by Bridy McAvoy
“You will not deliberately spill beer on this carpet!”
“Okay, just saying.”
“Secondly, if we’ve made any noise and Mum comes down to see what’s going on, I don’t want her to find me nekkid. Necking and making out on the couch, okay, but not nekkid on the floor having just been fucked, all right?”
He grinned. “I’ll go along with the making out thing.”
I rolled my eyes. “Men.”
“And there you were saying you loved me.”
“I do, but you are impossible and insatiable.”
“And who’s the one who got nekkid before she woke me up? Who’s insatiable?”
Although I had leaked a little, the carpet cleaned up with a paper towel, and I used the downstairs loo to clean up before getting dressed. Once Gareth had used the loo too, we got down to some serious necking and making out on the couch. I think Gareth wanted to go again but, to be fair, the fact my butt was sore from carpet burns was enough to head him off.
“I have to get up for work in the morning.”
“I know, and I have to walk home.”
“I’m sure you’ll manage.”
“Probably.” There was a wistful look to his gaze and I knew he was thinking about asking to stay the night. We both knew it was impossible. My parents would have pitched a fit, even if I was twenty-one. He didn’t ask and for that I was grateful, then I remembered the conversation I’d had with Mum earlier in the evening before Gareth had arrived.
“Nearly forgot.”
“What?”
“Tomorrow, how about you meeting me from work and walking me home, then staying for dinner? Mum reckons getting you outside of some good home cooking would do you the world of good.”
“Tell her thank you.” He grinned. “I’d love to.”
“Good. I’ll get some flowers from work so you can give them to her.”
“I’ll buy my own flowers to give to my girlfriend’s mother, thank you very much.”
I gently stroked his cheek with my fingers. “Don’t let that macho pride get in the way. If I buy them I can use my staff discount card. You can give me the money back, all right?”
“Sure, as long as you remember to take the stickers off.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “As if.”
“Just remember, you can’t stop after tea. I’ve still got an assignment to hand in on Wednesday and I need to work on it tomorrow.”
“Hey, I gain a couple of hours in your presence, and get a meal out of it. Who’s complaining?”
Anything else I wanted to say was lost as, once more, Gareth locked lips with me.
* * * *
It was nice for Gareth to meet me from work that day. He usually spent Sunday catching up on his laundry and cleaning and everything. He had made an effort though, a nice button-down shirt which even looked like it had seen an iron. I’d bought him two bunches of a dozen yellow roses to give to Mum, and he insisted on giving me the money for them. Halfway up the hill, he stopped us in our tracks, kissed me and gave me one of those bunches.
“I bought them for Mum.”
“She can have one bunch, but they’re roses, so a rose for a rose and all that.”
I almost slapped him for the all that, but I was touched, touched enough for a full-on snog in the street, despite it being a Sunday.
When I opened the door, Dad was sitting in the lounge and waved hello as Gareth tiptoed past him into the kitchen to present the other bunch of flowers to Mum. Her squeal of delight made Dad almost choke with laughter—obviously he’d seen what Gareth was carrying.
“Can you get me a vase down from the top of the cupboard there, please, you lovely boy.”
“Better make that two vases, Mum.”
“Oh, why?”
“Because my gorgeous boyfriend bought me a bunch too.”
Dad sat in the chair pretending to stick his fingers down his throat and gag, but I thought he was secretly pleased too. It was obvious Mum had pushed the boat out—chicken, roast potatoes and four veg as well as proper Yorkshires, followed by apple pie. I raised an eyebrow at Mum as she dished up. We rarely had a pudding but both Dad and Gareth were in their element. Plates were polished clean, and both had extras too. Mum presided over the table with a beaming smile, and I tried hard not to giggle.
Gareth tried to help with the washing up, but Mum collared Dad for the job and shooed the pair of us back into the lounge. She followed a few minutes later with cups of tea and we chatted for a few minutes until Dad came out. I glanced at my watch and bit my lip. I needed to get that studying done, and Gareth took the hint. I didn’t really want him to go, especially as that would mean I wouldn’t see him till Friday again, but I needed to get that assignment done.
That’s when he floored me.
“If you don’t mind, Dad…” I saw my father’s head come up at that, the first time Gareth had called him Dad. I could see that pleased him too, but I wondered what the hell Gareth was going to say. “…I was thinking, I’ll meet Penny from work and walk her home each night, save you turning out.”
“But it’s quite a walk for you.”
Gareth shrugged and gave me a shy smile. “It’s not a problem, and if I don’t then I guess I’d just sit in the flat playing video games. After a meal like that one, thanks, Mum, I’ll need the exercise.”
“Cheeky beggar!” Mum, though, was clearly pleased.
“It’s a long way, lad, really…”
“Leave him be, Jack. Can’t you see he wants to steal a few more minutes with our Pen every night? I think it’s a magical idea.”
“Don’t worry, I want her to pass her course too. I won’t stay. To be honest, I won’t even come in.”
“You will if it’s cold or wet. Don’t be silly.”
“It’s settled then. I’ll say goodnight, and thank you for a wonderful meal. Best I’ve had in ages.”
