Full Count

by C. A. Williams

  “Dylan Turner, sir.” Dylan stuck out a hand and my dad roughly shook it, I saw Dylan’s hand begin to turn white from pressure, but he just covered any pain with a smile, never breaking eye contact.

  “Well come on in, you two. Paige can give you a tour of the place and then she can show you to the guest room, which is on the other side of the house. Away from her room, where you’ll be staying. Understand?”

  “Yes, sir.” Dylan answered back and I swear I heard a little bit of shakiness to his voice. I walked Dylan through the large family room with the oak floors that I used to always glide around on in my socks, pretending I was ice skating. The French doors led to a screened- in patio that overlooked the terrace that was my mom’s pride and joy when she was alive. Dad had kept up on the landscaping after she passed away and he took the same pride in it.

  The kitchen was next in the tour and I noticed Dad had done some remodeling in the months that I was gone. The old countertops had been replaced by sleek granite countertops, but he had still kept my favorite feature of all, the pop out table with bench seats that gave it kind of a retro style.

  “And here’s your room.” I walked into the guest room, letting my feet sink into the thick pink carpet and Dylan tossed his bag on the flowered comforter. “Your dad was serious when he said I’m on the completely opposite side of the house from you. Do you think he’ll lock you in at night?”

  “I dunno.” I wrapped a hand around his neck to pull him closer and traced my tongue around the outline of his lips. “But I’m sure I can find a way to sneak out.”

  “Nu uh. No way, Sparky. That’s where I draw the line. I’m going to be on my best behavior while I’m under your dad’s roof. Consider me off limits.”

  “Oh, really? So you can resist this?” My hand found the front of his pants and of course, I already found a hard bulge. He let out a groan when I gave a light squeeze and his hips twitched into my hands. “C’mon let’s get back to the kitchen, I’m starving.”

  “You are such a tease.”

  *************************

  The days leading up to Christmas went by quickly. I pulled all of the decorations that my mom had gathered over the years, carefully unwrapping them, and putting them into place. My dad took a liking to Dylan, especially once he found out he was a baseball player. I think after that, my dad practically had us married off.

  I woke up early Christmas morning and was surprised when I found Dylan already awake, rifling around in the fridge. “Hey, I figured I would get an early start, I know you don’t like the kitchen much.”

  He pulled out the ham that was set out and placed it in a roasting pan. The rest of the morning we worked quietly together, making all of the fixings for Christmas day for the three of us. “I think you really chose the wrong career path, you totally should have gone to culinary school.”

  He let out a snort, pulling a homemade apple pie out from the oven. “I’ll think about it if the whole baseball career doesn’t work out.”

  We exchanged gifts before digging into the big meal that we had prepared. “Here, Paigey girl. You know I’m not the best at shopping so…” I opened up the envelope, already knowing what would be inside. Gift cards galore. Kitty would be giddy when I informed her of our upcoming shopping trips. “Thanks Dad, I’ll put ‘em to good use.”

  I handed him a small stack of gifts that consisted of his favorite cologne, socks, and three different baseball shirts. “Ah thanks, Paige. These will be great especially when baseball season starts up.” The past few years my dad had been purchasing tickets for the Tampa Bay Rays, attending every home game, even though it was almost a two-hour drive.

  “The Rays are looking pretty good for this upcoming season, don’t you think, Max?” Dylan rubbed the back of my neck from where I sat wedged between his knees.

  “That they are. Should be pretty interesting. Are you a Ray’s fan?”

  “No, I grew up in the Midwest so I became a Tiger’s fan after a while. They’re shaping up pretty well too.”

  “Sure are, should be a good baseball season. Paige tells me you have aspirations for the MLB, I’ll have to try and make it up to a couple of games this spring to see you in action.”

  Dylan and I exchanged gifts after that. We had agreed on a set budget that we could spend on each other since money was tight for the both of us. I found a few vintage framed baseball pictures for his room and he gave me several picture frames, which held pictures of the two of us.

