Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
B riar
This has been my best Christmas in a long while. We are sitting around a large circular table with poinsettias in the middle, eating turkey with gravy and stuffing. My first year at Riverside, I spent the holidays alone in my apartment. The second year, a bunch of friends made a potluck Thanksgiving meal that consisted of a lot of junk food and chocolate, but the company was good and I didn’t complain. That turned into a Christmas potluck but since no one wanted to cook anything, we ordered pizza and wings. This year takes the cake.
“I haven’t had such a good Christmas dinner in a long time,” Nolan says, leaning back in his chair like he’s overeaten.
“Right,” Levi agrees.
“Don’t dis the pizza and wings,” Ivy says. “Pizza is my favorite meal.”
“But this is real food. I haven’t eaten this good in I don’t know how long,” I add.
When I look over to Aaron, he’s frowning. He’s different than us. We all have a story of why we don’t go home for the holidays, but Aaron comes from a nice loving family, who is hurting right now.
“Try this cranberry sauce.” Lynsey points.
“I’m not a sauce person,” Taylor replies.
“Me neither,” I agree with Taylor.
“We’re going to need to find another deal next year,” Simon says.
Everyone lifts their wine glasses. “Hear! Hear!”
“I could definitely get used to taking vacations, but I’ve spent way more than I should’ve,” I admit to my friends. “Guess who’ll be eating lots of ramen noodles when she gets back?”
“That goes for all of us.” Levi laughs.
“Who’s ready for dessert?” Aaron asks.
The hotel has set up a long, sweet table covered in candy canes, gingerbread cookies, truffles, red velvet brownies, Christmas cake, and other delicious treats.
“I’ll pass.” I can’t afford to gain weight now. I have competitions coming up when we get back to Riverside. There’s no way I want my coaches side-eyeing me.
“I should pass on the brownies even though I love red velvet,,” Aaron says.
“We can tell who’s an athlete around here.” Jack winks. He’s on the school wrestling team. “I’m going to hit the sweet table and then the gym.”
“I thought you were going to do me,” Ivy remarks.
“You’ll be my cardio.” Jack grins.
“You guys are so cheesy,” Lynsey complains.
“The night is still young. How about we go to the bar and do some Christmas Karaoke?” Simon asks.
“I’m down,” Nolan answers.
After dinner we head to the bar. It’s a different vibe being on vacation. The weather is warm and it feels good to always have friends around. Life doesn’t seem so lonely.
We head to the bar and luckily the mixed drinks are included in our all-inclusive fee. All the girls order cosmos. We lean into each other and take selfies, until Levi jumps in front of Sofia’s camera and photobombs the picture with his body flying in the air and his tongue sticking out. After that the guys get in on the selfies. We’re making memories. It’s not something I’m used to. I don’t have family photos past age ten. That was the point where life as I knew it changed. It would never be the same for me again: a broken family, a distracted mother, an absent father. I learned to be on my own and survive. Loneliness became my best friend. Letting loose these last couple of days, spending nights with Aaron buried deep inside me, has me feeling things I shouldn’t be feeling. When Aaron’s arms are around me, I feel like I belong in them, until I remind myself we expire tomorrow. I remind my heart not to get away from itself, but it still seems to be falling.
I’m three drinks in when the girls decide we are getting on the stage together to sing “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.” At first, I’m hiding behind Taylor. Given my height, it’s not that hard. I’m the shortest girl here, but then Taylor takes my hand and pulls me beside her. We all put our arms over each other’s shoulders and sing our hearts out in a line. The alcohol definitely helps with my stage fright.
After the song, we head back to the bar and take shots. That’s when everyone decides we should go up to the stage as couples. Taylor and Hawk go first singing, “Feliz Navidad.” By the time Aaron and I hit the stage, we are both more than tipsy and he picks the song “Let it Snow.” My cheeks are flushed as he looks at me and we sing. Aaron starts to walk across the stage and begins dancing, like really getting into his role as a performer. Since all my inhibitions have flown out the window, I sway my hips and follow his lead. We face each other, both of us smiling wide. I bat my lashes for effect and by the time the song ends, we are both cracking up so hard. We place the mics down and Aaron picks me up and twirls me around as I squeal with laughter. After Ivy and Simon do a song, everyone is ready for bed. I’m not sure what that means tonight. Aaron suddenly seems down. He says he’s going to take a walk. Taylor tells me she is staying with Hawk, which means our room is free tonight. Everyone goes their separate ways. I hang in the lobby for a bit, watching the waterfall and taking in all the lush greenery in the lobby. I’ve never stayed at a place like this before. I don’t know when the next time will be. I decide to head to the back of the hotel. There are people hanging around the pool. I walk past the pool area toward the beach. It’s there I see Aaron, his flop of dirty-blond hair blowing in the light ocean breeze. My heart gallops in my chest. It’s a feeling I need to get a hold of, but spending almost twenty-four hours a day with someone every day on vacation brings you closer a lot faster than it would back home, where the pace of life is busy.
I walk over to him and he’s frowning. “Do you want company?”
