Remember Me

18. New Beginnings

After the disaster that was Christmas, we decide to stay in to ring in the New Year together without distraction. And thus far, it was shaping up to be everything I was hoping it would be. "Josh." Maya giggles as my lips trail down her neck, my hands circling her waist as I pull her away from the edge of the bed. "We need to get up. At this rate we'll miss the ball drop."

I scoff, urging my wife onto her back; her blue eyes meet mine as she hits the mattress and stares up at me. "It's not even noon." I argue, "that's twelve hours."

"Yes, and knowing the way we are, if I don't leave this bed now then I'll let you talk me into spending all twelve of those hours in this position."

I raise an eyebrow at her, skirting my hand from her waist to the apex of her thighs. She squirms, trying to keep her expression blank to give the impression of being unaffected but I notice the slight hitch of her breath and the way her lips part if only for a second before they press back into a fine line. "If it's the positioning you're worried about. I'd be happy to switch it up."

Rolling her eyes, she reaches underneath the covers and grabs my hand. "Josh. C'mon. It's the first New Years that I'm actually going to remember. I want to spend it doing all the cliché things; noisemakers and champagne, a toast at midnight...maybe a kiss."

I hang my head, my hand retreating to rest on her hip. "Today means that much to you?"

"It does" she nods, "But I'd be willing to compromise...you know, if there's anything else you wanted to do today." Staring down at her, I'm sure that the only thing I really want to do today is spend every waking moment making her happy. And if that means leaving this bed, well there'll be more opportunities in the future...maybe even after the clock strikes midnight if I'm lucky.

"Maya, there is nothing else I'd rather do than make today perfect for you. Whatever that means."

"Really?"

Chuckling, I lean down to press a chaste kiss to her lips. "Really" I reassure you. "So, besides noisemakers and alcohol, what else did you have in mind?"

***

We've somehow ended up in a very competitive game of Uno. I'm unsure how it happened or how long it's been since I've had so much fun playing a simple card game, but I can't seem to stop laughing all the while my adorable wife grumbles, throwing out expletives every time I make her draw four.

Which has happened at least three times.

"Are you sure you shuffled the deck? Or that the cards aren't marked?" She turns her card over and begins to analyze it for marks.

"I assure you; I'm playing fair and square."

"Mhm" she hums, reaching for her drink and taking a long swig, nearly emptying the flute. I retreat to the kitchen to get the bottle to refill. However, when I return and move to pour the drink into her glass, "I'm good for now." She insists, placing her hand over the rim. "The last thing I want is to end up drunk off my ass making you spend your new year holding back my hair."

"Okay" I smile, placing the bottle beside the table and returning to my hand of cards. Play continues for the next half hour or so until finally she bests me, throwing her last card onto the table in victory. I roll my eyes at her dramatics, reaching for my drink and taking a long sip.

"I told you I didn't rig the game."

"Whatever." Pushing off the floor with the use of the coffee table, she walks back to the shelving unit to the left, her eyes scanning the names of the games we keep on hand at all times. "Hey." Looking over her shoulder, her hand pointed above her head, she looks at me. "Can you get this one?"