38. Wobbling Lip Syndrome
38
WOBBLING LIP SYNDROME
OLIVER/MALLORY
OLIVER
I’m up on my feet as soon as I hear the front door open and close. Henry, Mallory and Mr Grace all look exhausted. After some more testing, they said Mallory was fine and ready to go home. They gave her an extra epi pen to replace the one they used, and just told her to get some rest, to take it easy.
Mallory sees me exit the living room and immediately smiles. Her dad and brother, however, are not smiling. They both stand at her side, folding their arms across their chests, chins up, and backs straight, making them seem as tall as possible.
“Ashby.”
I swallow. “Coach.”
“I understand that today has been a stressful day for everyone, especially Mallory. However, just because she got hurt does not mean I will let the two of you sleep in the same room.”
“Dad– ”
“Am I clear?”
I clear my throat, nodding. “Crystal.”
“Try anything and I'll kick your ass.” Henry says, and I do my best to suppress a laugh. I can’t promise I won't if I verbally respond, so I just nod.
“Hen for fucks sake.” Mallory says, rolling her eyes. They both give her a quick hug and kiss on the cheek before she walks over to me, and I take her hand in mine.“See you later, I guess.” she says with a frown.
“Goodnight, Mallie.” I give her a quick kiss on the cheek before I head upstairs.
Later, she said.
Not tomorrow.
Later.
MALLORY
“Mrs Ashby?”
I did actually listen to my dad for once and went to sleep in the guestroom. Well, ‘sleep’ is a loose term. I was under the covers staring at the ceiling until I couldn't take it anymore. So I wanted to go to the kitchen to get a glass of water. I see Mrs Ashby sitting on the couch, playing with something in her hand. She looks up at me when I call her name.
“Oh Mallory, mia cara, what are you doing up?”
Mia cara. One of the few Italian phrases Ollie has taught me. I know this one because it’s what his mom always calls me. My dear.
“Couldn’t sleep. Wanted to get a glass of water. Why are you awake?” She gives me a soft smile as she pats the cushion next to hers. I walk over to her and sit on the cushion, tucking my feet under myself .
“This was my grandmother’s.” l looked down to see her fiddling with the necklace. It’s a heart–shaped pendant with… swirly carvings… surrounding a green…
“Mrs Ashby, where did you get this?” My voice comes out quiet, breathy – almost a whisper.
She smiles at me, placing her hand over mine. The one with the ring.
“This belonged to my grandmother. As did the ring.”
“No. no, he told me this was from a vintage shop.”
She smiles. “It is vintage, so not technically a lie. It was hers. She left it for Ollie in her will, and the necklace she gave to me.”
She turns her body to face me, but I'm still staring at it. Her grip on my hand tightens. Not to the point of pain, but it’s calming, grounding.
“Today was… intense, to say the least. But it puts this in perspective for me.”
“What things?”
“It made me realise that you are already a part of this family. I feel for you as if you were mine. Ollie gave you that ring, even before, because back then he knew. He knew you were his too.” She undoes the clasp and moves my hair away from my neck, placing the necklace on me. “You already have the ring. Seems fitting you have the necklace too.”
I traced the edges of the pendant with the pad of my thumb, willing myself not to cry.
“I love him.” I say.
“I know you do,” she leans in closer, wrapping her arms around me, and embracing me in a hug. It’s a hug I can't get from anyone else. “He does too. It’s a love I see rarely. Even with my eldest married and my second almost. The way Ollie loves you is infinite. You are a part of him, my dear. I'd put all my money on the fact that my son could pick you out of any crowd. Because he's always looking for you." Mrs Ashby's arms are still wrapped around me when we hear shuffling from the corridor.
"Mallie?"
A sleepy Oliver shuffles into the room in nothing but his boxers. His hair is messy and dishevelled, stray bits sticking up everywhere like static. His green eyes, normally so wide, have turned into thin slits. He sleepily rubs them as he blinks at me."I thought you left." He grumbles. He really is grumpy when he's tired, It's so cute. He's so cute.
"It's three in the morning bub, where would I go?" He just shrugs at me. I don't think he even heard what I said. He reaches out his hands, flexing them several times so I'd see it.
"Come back to bed." His voice is low, still sleepy – oddly sexy. And again, I think it's the cutest thing I've ever heard. I get up from the couch and wrap my arms around his neck, jumping onto his chest, wrapping my legs around his waist – clinging to him like a koala. He grips my thighs and lowers his head to my neck, planting soft kisses against my skin. “Night mom.” He murmurs into my neck, leading us out of the room.
"Make sure you take her to the guest room, sweetie."
"Nope." He mumbles, walking us back up the stairs.
Ollie puts me down the minute we enter his room, already heading to his bed.
I shimmy out of my sunshine pyjama print pants before crawling over him to get to my side of the bed.
I make myself comfy under the covers, snuggling into his side, taking full advantage of his warmth. He wraps around my shoulder, tangling our legs together.
“I don’t think I can sleep without you anymore. It’s becoming a serious problem.” I whisper into his side.
He removes his arm and instead plasters himself on me, not putting all his weight on me, thank god, but just enough. His head rests on my chest as he nestles himself in between my legs. “Doesn’t seem like a problem to me.”
I stroke his hair, smiling when his annoyingly long and perfect lashes flutter shut. “I was really scared today,” he admits.
“I know. Me too.”
“But you’re okay?” He asks, lifting his head up to meet my eyes.
Mine softens as I stroke his cheek. “Yeah, baby. I’m okay.”
