The movie Brad picked plays in the background, but I can’t tell you what it is. My sole focus is Avery. She’s snuggled up in my arms and nothing else matters. Not today’s win, not the fact that in a few short months she’ll be leaving me; right now, all that matters is that she’s in my arms where she belongs.
“Hey, hey, there’re my champions,” Brad’s dad says, coming down the stairs.
“Shh!” Brad shushes him. “The girls fell asleep.”
“Party poopers,” his dad teases. “I thought this whole setup was so you all could celebrate together.”
“Dad, what am I doing right now?” Brad whispers.
“Lying on the couch watching a movie?”
“And who is lying here with me?”
“Harley.”
“So let’s recap, shall we? Tonight my best friend and I took home the state championship. Now just a few hours later, I’m lying on the couch, holding my girlfriend, asleep or not. This tops whatever it is you and Mom had planned.”
His dad looks over at me.
“No complaints.” I grin.
He shakes his head and grins. “We raised you boys right.” He walks over to the table of food and starts making a plate.
“Aw, they fell asleep,” Brad’s mom says softly as she makes a plate and joins her husband on the other couch. We sit in silence and watch the movie. Well, I pretend to watch it. I don’t care what’s on; I just care about Aves. Brad was right when he said they didn’t tell us because we would’ve been distracted. I wonder what the chance of them letting us sleep like this is.
I must’ve fallen asleep because when I open my eyes, the TV is off and Brad’s parents are standing over him, trying to wake him but not Harley. “Brad,” his mom whispers. He opens his eyes. “Time for bed.”
“Night,” he says, burying his face in Harley’s neck. I fight to hold back my laughter.
“I promised their parents,” his mom says.
“I know, but this is all we’re going to do, sleep. You can come down and check on us anytime. You can sleep on the other couch.”
She looks over her shoulder at me and finds me watching them. “I don’t want to move,” I tell her. Of course, if I have to I will, but I’m hoping not.
“I know you all are eighteen, but these girls, their parents trusted me to keep them safe from the two of you.” She gives us both a pointing look. “Do not make me regret this decision. Your dad and I are going to sleep in the bedroom down here. No funny business.”
“None,” I say with conviction. I want there to be funny business, but if that’s the trade I have to make to hold her like this all night, there’s no contest.
“Thanks Mom, Dad,” Brad whispers.
His mom nods and walks to the downstairs bedroom. His dad holds his fist out for Brad and then me. “You boys be good to them. Never take for granted what you have. You’ve found good ones. Hold on tight.”
“I’m trying,” Brad says. I repeat that exact phrase in my head.
I’m trying.
Sliding my hands under the covers, I hold her close, waiting for sleep to claim me. It never comes.
I don’t know how much time has passed when Avery wakes up. “Hey,” I whisper in her ear.
“Dylan, we’re going to get in trouble.” I hear the panic in her voice.
“We’re fine. His parents know we’re sleeping like this. They’re just down the hall in the downstairs bedroom. They made us promise no funny business.”
“Will you show me where the restroom is?”
I nod and tap her leg for her to stand. We tiptoe down the hall and I wait outside the door for her. The bedroom door opens and Brad’s mom steps out.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, Aves just had to use the restroom.”
“What about you?” she asks.
“I’m waiting for her.”
The corners of her lips tip up in a smile. “Dylan, I think she can find her way back to the couch.”
“Probably, but I’ll wait anyway.”
“No funny business, mister.” She points at me.
“You have nothing to worry about. Thank you for doing this, for trusting us and giving me this night with her.”
She steps closer and pulls me into a hug. “Dylan, your mom would be so proud of the man you’re becoming. I know I can never fill her shoes, but I love you just as I do Brad. You’re a part of this family.”
I hug her back. “Thank you. I love you all too.”
“Everything okay?” Aves asks, catching us in our hug.
“Fine. Just giving this one a hard time about waiting outside the door for you. Then I went and got all sentimental on him.”
“I don’t mind,” Aves says.
“Oh, Avery, of course you don’t. He’s one of the good ones. Make sure he always treats you this way. If not, you come to me and I’ll knock some sense into him.”
“Deal.” Avery smiles.
“Let’s go back to sleep,” I say, holding my hand out for her. I wasn’t sleeping, but I’m anxious to get her back in my arms. Where she belongs.
Stretching out on the couch once more, I hold my arms open for her. She doesn’t hesitate to lie down next to me. “Turn over,” I whisper.
She rolls on her side so she’s facing me, and I pull the blanket over us and hold her close. She rests her head on my chest and I lay my cheek against the top of her head. “I’ve thought about this,” she says, her voice soft, low. “Thought about falling asleep like this, with you.”
“You’re all I think about,” I admit, keeping my voice soft as well. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her that I love her. This isn’t how I had planned it would happen though. She snuggles closer and places a kiss over my heart. It’s through my shirt, but I swear I can feel her lips on my skin. “I love you, Avery.” The words tumble out and I don’t regret it. I can’t keep how I feel about her to myself.
She raises her head and her tear-filled eyes look up at me. “I love you too.”
Leaning down, I press a chaste kiss to her lips; anything more than that and I might be breaking my promise to Brad’s parents. Avery places her head back on my chest and I tighten my hold on her. Now that I’ve said the words, not a day will go by that I don’t tell her how I feel. We only have a few months before she leaves for college. It’s going to suck, and it’s going to be hard as hell to be away from her for long periods of time, but she’s it for me. We’ll make it work no matter how hard it is.
Avery Stanton owns me.