The Last Thing She Wants (Chestnut Hills #1)

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theo

The whir of the vacuum drowned out the classic rock playing from my speaker as I vacuumed my bedroom for the third time. I had spent the last two hours wiping every surface, washing every article of laundry, and vacuuming every room.

Since our trip to the city, Ellie and I had maintained our evening gym sessions. I happily accepted hello and goodbye kisses. Even after I brazenly smacked her ass mid-session, she offered me a flirty smile. Yet, we haven’t spent another night together since.

Wanting to respect her space and not push boundaries too soon, I hadn’t asked either.

High off the excitement of her agreeing to meet my family this evening, I pushed my luck by asking her to stay the night after. I got half hard just from her agreement. Now here I was, vacuuming the same spot for five minutes, anxiously waiting until I could knock on her door in…seven minutes. And counting.

Screw it, I wanted to see her. Now .

Locking up behind me with a signature pink Swirly Pop bag in tow, I took the four steps across the hall to her front door. My heart raced as I raped against her door. Ellie answered in a vision of yellow. A mid-length dress hugged her chest and flowed over her hips. Yellow flowers climbed up from the hem like she was in her own magical garden. Her hair, pulled back, spilled over a hair clip. On her delicious lips, she had applied sultry pink lip gloss. It was the same pink gloss she wore the day I saw her in the black lacy lingerie.

With what seemed to be a knowing smile, she greeted me cheerfully. I would’ve stood there asking myself how I got so lucky, but I that would have to wait. I needed to touch her. My jaw tensed as I grabbed her hips.

“Did you wear that pink lip gloss for me? You know how crazy it makes me.” I nipped at her earlobe.

Quickly covering her moan with a giggle, she gently pushed me away. “Careful, I want to look good when I meet your family for the first time.”

“Mission accomplished, babe. You look amazing,” I released her, grabbing her hand and sending her into a twirl.

Throwing her brown purse over her shoulder, she approached to lead me out. Catching me off guard, she stopped just short of the door and titled her head to whisper in my ear. “If you behave, maybe I’ll let you live out that little fantasy of yours.”

Even though I knew exactly what fantasy she was talking about, I wanted to hear her say it. “Which fantasy would that be?” I asked, hardening at the suggestion.

“You’ll get to see what this pink gloss looks like smeared all over your cock.”

Instantly, I was definitely full-on hard as she met me with a naughty twinkle in her eye .

I gripped the back of her neck and held her firmly as I pressed my lips to hers. Pulling away, I looked deeply into her eyes. “You look stunning, by the way.”

Reaching up to wipe the gloss off my lips, she smiled. “Well, if how good this gloss looks smeared on your lips is any indication, you’re going to love what it looks like on you in other places.”

Pinks and purples flooded the sky as we drove down the canopied back roads to mom’s. I reveled in the softness of her leg under my hand. The setting sun cast a glow on Ellie’s face that kept drawing my attention, and I had to remind myself that I was driving.

Since moving to the town, Ellie had kept mostly in the downtown area. I was getting the chance to show her the charm of the less explored parts of the area.

Chestnut Hills carried a lot of charm with a small-town feel. Downtown was at the heart and small neighborhoods radiated outwards. Each was made of their own parks, schools, and grocery stores. Taking the back roads allowed me to point out where I learned my ABCs; and where I got my heart broken for the first time by little ol’ Mary Beth on the playground in fourth grade. She gasped at appropriate times as I told her stories of the parking lots where I would go to get high my senior year, and the house where I went to my first co-ed party and played spin the bottle.

Gravel crunched under the tires as I pulled up to the colonial style home I grew up in. I watched her take in the sea of blue and purple hydrangeas my dad planted for my mom the summer they first moved in. Butterflies flitted about, creating an idyllic scene. Through the glass storm door, I watched as Lily rushed to meet us. Her barks quickly turned from protective to excited. Ellie kneeled as soon as I opened the door and she was immediately greeted with sloppy dog kisses.

