Dreamspinner Press Years One & Two Greatest Hits

by J. M. Colail

  “Do you want to, Toren?” she asked solemnly.

  I furrowed my brows and looked down. I took a deep breath. “I love him, Mom. So, yeah, I want to.”

  Mom’s eyes widened and she stared at me, and then her face softened into a smile. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this. Wes asked me not to. But, he came to see me at work yesterday. It was so cute; he was so nervous. He wanted my permission to let you two live together,” she said with a soft laugh.

  “He did? He went to see you?” I was surprised, and wondered why he didn’t want me to know.

  Mom nodded, and then bowed her head. I could hear her soft laugh and quiet sigh. “It’s funny. You two remind me so much of your father and me at your age,” she said. I looked up at her and her eyes were glassy. She stared at her lap and squeezed her hands together. I wasn’t exactly sure what to do or say; this wasn’t in the dialogue I rehearsed.

  “Mom, are you still in love with Dad?” She looked up at me startled, then knitted her brows and forced a smile.

  “Of course I love him. He gave me you and Alycia. I’ll always love him for that,” she said, smiling, though her eyes were sad.

  “That’s not what I meant. I mean, are you still in love with him?”

  Mom’s eyes teared up and I wasn’t sure what to do next. She closed her eyes and buried her face in her hands. My stomach tightened; I wasn’t used to seeing Mom so vulnerable.

  “Oh, Tor. I don’t know,” she said at last, dropping her hands into her lap like they were made of lead. “I guess I… I was just so angry. I tried to so hard to figure out what I did wrong. When we first met, in high school, I knew he was the one, the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. People thought we were moving too fast, but it didn’t matter, because he was everything I wanted. But, when that day came, fourteen years later…. Fourteen years! I thought we were happy! We had two wonderful children. We had a nice house. I thought we had everything! I thought… we were happy.”

  Mom’s whimpers became sobs and I scooted closer to her. She seemed so frail and I just wanted to protect her. This was why I hated Dad. “Mom, I’m sorry,” I whispered pathetically. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to comfort her.

  “No, that’s not right,” she said, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I did know something was wrong. I just convinced myself that there wasn’t. I mean, we were more like roommates than a married couple. And when he finally told me, I was just so angry! It hurt so much that I couldn’t make him happy and that there was someone else who could. And then I said all those horrible things to him. I didn’t even mean them. I just wanted to hurt him,” she said, bowing her head ashamedly. I bit my lip; I could understand why she said what she did. I hugged her tighter and she looked at me, squeezing my hand. “God, Tor, I’m so sorry. I must’ve made things so hard for you.” She let go of my hand and brushed the hair from my eyes. “But that’s why I’m so proud of you. Despite everything, you were honest with yourself. You were strong enough to know who you are. You were honest with yourself, and with me. And that’s why I trust you. Only you know if you’re ready to take the next step with Wesley and I trust your judgment. And when Wesley came to see me at work yesterday, I knew I could trust him too. With you. So, that’s why I’m going to let you move in with him.”

  I stared at Mom with wide eyes. I hadn’t realized it, but I was holding my breath. Mom smiled at me and I wrapped my arms around her. My eyes were already red with tears and I brushed them away, but I kept crying.

  Mom took a deep breath and patted my head. “I’m sorry I made you listen to all that. I guess I’m not completely over him yet. I wonder if I ever will be,” she said, drying her eyes again. “Just be honest with yourself and with each other and I know you two will live happily ever after,” she said with a laugh. This time her voice was cheerful and back to normal.

  I was glad she told me everything. I hoped that maybe it helped her too. I didn’t think she would ever get over Dad. But I understood why she said the things she did and I think I understood how hard it was for Dad too.

  “You want some French toast?”

  Mom laughed and nodded her head. She followed me into the kitchen and poured another cup of coffee.

  “Oh! I’ll let you move in with Wes on one condition,” she premised with a grin. “You have to come over and make dinner every once in a while.”

  “All right. I can do that,” I said, breaking an egg in a pie tin.

  “Seriously, I don’t know how you became such a great cook. You certainly didn’t get it from me,” she wondered aloud, leaning against the counter.

