Somewhere in the Middle, page 13
“And Gram. Well, sort of.” I probably shouldn’t have just dropped that on her out of the blue.
“Your grandmother talked to you about us being together too?” Abigail was appalled. I couldn’t blame her. After all, I was the one who had to live through both conversations.
“You know, in Gram’s case, I think she was more concerned that we’d be too ‘at the moment’ to remember your brothers and sister were living with us.”
“Oh,” Abby said, clearly embarrassed. I think it was because my grandmother was right. We hadn’t thought about her younger siblings catching us on the couch together as we made out. Not last night, and certainly not tonight. “She may have a point.”
“You think?”
We took one look at each other and started laughing. We also stood to go to sleep. Well, that and get a little farther away from each other. There was no doubt what both of us wanted, but I’d given my word to Mr. Garcia, and Gram was right about the other kids.
“We’re going to bed early tonight. Maybe it will help us catch up on our sleep.”
“You maybe,” I sighed melodramatically. “But I’m going to have to try and fall asleep in your bed. Do you have any idea how hard that’s going to make it?”
“No, how hard will it make it?” Abigail stressed the words ‘hard’ and ‘it.’ It didn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out she was teasing me. Abby saw it register in my eyes and smiled.
“That was mean!” I groaned, but that didn’t mean I was going to back off. “And to answer your question, very! Your pillow smells like you. It’s going to drive me crazy tonight.”
“Are you going to be ‘sloppy’ tonight?” Okay, so my mouth may have fallen open at that point. To be fair, Abigail was blushing badly after she said it, but apparently, she was set on making her earlier point. “I told you, I’m no angel.”
“You said saint, but I get your point,” I grumbled in frustration. “Now, can you please stop? I’m only human, you know.”
“You and me both.” I think Abigail intended to whisper that under her breath, but I heard her just the same.
“Another time,” I promised, pulling her to me and stealing one last kiss.
“You can count on it.” Abigail made sure to swing her hips a little more seductively as she moved to the end of the hall and her parents’ bedroom. At least I thought she did because I am sure as hell couldn’t take my eyes off of her. She stopped and turned back toward me at the door. “Tell the truth; you love me even more now!” Yep, Abigail had swung her hips like that on purpose.
“Now and forever.” I knew she was teasing me, but I gave her a serious response. Mostly, because my feelings for her did grow each and every day that passed, and only a small percentage of it has to do with her wanting me and feeling comfortable enough to show it.
Chapter Fifteen
“I don’t want to play soccer anymore!” Tanya snapped, kicking the ball into the bushes. “Or Bean Bag Toss!” We’d made it almost a week without any significant blowups, but today had the feel of the end to our streak. I was quickly learning a whole new level of respect for parenting.
Mr. Garcia called in the morning and gave us another update. The good news was that their mother didn’t need a ventilator and was recovering. The bad news was that it was happening very slowly, just like my dad had. It also sounded like he was doing more than just sitting by her side. I guess the hospital was desperate for help, and Mr. Garcia being who he was, couldn’t help but pitch in.
They tested him when he arrived and found out that he had the antibodies for the virus already. The doctors thought he must have had it before the outbreak made the news. Abigail’s father did remember having what he thought was a bad cold or the flu back in January. In either case, it wasn’t long before he was splitting his time between his wife and helping out around the hospital.
“I want to see mommy!” Billy snapped, very close to tears. Mrs. Garcia wasn’t able to talk on the phone yet. I think that’s what bothered the younger kids the most. Abigail hid it, but I knew it bothered her too.
“One day soon, little guy.” I grabbed him up and hugged him. The Garcia family were huggers, and I’d quickly learned that offering one to them was the right way of making them feel at least a little better. Honestly, it helped me, too, more often than not. “Why don’t we do something different tonight.”
“Like what?” Tanya asked, clearly interested despite herself.
“Yeah, like what?” Abigail asked, repeating her younger sister. She enjoyed putting me on the spot.
“Thanks, you’re a lot of help.”
Abby grinned at me and shrugged as I plopped down on the lawn, taking Billy with me. Leo quickly followed suit, but both girls remained standing, at least at first.
“Not something inside,” Leo put in. “At this point, I’m getting sick of my room!”
“I like sleeping in papa and mamma’s bed.” Tanya had the cutest thoughtful expression as she slowly joined us on the grass. “It sad sometimes, but it reminds me of them. Plus, it’s different than sleeping in my room.” Leo looked jealous. That brought an idea to mind.
“None of us have school tomorrow,” I thoughtfully. “I say we have a barbecue tonight.”
“That could be fun.” Abigail was trying to help as she finally relented and dropped down next to her sister, but the others didn’t take immediately to the idea.
“We barbecue all the time.” Tanya was unimpressed.
“No, we grill a lot, but a barbecue is different.”
“What’s the difference?” Leo asked, clearly willing to go along but also hoping it was something good.