  After we finished up with our gift exchange, we all settled down to a big meal. I watched Dad and Dylan polish off every scrap on their plates, going in for seconds and even thirds. I managed to finish off most of my first helpings, but I was saving room for Dylan’s dessert. And of course his apple pie hit the spot, practically melting in my mouth with the most buttery, fluffy crust I had ever eaten.

  “Paige, I need to talk to you about something,” Dad cleared his throat, calling out to me from the dining room where I was rinsing plates in the kitchen. “Sure Dad, what’s up?” I sat down next to Dylan and he gripped my hand under the table, drawing small circles on my wrist with his thumb.

  I watched as his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down in his throat and I could tell he was trying to find the right words to say, which was shocking for Max Brinton. He always knew what to say, no matter what situation. Finally he spoke.

  “Paige, I lied about not being home for Thanksgiving. I just didn’t want you to be here,” he paused when he saw my face drop and reached across the table to pat my free hand.

  “That’s not what I meant, Paigey girl, of course I wanted you to be here. I just didn’t want you to see me how I was. I found out shortly before you chose which college you were attending, that I have cancer. They’ve tried a few different treatments. That’s why I didn’t want you to come at Thanksgiving, I had just gotten a treatment and it did me over like a Mac truck, I didn’t want you to see me like that.”

  I felt my bottom lip tremble, as I pictured Dad here all alone, not wanting me to come because he didn’t want me to think he was weak. I would never think that about him, he was the strongest person I knew. “But you’re better now, right? I mean you don’t look like anything’s wrong with you. So the treatments worked?”

  My dad cleared his throat and looked down at his hands that were tightly entwined. “No, they didn’t. It was too late, the cancer had progressed too far. Some days I feel as fit as a horse and other days I can barely make it out of bed. They think I only have a short time left baby, maximum of probably a year.”

  “What? What do you mean? I just don’t…I don’t understand.” The tears streamed down my cheeks and Dad stood up to wrap me in a warm hug. I scrubbed at my eyes, but the tears wouldn’t stop. Cancer had already taking one parent from me, and now it was taking the other? This had to be some kind of twisted joke.

  “I’m coming home then, I can’t go back to school. I won’t be able to focus when I know you’re here dy…” No, I couldn’t say that word, not yet. Probably never.

  “No,” my dad answered sternly, his fist slamming onto the table, making me jump. “You’re going to continue on with your life like you normally would. I want to see you happy and I can see that you are. And I think I owe a lot of thanks to this young man.” Dad patted Dylan on the back and he answered with a quiet, “Thank you.”

  I went to bed soon after that, crying myself to sleep. Crying for my mom who I had lost too soon as a young child. Crying for the dad who had raised me into the woman I was today. Crying for the man who I would soon lose and not have any more memories to create with.

  The rest of the trip was quiet. Dylan seemed to handle me like glass, afraid I was going to break any second. I tried to convince Dad that it would be better if I stayed home with him, I didn’t want him to be alone. He finally filled me in that he was seeing someone, MaryAnn.

  Apparently, she was a nurse that worked at a clinic he had an appointment at. Even with knowing he didn’t have much time left, s
he had jumped into a relationship with my dad. I, at least, knew he was with someone who had a big heart and that she would take care of him when I wasn’t here.

  “Ugh. That was so exhausting.” I dropped down onto Dylan’s bed the second we walked into his room back from our trip and he followed after me, wrapping an arm around my waist. “I’m sure it was,” he replied, pressing his lips to my temple.

  “Just go to sleep, I’ll be right here.” His hand worked its way underneath the back of my shirt and he rubbed light circles across my back, causing my eyes to instantly droop. I was glad that I had Dylan to help me through this.

  Dad might not want me to leave school, but I would still have to make an effort to talk to him as much as possible and visit when I could. I don’t think the reality of the situation had really sunk in yet, but I knew Dylan would be there every step of the way.

