The Touch Series Box Set

by t. h. snyder

  “That’s great, Chloe! Congrats!” I say. “Does that mean I need to find a new place to live?”

  “Oh God no, Emma! You’re always welcome at my…I mean, our house. Right, Chloe?” Derrick says, looking back at Chloe.

  “You know what? This is all happening so fast. But, Emma, I’ll say that if Derrick wants you to stay then you stay. I really haven’t even considered where I’d be living.”

  “What are you talking about, Angel? You’ll live in our house,” he says in a sincere tone.

  “Okay, Derrick, let’s just step back for a second, okay? I still need to get through my final interview and then move all my shit back home. Let’s take it one day at a time, okay?”

  “Whatever you say, Angel, you just made me the happiest guy in all of Boston. I have my girl with me and knowing that you could be coming back home is enough for me. At least for right now.”

  “Fair enough,” she says and kisses him on the lips.

  “Well, if you two lovebirds can keep it in your pants for a few more hours, why don’t we go up and check on Char and Riley?” Pete says.

  “Yeah, by now we should be good to go up and see Charlie,” Derrick says.

  Pete and I lead the way back to the elevator.

  I’m so happy for Derrick; he’s such a great guy and deserves to be just as happy as I am, if not more.

  The four of us pile back into the elevator and I can’t help but smile up at Pete as Derrick wraps his arms around his girl.

  Together we get off the elevator and I watch as Derrick and Chloe walk hand in hand in front of us toward the visiting area.

  As soon as we walk in, all eyes focus on the happy couple. In no time at all Derrick opens his mouth about Chloe’s possible move. For a brief moment, everyone’s attention is on them and not the reason why we’re all here. It’s nice to see everyone smiling and happy again.

  After the biggest group hug ever, Derrick and Chloe decide to go in and see Riley.

  Pete and I take a seat with everyone else and wait until we get word on Char.

  Looking around this room, I’m overwhelmed by the support and love for Riley and Char. I know the waiting is starting to get to everyone, but there’s not too much we can really do about it.

  I wrap my arm around Emma and pull her in close to my side. I love having her here with me right now. I’ve missed seeing her—touching her—and now all I want to do is love her. I don’t know what the future holds for us, but I do know that I want her to be a part of mine.

  Our brief talk outside told me that we feel strongly for one another, but I still don’t know where that leaves us.

  I know that now is not the right time or place for us to decide where our relationship should go, but at some point soon, I know that we need to sit down and talk about it.

  The news of Chloe possibly moving back to Boston is incredible for her and Derrick, but it makes me wonder what Emma will do.

  Will she stay in Derrick and Chloe’s house?

  Will she move out and get a house or apartment of her own?

  Will she…would she move in with me if I asked her?

  There really is so much we need to talk about and I don’t want to push her into anything too soon. The last thing I want to do is hurt her or scare her because I’m moving too fast.

  It drives me crazy how much I care about her. I watch as she talks with everyone. Her smile and those eyes can light up a room, at least for me they can. She’s such a caring person; always putting the needs of others before her own.

  I know one of the things she wanted to accomplish with her move to Boston was to start putting herself first more often. It’s hard for her; it’s not in her nature to push others away. It’s one of her qualities that makes me love her so much. No matter what she needs or what I want to do for her, she always makes a point to make sure I have what I need first.

  She’s something so special to me now that I don’t know what I would do if I lost her.

  The doctor comes into the room and all eyes move toward him as he walks over to Bryce.

  Both Teresa and Bryce stand and walk toward the far left corner of the room. The entire room goes silent and Emma pulls away and moves over to sit next to Derrick’s mom.

  I instantly miss the loss of her body next to mine.

  I look around the room at the expressions on everyone’s faces.

  I’m not a parent. I have no children, and I don’t know if I ever will, but to see the pain in these parents’ faces kills me.

  Bryce is one of the toughest guys I know and I’ve seen him cry over the fear of his daughter’s wellbeing. Watching as the doctor talks to them, I see he’s trying to comfort his wife. She has her body pressed firmly against him while he runs his hand up and down her back.

  Riley, Derrick and Chloe come back into the room and Riley immediately walks over to where the doctor is talking to Char’s parents. He steps in alongside of Teresa and she swings an arm around his waist.

  After what feels like an eternity, the doctor walks out of the room. Bryce, Teresa and Riley walk over to the rest of us and take a seat in the row of chairs directly across from where Emma, Rose and Bud are sitting.

  I watch as everyone sits in silence. Bryce’s leg is bouncing, Teresa is twirling her wedding ring and Riley is drumming his fingers on the arm of his char.

  “Will someone please say something?” Chloe says, fidgeting in her chair.

  Riley’s head snaps up and looks toward Char’s mom.

  “Of course, honey. I think I’m just in a bit of shock.” Teresa says, holding onto Bryce with one arm and Riley with the other.

  This isn’t even my sister, girlfriend or immediate family member and the suspense is killing me to find out how she’s doing.

  Riley looks around the room and finally speaks.

  “Well, she won’t be coming home anytime soon, but they’re happy with her progress. She’s responded to a lot of the tests they’ve been doing on her, which is good because it shows normal brain activity. They also just took her off the respirator and she’s breathing on her own again.”

