One Week Later: New Year’s Eve
Tyler
Since we kept ourselves holed up during Christmas, for New Year’s Eve, we decided we’d have our family and a few of our closest friends over for a PJs game night party.
We’ve got board games set up in the dining room, Xbox One set up with Guitar Hero Live in the living room, and a poker table placed in the kitchen. We’re also making homemade pizzas with every topping imaginable, and we’ve set up shop to make our own hurricane cocktails after I found the Hard Rock’s recipe online.
Again, like over Christmas, we didn’t want to make too much of a fuss, so we’ve made the dress code simple. I’m in a pair of Star Trek PJs, and Mia’s wearing a Waiting for my letter to Hogwarts nightshirt with a pair of stripy over-the-knee socks. Her look gives off a schoolgirl vibe, and it’s sexy as hell. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to keep my hands to myself for the duration of the evening.
Damn it, now, I wish I hadn’t invited anyone, so I could have my wicked way with her. Fuck her into next year. Literally.
On a serious note, I’m looking forward to getting together with the people I love when it isn’t surrounded by the darkness of my mom’s death. Tonight is about having fun and bringing in the New Year on a high note.
Plus, I have some making up to do with Junior for not being the greatest uncle following the days after my mom’s death, but with what I’ve got up my sleeve for him, I have a feeling we’ll be the best of friends in just a few hours.
Once the house is shipshape for the party, I make my way into the kitchen, and a groan of appreciation expels from my lips at the view of my wife bending over, searching for something in one of the bottom cabinets. I can see a hint of her panty line, and of course, she’s wearing red.
“That is one fine view, Mrs. Bailey,” I announce from behind Mia.
She lets out a giggle as she stands with a glass bowl in her hands before setting it down on the countertop. I sidle up to her as she opens a large bag of potato chips and then deposits them into the awaiting bowl.
“You know, I think you should slip into a pair of black stiletto heels. They would look amazing with this outfit.”
She raises a brow, smirking. “Oh, really?”
“Oh, yeah. You have this schoolgirl vibe going on, and I’m not ashamed to admit that it’s turning me on.”
“Well,” she says while laughing, “I hate to burst your bubble, but I’m not wearing heels for a pajama party.”
I edge closer to her until my front brushes with her side. “I’m not talking about for the party. We have a little while until everyone arrives,” I say, suggestively thrusting my hips against her waist.
Her eyes light up and smolder with lust as she feels my hard-on pressing up against her.
“What are you thinking?” she asks, smiling flirtatiously, as she turns to me.
I pull her closer to my body while her hands come to rest at the back of my neck.
“I’m thinking we should do a Star Trek and Harry Potter crossover—you know, where Captain Kirk fucks Hermione…while she’s of legal age, of course,” I add lightheartedly.
Mia throws her head back on a laugh. “I like the sound of a crossover. I’ve always wanted to be Hermione.” Mia’s words become a little breathy, and the hitch in her throat when the word Hermione slips from her lips is a telltale sign that she’s down for a little role-playing. “But why Captain Kirk and not Spock?”
“Because I know the only Star Trek you’ve ever liked is the one with Chris Pine in it, and I know you think he’s hot or whatever. I mean, obviously, he doesn’t hold a candle to me.”
“Hmm,” she says almost like a purr. “I like your thinking. I don’t think we have enough time for a full episode though, but I think we can squeeze in a small scene.” She rises on her tiptoes, her lips brushing over mine with the barest of kisses. “How should we set the scene up?”
On pure instinct, I spin her around and push her up against the countertop. I kick her legs apart and lean over her, pressing my lips to her ear. “It should be a kitchen scene on board the Starship Enterprise. After Hermione finished magic school, she went on her own way, and now, she helps superheroes and the like take down the bad guys.”
“Really?” She giggles as she gets into the story.
