Home For The Holidays

I opened my eyes in between gluttonous bites of my favorite food to find him watching me with a pained look on his face. He’d sat me on his right while he took the seat at the head of the table, so there wasn’t much of a stretch when he reached over, grabbed me by the back of the head, and pulled my face towards his. I barely got the squeak of surprise past my lips before they were covered by his.

I’ve been kissed before; well, I experimented once to see what all the fuss was about. This wasn’t like that. This was not a kiss; this was an all-consuming assault on the senses. I could’ve sucked on his tongue all day, but I needed to breathe at some point, even if he didn’t. He held my head still as our lips drew apart, and our eyes met. “If you ever eat lobster in public again, I’ll tan your little ass.”

I might be wrong, but I’m pretty sure it’s against all kinds of protocol to come close to climax at a man’s threat of physical violence. I didn’t have time to think about it, though, because he dove back in, and his kisses were even better than the lobster. Please don’t let me act the slut and give it up on this here table, or he’d never believe that this isn’t my normal behavior.

* * *

A loud knock at my bedroom door dragged me back to the present, and it took a second or two for me to remember that I was in my childhood home in my old room, reminiscing. The feelings were so real, so raw that it’s like I was back there on that day. So much has happened since then that it’s almost hard to contain.

I’ve kept our acquaintance a secret all this time for two reasons, one because I wanted to be sure. I’ve never understood those people who felt comfortable introducing multiple partners to their parents, and two, I needed everything to be in place when I finally sprung him on them.

As in love as the two of us are, I can’t forget my reasons for seeking him out in the first place. I can’t sacrifice my nieces’ happiness for my own, and in fact, now that I know how love feels, I understand even more Deidre’s longing for my idiot brother.

I can’t imagine life without Jared. In fact, the few days I’ve been here away from him has been hell. It’s the first time since we met that we’ve been apart for this long, and he doesn’t like it any more than I do. The only solace I’ve had is in torturing Tessa, priming her for the big reveal when I move in for the kill.

I got down off the bed and went to answer the door to find my brother standing there. “May I come in?” How things have changed. There was a time when he wouldn’t have needed to ask; his welcome was a sure thing. Now I have to fight not to go upside his head each time I see him.

“That depends; what do you want?” Just then, I heard raised voices coming from downstairs. “What’s going on?”

“Did you threaten Tessa?”

“Did I what now? I’m not sure; I did tell her that there were no witnesses around if I chuck her slimy ass down the stairs, but I’m not sure if I’d consider that a threat.” He sighed long and hard as I heard those voices getting louder. “Is that…?”

I ran past him, taking the stairs two at a time with him calling me back. I got downstairs to see my mom looking flustered while Tessa lit into her. Where the hell is my dad? He’d never stand for this. And how could Tom…? I reached the two of them where she had my mom literally backed up against the kitchen sink and yanked the delusional bitch by her hair.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

“Samantha, language.” Really mom? I didn’t take my eyes off of Tessa, who was breathing fire as my idiot brother rushed into the room and went to her. “Samantha, what the hell is wrong with you? We don’t put our hands on people in this house.” That’s when I balled up my fist and punched him in the face.

I felt like I was outside of myself watching this happen. This was not on the agenda, I hadn’t planned on throwing hands that was for someone else to do, but the sight of her bullying my mom, something I’d learned from Jared that she’s good at, was too much. “Tom, don’t hit your sister.” I’d turned back to mom to make sure she was okay when mom’s voice raised in fear.

I looked back over my shoulder at him just as my dad walked in with what looked like a carton of eggs in his hands. “Yes, Tom, don’t hit your sister.” Everyone froze, well, everyone that’s part of the family. We all know that tone and what might happen next.