“Hey, sweetie. Come in.”
I can’t help but smile. I missed her. Dana is pulling a shoe on her foot as she walks, and not doing a good job of it.
“Busy, busy like always.” She smiles.
There isn’t a lot of furniture in the apartment. I don’t know if it’s because they can’t afford it or because the sparseness probably makes it much easier for Tim to get around. But still, it’s cozy. A picture of the three of them hangs over the couch.
“Have a seat. I’m on my lunch break. Just needed to grab something to eat and bring Timmy to a friend’s house. What’s on the agenda for you guys tonight?” I sit
at their dining room table, his mom sitting next to me to finish getting her shoes on. Before I can reply to her, Tim wheels in.
“Ooh, it’s Tegan’s lover.”
“Timothy!” Dana says as my cheeks no doubt turn bright red. “Don’t talk like that. You’re going to embarrass the poor girl.”
“Sorry, Tegan’s girlfriend. About time he brought someone around here. I was starting to think he was gay.”
“Tim!” This time, it’s me who screeches his name. Then of course, I feel like a psychopath.
Tim and Dana both burst into laughter.
“Aw, you don’t have to stick up for my brother. You must be just as in looove as he is.”
There’s a part of me that wants to reply to that, but I’m pretty sure I’ve lost the ability to use my vocal cords. I’m not in love and Tegan isn’t either. That’s just ridiculous.
“And she’s never going to want to come over again now. Leave her be, Timothy. It’s between Tegan and Annabel.” She winks. I wonder if she got it from Tegan
or he got it from her. “Though it is good to see him like someone enough to have some fun. He needs to have more fun. And lucky for us, we love you too.”
Nope. Definitely don’t have a voice anymore. Might not have a heartbeat either. The sound of the front door opening saves me.
“Speak of the devil.” Dana stands up and straightens out her uniform.
“That’s me.” Tegan closes the door behind him.
Dana smiles. Tegan steps up behind my chair, leans over and kisses me. There’s no tongue, just touch of our lips, but it sears me just the same. “Hey, you,” he
says.
Wondering if my voice will ever come back, I smile.
“You picked up an extra shift today?” he’s talking to his mom now.
“Yeah. The extra money doesn’t hurt.” Tegan shakes his head and his jaw is tense. He hates that his mom has to work so hard. “Did you?” she asks, but he
ignores it. “That’s not important though. What are you guys up to tonight?”
“Of course it’s not. Running yourself into the ground isn’t important at all.” The room is silent. Usually they get along so well. It’s weird to see they’re a normal family just like the rest of us.
“Tegan…”
“We’re going for a jog, then heading out to a party.”
“Timmy’s staying with a friend and I won’t be home until late. I know you’re eighteen, but I’m still your mama and I’m sure I don’t have to tell you two to be
good, right? No drinking and driving. No other things that will make me a grandma at way too young an age.”
Oh. My. God. I think I’m about to die. Is his mom giving us a sex talk?
“Annabel and Tegan. Sitting in a tree,” Tim starts. He’s way too old for that song, but I know he’s giving me a hard time. Especially when Dana sings the
KISSING part with him.
“You’re such a twerp.” Tegan punches Tim in the arm and they start playing around like they did before the basketball practice.
“That’s enough boys. I have to go. Timmy, come on. Tegan, I’m serious. Be good.”
Yep, I’m dying. Dying!
“We’ll try.” Tegan winks at me and I want to evaporate into thin air.
“Bye, baby.” She leans forward and kisses Tegan on the forehead and then to my surprise she does the same to me. “Be good, sweetie. Sorry if I embarrassed
you.”
I wave her off and they’re out the door.
As soon as we’re alone, Tegan grabs me and pulls me close. “So…wanna break some rules?”
Chapter Fifteen
LET’S PARTY
I freeze. Is he talking about what I think he’s talking about? My body perks at the thought, but my head is pulling on the reigns for me to slow down. What if his mom comes home? What if I make a fool of myself? What if I’m not ready?
“I’m kidding, Annabel Lee. I can’t believe you’re really thinking about it.”
I try and pull away from him, hoping to find someplace to hide.
“No, don’t do that. I’m glad you’re thinking about it. It’s obvious I think about it. It’s just not what I meant right now.”
Laughter dances in his eyes, his lips quirked up in a smile like only Tegan can do. The way he always does, he wipes any tension from the room. I wonder if he
knows how good he is at that. If it comes from all the practice he gets trying to make everything perfect for his family. Playfully, I push at his chest, finding it difficult to keep with my original train of thought, because his chest…nice. “So you’re conceited and perverted!”
He pulls me closer. “I’m multi-talented. What can I say?”
“Ugh! You’re a sick, sick person.” Wiggling, I try to break free of his arms, but he holds me tight.
“You can’t get away from me unless I want you too.”
I fight him harder, laughter pouring from my mouth and vibrating us both. Tegan’s laughing too, easily pulling me along with him as I try to get away. Then,
we’re going down. My heart lurches a little, scared we’re going to go boom, but he’s only dropping back onto the couch and pulling me with him. This is my favorite side of him… when he’s just happy. Not working, worried about his mom or feeling guilty over his brother’s life. When he doesn’t have to hide because he knows
there’s no pity from me.
“Let me up!” More laughter. “No, I hate to be tickled. Don’t tickle me.” His hands are at my sides and I’m squirming, but not as much as I could. He feels good.
This feels good and even though I could pee my pants right now, I want it to last.
“You didn’t say the magic word.” Tegan’s on top of me, tickling. Through my giggles, I look up, his blond hair is hanging down in his face. I can’t help but take him in. He’s so beautiful. Not perfect like I first thought. There’s the little chip in his tooth, a scar on his face. Gorgeous, yes, but not perfect and that makes me like him all the more.
Suddenly he stills. There’s no more tickling and he’s looking down at me, the way I’m looking up at him. There’s a distinct switch in the air from playful to if-I-don’t-kiss-you-right-now-I-will-combust. He feels it too. I know it by the way he leans toward me.
“You’re kind of addicting, do you know that? I don’t know what it is about you, but you’re different.”
If you could really die from joy, my poor parents would be planning a funeral. But then, if I croaked, I wouldn’t be kissing him right now. Wouldn’t feel the now familiar press of his lips against mine. The sweep of his tongue as it delves in and out so skillfully. I wouldn’t hear the little groan in the back of his throat like I’m driving him wild. Me. And he’s making me just as crazy.
He kisses the corner of my mouth, my neck, down my throat and then back up to my mouth again. His mom’s words start playing through my head. I see her too
which is a total buzz kill, making me still.
“What’s wrong?” he says, his lips on my collarbone.
“We should slow down… Your mom. The party…” I wish I could pick a sentence and go with it.
He kisses me again, this one quick. “Fine, ruin my fun.” Even without the wink, I know he is only teasing me. Tegan stands up, grabs my hand and pulls me up
too. “Come on. Let’s go work out some of this pent up energy in a less fun, but more productive…Nah, just a less fun way.”
***
We head out to our usual jogging spot, stretch and then take the familiar loop. I can jog the whole thing by now. We take it slow, I’m sure he runs much faster