“Yeah. Her next mission is helping the Starship Enterprise on a maiden voyage to slaughter a Russian commander who’s threatening to destroy the universe. Anyway,” I say, pushing my hips against her ass, letting Mia feel how hard I am, my mouth still attached to her ear, “they kill the guy, and they head back to the spaceship. It’s late, it’s dark, but Hermione can’t sleep.”
“Why’s that?” Mia asks, still playing along.
“She can’t stop thinking about Captain Kirk and how sexy he looked while slaying that fucker to shreds. She’s so hot for him, so horny and wet, that she can’t stand it.”
“What’s she going to do about it?” Mia’s breaths come out a little choppy, completely affected by me—or I should say, Captain Kirk.
My hand dips under her nightshirt, and I gently run my fingers over her panty-covered pussy, teasing her.
“She fights against the urge to play with herself. She knows her fingers won’t be enough to satisfy her need, so she denies herself the pleasure. Instead, she decides to head to the kitchen to see if a cool glass of milk will help chill the heat circling that pretty pussy of hers.”
I rub Mia’s mound in a clockwise motion, trying to help her understand the kind of heat I’m talking about. A quiet moan slips from her lips, and she arches her back.
“Can you feel how hot it is, how incredibly wet she is?”
“Hmm…yeah, I can feel it,” Mia replies, instinctively thrusting her ass into my cock.
I bite back my own groan.
God, I’m so fucking hard.
“It’s no use though because, the instant she steps into the kitchen, she sees that she’s not alone. No, Captain Kirk is in there, too, and what he’s doing isn’t so innocent.”
“Why? What’s he doing?” she gasps out her question.
I continue to rub her over her underwear, feeling the wetness seep on my fingers through the lace of her panties.
“He has the palm of his hand wrapped around his thick monster of a cock, and he’s jerking off. And do you know whom he’s thinking about?”
“Who?”
“He’s thinking about her and all the naughty things he wants to be doing to her. Her gasp of arousal alerts him to her presence, and his eyes spring open. Immediately, sparks shoot across the kitchen, and the room sizzles with sexual awareness. Captain Kirk doesn’t stop though. He just keeps caressing his dick, and because of how hot and horny she is for him, she’s unable to avoid the pull she feels when in such close proximity to him. So, slowly, she begins to lift her nightshirt, revealing a pair of hot-as-sin red panties.” As I huskily speak the words, I use my free hand to lift Mia’s nightshirt over her hips and ass. While keeping my slow and seductive pace on her pussy, zoning in on her clit, I smooth my other hand over one of her rounded butt cheeks, squeezing a little.
“God, Tyler…” she moans.
I slap her ass. “It’s Captain Kirk, not Tyler.” I snicker.
She gives out a laugh, breathing through her moans. “God, Captain Kirk.”
“That’s right, baby. Say my name.”
Just as I go to continue with the story, the shrill of the doorbell rings through the house, and I curse, pressing my head along her neck.
“Fuck my life. Why are people always early?” I complain with a growl of frustration.
Mia laughs from under me before I reluctantly pull away, realizing our crossover will have to wait.
“Sorry, baby,” Mia says as she turns to me.
I grumble when she pulls her nightdress down, covering herself up. She then palms my cheek, looking up at me with desire in her eyes.
Motherfucker.
“We’ll have to continue later.”
“That’s a long time to wait.”
She steps away from me, smiling. “Well, it’ll be all the sweeter if we wait.” She winks.
I all but fist my hands together with irritation, like a petulant child. “You didn’t even get to put your heels on,” I complain.
She ignores me. Instead, she takes a quick glance down at my dick. “Um, I’ll go answer the door while you…well, sort out your little predicament.”
I don’t miss the way the smile creeps along her face.
“If it’s Jo, I’m going to strangle her for cockblocking me!” I yell out as she exits the kitchen before quickly adding, “And who are you calling little? I am far from small!”
Ten seconds later, I’m about ready to rain on Jo’s parade when Mia walks back through with my dad following behind.
“Oh, hey, Dad,” I greet with a smile. Thankfully, my cock turns flaccid in an instant.
