by Mia Ford
Everyone heaped food on their plates and sat wherever they could. I liked my family, looking around as they talked and laughed. I considered that I’d see a lot more of them if I just decided to stay here. When I looked at my father, busy on his cell phone it made me want to run screaming away from the house. He didn’t appreciate shit in his life.
We all moved to the living room, perched on chairs, and sitting on the floor as the kids picked a movie on the huge TV. Dad went to his office as Mom squeezed in between two of her sisters, laughing loudly. She didn’t seem to mind, but he’d been like this for years.
We decided sleeping arrangements after midnight. The house was big and offered plenty of room for everyone. I headed upstairs, knowing that the women would be up early to start dinner while us cousins slept in. We’d sit around the house and watch TV and play games as the house continued to fill up, finally moving when dinner was ready.
It was tradition.
23
Rosalind
I helped Mom in the kitchen as much as I could. Three of my aunts from both sides were there with their kids, adding to the chaos of the house. There was so much food and I tucked my hair behind my ear as I let out a breath. We plated everything and set it up on the counter buffet style before I poured my second glass of wine. The kids got their food and went to their table before I stood in the long line, spooning various things onto my plate.
I sat at the table with my cousins and made small talk as I watched my brothers and their wives at the adult table. I could sit there but I liked it here better. Dad and I weren’t doing great, so I kept my distance. This worked. I was relieved that he didn’t invite a guy over to set me up with since the idea made me miserable.
I missed Sterling. I wanted to text him every moment of the day but chose not to. It was bad enough that we’d slept together here, and I didn’t want to pour salt into the wounds. I thought about that night by the pond all the time. I wondered what would happen when we got back to school. I wondered so much as I helped wash dishes to get away from everyone. I’d be leaving in three days and we’d be back to normal again. It seemed like we’d go home relatively healthy, too. At least, as far as our families go.
Mom took me shopping the day after Thanksgiving for the sales. She loved it while I merely tolerated it but there were good deals. I got some new clothes, and an updated version of my phone, telling my mom that I’d wait for the stuff to be transferred. I didn’t want her to see Sterling’s name anywhere on it. I was sure that she didn’t hate him, but Dad did. She lived by his rules. I walked out of the store and glanced around to find Mom, my eyes catching sight of Sterling’s mom and sisters. I paused to look at them, missing the old days when I’d be over there. Molly and Callie wouldn’t remember me at this point, but they were so cute when they were younger.
They were approaching me as I heard my name called out. Turning my head to the right, I saw my mom and froze as I realized that they’d be passing each other. Shit. They were adults and probably saw each other every so often. I was sure they handled it.
Sterling’s mom saw me, and her eyes took me in for a moment. The girls were chatting and not paying attention and I looked at my mom as she noticed the other woman. They smiled at one another, passing quickly as I joined my mom.
“Do you guys ever talk?” I asked her as she glanced at me. They used to be friendly towards one another.
“If we meet at the store or something, we say hello. With the way your dad and her husband are constantly fighting over business, it’s not a good idea.” She told me in a practical tone before looking at me. “That’s life, Rosie. Do you talk to Sterling?” I felt heat wash over my body, feigning a coughing fit as I bent forward. Mom tapped my back gently as I pretended to regain my composure.
“No. We don’t have classes together.” I replied after I was drinking a soda from the cup we got in the food court. Mom nodded as she glanced around the mall, her face thoughtful.
“There’s one more store I need to look at,” she told me as I nodded. I followed her to a big baby store where she got to work shopping for the baby boy and girl that were on the way. I watched quietly, feeling so far removed from this world that I barely had any interest. I didn’t grow up wanting kids since I saw how my dad was with Mom and us kids. He worked more than he spent time with any of us. I didn’t want that and being that Sterling was my best friend when I was a kid, I saw the same thing in his family.
She grabbed several things and told me that the baby showers were in a month. I was invited to come home for both on separate weekends, but I didn’t want to. I smiled and nodded as we walked to the car to head home.
The next day was spent relaxing, and I packed to go home that night. I was anxious to see Violet again and catch up with her. I was reluctant to tell her about Sterling, but I was dying to tell someone. I finished with my duffel bag, leaving something comfortable for tomorrow as I walked over to my window. I looked at Sterling’s house and sighed sadly. I missed him.
I got up in the morning to have coffee with Mom. Dad was in his office and that was fine with me. I watched the news with her and felt her eyes on me.
“Are you okay?” Mom asked as I looked at her. “You’ve seemed a little distracted this trip.”
“I’ve been thinking a lot about graduation. It’s coming so fast.” I told her as she smiled.
“I know,” she told me as she stroked my hair. I knew that she supported me at a base level and appreciated that. “I can’t wait to watch you cross that stage. I’m so proud of you.”
I grabbed my duffel bag from my bed after a light lunch. Walking it downstairs, I prepared to say goodbye to everyone. Mom hugged me, and Dad did the same in his distant way. He told me to drive safely before disappearing and mom hugged me again.
