“We are so sleeping with the lights on. What a nightmare.”
I kissed her. “Don’t be mad, sweetie. Let’s make the best of it, okay? It's going to be great, trust me.”
She gave me a small smile. “Alright, we'll stay.”
I hugged her to me tightly. “Now, let’s go look at the shower.”
She groaned.
Chapter Seven
Natalie
We arrived late to my parents’ house on Christmas Eve. Due to our adventure, we didn't make very good time at all. We made sure to get up early out of the roach motel, so that I wasn't exposed to it any longer than I had to be. I still couldn't believe we stayed there.
True to my word, I kept the lights on all night, in fear that I would find something crawling on me in the middle of the night. The room had been horrendous, and although I didn't see any creepy crawlers, I was sure they were waiting in the wings to attack me as soon as the lights went off. I knew Jet was hoping for a little vacation nookie, but there was no way in hell I was getting naked in the bed. He had attempted to assess the shower for possible sex options, but it had been so overgrown with mildew that we exited it as promptly as possible. It was a wonder the health inspector hadn't closed the place down.
Jet had spooned me the whole night, however, leaving me in a cocoon of safety as we slept. I loved feeling him so close. He made me feel incredibly safe with no real effort. We departed early that morning, and grabbed some breakfast at a local diner before getting back on the road again.
Now, walking into my parents’ place was like walking back in time. They owned a modest two-story home that needed some updating inside and out. It was very different, I was sure, from the way in which Jet was raised, as was evidenced by the house I went to for Thanksgiving dinner. Wow, what a night that was. I could at least be sure that this time Katie would not be at dinner.
“Natalie, it's so great to see you. How was the drive? Did you hit any traffic?” my mother gushed at us as she came down the hallway. My father was in tow, but he was a silent type.
“The trip was good, Mom. We ended up staying in a terrible room last night, though, but we had already been behind at that point anyway. By the smell of things, you already have dinner well underway.”
“Oh, of course. I was up early making stuffing and getting that turkey ready.”
I turned to Jet. “Mom, this is my boyfriend, Jet, the one I have been telling you about.”
Jet approached her and held his hand out to my mother to shake hers. She laughed gleefully, and instead pulled him into her arms for a hug. My dad chuckled behind her, and by the look on Jet's face, she had taken him completely off guard.
“You're family now, Jet. We don't shake hands around here.”
He laughed. “Fair enough.” He walked to my father and said, “Thanks for having me in your home, sir.”
My dad looked him over and nodded. “It's nice to meet you, son. I hear you're a fighter, I'm happy to know that you can protect my daughter.”
“Oh, she's doing pretty well at protecting herself. I have been teaching her some self-defense.”
“That's wonderful,” my mother exclaimed.
“Well, you kids can go get settled in if you would like, and then come down and have a drink with me,” my dad offered.
“Sure, Dad, I'm just going to hit the shower first, and wash that motel off of me.”
“No problem; take your time.”
I hugged them both and headed upstairs to my old bedroom. I opened up my bedroom door and walked in, with Jet behind me. He was carrying our suitcases in, and laughed as he entered my room. “Whoa, you sure liked boy bands, didn't you?”
My walls were pink, and splashed
with posters of the bands I liked as a teenager. I had been a little obsessed, but what young girl isn't?
“You never mind. I don't know why they keep my room like this. I don't come home often, so it's just a waste of space.”
“I'm sure they just like the reminder of you.”
We started unpacking what we had into the dresser in my room, and I grabbed a change of clothes to take with me to the shower.