Page 80 of Grounded
"No, I'd rather live at home forever. Which kind of sounds like my future anyway if I can't find a job."
"I haven't asked yet, but perhaps Molly has some work you could assist her with?"
While I'm sure he didn't mean anything malicious behind it, Bruce speaking on my mom's behalf ignites a fire in me. Her floral business was a side job she took on while my dad deployed. She started it from nothing and has built herself a serious reputation in the Southern California region.
Amelia "helping" her when she doesn't need the extra hands is insulting.
"I'm pretty sure my mom is doing fine and doesn't need the assistance." My tone is overprotective.
"Oh, okay. It was just an idea," he backpedals.
I scrape my eggs onto a paper plate and wipe out the skillet.
"Gosh, Theo, it sounds as though you want me living at home forever."
Her comment is dripping with sarcasm and a hint of anger. She is so good at picking up on my subtleties. Instead of answering her, I pick up my plate and leave the room.
Once safely upstairs, I methodically chew while contemplating my next move. Amelia has been avoiding me, I can tell.
Is she embarrassed about our little sleepover? Maybe she doesn't remember all the details. But I do.
The way she wrapped her leg through mine. How my ass was pressed into her lap the entire night. How I risked losing feeling permanently in my arm because I didn't want to move positions. It was everything I didn't know I was missing. Her body warmth, her cute small frame holding onto mine pretending she could fit around me, how I felt her faint breath on the back of my neck like it was white noise I could sleep to…
I would give anything to feel that again.
Thesametraphasbeen set. The Jacuzzi bubbles are flowing. I'm sitting out here alone. And yet, she doesn't join me.
When I'm back inside and turning out the lights, I hear her tiptoe downstairs.
I flip the kitchen lights back on and catch her in her bikini with a towel under her arm. She freezes like a deer in the road.
"Going somewhere?" I question.
"What the hell, Theo! I thought you were in bed."
"As you can see, I'm not. Where are you off to?"
"Umm, nowhere, I was getting some…water."
"Water? From the Jacuzzi?"
"Maybe."
She's caught red-handed, and her lies are so bad I can’t stop asking more questions to put her further in the hole.
"Did I do something wrong?" I coax. "I've been well-behaved. I'm wearing clothes. Are you avoiding me?"
Guilt devours me as I take in what little clothing she's wearing. She's in her usual bikini, standing half naked in the poorly lit kitchen. I can see the goosebumps on her chest.
I have my towel wrapped around my bare waist and a shirt on.
"I'm not avoiding you, I'm in need of some quiet…time."
"And I'm not quiet?"
"You're everythingbutquiet for me."
"Okay, that's fair."