  I broke another egg in the tin and added some milk, vanilla, and cinnamon. Mom and I talked about what I would need to move out as I made breakfast. Then we sat down at the table and wrote up a list of what Wesley and I had and what we needed. As two o’clock neared, I was disappointed that she had to leave for work. I hugged her good-bye and then got ready for work myself.

  Chapter 22

  MY DRESSER, bookshelf, and nightstand were empty. Laundry baskets were filled with my clothes and cardboard boxes held books, CDs, and other stuff. I wrapped the cord around the clip lamp, put it in one of the boxes, and taped up the top. I only had the closet left to pack. I looked around my room; it seemed smaller now with all my things removed.

  Mom and I went down to the storage unit and found two matching, fake gold table lamps and a coffeemaker along with the sofa and end tables. Mom forgot that she had the lamps and wondered at her past taste in décor. The lamps were kinda ugly, but in a cool, retro sort of way.

  Alycia and I packed as much as we could fit into the Taurus and drove to my new apartment complex. As we were unloading the car, a red F-150 pulled up. The truck bed was low with boxes, a round table, four chairs, and a small chest of drawers. Wesley got out and Jeremy Read came around the side of the truck. Wesley greeted me without a kiss and I was grateful; I felt awkward around Jeremy. Alycia ran down the stairs from the second floor, ready to take up another load. I noticed Jeremy’s eyes lingered on her a little too long.

  “Hi! I’m Alycia, Toren’s little sister,” she said, extending her hand to Jeremy.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Jeremy said with a smile.

  Wesley and I looked at each other. Alycia blushed and I wondered if she temporarily forgot about Mike. She wiped her brow with the hem of her shirt and smiled at Jeremy again. It took a moment for Jeremy to tear his eyes from her tanned stomach and sapphire belly ring. Wesley and I glanced at each other again.

  Wesley and Jeremy carried the table, chest of drawers, and boxes to apartment 204. Alycia and I took the chairs and the rest of the stuff from the Taurus. We put the boxes in the appropriate rooms and then sat down at the table in the kitchen nook to rest for a moment. I glanced around at the white, empty apartment. It was amazing to think that this was my new home. My home with Wesley. I grinned stupidly until Alycia kicked me under the table.

  After a short break, Alycia and I went home to load up the car again. Wesley and Jeremy followed us to get the sofa and end tables. Then we returned and sorted the boxes according to room. Alycia left again to get the last of my things, letting me stay behind to start unpacking. I sat in the bedroom and started to put away clothes in the dresser and closet.

  The doorbell rang and Wesley was already at the door, talking to two men in light blue shirts and blue jeans. He looked over some papers on a clipboard then signed at the bottom. The two men walked away and Wesley looked at me and smiled.

  “Who was that?” I asked, brushing my hand across my forehead.

  “It’s your present to me,” Wesley answered, moving boxes and stuff away from the door.

  “Wait. What?” I asked, following him into the bedroom where he pushed boxes and laundry baskets against the wall.

  A moment later, the two men reappeared carrying a large bed frame. Wesley told them where to put it and I stood by with wide eyes while they assembled the metal frame. Then they left and r
eturned with a queen-size mattress wrapped in plastic. They stripped the plastic, positioned the mattress on the frame, and then left.

  I stared at the large bed that took up two-thirds of the wall it was placed against. Wesley slapped my behind and I jumped, looking up at him. Jeremy stood at the bedroom door and I blushed.

  “What… what is this?” I asked.

  “It’s a bed, dummy,” Wesley teased. Then he leaned closer. “I already told you, it’s your present to me.”

  “But… what? My present to you?

  “Yeah,” Wesley said, “for all the stuff you’re gonna let me do to you on it.”

  I felt hot and blushed head to toe, then glanced at Jeremy who still stood at the door. I stepped back from Wesley, my mouth flapping though no words came out.

  “But… but… my mom’s coming over in a little while!” I said, all flustered and unable to think of anything else to say.

  “Don’t worry. It’s not like I’m gonna throw you down right now,” Wesley answered with a laugh.

  I glanced at Jeremy from the corner of my eyes. He was grinning and leaning against the doorframe with his arms folded. “But… there’s only one bed and… what’s she gonna think?”

