Chapter 14
Nairie
Losing my virginity to William last night replayed in my mind as I drove to my parents’ house. I couldn’t believe it’d actually happened. Elspeth said I wouldn’t feel different, but I did. I was comfortable in my skin and felt invigorated despite some soreness.
I loved hearing William lose control; his animalistic grunts were all because of me.
When he asked about coming inside me, it didn’t matter that I was already on the pill.
A crazy part of me wanted him to come, risks be damned, because carrying William’s baby was a subconscious wish I didn’t even know I had.
Definitely would have to unpack that later with Elspeth, but I was in deep shit with my parents and needed to spin a lie fast.
I’d already texted to ensure my entire family that I was still alive, but when I walked through the front door, it was deadly quiet.
Too quiet.
I got to the kitchen and saw nearly my whole family.
Despite the stressful circumstances, coffee and snacks were being distributed.
Every eye turned to me as I entered the room, and I saw my mother in a fit of tears in one of the armchairs.
Some of my aunts were consoling her while Baba stood outside, glaring at me through the patio doors.
I scanned more faces until I came across Aunt Lilit. She was holding back a laugh.
Baba entered the room and escorted Mom and I to my bedroom. I felt ten years old again, preparing for the scolding of a lifetime. I tried to stay strong and show no fear, but it was hard when they both stood above me while I sat on the bed.
Baba looked at me sternly. “What were you thinking?”
Mom burst into another fit of tears, blowing her nose loudly into a tissue.
“I know. I’m sorry for not telling you where I was.”
Mom croaked. “We thought you were snatched! And to hear you disrespected David at dinner was just as bad.”
“Me being kidnapped is equivalent to me throwing a drink in a guy’s face?”
“Your mother is being dramatic, but we don’t know what’s going on. This isn’t like you, Nairie.” Baba eyed me closer. “And what’s this all over your neck?”
My stomach flipped. I forgot William had left hickeys all over my body. I covered them with my hands. “It’s just eczema.”
Mom inched closer to examine me herself. “Ex-what?”
I moved across the room and hugged my cardigan tighter. “It’s a skin condition. I’m figuring it out.”
The weight of guilt felt like an elephant sitting on my chest, but I had to change the subject and fast. “Look, I’m really sorry.
David was being incredibly rude, and I was so upset I wanted to go to Elspeth’s to tell her all about it.
Then I fell asleep, and my phone died before I could charge it. ”
Mom blew her nose loudly. “This is why you need to move back home, Nairie. We can’t keep an eye on you when you’re at Elspeth’s all the time.”
Baba nodded aggressively. “Your mother’s right. You need to move back.”
This was the point where I would always buckle.
I’d acquiesce to avoid causing a scene, to be the well-behaved daughter they raised me to be, but something was different.
I was different. I felt it the first time I told them I was moving out to help Elspeth take care of her mother, and I felt it now.
The dare to revolt was manifesting itself in the pit of my stomach, roiling to a boil.
“No.”
They looked at me like I’d sprouted three heads.
“What do you mean no?” Mom asked.
I crossed my arms. “I mean, I’m not moving back in. I’m twenty-three, and I think it’s time.”
“Nairie, you’re not married. This is unacceptable.” Baba’s voice was low and serious.
I stood my ground even though fear crept back in. “No. I love you guys, but I’m not moving back.”
Mom seethed. “Do you want to end up like your aunt? Alone in god knows what country? The whole community constantly talking bad about you?!”
We all turned around when there was a knock at my door.
Lilit crossed her arms against her frilly shirt. It had a deep V-neck, exposing her multitude of layered turquoise necklaces. She wore bell-bottom slacks over her chunky heels like she was straight out of an issue of Vogue from the seventies.
“Thought I heard my name in here,” she said with a smirk.
Baba waved her away. “This is none of your concern, Lilit.”
Lilit entered the bedroom leisurely and sat against my old dresser. “Oh, I don’t know, George. When people are talking about me, I’d like to hear what they’re saying.”
“Lilit, I apologize, but we’re trying to protect Nairie,” Mom said.
Lilit assessed me like I was a piece of art and smiled.
A vote of confidence surged through me at that moment.
My aunt’s approving gaze gave me the strength I needed to do what was necessary.
“I love you guys. You’ve always done what’s best for me and raised me to make good decisions.
But I need my own space. I’m still going to see you at work and come to all the family and church events. It’ll be like I never left.”
I could tell my parents wanted to say more, to fight back, but with Lilit’s presence, they seemed to hold back. I wish she was here for all my battles.
“We will discuss this later,” Baba said in warning.
My parents left the room in a huff.
Lilit clapped her hands demurely. “Well done.”
I let out a huge breath. “I don’t even know how I did that.”
Lilit squeezed my shoulders and brushed my long hair to the side. “What does it feel like?”
I reflected and looked around my childhood bedroom like it was a distant memory. “It feels like my life is starting.”
Lilit smiled. “And I get a front-row ticket. You better pack everything you need from here. They probably think you’re going to cave and move back in tonight.”
I nodded, knowing she was right.
I started packing the essentials and stopped when I felt Lilit still staring at me. “What?”