  Chapter 23

  Paige

  I woke up Sunday morning to the feel of warm kisses being trailed down my bare stomach. After we got back into town late Friday night, I woke up Saturday morning to breakfast in bed and that’s where we stayed for the rest of the day. And why I was currently laying naked in Dylan’s bed.

  “Dylan.” I tugged on his hair to stop his train of thought and he grinned up at me, darting his tongue out at the same time to lick my stomach. “Nu uh mister. I am so freakin’ sore after yesterday since you denied me for like a week. Don’t even think about it.”

  “How come you didn’t tell me you were sore?” His weight shifted and he propped himself on his elbows to stare down at me intently. “I would have taken it a little bit easier on you last night.”

  “Well I didn’t want you to take it easy on me,” I whispered out. “I like when you’re rough.” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I instantly felt embarrassed. I seriously needed a filter when I was around Dylan. He was always making me say naughty things. And I knew he loved it, especially by that cocky grin spread across his face right now, causing his dimples to pop out which make that made me want him again even though I was sore as hell.

  “Always worrying Sparky. I can be gentle sometimes, baby.” He lightly pushed on my shoulders and my head plopped back onto the pillow. I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting to see what he had in store. “You better be or I swear I will kick you in the balls. Then you can be sore too and see how it feels.”

  I heard a muffled snort before his mouth slid over my nipple, teasing the other with his fingers. I let out a moan at the sensations that instantly ran through my body. Even with how worn out I was, Dylan could always turn me on with one touch of his mouth.

  He let my breast go with a pop and his nose trailed down my belly, stopping to trace his tongue around my belly button. He pulled back slightly, giving me a sexy grin before slowly spreading my legs open, placing one around his shoulder. “I’ll be gentle, I promise,” he reassured me before his fingers finally touched me, spreading me open carefully, and I bit my lip to keep a gasp from escaping.

  “Jesus Paige, you should have told me how swollen you were. I wouldn’t have bothered you in the middle of the night.” His warm breath blew between my legs as he spoke, causing my hips to arch off the bed, needing his mouth on me.

  “I didn’t mind,” I whispered out breathlessly, my hands finding his hair to pull him closer to me. He finally lowered his head with some guidance and his wet tongue flicked out, sending a shock throughout my whole body. I felt anything but pain at the gentle care he gave me, licking me over and over. He gave me one more swirl and flick of his tongue, causing my body to clench when I found my release.

  He slowly moved back up my body after placing one last kiss between my legs. He laid his lips gently on mine, before burying his face in the crook of my neck as my breathing returned to normal. I moved my hand down between us to the hardness that was pushing up against my stomach, but he quickly knocked it away. “That was all for you Paige, don’t worry about me. I’ll go take a nice cold shower in the extra bathroom while you take a bath.” He scooped me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist while he carried me into the bathroom and then placed me on the counter before starting the giant bathtub.

  “I love you so much, Dylan.” I clasped my hands behind his neck as he stood in between my legs, gazing down at me with those warm brown eyes. “Thanks for being there with my dad. I don’t know how I would have handled it without you. I just can’t imagine how it’s going to be when he’s gone, I’ll be all alone.”

  “Hey, that’s not true at all.” He swiped at the lone tear that escaped onto my cheek. “Just like you said, I was there and I’ll still be here, no matter what.” He brushed his lips against my ear and whispered out, “Move in with me, Paige.”

  *************************

  “At least think about it, Paige.” Dylan leaned out the window after dropping me off onto the front steps of my dorm. I had thought about it, almost every second since he’s asked me. It seemed a little soon but I would love to live with Dylan. To be able to go to sleep with him every night and wake up in his arms the next morning.

  I knew his schedule was going to get busy soon with baseball season starting up and that was part of his argument of why it would be such a good idea. Really, I had no objections except for Kitty. I really didn’t want to abandon my roommate. She had really taken me under her wing when I first got to campus and she was the best girlfriend I had ever had.