  “She knew you weren’t taking your bed. She obviously knew this was part of the deal when she agreed to let you move in with me,” he said calmly.

  “You didn’t say that to her when you asked her, did you?” I asked, still frazzled and embarrassed.

  “What? She told you I…?” Wesley asked with wide eyes. “Oh man,” he groaned and slapped his forehead.

  “You guys are too funny,” Jeremy commented, then straightened up and walked into the living room.

  Wesley and I both looked at Jeremy and then at each other. He stepped close, wrapping his arms around me and pushing my head to his shoulder. I slid my hands up his back and hid my face.

  “He knows?” I asked in a muffled voice.

  “Yeah, I told him,” Wesley said with a chuckle, ruffling my hair. “God, you’re so cute.”

  Wesley and Jeremy continued unpacking boxes while I fitted the bed with sheets that Wesley had bought. Not long after, Mom and Alycia arrived with the rest of my stuff. Mom came up carrying a large box and put it down on the kitchen counter with a grunt.

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  Mom turned to me with a large smile. “It’s a housewarming gift.”

  I stepped closer and looked at the box. Inside was a set of stainless-steel cookware. I looked up at Mom with an open mouth.

  “It’s ’cause you’re such a good cook. You deserve only the best,” she said and patted my back. She walked toward the door and smiled again. “C’mon, this stuff’s not gonna move itself.”

  The five of us emptied the car quickly and we spent the rest of the afternoon and evening unpacking. Alycia and Jeremy worked side-by-side, flirting blatantly, while Mom and I worked in the bedroom. When she saw the bed, my face flared, but she didn’t say a word about it.

  Around eight, we ordered a pizza and sat in the living room watching the 25-inch TV Wesley brought. We talked and laughed while Wesley and Jeremy yawned. They had moved all of Wesley’s stuff out by noon, to be certain it was done before his parents came home from work. After half an hour, Alycia announced that she was tired and she and Mom got ready to leave. Jeremy seemed disappointed and then decided that he should head home too. We thanked everyone for their help and I gave Mom a hug, a kiss, and a giant, grateful “thank you.” Alycia gave me a hug and a wink, and they left. Jeremy said good-bye after commenting on how cute Alycia was. I smiled proudly, but I didn’t tell him that she had a boyfriend.

  Wesley and I turned back to our apartment and looked around with smiles. It was an amazing feeling. The furniture didn’t exactly match, we didn’t have cable yet, we ate off paper plates, and the walls were still blindingly white and plain, but it was our place.

  At long last, Wesley pulled me close with a hand around my waist and kissed me for a long time. He looked into my eyes with a smile on his lips and whispered “Welcome home.” He was unbelievably sexy when he said that.

  “Ready for bed?” he asked and yawned.

  I smiled devilishly. “You didn’t forget your promise, did you?”

  “Why do you think I wanna go to bed at nine-thirty?” he answered, taking me by the hand and leading me to the bedroom.

  We stood at the door, staring at the enormous bed, and I took a deep breath. I felt really nervous all of a sudden. Wesley felt it in my hand and pulled me into the room. He stood next to the bed and faced me. He looked really handsome and I swallowed away a lump in my throat. It was our first night in our bed, in our bedroom, in our apartment. My heart thumped when Wesley began to pull off his shirt.

  “Wait. Stop,” I said, stepping toward him.

  Wesley stopped in mid-motion with his shirt up to his neck. “Huh? Why?”

  “’Cause… I wanna undress you,” I said timidly, walking up to him and pulling his shirt back down.

  Wesley smiled and stood still. I kissed him and slid my hands under his shirt. I bent down and kissed his exposed flesh inch-by-inch until I held the shirt under his chin. I licked at his nipple and suckled it for a moment before lifting his shirt over his head. He raised his arms as I tugged at his shirt and I had to stand on my tiptoes to pull it over his hands. I ran my fingers down his muscled arms and kissed him again. I sucked his bottom lip as my hands traveled down to the top of his shorts. He was already hard as I drew down the zipper. I took the top of his shorts in both hands, yanked them down, and pushed him back on the bed. His eyes widened and he grinned as I dropped to my knees in front of him.

