Shape Of Love

  “Wait...but what is this? This is for a cruise to Mexico, but it's four weeks long. What happened to the tickets that I bought for me and Kristy?”

  “We traded them in!” his father boomed proudly. “We also put the money from that first cruise back in your account.”

  Sam furrowed his brow.

  “But how could you do that? How do you have my bank information?”

  “I'm your father. You're forgetting that I'm the one who helped you set that account up in the first place. And you have all your documents here. All of your mail gets sent to us. It probably wasn't all above board, but it was pretty simple to orchestrate.”

  “This is the part that I was worried you might be upset about,” his mother said hurriedly. “I hope you know that we were trying to do something nice for you and Kristy. Now, you can keep all of that money you saved and you and Kristy can spend more time together. You aren't upset that we disrespected your privacy or anything, are you? Because I told your father that we shouldn't cancel your cruise without talking to you. I know that it's possible you have other plans for the end of the summer-”

  “Enough, Bev!” Sam's father boomed. “Way to throw me under the bus. You were just as excited about this as I was. Now the whole thing was my idea?”

  “Guys, guys,” Sam laughed. “Don't worry about it. I'm so happy. I really am. I'm not mad at anybody.”

  Sam's mother sat back in her chair and breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Good,” she said. “I'm so glad to hear it. Let me go get the food. I've made us a delicious dinner. Kristy, I hope you like eggplant parmisian!”

  “I do!” Kristy agreed. “I can't wait to see what you've made for us, Mrs. George.”

  Sam's mother bustled out of the room and Sam grinned across the table at Kristy.

  “So, you're okay with this, Kristy? You don't mind spending the entire rest of your summer with me?”

  “No way!” Kristy said. “I'm really excited. Did you see the date on the tickets? We don't leave for two more days.”

  “Oh wow,” Sam said. “But then, what are you doing? Are you going back to your place in the city tonight?”

  “Hold on a second, Sam,” his father said. “We have one more surprise for you, but your mother wanted to wait until after dinner.”

  Sam raised his eyebrows.

  “Okay? Kristy, do you know what's going on?”

  Kristy giggled.

  “I do. I have to admit I'm in on all of it. But if your parents want to wait until after dinner to tell you, then you won't get a peep out of me!”

  “All right,” Sam laughed. “I guess I'm the only one in the dark here.”

  Kristy smiled and gave him a wink.

  His mother bustled in with several dishes of food and began laying them out across the table.

  “Whoa! Mom, you really went all out!” Sam cried. “Look at all this! Eggplant parm, stuffed grape leaves, feta salad, roasted kale. All of my favorites!”

  “That's an eclectic group of favorites,” Kristy said.

  “Yeah,” Sam said. “Well our family is both Italian and Greek, so a lot of my favorites are recipes from my grandmothers. But then roasted kale is something that I discovered after moving to New York.”

  “Yes, I've actually never eaten kale,” Sam's mother said. “I have to say I'm a bit curious to try this. I know that kale is really popular right now. It's one of those super foods, right Kristy?”

  Kristy's eyes widened. She appeared taken aback that Mrs. George was asking her.

  “Y-yeah,” Kristy stammered. “I've heard that too. I think it has a lot of protein. I haven't had it before either though.”

  “Oh, I'm sorry,” Mrs. George said. “Sam had mentioned that you like to work out, and I know that a lot of the fitness-oriented girls are eating kale now.”

  Kristy grinned and her cheeks were spotted with pink.

  “I am sot of a fitness-oriented girl,” she agreed. “I usually use avocados as my main source of protein, though.”

  “Oh, avocados. I've heard those another of those super foods. How do you eat them? Do you just cut them in half and eat them raw, or do you prepare them in some way?”

  Sam smiled as he watched Kristy and his mother talking. This was such a very different scene from the one that had occurred at the beginning of the year. He was so elated to see his parents making an effort and so glad that Kristy was finally able to feel comfortable with his family.

  After dinner had ended and his mother had cleared away the plates, his parents stood together at the head of the table and smiled.

  “Alright,” Sam's father said. “So, since you have a few days before your cruise leaves, your mother and I got you something else. You can take Kristy and go spend a few nights at the Sheraton in Times Square. We booked you guys a room and opened a tab at the hotel bar. You two go and have some fun.”

  “What?! Oh wow, you guys really did that?”

  Sam's parents smiled and Kristy rose from her seat at the table.

  “Come on, Sam,” she said. “I'll help you collect your bags.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  They spent the evening drinking wine and dancing in the hotel bar. Kristy looked beautiful sparkling red dress that accentuated all of her curves and dipped low on her bosom. She clutched Sam as they danced and he spun her under the shimmering lights.

  They didn't head up to their room until nearly one in the morning. They were giggling and holding onto each other. Sam felt light and giddy and had more hope for the future than ever before. Everything seemed to be made of endless possibilities.

  “I can't believe that your parents did this for us,” Kristy said, as they walked into the expansive hotel suite. “This room is so beautiful and it's so wonderful that they gave us a room overlooking Time Square. They really do love you Sam. It's great that they want to make everything up to you.”

  Sam nodded.

  “That's true,” he said. “It's nice that they did this for us, but what I'm really happy about is that they want to support us and treat you right. I can't even tell you how happy it made me to see you and my mom getting along and all of being able to eat together and have fun.”

  Kristy smiled.

  “Next you'll have to meet my family.”

  “I can't wait.”

  “But enough talk about families for tonight,” Kristy said. “I've got something else I'd rather devote my attention to.”

  Sam raised an eyebrow.

  “Oh yeah? What's that?”

  “Sit down here.”

  Kristy gestured towards the bed.

  “I just have to pop into the bathroom, but I'll be right out.”

  Sam smiled as he watched the coy expression on Kristy's face. She planted a small kiss on his cheek, before turning to saunter over to the bathroom. She snatched a small duffel bag off of one of the chairs before slipping into the bathroom and shutting the door.

  Sam knew that she was in there freshening up and making herself pretty for him. Kristy was breathtaking no matter what she wore or what she did with her appearance, but it made Sam feel good that she wanted to look pretty for him. Sam popped a piece of gum into his mouth, trying to freshen his breath while he waited for her.

  “Okay,” Kristy called out seven minutes later. “I'm all set. Are you ready for me?”

  “I'm so ready for you, babe,” Sam called.

  The door opened and Kristy stepped out. She leaned her long legs against the door frame and arched her back so that her hair was flung backwards, brushing against her waist. She wore a slinky pink baby-doll, trimmed in soft lace. A pair of pointed stilettos adorned her gorgeous feet. She batted her lashes and pursed her lips.

  “Oh, come over here you beautiful thing,” Sam murmured.

  Kristy sashayed over and climbed up into the bed with Sam. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his hands in her hair. He prepared to make love to her, for what he hoped would be the first of many, many more times.