by Portia Moore
I wake up next to her and kiss her shoulder softly, trailing a line of them from her collarbone and down over the curve of her shoulder. She blinks awake slowly, a small smile on her face when she sees me lying naked except for a sheet. I reach over and pull her closer to me, the soft warmth of her naked body making me start to get hard all over again. Most mornings I can’t help myself—Katie accidentally put Megan on Facetime with my parents a few mornings ago when she’d just gotten herself into her robe, her hair still a mess and lips pink from the kisses I’d been giving her.
She whimpers a little as she feels me press up against the soft curve of her ass, but laughs, wriggling away. “I have to go to work. I’m already going to be running late.”
“Call in,” I beg, wrapping my arms around her as I bury my face in her neck. I’m only half awake, but part of me is fully awake, and ready to go.
“I can’t,” she says, giggling as I turn her towards me, and I hear her gasp when I brush up against her stomach, and she feels me twitch against her.
“Yes you can.” I squeeze her waist, pulling her tighter against me as I kiss her. I can’t ever remember wanting someone so badly. I’d quit my job right now if it meant I get to be inside of her for a few minutes.
“I can’t,” she insists. “I’m only on schedule for two days at the store, and you work this afternoon. Your dad’s going to kill you if you’re late.” She wriggles out of my grasp and I sigh, still smiling at her as I watch her slip out from under the sheet. The sight of her naked body in the morning sunlight does nothing for my current predicament, which I make sure she notices as I roll onto my back, the sheet somewhere around my hips.
“Maybe you can convince him to go easy on me.” I watch her scoop her clothes up from where they were tossed on the floor the night before, and let the sheet ride down just a little more, grinning at her playfully.
“I’m sure he’d love that.” Megan rolls her eyes, but it’s teasing. “I don’t want to be on his bad side before I even get to the brunch with your parents.”
“He’ll love you as much as I do,” I say casually, before realizing what just came out of my mouth. I don’t want to scare her, but it’s the truth. And I want her to know, before she meets my parents and becomes an even bigger part of my life. I want her to know just how much I feel for her.
She freezes in place and turns towards me, and I slide out of bed, walking towards her before she can panic. “What did you say?” she asks nervously, but the sight of me walking towards her naked is clearly distracting her. Her eyes flick from my face to my chest and lower, her cheeks flushing as I reach out for her waist and pull her close to me, looking down at her with all of the emotion that I can put into my gaze.
“I love you, Megan,” I murmur softly. “I wanted to say it weeks ago. I think I knew it the day I laid eyes on you, the first time I kissed you, and if I wasn’t able to tell you it’d be my biggest regret.” We’ve been together for four months now, sleeping together for two, and I don’t think I could have kept the words locked inside for a moment longer. Every night she falls asleep curled up in my arms I want to whisper it to her, and every morning that we wake up I want to say it and have it be the first thing she hears. I know from everything she’s told me that there hasn’t been a great deal of love in her life, and I want to be the one to give it to her.
I see tears filling her eyes, and for a moment I’m afraid she’s going to shoot me down, tell me it’s too soon, or that she’s not ready. After all, I’m her first. Maybe she doesn’t want to be that serious with the first person she ever sleeps with. But I don’t think that’s the case.
“I love you too, Kam,” she whispers, and all of my fears fly away. “You’re the first person I’ve ever loved,” she continues. “The best person, the only one.”
I can’t say she’s the only person I’ve ever loved, but I hope she’s going to be the last. And as she throws her arms around my neck and kisses me, I know nothing that’s happened in the past matters. Only now.
---
A few days later, I’m getting ready for brunch with my parents and Megan, Katie, and Blue when I hear a knock at the door. Not sure if Katie is home, I walk out to answer it only to see Katie open the door…and Blair standing on the other side.
Katie moves to shut the door in her face, her brow furrowing with annoyance. “Katie, it’s okay!” I yell, walking across the room quickly to catch her before Blair leaves. “She can come in, it’s alright. We’re friends, remember?”
