by Dawn Doyle
She’d looked at him as his Dad was saying something, a few moments before. Rami was grinning whilst Alex looked extremely uncomfortable.
“Serás una buena madré.” Said Abuela, placing a hand on Holly’s cheek.
“Oh my God!” Dev mouthed, her mouth open in a surprised smile.
Holly looked at her as she tried to understand what Abuela had said.
“Good…mother? Yeah, My Mum’s great.” She said.
Dev was holding a hand over her mouth, stopping her laugh.
“Oh, sweet girl, I know that” Abuela chuckled. “I said you will be a good mother.”
“Ohhhh.” Said Holly, eyes widening.
“Little Carlos doesn’t take to many people, yet he’s comfortable with you.”
“Hey babe.” Said Alex as he walked up behind Holly’s chair.
“Hi babe” she replied before he leant forward to kiss her, sweetly.
“Hola Carlos!” He said to the little guy. “I hope you’re not making moves on my girl” He smiled, making Carlos giggle. “You gonna give your big cousin a cuddle?” Alex asked, and he held his hands out to Carlos.
He shied away towards Holly.
“Wow!” Said Lily. “I’ve never seen him refuse Alex before.”
“I don’t blame him. Look who’s holding him.” He said, winking at Holly, brushing the back of her hair with his hand.
Holly stood, still holding Carlos, sitting him on her hip.
“Do you want to go to Alex?” she asked the baby boy clinging to her. “Bababababebe” He replied, happily.
All eyes had turned to Alex and Holly playing with Carlos.
Alex held his hand up for a high five, and Carlos smacked his hand. He tickled his side, and Carlos shrieked, making everybody laugh.
“Do you want him, Alex? No, you can’t have him.” Holly was saying as she held Carlos forward, then turning him away from Alex as if teasing him.
They played for a few more minutes until Carlos began to yawn. He finally accepted Alex’s arms for a quick cuddle before going to his Mom, Lily.
Seeing Alex with a baby in his arms warmed Holly. He didn’t look awkward holding him at all. He looked completely comfortable. In a few years…
Alex pulled Holly in, embracing her, gazing into her eyes.
“He likes you.” He said whilst he ran his thumb over her cheek.
“He’s a gorgeous little boy” She replied.
“Have you been around kids much?”
“Emily’s friend had a baby when she was twenty three. I saw her quite a lot.”
Alex sat on Holly’s chair, bringing her with him to sit on his lap.
“Good! You need to do something for me. For luck.” Said Abuela with a cheeky twinkle in her eyes. “Devon too.” She said as she removed her wedding rings. “Here” she passed her engagement ring to Dev. “Put it on you ring finger and rotate it clockwise, making a wish.”
Dev did as Abuela asked and handed it back.
Holly saw a ‘look’ pass between Abuela and Evie.
“Now you, Holly.” She said.
Holly nervously took Abuela’s ring and placed it on her ring finger. As she slipped it on, she felt Alex’s breath stop for a second and she didn’t know what he was thinking. She rotated the ring three times and made her wish.
Alex to be safe and happy.
She started to remove the ring, and Alex stopped her.
“Wait. Just a second.” Holly turned her eyes to him, and he was looking down at her hand with a look she couldn’t decipher. Then, he looked up at her.
“Ok, you can give it back now.” He said as his thumb ran down her waist as he held her.
Holly passed the ring back to Abuela and noticed the same look she gave to Evie; she was giving to Alex.
She turned back to Alex, but he was already looking back at her. He looked as if he were trying to stop a grin, and he failed miserably.
Alex squeezed her and placed a light kiss on her cheek.
Evie got up from her seat, looking to Rami.
“It’s time!” She said excitedly.
A huge cake was wheeled into the room. Holly stood, so Alex could, and everybody started to sing ‘Happy Birthday’.
The cake was white, three tiers and had one side decorated with edible butterflies and fairies. The other side with gym weights and electronic gadgets; iPad, Xbox, cellphone.
