Season's Greetings : Christmas Box Set

He nods his head. “I understand, son.”

“Do you want to go?” Delta whispers.

“Stay with me.”

“I’m not going anywhere. Why don’t we hide out in your room, hmm?”

I nod my head, weary.

“I’ll show you to his room. No one else is supposed to come to this side of the house.”

I lift her up, and she wraps her legs around my waist. I’m not going to let her go for a second.

“That’s one way to travel.” I can hear the amusement in Dad’s voice. It’s the first time I can remember him sticking by me through an entire meltdown. I’ll remember that moving forward. He opens the door, and I step inside.

“I’ll make sure you guys aren’t bothered tonight.”

“Thank you, Harrison.” She buries her fingers in my hair, raking her nails along my scalp.

I sink down onto my bed, melting under her attention. Burying my nose in her neck, I surround myself in her scent. It’s silent. I find myself drifting off. She pulls away, and I tighten my grip.

“It’s okay. We’re going to lie down.”

Spent, I let her push me down onto the bed and remove my shoes. I’m lethargic. It feels like I’ve run a marathon. My eyes drift shut.

“Go to sleep. I’m going to steal some of your clothes from the dresser and join you.”

The blackness of sleep begins to take me. I feel her slip into bed beside me, and I surrender to the darkness, content.

THE LIGHT STREAMING through the window makes me groan. I cover my eyes with my arm. “Morning, sunshine.”

I roll over, and Delta smiles at me. She’s beautifully mused in one of my school sweatshirts. Her bedhead makes me smile.

“Morning.”

“How do you feel?”

“Like I have a hangover.”

She winces. “I’m sorry.”

“No. I’m sorry that happened. Whatever Mom said ...” I shake my head. “I don’t feel that way.”

“I know.” She runs her fingers through my hair. “Once I had a chance to calm down, I realized that immediately.”

“You stayed,” I whisper.

She smiles. “I told you I was all in, didn’t I?”

“I didn’t want you to see me like that.” I shake my head.

“It happens. I was a mess myself, to be honest.”

She’s seen me at my worst, and yet she’s still here. I cup her face and bring her lips to mine. Devouring her, I pour all the emotions I can never fully explain into the lip lock. Whimpering, she yields to me. I roll her onto her back and slip my tongue inside. I want to brand her as mine. Parting for air, I study her swollen lips as I catch my breath.

“Is this some fantasy? Having your girlfriend in your childhood bed.”

“Yes.” I pin her arms above her head.