I hear Blue laugh from the living room where he’s waiting on Katie and I to get ready, and Katie just rolls her eyes before stalking back towards her room without a word to Blair or I.
“Come on in,” I say, and Blair tentatively walks into the apartment, glancing over at Blue before taking a seat at one of the bar stools by the kitchen island. She puts her hands between her knees, looking nervous, and I notice that she’s a little more dressed up than usual. She’s wearing dark skinny jeans and a pink top with a low-cut neckline, and her hair is curled. She has makeup on too, and I’ve only ever known Blair to wear mascara and lipstick at most.
“What’s up?” I ask curiously, leaning on the island.
“Um…I just wanted to stop by and say hi.”
“Well, we’re getting ready to go out and meet my parents in a minute, so I don’t have long. But it’s nice to see you.” I haven’t seen her since Megan and I got more serious, and I realize as I speak that seeing her doesn’t give me the same feeling that it used to. I don’t feel as if I lost something anymore, just that I closed the door on a chapter of my life that’s in the past now.
“I…um, I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Shoot.”
Blair bites her lower lip. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her this nervous. “So I…heard you have a girlfriend.”
“I’m sorry if I should have told you. I just didn’t want it to be awkward.”
Blair looks a little unsettled. She pushes her hair behind her ear and bites her lip again. “Her name is Megan? What’s she like?”
I can feel myself light up as I start to talk about her. “She’s great, really. She’s gorgeous, and smart. She’s had a really hard life—foster kid, bouncing around families, but she hasn’t let any of that get her down. She’s just kept pushing forward, made the life she wants for herself. She even has a full scholarship to Purdue! Isn’t that crazy?”
“Yeah, that’s nuts,” Blair says quietly, looking away.
“I have you to thank for it, really,” I say sincerely. “Everything worked how it was supposed to, just like you said—”
“Kam,” Blair interrupts. “Kam, I came here to tell you that I really miss you.”
I pause. “What? I mean, we’re still friends, like you wanted. I know I don’t see you all that often, but this semester has been really crazy, and…”
“I miss you,” she repeats. “I want us to get back together, Kam. The time apart…it made me really realize that you’re the one for me. I made a mistake. I don’t want to see anyone else, and I shouldn’t have broken us up. You were right when you said we didn’t need space.”
I freeze in place, staring at her, shocked for a moment. I’d really thought that Blair was happy with the way things were, that she’d moved on. Now her attitude when I talked about Megan makes more sense. “Blair,” I say carefully, “I’m in love with Megan. I meant it when I said I think things worked out the way they were supposed to… She’s meeting my parents today. I don’t want to hurt you, but this isn’t going to change. There’s no going back for us.”
I can see the hurt in her eyes anyway. Blair was always good at biting back her tears and today is no exception, but it’s impossible to miss the expression that crosses her face. She stands up, tossing her hair behind her back and forcing a smile. “Well, I hope we can still be friends, if that’s the case. I’d like to meet Megan one day, since she seems to have made you so happy.”
“I am happy,”
I tell her sincerely. “And one day, sure. I’m sure Megan will want to meet all my friends, eventually.”
Katie saves me from having to continue the conversation, barging into the kitchen without so much as a glance at Blair. “We need to go,” she says firmly. “Or we’re going to be late picking up Megan.”
Blair smiles weakly. “I’ll just be going, then.”
I search for some feeling of sadness or loss as she leaves, but there is none. Just that same sense of rightness, that her leaving put me on the right path. It feels good to not want to retread old feelings, and as I grab my keys and Katie and Blue and I head out to the car, I feel lighter somehow. Free.
When I walk into Megan’s living room after her roommate opens the door and see her, I’m breathless for a moment. She looks beautiful—she always does, but it’s clear that she’s put in extra effort today. She’s wearing a light pink dress with tiny flowers scattered across it and a ruffled hem just above her knees, tiny pink crystal stud earrings, and flat shoes. Her hair is curled and her makeup looks perfect, and as she smiles I can’t help but grin back. I see her eyes slide over me, taking in my light blue button-up and blazer, and I remember her telling me the other day how much she liked guys wearing blazers. Well, today’s the day.