He returns my smile, but I notice how his green eyes don’t sparkle anymore, and I know that’s because, ever since my mom died, she took that sparkle with him.
“Hi, son. I’m sorry I’m early, but I was hoping to talk to you and Mia before everyone else arrived.”
I nod, intrigued at what he wants to speak to us about. “Yes, sure. You want a beer?”
“Do bears shit in the woods?” he asks.
I chuckle, loving that saying, and I quickly realize he was the person who instilled it into my head, most like any other sarcastic response.
“They sure do. One beer coming up.”
Of course, as I turn toward the refrigerator, my wife is standing in front of me with a chilled bottle in her hand, already unscrewed.
“Unlike you, I don’t need to ask. I already know bears shit in the woods,” she retorts.
Once Mia hands my dad the beer, they both take a seat at the breakfast bar while I remain standing on the opposite side.
“So, I see you made the effort, Sam,” Mia says in a lighthearted tone, pointing down to his attire.
He’s in a pair of jeans and a Cowboys jersey. Yep. He’s the only sixty-nine-year-old guy I know who still rocks a pair of jeans. I swear, he thinks he’s a younger version of Clint Eastwood. He sure does have his cool factor though.
“Yeah, I don’t do pajamas, sweetheart. I think the last time I even owned a pair was around the 1960s. I’m old school and still sleep in my underwear.”
Mia bursts out laughing, and I shake my head, staring at him in somewhat disgust.
“That’s way too much information, Dad.”
“Well, you asked,” he argues, taking a sip from his bottle.
“Um, no, we didn’t. And, for future reference, underwear discussions with your son and daughter-in-law are a no-go.”
He shakes his head with amusement.
“How was your trip to Seattle?” Mia asks my dad a few beats later.
His face straightens out before he gives a nod of the head. “It was good. It was nice to clear my head, spend some quality time with the girls and Ashton. I also had a lot of time to think, and that’s why I wanted to speak to you both.”
“Okay, shoot. We’re listening,” I say, leaning my elbows on the countertop and shifting closer.
“You know your mother meant everything to me. She was my wife, my entire world. We spent forty incredible years together. The house you grew up in, we bought it when she was expecting Ashton, and we spent years renovating it, making it perfect. We wanted a home our kids could grow up in, a home where it would shape them into the incredible adults they’d no doubt develop into.
“After Ashton was born, it took your mama a long time to get pregnant again—to the extent that we honestly thought having any more children was out of the picture. I paid for every test available to see if there were any underlying problems, and although the tests back then are not what they are today, everything came back normal. She was healthy, but her body simply wouldn’t let her carry another child. She never liked to admit it, but the thought of having no more children killed her. She’d always wanted a big family. She craved it, but each month, when her period would come, she’d lose a piece of herself until, one day, she was so depressed that she turned to a bottle of pills.”
Mia lets out a gasp, and I feel my brows draw inward, surprise and shock taking over my face.
I never knew that.
“I stopped her before she did anything stupid.”
I relax a little when he says this because, Jesus, the thought of my mama causing herself harm is unimaginable, but I also know what can happen to a person when they let themselves become so consumed with tear-shattering sadness that revolves around a child or children.
My dad continues, mostly looking in my direction. “That was when I realized she needed help. So, I got her help with the best shrink I knew at the hospital, and because trying for another baby was putting so much stress on her, we simply stopped trying.
“Your mom got better, and it wasn’t until she came to the realization that perhaps we were to be blessed with only one child that she got pregnant with Christopher. Then, miraculously, five months after he was born, we were expecting you. It took four years of blood, sweat, and tears to get to that point, and then without even trying, she brought both you and Christopher into the world. It was like a goddamn miracle.
“If it wasn’t for the complications she had with your birth, leading to her having a full hysterectomy, I swear, she would have filled that entire house with a goddamn football team, but she knew it wasn’t meant to be. Being a mother was in her blood—that’s all she ever wanted to be—and being blessed with you three boys was more than enough for her.”