  Riley pauses for a moment and runs his hands through his hair.

  “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me she was this bad?” he asks, looking between Derrick and Emma.

  Emma’s mouth drops open and I can tell she’s taken aback by his reaction.

  “Riley, we couldn’t have you going crazy while you were under care, too. Don’t be mad at us. You’re up to date now and know that she’ll be fine,” she says.

  “That’s my girl up there. I would’ve liked to know what was happening. God, what if something worse would’ve happened? I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself,” he says frantically.

  Riley pushes off of his chair and starts to pace behind the row of chairs. He sticks his hand in his pocket and pulls out the ring box. Holding it in his hand, he grips it tightly and puts his hand over his heart.

  “Riley, what is that in your hand?” Chloe asks, standing from her chair and walking toward him.

  He looks up at her with tears in his eyes.

  “It’s your sister’s engagement ring. I was going to propose to her tonight.”

  “Oh my God, Riley,” she says, her hand flying to cover her mouth.

  The pain I see in my friend’s expression is unbearable. He loves Char with his entire being and now he’s unsure what will happen to her, to him and to their future.

  The sunlight shines in through the blinds of the sliding glass doors in the living room. I feel the warmth on my face and the strong arms that are wrapped around my body. I scoot myself back against him so that my entire body is flush against his.

  He begins to stir and a smile comes to my face.

  After the long day and night at the hospital, I offered to come back to Riley and Char’s house. For one, I wanted Manny to have some company and two, I wanted Derrick and Chloe to have some time to spend alone.

  When Pete suggested that he’d come stay with me there was
no way I was going to say no. Since he’d been gone all week, I was over the moon excited that I’d get to spend some one on one time with him.

  Yesterday was a difficult day for all of us; it’s going to be even harder until we know exactly how Char will progress once she wakes up.

  Pete was right, an accident like that can really put things into perspective for a person. Between him being away for the past few days and the scare we all had yesterday, I know that I don’t want to lose this man. He’s become a constant in my life and without him I don’t know how well I would’ve gotten through the past few months.

  I enjoy his company not just as a friend anymore. I realized yesterday that I want more from him, from us. After what he told me, I know now more than ever that we both share strong feelings for one another. Now we just need to decide what we want to do about it.

  He squeezes his arms around me just as Manny comes over to the couch to give me a good morning kiss across my face.

  “Eww Manny, get away!” I screech, pushing his face away from mine.

  Pete laughs in my hair and I nudge him in the stomach with my elbow.

  “Ouch! Hey, watch where you stick that little elbow of yours.”

  “Not funny, Pete, that was gross. My face is now covered in dog drool,” I say, trying to pry my arms free from Pete’s grasp.

  “Sorry, Belle, but I can’t blame him for wanting a kiss from you first thing in the morning.”

  “You’re cute, Pete, but no kisses from this gal until I get to brush my teeth.”

  He moves his arms from me and pushes me off of the couch. I fall to the hardwood floor and immediately have Manny all up in my business.

  “Ugh, Manny, back up for a second. Nothing like getting kicked out of bed and slobbered on by a dog first thing in the morning.”

  I look up to Pete who is now laughing into a pillow.

  “You two both suck, you know that, right?” I say, getting up off the floor.

  Pete moves the pillow from his face, his blue eyes staring back at me and a pout on his face.

  “Don’t try that with me, buddy. You’re the one that just pushed me off the couch.”

  He sticks out his bottom lip. “Sorry, Belle, come here and I’ll make it up to you.”

  I shake my head no and hit him in the head with a pillow.

  “Nope, sorry, too late now,” I say, giving him a smirk.

  I walk toward the kitchen and Manny follows close behind.

  “Alright, boy, let’s get you fed and outside for a bit. Aunti Em has to go back to the hospital today to visit your mommy and daddy.”

  I bend down and rub behind his ears.

  “Don’t worry, they’ll be back home soon,” I say as he falls to the floor and rolls onto his back.

  I rub his belly for a few moments and can sense Pete standing behind us.

  “Belle, you’re too cute. You do realize you’re talking to a dog?”

  I look up at him and squint my eyes to give him a glare.

  “Yes I do, but Manny is more than a dog to us. He’s Riley’s right hand man; has been for years. He’s a part of the family.”

  “I know, Belle, I was just playing with you,” he says, walking toward the kitchen door.

  I watch as he opens the doggy door and snaps his fingers. Manny rolls back onto his belly and jumps up to head outside.

  Pete grabs my hand to help me up off the floor and leads me to the kitchen sink. He pulls from behind his back the toothbrush and toothpaste I’d packed from home.

  He starts to run the water in the sink and squeezes some paste onto the brush.

  I look at him and he just smiles.

  He puts the brush into his mouth and starts to swish the toothpaste around, cleaning each one of his teeth. He leans over the sink and spits. Handing me the toothpaste and brush, he cups his hands under the water and brings it to his mouth. I watch him as he rinses the remaining toothpaste from his teeth and makes one last spit into the sink.

  Holy hell, who knew watching a man brush his teeth could be so hot?