“You’ll see,” I grinned, letting go of Billy and rubbing my hands together as more and more of a plan came to mind. “The first thing we’ll need to do is borrow Gram’s grill.”
“Why would we do that? We already have one of those.” Tanya could be a tough customer at times.
“Yours is propane. Gram still uses a charcoal grill.” Well, uses might be an overstatement, but she did still own one. I saw it in the shed during one of my many trips inside. It was one of those kettle types which was perfect for what I was trying to accomplish.
“How is that better?” Tanya asked.
“Well, for one thing, it’s easier to roast marshmallows.” That caught her interest. Billy liked the idea, too, based on how big his eyes grew.
“Do we have marshmallows?” Leo frowned. “I don’t remember seeing them.”
“Not yet,” I shrugged. “But it’s about time for me to make another run to the grocery store anyway. I told Gram I would go tomorrow, but knowing her, she already has her list ready.”
“I can get ours together while you go ask to borrow her grill.” Abigail was thinking about what we needed based on her expression. “I assume you’re planning on getting graham crackers and chocolate too?”
“You’re ruining the surprise,” I whispered very loudly. She just shook her head.
“Smores!” Tanya’s cry was pure excitement as she put it together. She was finally on board.
“What’s a Smore?” Such an innocent question from Billy earned him a strange look from all of us.
“You’ll love them,” Leo promised his little brother. “Everybody does.”
“Just thinking about one has my mouth-watering.” I glanced around, making sure to make eye contact with each in turn. Leo and Tanya looked like they were imagining eating smores right now. Little Billy was excited about the idea of having one for the first time.
Abigail, well, she was looking at me in a way that made me think a smores was the last thing on her mind. She mouthed the words ‘Thank you.’ All three of the younger Garcia kids looked considerably calmer now that we had a plan or at least the beginning of one. Abby appreciated my efforts with them. I smiled at her in response but then forced myself to look away before getting lost in what her eyes promised.
“Okay, so if we’re going to stay up late tonight and make smores, what else can we do?” Everyone was thinking hard, trying to come up with ideas.
I saw Abigail glance up at the sky, so I wasn’t surprised when she shared her thoughts. “It’s going to be a clear night. I miss looking at the stars since Matt, and I stopped hanging out in our yards at night.”
“I love watching you watch the stars.” I couldn’t help slipping that in.
Abigail’s eyes sparkled at my comment, but she didn’t respond. It was probably safer that way. Instead, she looked at her siblings. “I think we should figure out which constellations are visible.”
“And maybe make up some of our own.” I was mostly joking, but the idea piqued the interest of Tanya.
“We can do that?” Her question had a touch of awe in it. Abigail shook her head but remained silent.
“Of course,” I insisted. “We’ll do it while we’re roasting marshmallows around Gram’s grill. The coals take a long time to cool down. They should keep us warm even after we are done making the smores.”
“Don’t forget to ask your grandmother to borrow some more lawn chairs.” Abigail was supportive from the very beginning, but I liked that she had some ideas of her own to add.
“Good idea,” I smiled warmly.
“Maybe we could sing around the fire?” Tanya sounded a little embarrassed by her idea. “I like to sing, and I’ve seen people doing that on TV.”
“I like it!” Okay, so maybe I didn’t, but if it’s what she wanted to do, then so be it. My voice wasn’t terrible, but then again, it wasn’t any good either. “You think about what you want to sing while I’m gone.”
“Hey, I’ve got an idea!” Leo sounded excited at whatever he had in mind. I liked his enthusiasm, but it had me concerned. What crazy idea did he have that would make him light up like that?
“We can’t leave the yard.” Abigail was clearly on the same wavelength as me.
“We don’t have to!” Her brother’s grin was so contagious that he had the others smiling even before he explained. I just hoped whatever he wanted was doable. “Remember when papa decided we should go camping?”
“All I remember was that it rained most of the weekend.” Tanya’s smile disappeared. It must have been pretty bad based on the extent of the frown that followed.
“And when it wasn’t raining, the bugs were merciless.” Abigail’s expression wasn’t any better than her little sister’s.
“Yes, but this will be different. We’ll be in our yard!” I couldn’t deny Leo’s excitement despite the concerns etched on both of his sisters’ faces.
“Do you have a tent?” I was willing to sleep out in the yard with him if it made Abigail’s little brother happy, but I wasn’t sleeping on the cold ground, not at this time of the year.
“One big enough for everyone! And sleeping bags too.”
“They’re in the basement.” Abigail was giving me an unsure look. She wasn’t thrilled with this idea. “Where I think momma hid them so that papa would never make us go camping again.”
“It will be fine,” I promised between laughs. “Worst case, the house is right there.”
“Come on, Abby, it will be fun!” Leo’s enthusiasm was too much, even for his older sister’s obvious concern.
“Fine, we’ll try it.” I hid my grin as Abigail gave in gracefully. Okay, maybe it was more reluctant than graceful, but it amounted to the same thing in the end.