I glance over at Mia, and the sadness I see cross her features tears my heart into pieces. My dad’s topic of conversation is obviously too close to home for her. I reach over the countertop for her hand. As my fingers connect with hers, her eyes find mine, and she gives me a gentle smile while she clutches tightly to my hand. We still haven’t discussed the future and whether children will be a part of that future, but regardless of what she decides, I’ll be by her side, no matter what.
My dad’s quiet laugh forces me to focus on him. “Honestly, I’m glad we left it at number three because you boys were a freaking handful. How your mama didn’t strangle every single one of you was a miracle. Then, as if the three of you weren’t enough, five-year-old Jo came a-knocking with her ringlets of hair, wearing a pretty smile and a football jersey, asking if Christopher could play. She instantly became a member of the family, and your mama loved her like her own.”
We all smile fondly.
“I’m rambling now, but the house has so many good memories, constantly filled with laughter, fighting, football. It wasn’t too long ago that it just became the two of us, just me and your mama…but now, it’s just little old me living in that big house, and it’s too much. It used to be the home I shared with your mom, my wife, and without her, it doesn’t feel like a home anymore. It wasn’t the house that gave me the sense of home; it was your mother and everything that made her, her. Now, the house is empty, and with her no longer by my side, I don’t want to live another day in that house, so I’ve decided to move.”
Although I anticipated that, it still takes me aback a little, and I quickly glance at Mia with a WTF expression.
“Wow, that’s a really big step. You have any idea where you want to move to?” I ask. Although shocked he wants to move, I do understand why living in the house he shared with his wife for longer than I’ve even been alive would be difficult to bear without the one person who made it into the home that he loved so much.
“There’s a place on Lake Fork I’ve seen. It’s a two-bedroom cabin, right near the water. It needs a little TLC, but I’m gonna fix it up and spend my days fishing. It’s remote and quiet, and it’s exactly what I need. It’s a perfect place to live out the rest of my retirement. There’s also a run-down medical clinic not too far from there, and they are looking for help, so I’m going to offer my services and volunteer a couple of times a week. Although I’ve been retired from medicine for a while, I’m still a registered doctor. I won’t be cutting people open, but I’ll be able to stitch people up and whatnot.”
“It seems like you have all this worked out,” I muse. I do like the sound of him getting back into medicine though.
“I was never prepared to lose your mother, but Ashton helped me figure things out. That leads me to you and Mia.”
“What? Do you want us to help you sell the house?” I question, assuming that’s why he wants my and Mia’s help.
I hate the thought of him selling the house, especially after all the years of hard work he put in it and because my entire childhood up until I left for college was in that house. It’ll be sad to let it go, but it’s not my house, and if Dad wants to sell it, then he has every right to do so.
“I’m not selling it. I’m giving it to you, to you both,” he states so matter-of-factly.
I think I must have misheard what he said. My eyes flicker to Mia with yet another what-the-fuck expression before resuming my attention on my dad.
“Wait, what? Did I just hear you right? You’re giving us the house?”
“That’s right.”
I frown, my forehead no doubt crinkling, as I’m unable to grasp why he’s saying what he’s saying.
“Why?”
“Because I can’t bear the thought of selling it, but I also know I can’t live in that house anymore.”
“But what about Ashton? He grew up in that house, too.”
“His life is in Seattle now and has been for a long time. He won’t be returning to Texas.”
“Wow,” I say, pulling my hand from Mia’s. I slowly begin to pace. “I don’t know what to say. I mean, I love that house and everything about it, but it’s a house for a family, and…” I apologetically glance to Mia for what’s about to leave my lips. “There’s a chance it won’t be filled with children if we live there,” I say regretfully.
An awkward silence fills the room, and I hate the guilt that mars Mia’s face, as if she’s the reason we won’t fill that house with children. I lean over the countertop and take her hand into mine.