Alex kissed Holly and Dev kissed Ben before they went to stand by their cake to blow out their candles.
Everybody clapped and cheered.
“And now…” the DJ’s voice came over the speakers. “…A little reminder of the birthday twins’ life over the years!”
A screen came down as Alex and Dev made their way back to Holly and Ben. The lights dimmed.
“Oh no.” Squeaked Dev as a picture of a heavily pregnant Evie appeared on the screen.
The next picture was the twins wrapped up after being born.
“Awww.” Chorused the guests.
Holly took in a sharp breath as more, and more pictures were shown. Alex looked so adorable. His chocolate eyes looking into the camera. Even then, his smile could melt hearts.
There were pictures of them playing in kindergarten and school pictures together. They looked so happy and beautiful.
“You were such a gorgeous little kid.” Holly said to Alex. Her eyes not leaving the screen.
“Thanks, babe.” He said as he held her back to his front, arms wrapped firmly around her waist.
The next picture had everyone laughing.
Alex watching TV whilst he let Dev put hair ties and clips in his hair.
“What? I looked totally hot” He joked.
The teen years rolled by, and Alex was getting more handsome with each passing photo, if that was even possible. It was evident that he was maturing very well.
If Holly had met him back then, she had no doubt she would’ve reacted to him in the same way. The pictures rolled on, and Alex seemed different.
Like he was… depressed. She had an idea why.
Stacey.
She looked up, and Alex kissed her nose. He knew that she knew why he looked that way. His smiles weren’t genuine, if not a little forced.
Then there were recent ones. Holly could tell they were taken in the last few weeks. Alex looked the same, but he looked happier. Holly’s eyes transfixed to the screen as Alex’s smiles became real.
Dev looked her usual stunning self and it was clear she was turning into a woman.
Holly’s hand flew to her mouth at the next picture as everyone else said a mixture of “Awww” and “Oh my God that’s so good”
“When did they…?” Alex said as the was taken of him sitting at the dining table, ear buds in and he was drawing.
The photo was taken at an angle that showed Alex’s face, but also his drawing. It was a picture of Holly sitting with her head resting on her hand, under her chin, at school.
“You drew a picture of me?” Holly asked, looking up at him. Alex nodded.
“I’ve drawn a few pictures of you.” He smiled. “I’ll show you if you’d like”
“Definitely” she nodded quickly.
The next was Dev, on her phone, laughing.
“I remember that” Dev said. “I was talking to you, Hol.” She added and raised her eyebrows.
“Yeah, laughing at my embarrassing moments.”
The next picture was a shock to Holly. Alex was standing, slightly turned towards the camera, looking down into his phone as if he were texting. His hair falling forward in that way she loves.
He was wearing black jeans and nothing else.
“Holy hell!” she blurted out and then slapped a hand to her mouth.
Everyone laughed as she turned into Alex to hide her red face.
“Get Holly some ice.” One of the men shouted.
“Oh my God.” She groaned. Alex was chuckling.
“It’s like you’ve never seen him without a shirt before.” Snickered Dev.
“You’re kidding?” Dev was surprised and Holly shook her head.
The next picture showed Alex and Dev together, talking.
The next was a picture made up of two.
One from birth and one from the present, side-by-side. Both in their cribs at the hospital and Dev kissing Ben and Alex kissing Holly, there, at the party.
A banner appeared across the screen.
‘Happy Birthday to our beautiful babies.’
“Woo!” and clapping was heard all around the room and they were congratulated again.
“I thought your girl was gonna faint at that topless pic of you.” Said Mike as he walked away, still laughing.
“I didn’t mean to blurt that out!” Said Holly, still horrified and Alex cupped her face.
“I loved it, and I love you.” His gaze melted Holly on the spot.
“I love you too.” She said.