“Guess you’ll have to cook for him, Pen, or your Mum will be stealing him from you.”
“Stop it, Jack. You’ll embarrass them.”
“Goodbye.”
“Bye, lad.”
I accompanied Gareth to the door and we stood and necked in the hall for several minutes. “I have to get that work done.”
“I know, Penny. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Actually, I think I do.” He leaned down and kissed me again. “Love you.”
“Love you, honey.”
Then he was gone, slipping away into the gathering night. For a while I wondered about that last comment. What had he meant about that?
* * * *
Gareth met me from work every night that week, and I realized we’d both been missing the contact. Okay, he didn’t stay, he left me at the door, but we saw each other every day this way. I was pretty sure Mum was going to ask him to stay for dinner again on Sunday, and we seemed to have moved on to another level.
I saw Frank in the shop a couple of times, but when he saw Gareth waiting for me he didn’t hang around. Since he never saw me to talk to, he didn’t get the chance to ask me to do anything more. I was pleased about that. I’d enjoyed what I’d done—I’d even got off on it—but it wasn’t a part of my life I wanted to continue with.
What I wanted was Gareth, nothing more. Decision made, I settled into a routine that seemed better for both of us. A couple of weeks passed and I managed to get ahead on my college work. I did think about asking Mum to let me stay over at Gareth’s on a Friday night but events took over for us.
That Thursday, Gareth walked me up to the door and as we stopped to kiss, Mum opened the door.
“Come in, both of you.”
One look at her face and I felt something cold settle around my heart. Gareth obviously sensed it too.
“Mum, what’s wrong?”
She didn’t answer, just led us through to the lounge. I was about to ask if it was Dad, what had happened to him, but he was sitting in his usual spot, grim-faced, but obviously none
the worse for wear.
“Sit down.”
“Mum, tell me what’s wrong.”
“Sit down. You too, Gareth.”
We both sat on the couch, and Gareth grabbed my hand and held it, his way of giving comfort. It had to be something serious to make them act like this.
Dad took a deep breath and then spoke. His voice was firm and clear, and in the brighter light of the room I could see Mum had been crying.
“About an hour and a half ago, your Auntie Alison rang. Uncle Don’s been in a road accident, a bad one.”
“Oh, my god!” I could feel my own tears building.
Gareth squeezed my hand.
“She rang from Leeds Infirmary—he’s in Intensive Care. They think he’s stable, but you know what doctors are…”
“What happened?”
“She didn’t say. She did ask us, though, to go and help her look after the kids. Not you, you stay and keep up your studies. We’ll leave in the morning. First train we can get.” He turned to Gareth. “I know you don’t know who we’re talking about but Alison is Caroline’s younger sister. Her and Don have got two boys, seven and five.”
After a moments silence, pregnant with tension, it was Gareth who spoke up.
“Is there anything I can do, sir?”
“You can make sure our Pen’s all right. Okay? That’s your job. We’ll stay until the middle of the week. I just got off the phone from my boss—I have to be back at work next Thursday, so we’ll be home sometime Wednesday.”
“Give them my love, please.”
“Of course, Pen, we’ll speak for all of us.”
“Where are Tim and Will?”
“The neighbor’s got them ’til tomorrow. Alison is staying at the hospital till then. Don will be in ICU overnight but they should move him to a high dependency unit in the morning. We don’t know everything, but apparently he has been conscious, although they are keeping him sedated.”
I nodded. It made sense, and from what I’d seen and read, that meant no brain or head injury. They’d keep him all the way out for that—induced coma they called it.
“I’m going to go pack. Pen, your tea’s in the oven.” Dad headed for the stairs.
Gareth got up to go, he didn’t know what to do.
Mum intercepted him. “Gareth, stay a minute please. Pen, go eat your tea.”
Obviously she wanted to say something to Gareth without me being in direct hearing, but I could hear her from the kitchen unless she whispered. Mum didn’t look like she was going to whisper. Seeing as Mum always did all the packing for any trip, it was odd that Dad had disappeared upstairs.
I slid the hot plate out from the oven using the oven glove and sat down at the table. I was out of sight, but not out of hearing.
“My brother-in-law will be okay. That man has the constitution of an ox. So don’t let Penny worry.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Now, Gareth, don’t take this wrong but I want you to listen.”
Uh-oh!
“Okay.”
“I know what you and Penny do. We’re neither blind nor stupid, and within reason we can tolerate it. It’s not like we were much different when we were your age.”
I nearly choked on a forkful of potato at that.
“I know she loves you, and I think you love her too…”
“I do, very much so.”
“Good, we thought so. I don’t know if the two of you will stay together, you’re both too young to settle down, but there again, I was her age when Jack asked me to marry him.”
“Oh.”
I could visualize Gareth’s face, wondering where this conversation was going. He must be frowning at her, puzzled.
“Oh, shit, I’m not very good at this. Let me stop beating around the bush. So far, we’ve discouraged her from spending the night at yours, and we’ve not allowed you to sleep over, even on the couch. Well, we won’t be here to stop that this weekend, will we?”
“I wouldn’t go against your wishes…”
“Oh, poop. The pair of you will be at it like rabbits as soon as you get the chance.”