I sigh heavily before I speak, “Mia and I still have a lot of things to deal with, issues we need to face. We only just got in a good place again, and we don’t know what our future holds other than the two of us being together. Is it okay if we think about it?” I ask my dad, knowing Mia and I need to discuss it together.
“Of course you can, son. I would still like to sign the house over to you. I would love to keep it in the family, but I can’t force you. It has to be what you both want.”
“Thank you,” I tell my dad.
The doorbell rings, alerting us to our arriving guests. Mia lets go of my hand to answer and shoots off into the direction of the door, as if she can’t get out of the kitchen fast enough.
“I’ll be right back,” I say to my dad before catching up with Mia in the foyer. I take her by the wrist and pull her to me. “Hey, are you okay?” I ask her, assessing her eyes to see if they’ll tell me anything.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” She tries to brush me off, but with how edgy she’s being and the haunted look upon her face, I can tell she’s anything but fine.
“Really?” I ask, knowing she’s lying.
Her shoulders drop down low, and she gives a shake of the head. “I just…the mention of children is still a sore spot for me. The thought of not having children hurts, but the thought of having them and then having them taken away like Erika was hurts even more. I can’t…you know. It’s hard.”
Her eyes begin to fill with tears, and immediately, I bring her into my arms.
“I know, baby. That, in there, was a lot to take in. He didn’t mean anything by what he was saying though. Hell, I don’t think he knew what the hell he was trying to say. The old man just started rambling,” I say lightheartedly.
She softly giggles.
“He’ll start a conversation on one thing, and nine times out of ten, he’ll go off on a tangent. It’s just how he is. I know I probably didn’t help with my comment, but it was the truth.”
“It’s not what either you or your dad said, but the mention of children is a trigger. I can’t help it; it’s just how my mind works though. I’ve turned into a basket case.”
I capture a tear that’s managed to fall along her cheek. “You’re not a basket case. I mean, you are when it’s that time of the month, but honestly, all women are.” I smirk.
She playfully slaps my chest, laughing, and I’m happy I put a smile on her face.
“Just kidding, babe,” I say lightheartedly before I allow the smile to fall, looking Mia in the eye. “We’ll talk about everything tomorrow, but for tonight, let’s get drunk and have fun, okay?”
She gives a little nod, a grin appearing on her face just as the doorbell rings again, followed by impatient knocking.
Mia steps out of my grasp. “We’d better let the crew in,” she says.
She opens the door.
We hear Junior before we can even see him. “About time! What took you so long?”
“Sorry, bud,” I say when he steps out from behind Drew.
He’s followed by Drew’s nephew, Mason, and they both walk through the door. I hold my hand out, and I give them each a high five as everyone else piles in.
“I brought a guest,” Jo announces.
That’s when I spot her friend Kaelyn beside her, whom I’ve met a few times. I bring Jo in for a hug.
She whispers in my ear, “Sorry to show up with Kaelyn unannounced, but the douche bag she was seeing did a number on her, and let’s just say, he’s lucky he has his balls intact. So, instead of letting her cry herself into a pint of ice cream tonight, I dragged her here.”
“Enough said,” I say as we pull away. I greet her friend, “Hey, it’s good to see you again.”
She grins, and considering she’s just split up with her boyfriend, she seems rather chipper. “Thanks for having me.” She unzips her jacket before scowling at Jo. “I apologize for the way I’m dressed tonight, but someone—and I mean, Jo—didn’t tell me it was PJs-themed.”
“Hey, it’s okay,” Mia pipes up from behind. “You can borrow a pair of mine if you’d like. In fact, I have a new pair of cute pajamas I haven’t even worn yet, but they do have the words Hug Me scrawled across the T-shirt, so be prepared.”
“That would be amazing. Thank you. And I happen to love hugs.” Kaelyn beams.
Mia links her arm with Kaelyn’s. “Come on, I’ll show you where to change.” Mia leads her upstairs.
I smile at my wife when she briefly looks back at me. I mouth the words, I love you.
Her eyes sparkle as she repeats the words before turning back around.
God, my wife is a fucking superstar.
