Page 129 of Off Camera
“Responsible parenting.” She sighs. “What a drag.”
“Tell me about the Christmases you used to have.” I trace over the freckles on her shoulders and connect them. “Before you moved up here.”
“Oh, I love Christmas time. On Christmas Eve, I’d perform in The Nutcracker with my ballet class. On Christmas morning, we’d open presents as a family. My sister and I always got my mom a nice china plate and my dad a tie. The older we got, the more stupid the ties got. Ones with ducks. Ones with tacos. One year, we did one with our faces on it. I think he wore it for a week straight.”
“He loved you,” I say, and she nods.
“And,god, did I love him.” She wipes her eyes and glances up at the ceiling. “In the afternoon, if the Orlando Blazers were good enough and got to play on Christmas, my dad and I headed to the arena for an NBA game. The night always ended with the four of us drinking hot chocolate around a fire, even if it was eighty degrees outside. We still do that, but it doesn’t feel the same.”
“Start some new traditions with us. It’s nothing extravagant and no one wears leotards, but it beats being alone. And next year maybe your sister and mom can come up and join. There’s plenty of room.”
“Next year, huh? You see me in the picture that far away?”
“Yeah.” I shrug. “I could do without the damn Thunderhawks song blaring on full volume when I pull up Instagram and the comments you leave on my posts, but you’re there.”
“The fans love my comments,” Avery says. She runs her hand up my chest and tugs on my shirt, her mouth inches away from mine. “They love to see us arguing.”
“I know. They egg us on. Someone asked why you haven’t been as snarky lately on a post last week, and it didn’t feel right to tell them your mouth is busy doing other things these days.”
“Wow.” She kisses me and laughs. “Someone is sure of themselves.”
“Only because you used your tongue to drive me wild two nights ago. My memory is too good to forget that, Sinclair.”
“Maybe I’ll tell them you haven’t been as active on social media because your hands are busy doing other things. Like getting me off.” She guides my fingers to the robe she’s wearing and tugs on the knot. The terrycloth opens, and I find her naked. “Maybe we could do that right now.”
“Are you feeling up for it?” I ask, tracing the underside of her breast. “You had a traumatic morning.”
“I’m with you.” She shrugs the robe off completely and settles back on the pillows. “I know I’m safe.”
Thirty minutes later, once the adrenaline from the morning wears off and she comes on my tongue—twice—Avery curls up next to me. She laces our fingers together and closes her eyes, her smile soft and secret.
“Is it okay if I nap for a little bit?” she asks around a yawn.
“Yeah.” I nod even though she can’t see me. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”
I’m still looking at her long after she falls asleep, and I think I’d like to find a way to keep her here for more than a year.
I want to find a way to keep her here forever.
THIRTY-SEVEN
AVERY
Reid
You haven’t talked about running since the day you called me to pick you up.
I hate exercising, but I’d run with you if it made you feel more comfortable.
Me
You’re sweet. It’s been too cold to run the last week and a half, so I’ve been on the treadmill in my apartment’s gym. I did buy a whistle I’m going to carry with me when I get back outside, and I permanently shared my location with Maven.
And you.
Reid
You did?
