Seasons (21 page)

We fall into a balance of spending the nights we can together, and taking the nights I need to study to myself. I decide to ask Mitch to come home with me for the holidays to meet Mom and Hank. Mom is excited to meet Mitch, but stipulates he will have to stay in the guest room. Melanie will be home for the holidays too, and I’m ecstatic for her to finally meet Mitch. I’ve told her all about him.

Christmas falls on a Monday. Mitch and I drive home to Heatherwood on the Saturday before so I can introduce him before all of Mom’s crazy family festivities begin the next day. Christmas is two days in the Carsten-O’Malley household. When we arrive, Mom is in all her glory. The house looks like Santa’s freaking workshop. The outside of the house has lights, even on the roof. That hasn’t happened since Dad left, so Hank must have helped. Inside, the tree is up, and there is a train running around it with an entire winter village.

We walk into the house, and as soon as the door slams behind us, Brody comes flying down the hall, barking until he realizes it’s me. He sniffs me and then jumps up to lick my face nearly knocking the presents I’m holding out of my hands. Hank and Mom come down the hall a moment later.

“Brody!” Mom yells. “Down!”

Brody gets down and takes notice of Mitch. He starts growling and all the hair down the ridge of his back stands on end. I laugh nervously and shrug, embarrassed that he’s acting like that. Mom scolds Brody before pulling him out of the room.

“Hi, you must be Mitch.” Hank smiles reaching out a hand to Mitch.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. O’Malley, sir,” he says shaking his hand.

“Call me Hank.” Hank gives me his warm smile.

Mom comes back down the hall into the entryway. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what has gotten into him. I have never seen him act like that before! It’s so nice to finally meet you, Mitch!” Mom says taking Mitch in a hug. That’s Mom for you.

He just chuckles and says, “It is nice to meet you, Mrs. O’Malley. Brynn says wonderful things about you.”

“Ha, she better,” she says, turning toward me. “Brynn, show Mitch where he can put his things and then come on into the kitchen. Dinner is just about ready.”

“It smells so good.” I pretend to sniff, “lasagna?”

Mom just smiles a mischievous smile and wiggles an eyebrow telling me I’m right. I show Mitch to the guest bedroom upstairs, and then he follows me to take my things into my room.

“So this is your childhood bedroom?” he says in a deep voice. The voice he uses when he’s on the prowl, and I’m about to become his prey. I turn to look him in the eye so I can assess. As I suspected, his eyes are dark and serious.

“Yep, this is my childhood room,” I say swallowing a lump in my throat. What is he thinking? This is so not going to happen right now. He stalks toward me until he’s an inch away. I watch him, nervous of what idea he has in his head. Just when I think he’s going to pounce, he reaches past me and grabs a stuffed animal off a shelf behind me.

“Who is this?”

“That would be Mr. Teddy.”

“Mr. Teddy, eh? Just so long as he knows there is a new man in your life,” he teases as he places Mr. Teddy back on the shelf. “Better get downstairs before your mom starts to wonder what’s keeping us,” he winks taking my hand and ushering me back downstairs.

We have a nice quiet dinner with Mom and Hank. Of course, they both ask Mitch a ton of questions about his family and his job. I haven’t told them he was married or has a son yet. I’m afraid of how they’ll react. They do know he’s older, and the age difference doesn’t seem to bother them.

“Well, I’m going to be in a food coma. That was delicious.”

“Yeah, Mrs. O’Malley, that was great. It’s been a long time since I’ve had homemade lasagna, and that might just be the best I’ve ever had.” Suck up, I think, but I’m glad he’s trying so hard.

“If I can move, we’re supposed to head out to meet Melanie tonight,” I tell mom.

“Oh, that’s right. Melanie should be home for the holiday, too. You tell that little girl she better stop by and say hi!”

“I will. Ready to go?” I ask Mitch.

“Whenever you are.”

“I’m just going to run upstairs and freshen up first. Be right back.”

I hit the bathroom, fluff up my hair, and grab my purse before heading back downstairs. On the way down the stairs, I pause and listen to Hank and Mitch still in the dining room talking sports. For some reason, this makes me smile. Maybe they’re bonding.