  “Heh, I kinda like it when you’re aggressive,” he said, lifting himself up on his elbows.

  I glanced up at him, rubbing his thighs, and lapped at the tip hungrily. I massaged his balls and my fingers found their way further back as I dropped my mouth around him. I licked and sucked feverishly, grasping his balls with one hand and rimming the hole behind with my finger. Wesley’s legs trembled and if my mouth weren’t full, I would’ve grinned proudly. I took him as deep as my throat would allow and he came violently, his body shaking. I licked my lips and lay down atop him, giving him a long, salty kiss.

  “Goddamn,” Wesley panted, draping his forearm over his eyes. He breathed deeply for a moment then moved his arm and looked at me. “Wanna try doing me tonight?” he asked with a smirk.

  My whole face blushed and I glanced to the side. I couldn’t say that the thought never crossed my mind, but I felt embarrassed. I was worried that I could never live up to Wesley’s skill.

  “Um, I don’t know,” I whispered shyly, crawling back and standing up.

  “C’mon, I wanna know what I’ve been missing,” he said, lying in place completely naked. He then turned over and crawled across the bed on all fours, taking the tube of lotion from the nightstand.

  I couldn’t help myself. He was so unbelievably hot and I felt myself harden to the point that it almost hurt. He crawled back to me and tugged at my shirt, pulling it over my head, and kissing me.

  “You’re so ready for it,” he grinned, unzipping my shorts. He pulled my pants and boxers down and looked at me with round eyes. “Oh man. We’re gonna need lotsa lube. Oh sorry, I mean ‘stuff.’”

  Wesley pulled me onto the bed, handed me the tube, and turned around. He pushed himself against me and as I looked at his beautiful backside, I was overcome with desire. I glanced at the tube in my hand, and then screwed off the cap.

  “Put some on your fingers first,” he coached, glancing back at me. “Remember, my ass is virgin.”

  I almost passed out with lust. This was extra special to me. Just as he was my first for everything, I was going to be his first in this. I did as he instructed and laying one hand on the small of his back, I pressed my finger into him. He moaned and I was seduced by the sound of his voice. I pulled my hand back and slid two fingers in. Wesley wiggled his ass against my hand and I worried t
hat if I didn’t do it soon, I was gonna come. Wesley sensed my eager desire and told me to pull my fingers out.

  “Slather your dick and go to it,” Wesley said, less than seductively, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Wesley glanced at me with a smile and laughed too. Then he looked at me again and began to stroke himself.

  I grabbed his rear with both hands and positioned myself. I was met with resistance, but as Wesley relaxed his muscles, I pushed forward gently. He moaned with an edge of pain and I stopped.

  “Does it hurt?”

  “No, I’m okay,” he answered, letting himself go and grabbing the sheet in both hands.

  I pressed on with his assurance and gently, slowly, I found myself deep inside him. It was an indescribable feeling: my whole body was afire, and I pumped back and forth in this heightened state of awareness. I watched Wesley’s back, the way his muscles flexed, and his sighs and moans tickled my ears erotically. I had never experienced a feeling like this before and I thought I would die from the extravagant pleasure. I came hard into Wesley and I gasped for air, my laboring body trembling with sweet exhaustion. I collapsed on top of him, the place of our union tingling and warm.

  “Damn,” Wesley panted beneath me.

  I smiled and kissed the nape of his neck.

  I pulled out and I felt like something had changed, something was different. I always worried that, sometimes, Wesley forgot that I was a guy too. I felt equal to him now. I felt stronger and even more connected to him. I was inside him, like I staked my claim or something. I smiled at the silly thought and flopped down beside Wesley. He turned to his side, facing me, and rested his head on his hand. He looked down and groaned.

  “Geez, maybe we should start using condoms so we won’t have to wash the sheets every day,” he said with a laugh.

  My face reddened with the mention of the word. I knew I was naïve and everyone preached about protection, but somehow, it never really dawned on me. I was a virgin when I met Wesley and he was the only person I’d ever been with, but I didn’t know how many girls he’d been with. I swallowed hard and balled my hands into fists for courage.