OLIVER
“You’re so dead.”
We both jolt awake to find Henry and my brother Elliott, leaning against my door frame, wearing shit–eating grins on their faces.
Mallory reluctantly lifts her head from the pillow, rubbing her eyes with her hand.
“What the fuck are you grinning about?” Her voice is sleepy.
“Dad told you to stay out of his room.” He sings. It takes us both a second to process everything.
Just because she got hurt does not mean I will let the two of you sleep in the same room. Am I clear?
“Shit,” we both say at the same time. I jump out of bed, standing as far away from her as possible, picking up her pajama pants to throw at her.
“Like I said,” Henry continues. “D.E.A.D.”
“Why the fuck are you here?” I ask Elliott, who’s still standing by the door.
“Because you, Mr Golden Boy, never get into trouble. I wasn’t going to miss this.”
Just as Mallie emerges from my bed, she walks over to her dad. And my dad. And my mom.
“Oliver…” Mr Grace addresses me, in his angry coach voice. It sends chills down my spine.
“It was my fault, Daddy,” Mallory pleads, causing my mom to smile.
“Oh was it now?” He arches an eyebrow.
“Yeah, I –” Mallory wraps her arms around herself, sniffling. “I didn’t want to be alone. I was scared. I needed him.” She looks up at her dad, whose features soften.
“You okay now?”
She nods. “I still have a headache though, so I'm going to take it easy until the wedding.”
Mr Grace’s features officially soften as he walks closer to her. “Make sure you do, baby girl.”
Mallory grins as her dad bends down to hug her. “Will do. I love you, dad.” She flips off Henry from behind her back, who’s currently gaping at her.
“Life isn’t fair.” Henry grumbles.
“What the fuck are you wearing?” Elliot asks, leaning against the hallway wall, a frown etched on his face.
Mallory looks down at her shirt, mirroring his look. She’s wearing an oversized light pink shirt with the Scooby– Doo print on the front. “I like this shirt. And I happen to have a date today. This shirt is perfect date attire.”
I frown. “We have a date?”
“ No , silly billy. I said that I have a date.”
Just as I'm about to question her, Ben comes trudging down the stairs, clasping his dad's hand, wearing his favourite red scooby doo pyjamas. He immediately lets go and runs over to my girlfriend. He tilts his head up, beaming at her.
“Well, just look at those pyjamas!” She says, her voice even higher than normal. “Are you ready for our Scooby–Doo marathon?”
Ben nods enthusiastically. “Can we start with the monster one?”
Mallory blinks at him several times. “Benny–boo, my man, I hate to burst your Scooby–Doo–shaped bubble, but every film is the monster one.”
“The water monster one, silly. ” He laughs.
The water monster. Aka Scooby – Doo and the Loch Ness Monster. His favourite one.
“Ah, Nessie! Silly me. We sure can, little man.” Ben smiles at her, reaching his arms up at her. She picks him up and he settles his head on her shoulder.
I have to pinch myself from inside my pocket to stop from showing any emotion right now.
She’s wearing her vintage pink Scooby doo tee. He’s wearing his scooby doo pjs. They’re matching. He could be her son. Our son. But it’s too soon. Way way too soon to think about shit like this, I know it. But god, damn. Mallory would make the most amazing mom.
Sarah, my sister–in–law, comes up to Mallory from behind, ruffling her son’s hair. “Go and help your dad set it up, sweetie. ”
“O–ookkaayy!” he says. Mallory settles him back onto the floor as he runs into the living room, Eddie following him.
“You can go with them, you know. I’m not going anywhere, I can watch him.” Sarah says.
“It’s okay, I'd rather stay here. My concussion hasn’t completely subsided. I promised my dad before he left that I'd take it easy.”
Henry and Mr Grace left earlier today shortly after the disaster in my room. Henry has to get back to New York and Coach has some admin stuff to settle back in Covington, so neither of them are staying for the wedding. Sarah is about to respond when Ben comes toddling into the hallway, his eyes glassy. We all collectively frown at the sight.
“Benny, buddy, what’s wrong?” I crouch down to his level, rubbing his back.
“Daddy just told me Mallie got hurt.” He aggressively rubs his eyes as his bottom lip starts to wobble. “Are you hurt, Mallie? I don’t want you to be hurt.”
Mallory lets out a long sigh as she crouches down in front of him.
“I was, buddy. But I'm okay now.”
“But–you–have–a–cut–on–your–forehead,” he hiccups between his words. He raises his hand, rubbing his eyes with his sleeve.
“I’m all good, Benny, swear.”
“You promise?”
“Promise.”
He embraces Mallory in the tightest hug he can. A sight that pulls at my heartstrings. Fuck. If there's somebody out there who loves her more than me, it’s him. “Go wait on the couch, I'll be there in one second.”
He nods aggressively as he runs back into the room .
We both stand from our crouched position. Mallory takes my hand and leads me out the room, into the corridor. She pressed me up against the wall, wrapping her arms around my neck, her chest flush against mine. “I wanted to kiss you goodbye, but I didn't wanna do it in front of everyone.”
“Is that right?” I wrap my arms around her waist. “Why?”
She leans up on her tiptoes, her lips inches away from mine. “Because it’s not going to be PG.”
She leans in closer, only pressing a quick kiss to my lips before I break away. “Wait, what about your headach–”
“Shut up and kiss me, Ashby.”
“Yes ma’am.”
So I do. I capture Mallory’s lips with mine, smiling as she moans into my mouth.
I take back what I said before.
Nobody loves her more than me.