Taking her hand, I led her back to the sunroom. There was mom, arranging a vase with fresh cut hydrangeas and zinnias from outside, her back turned to the entrance. Arranging the flowers held her full attention as she meticulously placed the steams, creating a masterpiece of blues, purples, pinks, and oranges.

“Hey mom,” I said, startling her.

“Oh, heavens to Betsy, you scared me.” She clutched at her chest and carried a cheerful smile on her face. Bringing me into a hug, she kissed me on the cheek. “Hello favorite son,” she said, carrying on her traditional greeting. “You must be Ellie,” she opened her arms to my girlfriend and brought her in for one of her hugs. “So wonderful to meet you, deer.”

I watched as Ellie hugged my mom back and peace settled over me. “Lovely to meet you, Mrs. Emerson,” Ellie said, handing her the bag of truffles.

“More truffles? Don’t mind if I do, and please, call me Patty…or mom,” she provided with a wink. My face heated with embarrassment at the suggestion, and I scolded my mom. “Calm down, dear. I’m only being inviting.”

“I love the flower arrangement,” Ellie motioned to the full vase, “are hydrangeas your favorite?”

Patty’s eyes lit with joy at the question. “Yes, my absolute favorite. Edwin, Theo’s father, planted them for me when we moved in. It was always a dream of mine to own a home surrounded by flowers.”

“That’s so sweet,” Ellie offered a delicate and dreamy smile. “What are these pink ones?”

“Those are zinnias, aren’t they gorgeous? Come, I’ll give you a tour of the garden out back.” Taking Ellie by the hand, she led her outside. The sight built a warmth in my chest, and my hope for our future surged even brighter. “The salmon is almost done, and the salad fixins are in the fridge!” She called back, signaling to me what my tasks were while they toured the garden.

Focused on plating the salmon in the decorative dish my mom left for me on the counter, I didn’t hear the front door open.

“Mo-om, I’m ho-ome!” Thaila sang out in her usual greeting. I rolled my eyes at the overdone diva entrance.

“She’s out back. You can cut the act,” I joked, carefully carrying the Food Network worth dish to the sunroom and placing it at the center of the table.

“Would it kill you to be nice to your older sister for once?” she threw her purse on the nearest couch and walked into the kitchen, immediately popping a pinch of freshly shredded parmesan cheese into her mouth.

“Yes,” I replied blandly to her question. Batting her hand away, I brought the salad to the table.

Joining us in the sunroom, Marc greeted me with a handshake and hug. “Hey man, congrats,” I said, patting him on the shoulder. Marc had always been the one to calm my sister, bring her down, and give her stability. He was going to make a great dad, and I couldn’t wait to see their family grow. I hoped for that one day. “How do you feel?”

“I feel great, man. A little scared, but great, ”Marc nodded with assurance.

“Now, if only he can get his god-awful commute down,” Thalia interjected. Peeking into the backyard, she clapped her hands and jumped a little. “Theo, is that her? She’s gorgeous!”

Washed over with excitement, Thalia rushed out to join the women now kneeled over the garden. Mom was showing off the bee watering cups she recently installed, and Ellie was humoring her with the appropriate amount of excitement.

“How’s the new job?” I asked Marc, who was grabbing us two ciders out of the fridge.

Marc heavily sighed and uncapped the two bottles, handing me one. Rubbing the back of his neck, he shrugged. “It’s all right. It’s a job, and that’s what’s most important right now with the baby on the way. Honestly, it wouldn’t be so bad if the commute wasn’t so long. They’re letting me telework part-time once the baby comes, so that’s great. Thalia’s been freaking out though ‘cause I was almost in an accident the other day.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, growing concerned. Now I knew why Thalia had been so pressed on the commute.