“Make sure you turn on the alarm in the car, even when you’ll just be a few minutes,” her roommate tells me in a motherly sort of way, and I grin at her, glancing her way for a moment before looking back at Megan. It’s hard for me to keep my eyes off of her.
“Duly noted.”
“Tell him, Megan,” she insists. “These people around here can strip a car faster than the clothes off a whore.”
I can’t help but laugh, and Megan joins in, but she looks pretty serious. “We’re about to head out anyway,” I tell her, and she hugs Megan quickly, whispering something in her ear.
The moment we’re outside I pull Megan to me and kiss her, quickly but firmly, my tongue sliding over her lower lip as I breathe her in. I press my forehead to hers, wanting to be closer to her, as if it hasn’t only been a couple of days since I’ve seen her. But truthfully, two days is the most we’ve been apart since the day we met. “I missed you,” I whisper huskily, pressing a kiss to her forehead as she squeezes me tighter. Having her in my arms makes me feel as if everything is right again.
“I have a surprise for you,” I tell her, and once we’re in the car I hand her a bag containing a strawberry shortcake roll and a cream soda. Her face lights up, and I marvel all over again at how easy it is to make her happy. The smallest gestures, like remembering her favorite snack, she really appreciates. It would be easy to take advantage of it and do only those small, easy things, but I plan to do all that and more. I want to spoil her with everything she’s ever missed in life. The story that she told me on our second date about saving up what little loose change she had so she could buy that snack as a kid was one of the saddest things I’d ever heard. It’s amazing to me how positive she still is, how much joy she manages to find in life despite the road she’s had to take so far.
“My mom is so excited to see you,” I tell her as we pull out onto the highway. “I told her how obsessed you are with sweets so don’t be surprised if she has a table full for you.”
“For me?” Megan sounds surprised, and a little embarrassed. “She didn’t have to do that, I didn’t want her to go out of her way.”
I reach out and squeeze her hand gently. It’s hard for me to believe sometimes how the simplest thing makes Megan feel as if she’s imposing. “She didn’t,” I reassure her, wanting more than anything for her to be comfortable today. “My mom’s been looking forward to this brunch since you agreed to come.” I smile at her, letting her know how much I’ve been looking forward to it, too. Having Megan meet my family feels like the final piece falling into place. She looks nervous still, but smiles back at me.
I can see her eyes widen and how she swallows hard when she catches sight of my parents’ house—a three-story brick with a black wrought-iron fence and gate and well-manicured landscaping and gardens. They’re wide as dinner plates as she breathes in and looks at me nervously as we get out and walk towards the house, her hand squeezing mine. “You grew up here?” she asks, her voice trembling a little with nerves.
“This is home,” I tell her casually, wanting her to relax. I know it’s a lot to take in for her, but I want her to feel at home, not like she’s walking into a palace. It’s just my childhood house, that’s all.
“Wow!” she says, looking around, and I grin sheepishly. It’s strange seeing these things through Megan’s eyes, and makes me realize that I’ve always taken it for granted I guess.
I open the door and the minute we’re inside, as if by magic, Ellie appears. I immediately give her a huge hug, grinning broadly at her. “Kameron, it’s so good to see you,” she says brightly, and I pull Megan forwards.
“Ellie, you look beautiful,” I tell her. “And this is my girlfriend Megan.” I smile proudly at her—Megan is the only girl I’ve ever brought home, other than Blair. And the first “adult” girlfriend I’ve brought home to meet my parents.
She smiles at Ellie, holding out her hand to shake, but Ellie immediately hugs her. “Hi Ellie,” Megan says, still clinging to my hand.
“You are gorgeous!” Ellie exclaims.
Megan smiles nervously. “Thank you so much,” she says, so carefully polite that I want to reassure her and tell her it’s okay.