I carried the bag to the car and waved at her after I was inside. When I drove to the street, I noticed Sterling coming by and we stared at one another for a second. I grinned as I pulled out behind him, feeling like we were doing this together. He called my phone, and we talked on the speaker about the week. We didn’t mention our night together but spoke of relatives and the food. We talked about classes and all the work ahead of us. It reminded me of the old days when we’d talk all day and night. I could almost push away the fact that we were sleeping together.
I pulled into the parking lot of the campus after him, seeing that most of the cars were parked again. People were home from visiting families. Life was going to be back to normal. We got out of our cars and smiled at each other as we got our bags. I went my way and Sterling his, pushing through the front door and heading to my room. Violet looked up, and I dropped my bag to hug her tightly as we both squealed.
“I can’t believe that this is going to be normal life for us in a few months,” I told her once we’d pulled apart. “I missed you.”
“Come with me,” she told me as she walked back to her bed. We unpacked our bags and chatted about family, laughing as we compared stories.
“I saw Sterling once when we were there,” I confessed as she looked at me. She knew all about our family drama.
“How?”
“I went to a bar with some friends and he was there. We left together and found this gorgeous, private place. It was so taboo, and I loved that, but it ended when we left. I went back with my friends and got home late that night without my family even knowing I was at a club.” I admitted as she shook her head.
“You are an adult. You’re graduating for fucks sake. Why can’t you go to a bar?” Violet asked as I shrugged. “I’m glad you’re home even if it is just for a few weeks before you have to go back to hell.”
Christmas break was two weeks long. I did consider it hell and had no clue how I was going to make it through.
We went to class the following week and life settled back to normal. I kept my grades up and focused on classes. I was almost done after all. I was busy with classes and studying for the most part, not seeing a lot of Sterling.
I mis
sed him.
When he sent me a text on Friday afternoon, I jumped at the chance to see him. I felt pathetic as I met him in the parking lot to go to the pizza place in his car. We ordered food and drank wine as we chatted. It was like a great friendship until I felt his leg brush against my calf.
We went to his dorm room when we were done. We were barely through his door before he kissed me, ripping my jacket off. I let it drop to the ground before kissing him again as he pressed me against the wall. As we stumbled across the room, clothes dropped to the floor before he pressed me back against the mattress. The first time that I came was against his tongue with my hands in his hair. Sterling moved up my skin and sucked on my nipple as his cock nudged my sex. I raised my hips, and he slid inside as we both moaned.
The sex was hard and fast. It felt like months since the last time as he drove into me. I rocked with him, managing to forget that we were in a dorm until he covered my mouth with his hand. I came hard along with him in a silent scream before he dropped above me. We both breathed in deeply as I closed my eyes and went limp.
Sterling rolled to his side and wrapped an arm around my waist.
“This is much better than doing it on the grass, right?” He teased me as I laughed weakly.
“I liked that. I felt like there was nobody in the world but us that night, Sterling. Maybe it was because we were home. I don’t know.” I shrugged as I took in his warmth. It was certainly the first time I’d made out in a club with a man much less left to have sex. I realized how boring I was with my couple of boyfriends in high school. While I slept with them, it wasn’t like it was with Sterling. Nothing could be.
“It was great,” he told me as he kissed my hair. “I do like you in my bed though.”
We remained laying there for a few minutes before I felt exhaustion kick in.
“I’m tired, Sterling.”
“Go to sleep,” he urged me as I snuggled against him. “We can do it in the morning.”
I woke up pressed closely against Sterling’s body, glancing at the clock to see that it was four. I would never go back to my room now to begin with, so I pressed my lips to his bare, muscular chest. His arms tightened around me and he groaned my name. Sterling hardened against me and I felt him push me to my stomach. He spread my thighs, and I felt him slide inside of me with a soft groan. Sterling filled me as he eased into me, burying his cock in my pussy. We fucked slow and hard as I felt my release edging closer, making me moan.
Sterling came first, and I followed, pushing back against him. We stilled as he turned to his side, moving me with him so we could stay together this way.
“You feel good.” He told me as I smiled. “I could stay here all night.”
“Is that dangerous?” I asked as he stroked my stomach.
“It would be painful,” he laughed, pulling out but still holding me close. We fell back to sleep until nine before we got up to go out for breakfast.
24
Sterling
The next break came all too fast. It was a blur of classes, tests, lack of sleep and nights in my bed with Rosie. I hadn’t slept with any other girls for the last two months, but I pushed away the idea of having any feelings for her. I told myself that I was just busy and didn’t have time. They still flirted with me and acted the same way, but I just wasn’t interested.
I left to go home for Christmas the Wednesday before the holiday, trying not to spend too much time there. I knew that Rosie went two days earlier because her mom was pushing her. We stayed the weekend before that in my bed, sleeping and fucking. It was great, but she drifted away to reality just before I did.
I pulled into my driveway and parked, letting out a long breath. I walked through the garage and noted that everyone seemed to be here apart from Dad. Walking inside, I called out a greeting and heard voices in the living room. I dropped my bag to the floor to walk inside, seeing all my siblings as well as the girl’s boyfriends. I’d met both last time I was here, and they were good guys. Callie was treated like a queen and he was going to be a great father. Even Molly looked happy even if she wasn’t as serious about him as Callie was about Grady.