“I was on the turnpike, coming home. A semi switched lanes and clipped the car in front of me. If I hadn’t seen the truck make the move, I would’ve driven straight into the back it after the car spun out.” He shook his head, taking a sip of his cider. Stress became clear on his face. “You know how the turnpike gets. It’s only two lanes and people drive like crazy. I worked out a new schedule with my manager to leave before rush hour, but that means I have to be there by like six in the morning. To be honest, I’m worried about being able to be around enough to support Thalia the way she needs.”

I had no way of knowing what Marc was going through, but I knew what it was like to worry about someone I loved. After dad’s death, it was something I became all too familiar with. Taking care of my mom was always at the front of my mind.

“Hey,” I reached over, placing my hand on my brother-in-law’s shoulder, “I’m here for you guys, don’t forget. I’ll be around as much as I can. I can even swing by between classes. If there’s anything else I can do to help you guys out, I’m a phone call away. Promise. ”

Marc’s eyes watered, and he nodded while pulling me into a hug. A cough pulled our attention to the women standing in the doorway. Mom observed in an endearing manner, while Thalia had a look of concern.

“You guys okay?” Thalia asked.

Marc cleared his throat and gestured to the living room. “Yeah, actually—should we…”

Thalia lit up at the question and nodded with excitement. She retreated to the living room with a squeal, telling us to stay put. Mom and Ellie approached, standing by my side. Reflexively, I put my arm around Ellie’s waist and pulled her in, placing a kiss on her temple.

Returning with a gift bag, Thalia handed it to our mom. Confused, mom dragged out the tissue, revealing a wooden picture frame at the bottom. Brandishing the frame from the bag, she gasped in shock when she read the inscription GRANDMA I CAN’T WAIT TO MEET YOU . Above the wood burned calligraphy was a framed ultrasound photo.

An ear-splitting scream came from her as she jumped around clapping, clumsily making her way to Thalia and Marc. She held and rocked with them as Ellie and I silently watched.

“Oh, my baby is having a baby!” mom sobbed, refusing to let them go. Thalia faked choking from my mom’s grip, and Marc gleefully patted his mother-in-law’s back.

Holding back a laugh, I stilled, watching the special moment. It was hard not to imagine what that would feel like for myself one day, to announce a growing family. In that daydream, I pictured Ellie by my side.

Later that evening, after dinner, a movie, and a rowdy game of trivia, we said our goodbyes. As we gave our parting hugs, Thalia and Marc shared encouraging words about Ellie and our budding relationship. Thalia whispered a threat, told me to not “fuck this up.” Marc thanked me for my support and commented that Ellie seemed really nice.

It was mom who stopped me from descending the front steps as Ellie made her way to the passenger seat of my car. Pulling me into a hug, she gave me a kiss on the cheek.

“I really like her, Theo. Ellie seems like such a nice girl.” Pulling back, she examined my face. Her crow’s feet became prominent as she smiled brightly. “You look so happy,” a tear pooled in the corner of her eye. “My, my, my. My oldest is pregnant with my first grandbaby, and I’m watching my youngest fall in love.”

“Mom,” my cheeks heated with embarrassment.

“I know, I know. I was just saying.” She sighed, waving her hand at me. With hands on both sides of my face, she looked at me deeply. Tears brimmed her lash line. “I see so much of your father in you.”

She sniffled, swiping at the tears. “Dear, it’s been quite an emotional evening.”

Pulling her into a hug, I rested my chin on her head. “I love you, mom.”

“I love you too, honey.”

All the way back, I happily listened to Ellie tell me about her time with mom and Thalia in the garden. She pridefully listed off all the names of flowers she learned. Then, she spent the last fifteen minutes swearing the trivia questions were poised to trick her, and that she knew Mount Everest was between Nepal and Tibet.

Between her antidotes, the conversations I’d had over the last few days replayed in my head.

First, Harold compared me and Ellie to when he met his wife, Nellie. Now, mom said she was watching me fall in love. It made me wonder what they were seeing, and only further solidified my feelings. I was falling in love, if I wasn’t there already.

The thought made a lump grow in my throat. I held on to her tightly as we made our way up to my apartment, where I showed her all night how I felt about her.