Sir,” Tim snorts at that and shakes his head, going to sit on the couch next to Linda. Ruby huffs out a laugh from her place on the recliner, gently stroking a purring Toto’s back.
Emerald takes a sip and cuddles into my side, as Linda starts the movie.
“It’s a Wonderful Life,” Linda says. “Have you ever seen it, Hayden?”
“No, ma’am,” I shake my head, taking a sip of the cocoa. I can’t even remember the last time I drank this either. The most chocolate I get is usually a protein shake.
This is... amazing.
Linda gasps, delighted. “Oh, you’re in for a treat! We always watch this on Christmas, and we watch The Wizard of Oz on Easter. I don’t know why, but it’s always seemed like an Easter movie to me. Maybe because my mom always played it on Easter, though I’m not sure how that started...”
Tim just smiles at Linda’s rambling and wraps an arm around her as she cuddles next to him. He presses a kiss to her temple, and with that, Linda presses play.
To be honest, I’m watching Emerald more than I’m watching the movie. Her expressive face reacts to the scenes, and sometimes she’ll turn to me and catch me looking and smile widely.
Halfway through the movie, when I’m looking at Emerald once more because I can’t help it, I feel eyes on me. Looking over, I see Tim looking at me, and the expression on his face is something I’ve never seen before.
It looks almost... proud? Approving? I don’t know, but I can’t quite name it. I give Tim a small grin, and his smile grows, and he gives me a nod that feels important.
“This has been the greatest Christmas of my life,” I whisper to Emerald.
Emerald turns to me and smiles. The sight of it is brighter than the tree's lights. I’ve never seen such a look of happiness on someone’s face. It’s beautiful, and makes me want to guard it, cherish it, keep that look on her face forever.
“I’m so happy,” she whispers back, “You make me so happy, Hayden.”
I swallow, heart thumping. “Really?”
“Mhm,” she nods. “I’ve never felt like this before. For anyone.”
“Me neither,” I laugh breathlessly. “It’s a little scary.”
She nods, “It is. But I’m not afraid, because it’s you.”
“It’s you,” I whisper in agreement, cradling her cheek and pressing my lips to hers.
It’s you. You’re my home, Emerald.