Soon enough, most people arrive, and the party gets started. Music pumps from the Bose speakers in the dining room that filters easily through the house. Junior and Mason—or I should say, Spider-Man and Batman—are both jamming on Guitar Hero.
My dad is set up at the poker table in the kitchen with Drew; my best friend, Matt; Mia’s brother, Dan; and her dad, Timothy.
Mia, Jo, Kaelyn, Alex along with Dan’s girlfriend, Natasha, and Mia’s mom, Lauren, are busy making hurricanes at the cocktail station. Harley excitedly wags his tail as he runs in and out of the house via the backdoor with Alex’s beagle named Baxter chasing Harley’s tail, both playing. It’s not often Harley gets to interact with other dogs, but when he does, he turns into a complete goofball.
I sidle up to Jo, who is taking a rather large sip from the hurricane. “Hi, Wonder Woman,” I say, looking down at her Wonder Woman pajamas.
She smiles around her straw. “Hi…Spock?” she says it like a question since my pajamas are Star Trek-themed rather than character-themed.
“No, I prefer Captain Kirk. So, just call me James.”
At the mention of him, I glance at Mia, who’s just finished making herself a hurricane, and I find her eyes on me as she sniggers.
I wink before snatching the drink from her hand. “Thanks, baby.”
She gives out a fake huff of annoyance before turning back to the cocktail station with a smile. I focus my attention on Jo, and I see her looking down at my hurricane with a highly amused smile.
“I didn’t realize you drank such girlie drinks, Tyler. Did you grow a vagina without telling me?”
In a discreet but obvious way, I flip her the bird. “There is nothing girlie about this drink. It’s named hurricane, which tells you the rum in this is lethal. Three of these, and you’ll be on your ass.”
“Well, it’s a good thing we’re staying the night here then,” she states with a bright smile, taking another big sip of her girlie drink.
“So, Mia just told us all about your Halloween Christmas. It sounds like it was fun.”
“Yes, it was great. It’s exactly what we needed after everything. I actually have Junior’s gifts. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get them to him on Christmas Day. I’m guessing I blew the Santa cover, huh?”
“Actually, some little shit in his class told him he wasn’t real, so now, the cat is out of the bag.”
I go to speak when the doorbell rings, and I smile, knowing exactly who it is. I find it odd he didn’t have plans on New Year’s Eve.
He invited me over to watch a game two nights ago, and I asked him what his plans were for this night. When he told me he didn’t have a single one since his wife would be out of town, he got an instant invite for tonight. No one deserves to spend New Year’s on their own. I mean, I don’t think there is a single person who won’t know who he is or what position he plays, but I also know, after a few minutes in his presence, they’ll forget he’s a celebrity, and he’ll be able to let his hair down and be a muggle for a while.
“Oh, that must be the person who will help put me back in my nephew’s good graces again,” I say as I set my drink down on the counter.
Jo hitches a brow up with intrigue, and I give her a shit-eating grin as I head in the direction of the door. When I open the door, I smile, shaking my head a little.
“Well, damn. I knew you said you were going to come tonight, but never in my life did I think that Chase motherfucking Henderson would be wearing a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles onesie, standing at my door to attend my New Year’s Eve party. I almost feel like I should bow at your feet and call you sir.”
Chase lets out a chuckle as I step aside to let him in. “Please, my head is already big enough. I don’t need you filling my ego as well.”
I clap him on the back as I shut the door behind him. “If you weren’t so good at your job, I wouldn’t get starstruck every time I saw you.”
I’m kidding. At first, just being in his presence was awe-inspiring, but after we hung out a few times—away from our work duties—I quickly realized he was just a normal, down-to-earth guy who belched and farted just like anybody else. Honestly, he’s a great guy, and we’ve developed somewhat of a budding bromance—or at least, that’s what I like to call it.
“Seriously, if my head gets any bigger, I won’t be able to fit it in my Ferrari, and I fricking love that car.”
“Rich-boy problems,” I quip.