“You look different. Better. Brighter.”
I blushed. Could she tell I lost my virginity that easily? Damn my family and their gypsy psychic powers!
“And those hickeys really bring out the color in your eyes.”
I laughed and hid my face in my hands.
“I’ll distract the family while you make your escape,” she said.
“Thank you.”
Lilit giggled excitedly. “I haven’t had this much fun since I commandeered that yacht in Crete.”
I looked back at her with raised eyebrows.
“A story for another time. Go, go!”
I slipped out and stuffed my trunk with the rest of my stuff.
Back at Elspeth’s, I settled the rest of my essentials in my room and started putting the final touches on my surfer drawing for the Instagram contest. I was working off a digital file of my drawing now, and when I finally felt like it was in a good enough place, I submitted it.
It would take a couple of weeks for them to announce the winner, so I focused my energy on my art class final. Elspeth and William were working at the pub, so I had the whole house to myself. Maybe it was all the sex and freedom, but I’d never been so inspired.
By late afternoon, I started brainstorming my aunt’s piece.
I chose my favorite window seat in the living room and curled up with my sketchpad and headphones, doodling and ruminating on Lilit’s magnificent life.
Images of mythological birds started taking shape, as well as my aunt’s striking eyes.
But something was missing. I wanted Lilit to have something she adored.
Throughout the day, William texted about our impending date and things happening at the pub. I’d burst into a goofy grin any time his name popped up on my screen.
William: What are you up to?
Nairie: Still drawing
William: What now?
Nairie: A phoenix
William: Not of me?
Nairie: Believe it or not, I have other things on my mind
I didn’t have to mention that in between my drawings for class and my aunt, I was, in fact, putting to paper lewd images of our passionate night together. Some were of his hands gripping my thighs, and others were of his mouth trailing down my body. They’d probably fetch me a pretty decent price.
William: That’s not true, is it?
I didn’t respond.
William: I particularly like the one you drew of me thrusting on top of you
I paused my sketch and looked around suspiciously. It was the exact drawing on my pad. I got up from the bench, but William’s arms wrapped around me from behind as he slipped my headphones off.
His deep voice hummed in my ear. “Aye, I quite like that one.”
I squealed as he tickled my sides. “How long have you been watching?”
William still held me firmly from behind. His hard groin dug into my backside, and I leaned my head back onto his shoulder.
“Long enough to get a hard-on from your pornographic cartoons.”
I giggled and swayed my hips deeper into him.
William caressed my waist and moved my hair to the other side of my neck. “You should be getting ready for our date, or did you forget?”
“I didn’t forget, I just got distracted. I’ll wash up, and then we can go.”
I turned around in his hold and held my hands up to show the charcoal smudges from drawing all day.
“I like it better when you’re dirty.” He kissed the tops of my hands and spanked my bum as he turned me toward the stairs.
Needing a pep talk and to debrief, I called Elspeth as I got ready upstairs. William was taking me kayaking in the ocean, in the middle of the night. Two of my biggest fears—darkness and open water.
Elspeth was in her office at the pub. “How did this all happen?”
“I don’t even know. I came home from that shitty date and was furious. I think it turned him on, and we started attacking each other.”
Elspeth laughed. “Wow, hate sex on your first try? Good job.”
“It wasn’t hate sex, just very, very pent-up sex. He told me he wants to see where this goes.”
“Finally. I told him he was being an idiot for trying to avoid the inevitable.”
“Do you think he means boyfriend and girlfriend?”
“Try not to think of labels just yet. You guys are trying to figure out what this is first, but would you even be open to long distance?”
“For William? Yes.”
“God, if he marries you, we’ll get to be sisters for real! I can’t wait.”
“You’re the one who told me not to put a label on things, and now you’re talking about marriage?”
“Okay, I’m sorry.”
“In other big news, I hope you like me living with you because I just bumped up to a full-time roommate.”
“Oh my god! Are you serious? You’ve had more changes these past few weeks than in your entire life. I’m so excited! How did your parents take it?”
I left my hair in its naturally soft waves and applied a stunning but simple makeup look.
“Not well. The only reason they didn’t put up more of a fight was because Aunt Lilit was there. I have a feeling they’re going to gang up on me later this week and drag me back.”
“No way! They’re not that out of control.”
I rummaged through my drawers and settled on a sexy black bikini and topped it with a pair of jean shorts and a sweater.
It wasn’t what I wore on my typical dates, but with the way William stared at me these days, I felt beautiful no matter what I wore.
It was comforting and unnerving at the same time.
“Where’s he taking you tonight?”
“Night kayaking. What the hell is he thinking?”
Elspeth laughed. “I think he genuinely enjoys watching you squirm in more ways than one. You’re going to be fine!”
“Ugh.”
“Are you seriously dreading a date with my brother? The one you’ve been obsessed with your entire life?”
“No, you’re right. I’ll try to push past the fear.”
“Atta girl. Fear can be a great aphrodisiac. All that adrenaline.”
“Ew, that’s your sibling.”
“Okay, I regretted it as soon as I said it.”
“I’ll talk to you later.”
“Have fun!”