This time I did choke on the food I’d just put in my mouth.
“You’re not supposed to be listening, young lady.”
“I can hardly close my ears.” I was spluttering and my eyes were watering.
“Don’t be cheeky. Listen, this weekend, she can stay over on Friday, if that’s what you both want. But, I want her home Saturday morning so she can study. I know you’ll be at work. Saturday night you can stay over here. Again, if that’s what you both want.”
“Well, thank you… I guess… I’ll have to ask Penny.”
Say yes, you fucking moron.
“I’m glad you said that and I know you’re listening, Pen. Just don’t outrage the street, okay? Sunday, though, you go back to your normal routine, which means you let her go at the door.”
“Of course. I want Pen to graduate in three months. I’m not going to jeopardize that.”
“Told you he was a keeper, Pen!”
“Mum!”
She chuckled and I heard her chair creak. I guess she’d stood up.
“I’m going to go help your father pack. Or rather, I’m going to take over and make sure it’s properly packed. Don’t stay long, Gareth, it’s not that you’re not welcome…”
“I do understand. No problem, and I hope your brother-in-law gets better quickly.”
“Good lad.”
I heard someone head for the stairs and then Gareth’s shadow fell across the kitchen doorway. “Penny?”
“Two minutes while I finish this.”
“Okay.”
“Then we can talk.”
“Fine.”
I didn’t know where my emotions were, they were all over the place. Partly, I was worried for Auntie Alison and Uncle Don, partly concerned about how the two boys must be feeling. At the same time I worried about Mum and Dad coping. Then, overlaying everything, was the elation at the thought of actually having permission to spend the night at Gareth’s, and then for him to spend the night here. I knew I was old enough not to need their permission, at least not for the first bit, but actually having it made it a different ball game.
I couldn’t eat any more so scraped the plate into the bin and put it into the sink, then walked through and, instead of sitting on the couch next to Gareth, I dropped into his lap and kissed his forehead.
“I think you handled Mum very well.”
He smiled. “I tried.”
“Well, what are we going to do tomorrow, then?” I couldn’t help it, the silly giggle just bubbled out.
Gareth was grinning too. “Well, you know last week…”
“You mean when I was lying on your bed…?”
“Without underwear.”
“…you want me to do that again?”
He shook his head. “Nah, I want you like you were Saturday night, nekkid. This time in my bed. If you’re lucky I might let you out of it before morning.”
I shuddered at the sinful thoughts racing through my system. I kissed him hard and long. I could feel him starting to grow hard under my ass.
“I’d better go, Penny. You need to get your work done, and get lots of beauty sleep.”
“Why?” I tried to sound ingénue, but it didn’t really come off, basically because I never can bat my eyelashes at him.
“Because you’re not going to get much sleep tomorrow night…or the next night when I want to get you nekkid in every room in the house.”
“You are so not making love to me in my parents’ bed!”
“I said nekkid in every room, not fucked in every room. I’m not a machine, you know.”
I chuckled and hugged him.
“Come on, Penny, I have to go.”
“I know. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He kissed me again as I slid off his lap and, after a few moments, walked him to the door.
Chapter 7
The fact Penny was
going to be staying over had my mind in a spin as I walked home. It was nearly ten when I walked through the door, only to embark on a whirlwind of frenzied cleaning and tidying. Penny had seen the flat in many states, some good, some not so good, and she wouldn’t mind. But I minded. I wanted the flat perfect if we were going to spend a night together in the same place.
I was scrubbing the toilet at midnight when I decided that enough was enough, otherwise I’d be worn out and wouldn’t be fit for anything tomorrow. Penny might be pretty enough to raise the dead, but I didn’t want her to need to go quite that far.
I was pretty much on a high all day at work, and had a spring in my step as I walked up the steps to the front of the block. Penny had texted me to let me know that her uncle was recovering better than expected and was already on an ordinary ward by the time her parents got there. They were still staying until Wednesday to help with the boys, but Don was probably going to be home by then anyway, much to everyone’s relief.
Walking in the door to the flat, everything was dim. She’d obviously beaten me to the flat and let herself in with her key, and drawn the curtains. I glanced around the room. Her blouse was on the couch. On the floor next to the couch lay her skirt. Just in front of the bedroom door was her bra, and my favorite of her panties—the white ones with the lip design—were hanging from the bedroom door handle. I heard her giggle and knew she was in the bedroom.
My heart leapt, as did another part of my anatomy, as I realized she’d almost certainly taken me at my word. Penny, my Penny, my beautiful Penny, was waiting in the bedroom—almost certainly stark naked. Waiting for me.
I pushed the door open, and there she was, under the duvet, with it clutched up around her shoulders. I could just see her bare shoulders as she giggled.
“Hi there.”
“Hi there, sexy.”
I started unlacing my shoes then kicked them off before starting on my jeans. My eyes never left her, and she was staring at me just as intently. As I pushed my jeans down her eyes got big, very big, as she lowered her gaze to my crotch.
I gave the duvet a gentle tug from the bottom and she giggled deliciously but hung on. A moment later, as I straightened, she let go of her end. When I reached for the bottom end again she squealed and grabbed the top.