He sniggers.
“Okay, so things might get a little manic when you step through that door.” I point to the door that leads through to the living room. “You’re a celebrity, and…well, I just want to let you know it might get weird for a little bit, but I swear, my family isn’t crazy.”
“It’s fine. After years of being in the public eye, I’m used to the attention. Bring it on.”
And, with that, I enter the living room with Chase Henderson, the center for the Dallas Stars, following behind me. I mean, if that’s not what fairy tales are made of, I don’t know what is.
Mason’s the first to turn to us as we walk through, and his mouth pops open when he takes in the six-foot-two body of Chase Henderson. He elbows Junior in the ribs, and Junior stares at him with irritation as Mason no doubt fucked up Junior’s jam in Guitar Hero.
“Junior, look behind you.” Mason points nervously toward Chase.
I grin as Junior’s jaw drops when he sees who’s only a few feet from him. Unlike Mason, who’s a little more reserved, Junior goes batshit crazy.
“Chase Henderson!” He flings the guitar over his head before charging over, excitement evident in his eyes.
“Hey, you must be Junior. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Junior’s eyes flick to mine with utter amazement, almost like he’s astonished that Chase knows exactly who he is.
“Yes, I’m Junior. I’m such a huge fan. I mean, hockey isn’t my favorite sport, but it’s my fourth favorite.”
Chase fights a smile and crouches down to his level. “Wow, only fourth, huh? What are your first three favorites?”
Junior’s face lights up. “Well, soccer is my first favorite, football is my second, and baseball is my third.”
“Yeah, I heard you’re killer on the soccer field.”
“Oh, yeah, I totally rock.”
Jesus, more and more, this kid sounds like me. He’ll be an arrogant son of a bitch like me.
“Mason plays, too. But can I let you in on a little secret?” Junior edges closer to Chase and not so whispers, “He’s not very good.”
Mason playfully shoves Junior. “Hey, I heard that.”
They both giggle while Chase and I laugh under our breaths.
Chase then glances over at the screen where the animated audience, long ago abandoned at the hands of Chase, is angrily booing. “I don’t think your fans are too happy with you. How about you get back to them, and we can jam a little later?”
“That would be awesome!” Junior exclaims.
I eventually drag Chase away from the boys, and then a whole wave of new excitement buzzes around him the instant we step into the kitchen. Everyone—except for Mia, Jo, and Kaelyn—rushes over to him.
“Hey!” I yell, grabbing everyone’s attention. “Before you all bombard Chase with the millions of questions I know you’re dying to ask him, at least let the man have a beer in his hand before you talk his ear off.”
I steer him toward the refrigerator and take out the beer I bought especially for him, knowing he was going to grant us with his presence this evening. When I take out a bottle of Birra Moretti, he almost foams at the mouth as I remove the cap with a bottle opener. Since it’s an Italian beer, it doesn’t have the twist tops us lazy Americans love so much.
He dreamily sighs as he takes it from me. “I want to tell you I love you, but I think it’s too early on in our friendship to be declaring the girlie shit.”
I laugh loudly as he lifts the bottle to his lips, and I swear, he makes love to it with his mouth. I’m not gay, but, hell, even I know Chase is a sexy fucker when he does it.
“Ah, fuck it, tell me anyway. I told my wife I loved her after only our third date, and look where it got me. Nothing wrong with being a little premature.”
His eyes travel to where my wife is standing as she laughs at something Kaelyn said. Jo is now sitting in Drew’s lap, who’s in Captain America pajamas, at the poker table.
“And what a fine wife you have, and her friend is just as gorgeous.”
“Hey, I thought you were married?” I question jokingly, laughing.
His face turns stoic as he turns back to me. “Well, my wife is partying it up in LA, leaving her husband at home. So, what does that tell you?”
I let out a long whistle, disliking his wife more and more as he tells me about her.
Gold-digging whore comes to mind.
“It tells me, once you’ve finished that beer, we’re going to need something stronger, and, my friend, I’m going to introduce you to the hurricane, as it will blow your fucking mind.”