  “Now your turn, sweet Belle.”

  He takes the toothpaste and brush back from my hands. I stand in complete silence and stillness as he squeezes more paste onto my toothbrush. He sets the tube down on the counter and ducks his head down to be level with me.

  “Open up, little girl,” he says as his cool minty breath hits me in the face.

  I open my mouth and he sticks the toothbrush in to start cleaning my teeth.

  I tilt my head up so that he can see what he’s doing. I stare into his eyes as his tongue darts out of his mouth. He’s paying close attention to care for every inch of me.

  He gently slides the brush in and out of my mouth, making sure that every tooth is thoroughly clean.

  “Okay, good to go…now spit,” he says, running my toothbrush under the running water.

  I spit the toothpaste out of my mouth and take the cup of water he just filled for me. I rinse, spit and repeat until I feel that the last of the toothpaste is out of my mouth.

  Setting the cup down on the counter, I turn to him and wrap my arms around his waist.

  “Thank you,” I say, looking up at him.

  “You’re welcome, Belle.”

  “I can’t say that anyone, other than me and my dentist, has ever brushed my teeth,” I say with a giggle.

  He picks me up in his arms and turns me to sit down on the counter top. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer to me.

  “Belle, I want to do so many things to you, for you and with you. I want to make you as happy as you’ve made me these past few months. Whether it’s brushing your teeth, walking you through Boston or just sitting at home holding you in my arms, I want you to be by my side.”

  My heart skips a beat with the words he’s saying to me.

  I can’t fight it any longer. I love him.

  I watch her facial expression closely as she takes in the words I’m saying to her. Her hazel eyes are shining back at me, her lips are curved up in a smile and a slight blush is tinted on her cheeks. She really is a beautiful woman and she’s my little southern belle.

  I so badly want to be a bigger part of her world; I want to be her world.

  I know that we’re already together nearly every day, but that’s not enough for me anymore; there’s so much more from her that I want.

  She’s changed the way I view life. I’ve concentrated so much on me the past few years that I never paid close attention to my personal happiness. She’s shown me that I deserve to be happy and I want to do the same for her.

  Since the breakup with Kathy, I thought I’d never find someone that would love me for me. Someone that would forgive me for my flaws and enjoy the things I’m able to offer. Someone that would not only be my partner but would also be my best friend. I realize now that I want someone to be with me forever.

  Emma is the one I want to spend every day with for the rest of my life. I want to grow old with her and give her everything she’s ever wanted. I want to keep her safe and make sure that no one is ever able to hurt her again. I want to give her the world and show her there’s more to us than just a friendship.

  She’s made me fall for her with everything that she is—her smile, her laugh and the way she looks at me.

  I just can’t get enough of her and I want to make her mine for good.

  She leans into me so that our faces are mere inches apart.

  I can feel her breath against my face and I can’t wait a second longer to kiss her again. I close my eyes and my mouth finds hers. She bites down on my lower lip and I slide my tongue into her mouth. Her hands move into my hair and I begin to caress her back.

  This kiss is different from the last; it’s harder, deeper and more urgent. There’s a need that we’re both trying to fulfill. At this point, I want nothing more than to strip her naked on this counter and kiss, touch and love every inch of her body.

  While my tongue strokes hers she lets out a moan, and instantly there�
�s a slight discomfort pushing against the zipper of my jeans. I don’t know that I have the willpower to wait much longer; I need to be inside of her.

  “Belle,” I pant, breaking free of our kiss.

  “Yes,” she replies, looking into my eyes.

  “I need you,” I say as I begin to kiss her lips, her jaw and her neck.

  “Yes,” she replies, pulling my face back up to hers.

  I look into her hazel eyes and the feelings I have for her are ready to burst through me. If I could shout to the world how much I love this girl I would.

  “I need you to know how much you mean to me, Belle,” I say while peppering kisses all over her face.

  “I already know, Pete.”

  She pulls me back into her and wraps her legs around my waist. Her body is tight up against mine and she has to notice that my erection is now pushing against her.

  I lift her up off the counter and carry her into the living room. Laying her down on the couch, I prop myself up with one arm and hover over her body.

  My lips immediately find hers and I deepen the kiss. Our lips lock, our tongues twisting together and our bodies craving to be united as one.

  She bucks her hips up against mine and at any moment I feel like I’ll explode…either that or someone is going to walk in on us.

  I feel like a fucking teenager about to dry hump his girlfriend in her parents’ basement. This situation is somewhat different but fuck, I don’t want to do this with her here.

  For a moment I break our kiss and look down at her.

  She shifts her tiny body underneath me and I can’t—I won’t—do this with her on her brother’s couch.

  I don’t want her to think I don’t want her.

  She starts to nip at my neck and I feel as though I am about to go crazy. God, I don’t want her to stop. But I do. She has to stop, we have to stop.

  “Belle, I want you, but I want you in my bed. I want our memories to be something we can share forever. When I lay my head down, I want to remember that my bed was the place we made love for the first time. I want to remember you, all of you,” I say and then pause a moment. “Plus, this damn dog won’t stop staring at us. Look at him. He’s drooling.”