“Holly” Dev said, breaking away from the birthday hugs. “You’ve really not had Alex’s shirt off since Riss’ house?” She whispered.
“Really” Holly replied. Not that she hadn’t thought about it often. Her dreams consisted of a stripped down Alex, but he was always wearing shorts. Whenever he wasn’t, she couldn’t see anything else.
Maybe because she hadn’t seen that her mind couldn’t picture it.
“I thought you had his shirt off plenty. The way you two behave anyway…” Ben pulled Dev away for more kisses, leaving Alex and Holly.
“I want a copy of that picture.” She said.
“You’ve got the real thing right here.” He said, pointing to himself.
“Yes, but you and I both know that that’s dangerous.” She was staring at his torso, and chewing her lips, itching to see what was underneath.
She knew, but she wanted to see what she was touching, when she was touching it.
“Cake!” Rami said, breaking her fog, and all the guests went back to their tables for their piece. Chocolate with vanilla frosting.
Alex popped a chunk into his mouth, a crumb in the centre of his bottom lip. Holly lifted her hand and wiped it with her thumb. She paused, then slowly stroked across his deliciously full lips with her fingertips.
Knowing how they felt, and tasted, on her mouth.
How they felt on her jaw, neck, collarbone… She moved forward, as did he, to taste his lips again. Her hand on his cheek, her thumb on his chin.
Alex brought up a small piece of cake on his fork and held it out for Holly to open her mouth. She opened, and he fed her the piece. He closed his eyes.
Fuck!
He was really losing it.
He couldn’t help but think it was partly due to his Dad saying ‘there are other things you can do besides sex…’. His thoughts ran back to earlier, in his room.
He’d wanted to ease Holly’s pain.
He wanted to watch her as he did. Now, he was in pain.
Alex clenched his jaw and took a deep breath.
“I need you.” He whispered.
He felt like everything in his life, everything up to that point in the hallway before he had first laid eyes on Holly, had been empty.
Now, he felt whole.
With her.
He needed her to breathe, to live.
Without her…no…never.
“Baby, I need you too.” She whispered.
Alex leaned into kiss her.
Under the table, his right hand found her thigh and he stroked up the outside, allowing just his fingertips to graze her bare skin. Her thigh tensed under his touch. His other hand lifted to stroke her cheek as he broke their kiss to look into her eyes.
“Ok, that’s just too much.” Sobbed Evie.
“Mom?” Alex turned to face his Mom, who’d come to sit with them.
“Both my babies in love” she sniffled. “And to watch you two together…” she dabbed her eyes. “…Gosh, it’s beautiful.”
“There’s my girl.” Said Rami. Sitting down next to Evie. He seemed to know what was up, and he held her face and wiped her tears.
“We did good, didn’t we?” He said quietly but loud enough that they could hear.
Evie nodded, still sniffling.
“I’m so proud of you both.” She said to Alex and Dev.
“Thanks, Mom” they replied. Rami brought his lips to Evie’s and kissed her tenderly.
They’re still very much in love.
After over twenty years, they still looked at each other like the other was their world.
That’ll be us in twenty years too.
Her heart skipped a beat as she realised she was assuming that future for her and Alex. She turned he face to him, and he was already looking at her.
“That’s us in twenty years?” He asked, smiling broadly.
Holly was shocked that he knew exactly what she’d been thinking. Then, it hit her…
”You kinda said it out loud.” He whispered.
“Oh dear God!” she cringed, covering her face with her hands.
“Babe.” He said, pulling her hands away from her face. “I wasn’t kidding when I said forever. I meant it, Holly. I love you.” He said, holding her hands and bringing them to his chest.
“I love you.” She whispered and he gently, with a featherlight touch, kissed her lips.
“Hey, baby girl.” Said Kim, sitting down, Oli joining her.
“Hiya Mum, hiya Dad.” She said, but neither she, or Alex, let go of each other. They chatted for a while and family members came and went from the table. The rest of their group had gotten up to dance and so had the grandparents.