He throws back his beer in record time before saying, “Well, show me the way, brother.”
The evening continues, and after such a shit year, it’s definitely going to end with a bang. When the clock nears midnight, everyone—except for the kids—is buzzed from the hurricanes. Laughter fills the entire space of the kitchen and living room. Even my dad has been cracking up laughing more than once tonight, and it’s so nice to see him so carefree even if it’s only for a little while.
I’ve spent the majority of the night taking Matt’s money at the poker table. Then, Chase comes along and takes my money, too.
Fucker.
As Mia predicted, Kaelyn has become a walking, talking teddy bear whenever anyone comes into contact with her, what with her T-shirt saying, Hug Me, on the front, but she welcomes them. I have noticed that the only person who hasn’t forced himself on her is Chase, but I don’t miss the way his eyes keep flickering in her direction every couple of minutes. He’s unable to take his eyes off her. Married or not, he undeniably likes what he sees, but I’m guessing he wishes he could hug her and more…
As the seconds grow closer to midnight, Jo gathers everyone in the living room to watch the ball drop. I grab Mia by the hand and slip outside the back with her without anybody noticing.
“Why’d you bring me out here?” she asks merrily, a little tipsy on the two hurricanes she had. She never used to be a lightweight, but ever since her recent sobriety, her alcohol tolerance has lowered considerably.
I drag her further out into the garden until all that surrounds us are the stars flickering from above as they watch another year pass the world by.
I pull her into me, smiling down at her. “I only want to bring in the New Year with you.”
She beams up at me, circling her arms around my neck, and presses up to me even closer. “Do you have any New Year’s resolutions?”
“Only one, but it’s more of a lifelong resolution.”
“And what’s that?” she asks, swaying us into a little rhythm even though the music from inside can’t be heard out here.
“It’s going to sound cheesy and pussy-whipped, but I’d gladly honor the title if it comes true.”
She throws her head back on a gentle laugh. “You know resolutions aren’t like birthday wishes, right? You actually have to work toward a resolution; it’s not like a genie’s lamp, and after three rubs, your resolution will come true.”
“Well, it depends on the resolution. If it’s sexual, it could definitely come true if rubbing is involved.”
She playfully smacks me on the chest. “You are just something else, I swear. Now, tell me your life resolution, as it’s almost midnight, and I am hoping to kiss you when the clock strikes twelve.” Just as she says this, we hear everyone inside beginning to count down from twenty.
Twenty seconds to go.
“Mia Bailey, my beautiful, sexy, and hot-as-fuck wife, my life resolution is one that doesn’t need much thought. I want to spend my forever with you. I don’t want to grow old and gray with you. No, I just want to exist with you until the end of time, until we’re a million years old in ghost years. Our forever doesn’t have to include children or even a houseful of dogs, but the one thing I need it to include is you. You’re my forever, baby, and I will spend the rest of our eternity loving you the way you deserve, loving you the only way I know how. It’s the infinite kind of love. Till-forever-do-us-part kind of love.”
Screams of, “Happy New Year,” erupt from inside the house.
An explosion of fireworks from the nearby houses are being set off, coloring the night sky with flashes of glittery light, raining down on us from above.
I don’t get a chance to take them in though as Mia’s mouth takes precedence over everything that’s happening all around us. All I can focus on is her and me and the way her lips dance erotically over mine.
A few minutes later, she pulls back and breathlessly exhales, “That’s the perfect resolution. I hope you don’t mind that I’m going to make that mine, too.”
“What’s yours is mine, baby.”
“Good,” she says before brushing her lips to mine. “Because I’m yours. Till forever do us part.”
And, with that, I lose myself to the every essence that is my wife, and knowing she’s mine forever is the greatest win I could ever have.
I fought for the woman of my dreams with every inch of fight that I had, and now that I have her back in my arms, back where she belongs, I am never letting her go.
Not in this lifetime or the one after that.