to the deck, I return to the kitchen to get the lighter and some dry wood for the fire.
After I haul everything down, I unzip the sleeping bags and lay them side by side on top of the grass. I stack the wood into the pit and set fire to it. I go back inside and make us some hot chocolate. I pour it into the thermos and take it outside. I walk over to the tree and break off two branches. Pulling out my pocketknife, I sharpen the edges of the sticks so that we can use them to roast marshmallows.
I sit down in front of the fire and analyze everything around me, making sure I haven’t forgotten anything. Shit. We need a cover. I head back inside and grab a blanket that’s tossed over the back of the couch. As I step out the back door, I hear a car pull up to the house. I toss the blanket over the rails of the deck and head in to meet Allie.
She enters the door and I have to force myself not to run to her and scoop her up into my arms, where she fits perfectly. She’s wearing grey baggy sweats and a tight pink top, showing her tan flat stomach. Her hair is messy, thrown into a knot on the top of her head. She’s wearing her glasses, which I fucking love, and no make-up. Breathtakingly beautiful, all natural, all mine...for now.
“Why are you staring at me like that? All mushy looking and shit?” I open my mouth to defend myself, but then I realize I must look like a lovesick puppy. My mouth is hanging open and my head is cocked to the side, drool making its way out the side of my mouth as I admire her.
“Can’t help it, you’re gorgeous,” I smile.
“Pfft, whatever. I look like shit right now. I’m anything but gorgeous.” She rolls her eyes and walks to me. I open my arms wide and invite her in. She wraps her arms around my waist and I bend down to kiss her.
“ Mmm, I’ve missed you today,” she says, resting the side of her face onto my chest.
I place my hand to the side of her head and kiss the top of her head. “I have a surprise for you.”
She lifts her head and a smile invades her face, “Yeah?”
I nod. “Did you eat dinner?” I ask. I hope not, because I thawed the hot dogs for roasting.
“No,” she shakes her head. “But I’m starving,” she adds.
“Well, I’ve got a date with Kelsey. See you tomorrow?” Kyle approaches Allie timidly.
Her smile fades some. “You’re not staying here tonight?” Kyle shakes his head. “Okay, tomorrow then,” she replies, leaving me to go over and hug her brother. And as I watch them interact, I begin to feel bad for demanding my time with her, sort of.
“You guys don’t get too comfortable. You never know where I’ll be. Keep that in mind,” he says, glaring at me over his little sister’s shoulder.
“Please, Kyle. I’m an adult now. Plus, you don’t intimidate me,” she teases, holding him out at arm’s length.
“I’m sorry, but can you repeat that? Because I swear, it sounded like you said that you aren’t intimidated by me,” Kyle says in disbelief.
“No, you heard right.” Allie confirms.
Kyle cocks his head and stares deep into Allie’s eyes. “Yeah?” Allie places her hands onto her hips and nods. Kyle drops his arms to his side and pops his neck from side to side.
Allie turns away from him and begins to walk away, but Kyle captures her. He tickles her, causing her legs to become weak. Allie and Kyle crash to the floor, but he doesn’t stop tickling her. “Stop! Pa- pleaseeee! Stop!” she pleads, laughing uncontrollably.
“Hell no. Not until you admit that I’m intimidating,” Kyle persuades.
“Ne-ver!” Allie breathes. I watch as they roll around the floor, laughing. Tears burn the backs of my eyes and I can’t stand here and watch them any longer.
I turn away and go back down into the basement. I take a seat on the steps and bring my head down to my knees. I take in some deep breaths and try to fight back my tears, but it’s hard, really fucking hard. I see her up there smiling, laughing, loving her
After I haul everything down, I unzip the sleeping bags and lay them side by side on top of the grass. I stack the wood into the pit and set fire to it. I go back inside and make us some hot chocolate. I pour it into the thermos and take it outside. I walk over to the tree and break off two branches. Pulling out my pocketknife, I sharpen the edges of the sticks so that we can use them to roast marshmallows.
I sit down in front of the fire and analyze everything around me, making sure I haven’t forgotten anything. Shit. We need a cover. I head back inside and grab a blanket that’s tossed over the back of the couch. As I step out the back door, I hear a car pull up to the house. I toss the blanket over the rails of the deck and head in to meet Allie.
She enters the door and I have to force myself not to run to her and scoop her up into my arms, where she fits perfectly. She’s wearing grey baggy sweats and a tight pink top, showing her tan flat stomach. Her hair is messy, thrown into a knot on the top of her head. She’s wearing her glasses, which I fucking love, and no make-up. Breathtakingly beautiful, all natural, all mine...for now.
“Why are you staring at me like that? All mushy looking and shit?” I open my mouth to defend myself, but then I realize I must look like a lovesick puppy. My mouth is hanging open and my head is cocked to the side, drool making its way out the side of my mouth as I admire her.
“Can’t help it, you’re gorgeous,” I smile.
“Pfft, whatever. I look like shit right now. I’m anything but gorgeous.” She rolls her eyes and walks to me. I open my arms wide and invite her in. She wraps her arms around my waist and I bend down to kiss her.
“ Mmm, I’ve missed you today,” she says, resting the side of her face onto my chest.
I place my hand to the side of her head and kiss the top of her head. “I have a surprise for you.”
She lifts her head and a smile invades her face, “Yeah?”
I nod. “Did you eat dinner?” I ask. I hope not, because I thawed the hot dogs for roasting.
“No,” she shakes her head. “But I’m starving,” she adds.
“Well, I’ve got a date with Kelsey. See you tomorrow?” Kyle approaches Allie timidly.
Her smile fades some. “You’re not staying here tonight?” Kyle shakes his head. “Okay, tomorrow then,” she replies, leaving me to go over and hug her brother. And as I watch them interact, I begin to feel bad for demanding my time with her, sort of.
“You guys don’t get too comfortable. You never know where I’ll be. Keep that in mind,” he says, glaring at me over his little sister’s shoulder.
“Please, Kyle. I’m an adult now. Plus, you don’t intimidate me,” she teases, holding him out at arm’s length.
“I’m sorry, but can you repeat that? Because I swear, it sounded like you said that you aren’t intimidated by me,” Kyle says in disbelief.
“No, you heard right.” Allie confirms.
Kyle cocks his head and stares deep into Allie’s eyes. “Yeah?” Allie places her hands onto her hips and nods. Kyle drops his arms to his side and pops his neck from side to side.
Allie turns away from him and begins to walk away, but Kyle captures her. He tickles her, causing her legs to become weak. Allie and Kyle crash to the floor, but he doesn’t stop tickling her. “Stop! Pa- pleaseeee! Stop!” she pleads, laughing uncontrollably.
“Hell no. Not until you admit that I’m intimidating,” Kyle persuades.
“Ne-ver!” Allie breathes. I watch as they roll around the floor, laughing. Tears burn the backs of my eyes and I can’t stand here and watch them any longer.
I turn away and go back down into the basement. I take a seat on the steps and bring my head down to my knees. I take in some deep breaths and try to fight back my tears, but it’s hard, really fucking hard. I see her up there smiling, laughing, loving her
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