  “Hey, your back!” Kitty wrapped her arms around me the second I walked in. “How are you doing, sweetie pie?” She pulled back to look at me, swiping at the hair that’s escaped my ponytail. After my dad’s shocking news, I had instantly called Kitty. Dylan was comforting to have around, but it was nice to have Kitty to vent to. She always had the best advice.

  “I’m doing okay, I guess.” I dropped my bags on my bed and started emptying them so I could catch up on my laundry. “I really don’t want to talk about it right now though. How was your break?”

  “Ok, but whenever you need me you know I’ll be here.” She plopped down onto a beanbag chair and patted the empty spot next to her. “C’mon we need to catch up, you can do that later.” I dropped my dirty clothes and did as I was told, knowing there must be some big scoop if she needed my full attention.

  “Well the holidays were great. Grant really seems to be fitting in well with my family. Of course everyone missed Dylan and you too. Mama was so excited that he was going home with you though, but I could see how much she missed him. She sent back a bunch of extra food that she knows he loves, I put it in the fridge down the hall.” She twirled a piece of blonde hair around her finger and took a long pause.

  “Just spit it out Kitty, the suspense is killing me. I can tell you’re holding back something important.”

  “I know, I know. I’m just a little nervous to bring this up.” She took a deep breath and held her hands out in front of her. “Okay, here goes. You know Shanna, my big sister?” I nod my head in answer. I’ve met Shanna at a few of the sorority events Kitty has managed to drag me to. Shanna was a senior and assigned as Kitty’s big sister to show her the ropes around the sorority. It really wasn’t my scene but I go when she needs me to.

  “Well, she called while I was back home and asked if I wanted to move into the house. Normally freshmen don’t get to but I guess some girl dropped out and isn’t coming back, so Shanna called to ask me first. I didn’t give her an answer yet, since I really love living with you. I just don’t want you to feel like I’m abandoning you or something. I mean we’ll still hang out and be bff’s, we just won’t be living together. If you hate the idea, just tell me the truth. I don’t want to leave you here all alone if you’re going to be miserable.”

  “Well, actually.” A grin spread across my lips and Kitty’s face scrunched up in confusion. “Wait, do you want me to move out? I mean I know we’re completely different, but I thought we got along really well.”

  “No Kitty, that’s not it at all. I was just going to say how convenient it was, becaus
e Dylan asked me to move in with him this morning.”

  “O-M-G!” She let out a loud gasp and jumped up to her knees. “Why didn’t you tell me? I can’t believe he actually wants you to move in! I mean he never even let girls spend the night before you. I never thought he would ask this. This is a really, really big step. So did you say yes like, right away?”

  “No,” I pushed down on her shoulder so she was back into a sitting position and would hopefully calm down, a little. “I didn’t give him an answer because I really didn’t want to leave you all alone. I guess we’re more alike than you think.”

  “I guess so. Are you going to tell him yes then?”

  “I think so, I wanted to right away but I wanted to talk to you first.”

  “Well it’s settled then.” She stood up and grabbed her purse before tugging on my hand. “Let’s go, we have some serious shopping to get done before you move in with Dylan Turner.”

  “Um, what kind of shopping would I possibly need to do?” I quickly followed her out the door. Apparently, she was a woman on a mission.

  “Oh please Paige,” she replied over her shoulder. “I see what you wear to bed every night. Do you think Dylan wants to see you in those ratty t-shirts you always have on?” She didn’t even give me a chance to answer before continuing on. I don’t know, I kind of liked my shirts I slept in, they were comfy and reminded me of home.

  “The answer is no way in hell. We are getting you some sexy jammies, he probably won’t ever want to leave the house once he sees you in them. Now let’s go, some serious shopping and a bite to eat sounds like a perfect day with my best friend, even if we aren’t going to be roommates anymore.”

  Chapter 24

  Dylan

  “I think that’s everything.” I looked at the small stack of boxes, pushed into the corner of my room, that all belonged to Paige. I figured I would be scared as hell when it actually happened, but I wasn’t. Paige moving in with me just felt right. And now that baseball season was starting it would give us a little bit of extra time to spend with each other.