“I’ve been taking care of this little prince since before his first tooth fell out,” Ellie says, putting her hands on her hips and looking at me. “I was his nanny and now I’m the housekeeper, and hopefully one day I’ll be changing his little one’s diapers, too.” She nudges me, and I shake my head.
“Ellie,” I say, playfully warning her off. The last thing I want is to start talking kids around Megan—she’s nervous enough as it is.
“Everyone is in the back,” she tells us. “Katie and Joshua are already here.”
I hear Megan breathe a sigh of relief, and I’m glad that people she knows are here already. I glance at her, grinning playfully. “Do you want a quick tour or to be led out to the slaughter?”
She goes white, and I wince. I didn’t mean for her to take me seriously.
“Oh, honey,” Ellie says, tsking at me. “No slaughter, just brunch!”
“I’m sort of hungry now,” Megan says hesitantly, and I can see her glance away, swallowing hard again. She’s concentrating on something, but she follows me out to the back yard where brunch will be laid out for us.
I take her straight over to the large table where Katie and Blue and my parents are sitting. Katie bounces in her seat immediately when she sees Megan, waving to her enthusiastically. “Cinderella’s finally made it to the party!” Katie says, grinning at me.
“What can I say? The pumpkin broke down,” I tease her as I gently guide Megan over to where my parents are standing up to meet us. Blue and Katie are just behind them, and I chuckle when I see Blue’s polo-and-khakis getup, so out of place with his punk hairstyle and piercing. I give him points for trying to fit in for Katie, though.
“We’ve been dying to meet you!” My mom reaches out immediately to hug Megan, squeezing her tightly as she smiles down at her welcomingly.
“Mom and Dad, this is Megan,” I introduce her, unable to keep my own beaming grin off of my face. “Megan, this is my mother Carolyn and my dad Richard.”
“It’s so great to meet you,” my dad says sincerely to Megan, reaching out to hug her as well. I can see the hesitation in Megan’s face as I hug my parents and we take a seat between them and Katie and Blue. I realize this must be strange for her—familial warmth and love. I hold her hand under the table, squeezing it reassuringly.
Ellie pours us iced tea as my mother tells her not to fuss and to sit down and eat, and I see Megan looking around, taking all of it in. I squeeze her hand again and she looks up at me, and the smile on her face is genuine. It enables me to relax, too,
seeing that she’s having a good time. I want her to see that this is possible, that she can have a family who loves her and welcomes her into their midst.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” my mother tells her warmly. Megan smiles shyly at her.
“You have a beautiful home,” Megan tells her.
“Thank you, dear. You are just stunning!”
I see Megan flush, and my dad comes to the rescue. “You’re embarrassing the girl, sweetheart,” he tells my mother gently.
“Thank you,” Megan says, laughing a little. “I see where Kam got his good looks from.”
“So you’re graduating in Katie’s class, Megan?” my mother asks, leaning forward to look at her.
“Yes,” Megan tells her, and I can feel her relax a little. She’s always more comfortable talking about school. “A year behind Kam.”
“What are your plans after graduation?” My dad chimes in next, and I’m glad they’re taking an interest in her. I want them to love Megan as much as I do.
Megan immediately leans forward, excited to talk about this, just like she always is with me. “I’d like to get a job with a not-for-profit,” she tells them eagerly. “Hopefully I can establish my own someday and work with children in foster care.”
“That’s wonderful!” my dad exclaims. “That’s something we’d love to expand our foundation to be involved in.”
“Foundation?” Megan asks curiously. I’d forgotten to mention that to her.
“It’s nothing large-scale, of course,” my father says modestly, “but it’s something we established a few years back. Right now it’s mainly focused on children of parents who’ve lost their lives serving, but we’d love to expand.”
Megan looks up at me, surprised, and I smile at her. I knew this would be right up her alley, but I hadn’t thought to mention it…and I hadn’t wanted to brag. Having a foundation sounds like such a rich-person thing, albeit a good one, and Megan was nervous enough already.