“Hate to break you two up, but I’m ready, and Mel just text me so we should get going.”

We get into the car and I drive. “Where are we going anyway?” Mitch asks.

“Ready to show off your bowling skills, Mr. Fancy pants?”

“Oh, I’m always ready.” He cocks an arrogant eyebrow.

I roll my eyes and snicker. “Yeah, yeah, we’ll see.”

We are getting our shoes when I hear a squeal behind me. I whip around just in time before she tackles me, and I’m hardly able to catch myself. We hop around squealing like schoolgirls for a moment until I remember that Mitch is next to me. “Melanie Delacruz, this is Mitch Lincoln. Mitch, this is my best friend in the whole world, Mel.”

Mitch reaches down and takes Mel’s hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Melanie,” he says kissing the back of her hand.

I roll my eyes when I see her blush and all but melt into a puddle at his feet. “It’s nice to meet you, too. I invited Austin. I hope that’s all right.”

“Oh, that’s the
friend
you invited. That’s cool, I should have known. Austin is an old fling.” I start filling Mitch in until Austin rounds the corner.

We introduce the boys, and then we all split up to find the right bowling balls before heading to our lane. Mitch comes walking over with a pitcher of beer. “What, do you think if you get me drunk you can beat me?” I tease.

“Baby, this is for me. You know, so I don’t just completely annihilate you,” he says smugly.

“Mmhmm,” I murmur.

We bowl four games before I decide to call it a bust. “Seriously? Where did you learn to bowl? Do you do this professionally or something and I just don’t know it?” I ask in an annoyed tone. Mitch has bowled all four games damn near perfect.

He lets out a huge gut laugh. “I told you I’m good. Also, I have been bowling in tournaments for years.” He winks.

I shoot him a sideways glance. Smug bastard.

The boys go to turn in our shoes, and Mel and I go have a seat at the bar in the lounge.

“Well?”

“Well, what?” she asks confused.

“What do you think of Mitch?”

“Oh,” she pauses. “He seems nice,” she says unenthusiastically.

“Oh, he seems nice?”

“Yeah.”

I stare at Melanie for a moment assessing her. “Okay, lay it on me.”

She looks away, which is how I know she’s lying when she says, “What are you talking about?”

“You don’t like him?”

“I didn’t say that.” She attempts to defend.

“You didn’t have to say it. It’s written all over your face. So what is it?” I question her starting to get a little upset.

Before she can answer, the guys walk up and have a seat at the bar. Mitch sits next to me throwing his arm around my neck and kissing my cheek. I shoot a ‘this is so not over’ glare at Melanie before I turn to Mitch with a huge fake smile.
“So, who wants to play pool?” I ask nodding toward the tables in the corner of the lounge.

“I’ll rack,” Mel says hopping up and heading toward the tables. Austin follows her over and puts quarters in the slot of the table, releasing the balls.

I smile up at Mitch. “Shall we play on teams? Or do you want to play on the second table?

“Let’s team up.” He winks at me.

“Oh, Lord, don’t tell me,” I scoff. “You’re a billiards hustler, too?”

“I don’t hustle. I’m just a really good player.” He smirks.

“Come on, Nine Ball Billy, let’s play some pool.”

We play a few games of pool, winning them all, of course. True to his word, Mitch is a rock-star pool player. I catch Mel giving him shit eyes twice while we’re playing. I wish I knew why she doesn’t like Mitch. He has been nothing but polite to her. He and Austin seem to be hitting it off. I would think she would be happy. When she thinks no one is looking she scowls at him. Why?

It’s my turn and we’re down to two balls. We’re playing at a table in the corner of the room with a tall cocktail table and stools a few feet away. Melanie and Austin are seated at the high top watching. I need to hit the blue two-ball and the eight-ball to win the game for us. I lean over the table, a tad further than need be, and grin up at Mitch, who is taking in the cleavage view.

“Come on, you got this,” Mitch says coming around the table to me. “Here,” he reaches his arms around mine and moves the stick into a better position. Never one to miss an opportunity, I wiggle my behind just enough that I feel him tense when he notices.