“¿Quieres bailer conmigo?” Alex said into Holly’s ear.
She squeezed her knees together as arousal shot to her centre.
“Sí…” She replied. “…Me encataría.”
“You’re learning a lot.” He said as they walked to the dance floor. He held her close, around her waist, and she had her arms around his neck.
He grazed his lips against her lobe sending prickles all over her skin.
“I’m thinking…Maybe I should test you again.” Holly gasped as Alex’s chest rumbled with laughter.
“You wouldn’t.” She whisper shouted.
“Mmmm I’m so tempted.” He teased.
Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s get it on’ started playing, making Alex laugh and Holly heat up.
“Oh. My. God.” She said into his chest.
“What a song, hey Hol?” Said Dev from a few feet away as she danced with Ben.
Holly closed her eyes and shook her head.
“Ground, swallow me up” she pleaded.
“Not a chance, babe.” Alex said, lifting Holly’s chin so she had to look at him.
He pecked her lips then started to sing to her.
“There’s nothing wrong with me loving you…”
Holly gripped him tight, her fingers twisting in his shirt behind his waist, her breathing stopped and her mouth hung open as she stared up at Alex. Her tongue brushed the edge of her teeth lightly. Alex smiled, knowingly, at her.
“You…” she swallowed, trying to regain her composure “…Your voice. My God it’s sexy as hell.”
“Thank you.” He said, pulling her tighter, dipping his head to kiss under her ear.
“Oh.” She squeaked.
“Do you like me singing to you?” He asked, kissing her neck.
“Yes” she breathed.
“Should I sing to you in Spanish?”
“No.” She said, quickly. ”I’ll have a complete melt down, Alex. Please don’t do that here.” She begged.
“Ok babe. But, I would love to see that. So I may just…at home…soon.”
“Mmph!” Holly whimpered as she bit her lower lip into her mouth.
Alex stroked one hand up her back until his fingers were in her hair.
He touched their noses together before bringing his hand from her waist to her mouth. His fingers glided across her lower lip.
“I l
ove kissing these” he said, softly, before holding her waist again. He kissed her fervently as the song came to an end.
Holly’s fingers in his hair turned him on, as well as the rest of her, but when she held him like she couldn’t get enough, which was all of the time, he would lose himself.
He wanted her, bad.
So bad he could cry.
“Five more minutes” they heard Rami say.
“Dad, we have school in the morning and some tests to do.” Dev giggled.
They turned to see Rami and Evie embracing as they danced, begging Dev to stay a little longer.
“Oh, Ok then. Don’t forget to say goodbye to everybody and Ben…drive safely.” Said Evie.
“I will.” He replied.
“We should go too” Alex said then he remembered… “Shit. I have to take my parents.”
“No you don’t.” Said Oli. “I’ll drive them back. I haven’t been drinking. I didn’t think you’d want to stay all night, with school in the morning. And also…” He smiled at Holly “…Holly won’t leave without you so…”
“Thanks Dad.” She said and gave him a tight hug.
The whole group said their goodbyes, which took a while.
Abuela, Abuelo, Rosa and Christopher all hugged Holly with a death grip.
“Mi chica especial.” Abuela said, holding Holly’s face.
“God I can’t wait to get you home” Ryan said to Riss as they got outside. “All that ass shaking”
“Ryan!” she shrieked as he laughed.
No guesses to what they were doing later.
Kyle whispered something to Kayla that seemed like they would be doing the same.
“I’ll drive Dev back.” Said Ben and Alex and Holly got into his parent’s car.
“I’ll take you home now, babe” he said.
“Your place or mine?” She said with a smirk. Alex’s eyes darted to hers in surprise. “Your face…” Holly laughed.
“Actually. I’m, pretty sure they don’t want to be disturbed and I’m certain I don’t want to hear my best friend getting freaky with my sister” he said.