Light in the Dark

Fifteen

Michael

"So having sex with your girlfriend while all of us are awake is a pretty bold move, even for you." Evan commented. It was Thanksgiving morning and we were in the guest house watching football while the women were in the kitchen cooking.

"We weren't having sex." I wish

"It didn't sound like it to me."

"Well maybe you shouldn't be standing outside of other people's doors then, creep." I tossed a pillow at him.

"And you're telling me that you have absolutely no interest in Gemma's friend?"

"Dude, Connie is here."

"So you don't remember when you did that like four years ago?"

"You've got a point, but this is different. I don't want to mess up what Connie and I have, you know? I don't even have the urge to cheat, it's like every time I see a girl I instantly compare her to Connie and then she's all I think about."

"Sounds like you're in love, son." Dad said when he came back from the bathroom. "I'm proud of you, Connie will be a great addition to the family." He clapped me on the back.

"Thanks dad."

He was right, I'm in love with Connie. Everything about her intrigues me and makes me want to be a better man for her. I want to know all her likes and dislikes and spend every second of every day with her. We hadn't gotten the chance to talk about the kiss we shared yesterday. If it wasn't for Evan interrupting us, we would've made love. But I'm glad he did, I didn't want our first time to be in my parents house with everyone home, I wanted it to be special. I'm almost certain that she feels the same about me otherwise she wouldn't have let that kiss go so far. I just have to figure out a way to tell her how I feel.

***

By two o' clock my dads two other siblings and their families, as well as moms brothers families had come over as well.

"Have you seen, Connie?" I asked Sam.

"She went upstairs, she looked a little sick so she told me she was going to lay down for a bit."

I raced upstairs to our bedroom and opened the door  to find Connie sitting in the floor with her head in her hands. I scooped her up into my arms and rocked her back and forth on the bed.

"Just breathe, sweetheart." I kept repeating. I always knew that this would be a problem. Too many people would give her an anxiety attack.

"I'm sorry." She said after she managed to calmdown and looked at me with tears in her eyes. I wiped them all away and tucked her hair behind one of her ears.

"For what?"

"For being so fucked up. I should've told you things about me sooner so that way you could've known that doing this with me was too much."

"Hey stop." I tilted her head with my hand so that I could look into her eyes so she knew how serious I was. "You didn't trust me and that's okay, I love learning about you every day, I never know what to expect. And you're not fucked up, you're a human being who's had too much shit thrown at her. Meeting you was the best thing to ever happen to me." She smiled and I swear that every time she smiles at me, I fall more and more in love with her. "Constance I-..." I was cut off when someones phone started to vibrate. After searching around, it turned out to be Connie's phone. She beamed at whomever it was and slid her finger along the screen.

"Hi Aunt Connie!" A little girls voice screamed. "Happy Thanksgiving!"

"Happy Thanksgiving baby! Are you being good for everyone?"

"Kinda. I punched Simon in the face for pouring his juice on me the other day, mommy was mad."

"That's my girl." I couldn't help but smile.

"Don't condone her behavior!" A woman's voice said.

"Chill out Em, she was just defending herself."

"Well now I have a meeting with the board of education because she broke his nose. I can't believe I let you show her how to punch."

"No goddaughter of mine will let anyone bully her." That made me laugh.

"Who's that? Is that Michael?" Connie rolled her eyes.

"Yes Em."

"Let me meet him." She handed me the phone and on the screen was a beautiful blonde woman with brown eyes. "So you're the rich, future CEO?" She sized me up on the screen. "You better not hurt my best friend once this deal is over." I had a feeling that Connie told her about our agreement but I couldn't find it in myself to be mad.

"Scouts honor" I held up three fingers. "She's safe with me. It's nice to finally meet you Emily." She was beautiful, but she had nothing on Connie.

"You too Michael." I handed Connie back her phone. "My parents miss you, I miss you." She mumbled the last part but I heard her.

"I miss you all too Em, I just, I'm not ready to go back yet." I could tell that this was a personal conversation but I couldn't bring myself to leave the room.

"I know-...."

"Mommy!" Amelia shouted.

"I have to go. Love you."

"Love you too." She cut the call and took a deep breath.

"You okay sweetheart?" She nodded but I could tell that she was stuck in her head. I just wished she would talk to me more but I understood that she needed time. "Okay, go ahead and get ready, mom will bust down the door if she thinks something is up." She laughed, somewhat back to her old self and agreed.

***

"Connie, hurry up!" I called from outside the bathroom. It was 4:35 and mom called us down for dinner. Connie was taking such a long time in the bathroom getting ready.

"Okay, I'm coming."

My jaw dropped.

"I knew it was too much, I'm going to go change." She turned around and I grabbed her to stop her, pulling her into a kiss. I couldn't help but explore her body in her tight dress before she pulled away. "Down boy." She joked.

"I'm sorry, you just look amazing." I pecked her lips once more. "What are you doing to me?" I grabbed her hand and placed it on my black dress pants so that she could feel the effect she had on me.

"Okay horn dog, let's get through this dinner."