“Hey, it’s her turn, cheater,” Mel calls out.

“Get a room!” Austin chimes in.

I look over at them and then shoot him a grin. He releases me and steps aside with his hands raised. “I got it,” I say sinking the first shot. “See? Piece of cake.” I move over to position for the final shot.

I line up and hear, “HmHmm, a little to the left, mm,” from Mitch.

“Let the girl shoot, would you?” Mel says. I glare at her. What is her problem? Mitch is just trying to help me. He’s a little perfectionistic, but geez.

I sink the final shot and put the stick on the rack. I walk over to Mitch, who picks me up twirling me around. “Good job, baby!”

“Thanks.” I beam. “I think we’re going to call it a night,” I say to Austin and Melanie. We all head out to the parking lot together. “Mel, Mom told me she better see your face at the house tomorrow at some point.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t miss Momma O’Malley’s chocolate cake for the world!” she says practically foaming at the mouth.

“All right, chica. I will see you tomorrow then,” I say and give her a look before I hug her that says
you will spill your guts tomorrow
.

“Good to see you, Austin,” I say reaching up for a hug.

He wraps me in a bear hug. “Always good to see you, Brynn.” He kisses my cheek as he releases me.

The guys shake hands, exchanging pleasantries before we get in the car. The parking lot light above where we’re parked is out. I watch as Austin and Melanie say goodbye, get in their cars, and pull out of the lot. We are one of the last cars in the parking lot. Mitch pulls the side latch on the passenger seat where he’s sitting, laying it back. “Tired?” I ask laughing, not understanding what he’s doing.

“Nope, definitely not tired.” He says mischievously. “Come over here,” he says reaching over the center console and helping transplant me from the driver’s seat to his lap.

“Mitch! Have you lost your mind? This is a parking lot.”

“Look around you. There are no cars around, and the light is out. No one can see us,” he says unbuttoning my jeans. “Besides, if you didn’t want me to fuck you right now, you shouldn’t have been a tease.” My stomach fills with butterflies being out in the open like this. It’s both exciting and horrifying. What if we get caught?

I decide to just go with it and slide my jeans down and off one leg altogether so I can spread my legs. Mitch wraps his massive hands around my waist and lifts me like I weigh nothing, bringing me down hard on him at the same time thrusting upward to meet me. I yelp from being impaled without warning. He reaches up my shirt and grabs onto each breast using them for support as he drives up into me. It takes me a moment to get my bearings, but I begin to meet him at every drive.

Usually, Mitch makes love to me, slow and gentle like he’s holding back. This time is different. We both let loose as much as we can in the cramped space. This time we aren’t making love. This time we’re fucking.

*   *   *

The next day is Christmas Eve. Brett gets home that morning and all of us hang out until the Walker clan, Mom’s family, arrives. Around course fifty-six and just before dessert, I hear the weather door slam. Melanie comes into the dining room a moment later. She makes the rounds saying hello to everyone before she comes to sit next to me. “Well, hello, lover,” I say as she kisses my cheek.

“What up, party people? Where’s my chocolate cake?”

I laugh. “You’re just in time. Mom is about to bring out coffee and cake. I’m not sure I can fit any more food into these pants.”

“Oh, I wore my buffet dress! I came prepared!”

“Hey, while we’re waiting for cake, come upstairs with me for a minute. I have something I want to show you,” I say grabbing Mel’s hand and getting up to pull her away. “Be right back,” I call over my shoulder to Mitch.

I all but drag Melanie up the stairs and into my bedroom. I close the door behind us and turn on her. “Spill it! No bullshit. Just tell me what’s going on in that head of yours. There is a reason you don’t like Mitch, so give it up.”

Melanie lets out a deep breath and walks to my bed. She grabs Mr. Teddy on her way and plops down holding him. “Look, I never said I didn’t like him. There isn’t really any reason, it’s just…a feeling? I mean, I can see why you like him, B. He’s hot and very charming, and he was nice enough to me and Austin.”