Pull

“I can tell taffy flavors by smelling the wrappers,” Alyssa said, interrupting my ceramic daydream.

“No way!” Nat slapped her own leg. “I bet that comes in handy.”

Alyssa rolled her eyes and took another sip of her hot chocolate. She needed to be done with that drink before I threw caution to the wind and mauled her. “Not really. I mean, I was able to guess what type of taffy Demetri was eating, but that’s it.”

“Let me guess.” Alec leaned forward. “He makes you sniff all the wrappers after he eats them to see if you’re right?”

“Every time.” Alyssa winked in my direction. My arousal just jumped into overdrive. Watching her joke with Nat and Alec, the two most important people in my life and then be so easy-going while doing it. I wanted her so bad. I wanted to throw the hot chocolate to the ground, jump onto her lap, and have my way with her.

She sighed and tucked a piece of fallen hair behind her ear, giving me full view of her lips and a tiny drop of hot chocolate that was at the corner of her mouth.

I needed a cold shower stat. Desperate, I looked around for something to distract me. Anything really. My eyes fell on Mrs.

Miller kissing her husband. He swatted her ass. She wiggled in his arms and then did a dance I can only describe as something that should be outlawed in every state. And arousal gone. Good. That was easy. I cleared my throat and tried to relax. This was supposed to be fun. I was supposed to be bonding; instead I was resorting to staring at old people in order to keep my pants on. Hi, my name’s Mighty, and yes. Yes, I have so incredibly fallen.

“So what else is going on? My mom says you’re leading group therapy?” Nat asked, sufficiently changing the subject, which I was thankful for, considering I had just thought of at least seven different ways I could kiss Alyssa’s neck. Apparently watching old people wasn’t as good of a distraction as I thought.

“Yup.” I leaned back in the chair. The smell of steak filled the salty air. “I’ve only led group once. Actually our next meeting is in a few days I don’t know. I mean, at first I kept saying no. I hate to admit, I finally said yes, because I wanted to see Alyssa again, but then… I don’t know. I feel like a chick saying this, but I liked it.

I mean, I liked feeling like I was helping people.”

Nat shrugged. “Demetri, you’ve always been that way, you just never saw that about yourself.”

“Probably because you were high most the time,” Alec interjected.

“Thanks, man.” Always good to know I had his support. He smirked in my direction while I gave him the finger. I glanced back at Nat and took another sip of coffee. “Anyway, it’s been really good.”

Alyssa was silent next to me. Crap, I had totally outed her in front of Nat and Alec. I reached for her hand. She squeezed it and then winked at me. I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath until she did that. Relaxing, I leaned back again and listened to the waves.

“I like it here.” Alyssa sighed. “It’s peaceful.”

“No autographs,” Alec said.

Nat laughed. “Or panty throwing.”

“Or taffy jingles.” I lifted my cup into the air. “Cheers, everyone.”

We all laughed and clinked glasses. After a few minutes of silence, where I’m happy to announce Justin Bieber and One Direction did not make a musical appearance, Mr. Miller came out with a huge platter of food.

My stomach growled on cue.

“Okay, boys, got some steak here for you. Rare, just how you like it. The missus cooked up some potatoes, carrots, and of course, chicken, just in case the girls don’t want red meat.” He set the platter down while Mrs. Miller came around and put the plates on the tables sitting next to each of our chairs.

“Oh.” Mr. Miller held up his finger. “I almost forgot the applesauce, I’ll be right back.”

“Applesauce?” Alyssa asked.

“Yeah, for the steak and potatoes.” Duh, it was a staple! Like ketchup or mustard.

“Not following.” Alyssa laughed and looked at Nat. “Is he being serious?”

Nat shook her head. “Don’t knock it till you try it. I remember the first time Alec introduced me to applesauce at dinner. I thought he was crazy, but it’s pretty good.”

Mr. Miller returned with a huge bowl of applesauce. I threw it onto my plate and gave Alyssa a wink.

She scrunched her nose. “Are you really going to eat that with your meat and potatoes?”

“It’s tradition.” I acted offended, but really I knew it wasn’t that normal for people to put applesauce with dinner. “Actually, I blame our Dutch friends from Canada. They used to always eat like that when we were kids, and it just kinda stuck.”

“Hmm.” Alyssa took a spoonful of applesauce and tossed it onto her plate. “If I hate it, I’m blaming you guys.”

“Fine.” I chuckled and cut up my meat.

“No way!” Alyssa yelled. I dropped my fork.

“What? What’s wrong?”

Her eyes lit up with astonishment. “That’s amazing!”

I took a large bite and shrugged. “So from here on out you should just take my word for it. Demetri is always right.”

“And Demetri shouldn’t refer to himself in the third person.

It’s weird,” Alec interjected.

“Also true.” I thrust my fork into the air. “So what movie are we seeing?”