His lip tugs up on one corner. His smile is so damn perfect. “I would love some company.”
I go to stand beside him and we both look out at the ocean. “Are you thinking of your family?” I ask him.
His hands are tucked into the pockets of his shorts. “Yes, it’s been great being here, but I miss our Christmas traditions. I wonder if I’ll have next year with Mom, and what Dad and I will do if we don’t.”
His words cause a fracture to run down my heart.
“Tell me about your traditions,” I urge. “I haven’t had any in a long time. It would be nice to hear what real families do.”
Aaron watches me with an intensity that’s unnerving. I don’t know if I’ve overstepped. I really can’t tell what he is thinking. My own judgment is clouded by the alcohol in my system, so maybe I am overstepping.
“Mom would make huge dinners. My grandparents on both sides came for meals, along with my aunts, uncles, and cousins. I sometimes helped Mom make the pies. She’d make this s’mores pie that’s one of my favorites. We’d all have dinner together. When we were younger, we’d sing songs by the Christmas tree and the adults drank spiked eggnog. They’d give us kids the nonalcoholic kind, but I was never a fan. My cousins loved it though. Mom would make me my own Christmas blend. I don’t know what it was, but it tasted like a minty white chocolate. After that my parents would turn on our fireplace and we would all watch movies together. My grandparents and everyone slept at our house. It was a good time. A few years ago, we lost my dad’s dad and last year we lost Mom’s dad. That was hard, but they were old and led good lives. My mom has so much life left in her,” he says, looking out to the ocean.
“It sounds like you guys have made amazing memories together. The only thing I remember from when my parents were together was they fought a lot. They never agreed on anything. In hindsight it made sense they got divorced, but the way Dad left was just. . .” I didn’t have words to describe how it felt to be abandoned by him.
“That sounds tough. I can’t imagine, Briar. . .”
“I don’t want you pitying me, Aaron. I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now, but it sounds like you have a jarful of amazing memories. Hold on to those. I researched ALS, I read that there are lots of treatments to prolong life.”
“You did?” he asks, his green eyes round.
I nod. “I know there is only so far that meds will get her, but you need to cherish every moment she has now and make the best of it. Your parents seem to be doing that with their trip. I’m sure they would hate to know that you are here sad on this beautiful island. Your mom probably wants you happy and smiling. You have her great life to celebrate. She seems to be embracing it. You should to,” I advise.
He turns to me, his hand comes up to caress my cheek, his thumb, rough and calloused, moves in even strokes across my cheek before he dips his head and claims my lips. My arms come up around his neck as my body presses into him. His arms wrap around me, drawing me in to his warmth and strength. In Aaron’s arms I feel wanted. In his kiss I am lost, and it’s not something I want to think about. When we are practically ready to rip each other’s clothes off, I remember where we are and pull away.
“Stay in my room tonight,” he says. It’s a request, even though he’s said it like a statement. His green eyes are pleading.
I nod and he takes me by the hand and leads me to the lobby. We wait for the elevator. A throb burns between my thighs as I think of him inside me. I am inpatient waiting for the elevator to arrive, and when it does, I thank my lucky stars we are alone inside because the moment those doors close Aaron and I are consumed by another kiss. He pins me to the wall and the familiar feeling of his hard cock pressed against my belly has me quivering and melting into him.
I’m wearing a mini skirt and he dips his finger under the hem, finding my clit. “Always so ready for me, Briar. I love that about you and the way you can make me get lost in you. Make me forget my problems even exist.”
His words jar me because if I have that impact on him then maybe he’s feeling what I am, but that can’t be right. I must be a convenient distraction right now. That’s what it is.
I get out of my head when he dips his finger inside me and I clench around him, a loud moan filling the quiet space of the elevator. The ding of the elevator arriving on our floor causes us to pull apart. He takes his finger that was just in my pussy and sucks on it. “So damn sweet, Briar.”
We can’t get to his room fast enough. When he gets the door open, we are a tangled mess of limbs as he removes my tank top and I pull off his T-shirt. His hands roam all over my exposed skin as my hands ache to touch every part of his warm, solid body. It only takes a moment for us to strip. I jump onto the bed in a heap of laughter. The alcohol coursing through my veins makes me feel bold enough to show him just how needy I am.
Aaron laughs and he’s hovering above me in moments. There is nothing slow or careful about the way we kiss. I inch my hips up to rub on his cock and he slides inside me in one forceful thrust, causing me to cry out in ecstasy. We are both so hungry, so lost in whatever is happening between us, as he fucks me missionary style into oblivion. He lifts my thighs over his shoulders and penetrates me deeper, rubbing my clit in all the right places. Our chemistry and the way we move feel familiar, but it’s only been days. Yet, it’s like we are engaged in a dance we know well as he pounds into me hard, causing me to fall over the edge. Aaron falls with me in a heap of grunts and growls.
When he says, “There’s nothing more I love than coming inside you.” My eyes open but the pressure of his cock on my clit distracts me. All I can focus on is the sheer ecstasy he’s delivering.