I settled on the couch with Mom after hugging everybody, sipping a bottle of water. Callie was a bit bigger now, and they were going to find out what the baby was in one more month. She was excited as she talked about that and Grady’s condo that was nearly finished. Mom smiled the entire time, clearly thrilled with all of it.
We made sandwiches for dinner and sat around eating them. Dad came home in the middle of it and joined us, grabbing one from the plate. Things seemed a little tense between him and Mom and I glanced curiously at her.
Did something happen?
We finished dinner and Mom cleaned it up, hurrying into the kitchen. She started to wash dishes, and the girls followed her inside the kitchen to help as I looked at my brother. Dad was looking at his phone and Dan glanced at me. I nodded and walked to the hallway as he followed me.
“What’s going on?” I asked as he sighed.
“They’ve been fighting a lot. Dad’s been extra aggressive going after businesses and Mom found out that it’s affecting her friends. It’s just causing some friction.” He told me as I shook my hand.
“He’s already fucking rich. Why does he work harder to get more money?” I asked as I looked back towards the kitchen.
“That’s Dad,” he offered simply with a sad look in his eyes. We returned to the living room and chatted with Grady and Boyce until the women came back into the room. They brought us dessert, and we enjoyed that as I stared at Mom. She kept the conversation going and seemed cheerful, but I could see something dark in her eyes.
When everyone headed home or to their beds, I stopped Mom.
“Are you okay?” I asked her as she smiled weakly at me.
“I’m fine, Sterling.” Mom told me as she yawned.
“Are you sure?” I asked, pulling her into my arms for a hug.
“Just tired.” She replied holding me tight. I knew there was more to it, but I let her walk away and go to bed by herself. Dad was still in his office. He was always in his fucking office if he wasn’t on the phone. I headed up to my room and dropped on my bed, grabbing my phone from the charger. There were some messages from a few friends as well as some hookups. I ignored all of them when I saw Rosie’s name, opening her text.
R: I got into a fight with Dad. He keeps pushing Rich on me, working for the business. I hate him, Sting. I really hate him.
S: Are you still awake?
R: Yes. I can’t sleep.
I thought for a moment before I pulled my shoes on.
S: I’m leaving my house now. Can you sneak out?
R: Yes.
I slipped my phone into my pocket and stepped out into the hallway. The house sounded quiet, and I walked quietly down the stairs. I knew that Dad might be up and looked that way as I edged towards the front door. I was glad that we didn’t have an alarm as I stepped outside and ran down the driveway. It was cool and dark out as I jogged down the street towards her house, I paused at the edge of the driveway, looking closely at the house before a small figure walked my way. Rosie was dressed in leggings and a loose sweater with her hair up in a messy bun.
I pulled her into my arms and held her tight.
“What’s going on?” I asked as she sucked in her breath.
“He’s just being a jerk. I told him I want to write for a living and he said that I’m on my own if that’s the choice that I make. He’s in such a terrible mood and I don’t know why.” There was a tremble in her voice as I stroked her back before leading her down the street away from the houses.
“It must be contagious. Shit is weird at my house too.” I offered as she looked at me. I held her hand as we walked to the small park down the street, watching as she sat in a swing. Rosie was beautiful even when she was stressed, and I watched as she stared up at the sky.
“Remember when we used to play here as kids?” Rosie asked softly as I laughed a
t the memory.
“I do. Those were good times, running down the street in a group screaming at the top of our lungs. I think everyone probably hated me.” Rosie laughed with me as gave her a small push. She held on tight and I pushed her again. We talked about the old days in soft tones for a while before she stopped the swing with her foot.
“I miss that.” I watched as she stood and walked over to the picnic tables.
“I do, too. Things were so much easier in some ways and hard in others.” I mused as she turned to face me. “Violet is moving back to Texas after she graduates, and I can’t afford an apartment on my own. I’ll be looking for a job same as any other student. That means I’ll have to live at home with them where he’s going to put my idea down every day. How is that fair?” Rosie stepped forward to nudge my chest with her head, sighing softly
I hadn’t decided at a school for the same reason. Dad entertained me getting a bachelor’s degree because he was expecting me to go into the business once I worked college out of my system. I kept pushing for law school and wanted it more than ever, but it was risky with my family threatening to pull my money. Even though Rosie and I didn’t love our parents, they did have us by the balls. I pulled her into my arms, stroking her back gently as she cried softly. I hated seeing Rosie cry. I longed to have my own funds to take care of us both, but the trust fund wasn’t available until I was thirty. I suspected that my dad had something to do with that. Gram never would have made that limitation, knowing that I had dreams.
I comforted Rosie until she has ready to go home and sleep. We walked back down the dark street and I kissed her at the end of the driveway. I wanted to take her to a hotel and hold her in my arms the entire night. I wanted to tell our families to fuck off and live my life that way I wanted to. I wanted to do all of this, but my parents had the most important string attached to me. Rosie was the same way. They had money to get us by in life.