“Great! I’ll go get a tent.” Leo was gone before his sister could change her mind. The younger two followed after him.
“How did we go from a barbecue to a camp out?” Abigail grumbled as they disappeared into the house. “One with singing, no less.” She didn’t like her voice any more than I wanted mine.
“And stargazing,” I added with a shrug. “Speaking of which, you’d better spend some time googling constellations. The only ones I know are the big and little dipper.” I frowned as I realized something. “Only one of them. I’m never sure which.”
“Why do you care? You’re just going to make up your own anyway.” Her eyes were twinkling again, but this time it was with humor. I couldn’t help but return it.
“Good point!” I got up and dusted the grass off my pants before helping her do the same. I admit I might not have needed to pull Abigail quite so close once I had her on her feet, but she didn’t complain, especially when it turned into a hug. As I said, the Garcia family were huggers.
“I better go talk to Gram.” Thoughts of my grandmother made me pause.
“What’s up?” Abigail could see something was on my mind.
“I’ve been thinking,” I began, not sure how Abby would feel about what I was about to suggest. “Your father has had the antibodies a long time, so he wasn’t contagious these last few weeks, and he was the only one who left the house. Well, except for when I go food shopping and let me tell you, I’m cautious.”
“You want to invite Gram tonight?” It was a smart guess. I smiled and nodded. The former was mostly because Abigail had slipped and called my grandmother Gram again. I loved it when she did that. It made me feel like she was accepting being part of my family.
“If you think it’s okay. I’m sure she’ll pass on camping out overnight, but she might enjoy the smores, singing, and stargazing. We can make sure Gram’s chair is six feet from the others.” Abigail hesitated. I understood. Her father had left her in charge of the other kids. She only supported me. I mean, I liked to think I was more than that, but there’s no way I’d go against her wishes on this.
“It’s fine by me,” Abigail finally said. “Gram hadn’t left the house and her yard since before you arrived. Honestly, I’m more concerned about her than us.”
“How about I leave it to her?” I offered. “I love being here with you and your brothers and sister, but I feel bad about leaving Gram alone.”
“That sounds reasonable.” Abigail was smiling in agreement. I couldn’t resist and stole a kiss. She let me, but only briefly. “You’d better get going.”
“Tease!” I snapped in jest.
“I’m not the one doing the teasing,” she retorted, sounding honestly frustrated. “Or making promises to my father and your grandmother.”
“Well, if things go as planned, we’ll finally get a chance to sleep together tonight.” It was a stupid joke, but I couldn’t resist.
“Yeah, in a tent with my brothers and sister between us.”
“There is that.” We exchanged a look, and both smiled, but Abigail was also shaking her head.
“Just be ready to deal with six cranky people tomorrow if no one gets any sleep tonight.” Her warning made me laugh.
“Six?” I teased.
“Six,” she retorted, stepping away from me. “I’d better go inside and make that list of groceries we need.”
“Now and forever?” I asked before she turned away. That finally made her smile.
“Now and forever.” Unfortunately, it didn’t last. “Now get going, Megamind. It’s going to be a long night.” She turned and walked toward her house.
“Megamind? Really?” I called after Abigail.
“Hey, you’re the one with the evil genius plan. And we all know how those turn out.” Her tone was perfect as she disappeared into the house. I found myself laughing even though this could all end up backfiring, very severely.
“Here’s hoping.” Sometimes, you just had to have a little faith.
Chapter Sixteen
I woke up slowly to the sounds of birds singing and kids laughing in the background. My eyes fluttered open, and I smiled as I confirmed that I was cuddling Abigail. I wasn’t quite sure how that happened, considering we had a whole gaggle of kids between us when we fell asleep, but I wasn’t going to dwell on the reason. Instead, I took a deep breath and enjoyed how just being close to her like this lit up all my senses, making me feel alive in ways I was still trying to understand.
“Camping out is not so bad. I could get used to this.” I said it softly and to myself, but Abigail must have already been awake because she shifted and turned toward me when she heard.
Abby’s hair was a mess, and she was half in and half out of her sleeping bag. The clothes I could see were disheveled from spending the night in the cramped tent. None of that mattered with the way she was looking at me.
“Me too.” Abigail leaned in and pressed her lips against mine. I pulled her close, waking up fully as her kisses grew hungrier, and she made the expected parts of my body react.
I held her mouth to mine by entangling my fingers in her hair at the base of her skull and pressing gently. Abby moaned and opened her mouth to mine, kissed me deeper. I slipped my other hand down the back of her sleeping bag and caressed her perfectly shaped ass. Abigail’s reaction was to roll on top of me.
It was my turn to moan as her hand pressed between my legs. My sleeping bag and clothes were between us, but that didn’t matter. I began to swell even faster than before. I knew Abigail could feel it because her eyes lit with her recognition and need.
My girlfriend might have been a virgin, but as Abby said, she was no saint. She had her wants and needs and was definitely in the mood to have them fulfilled. There was a reason why we were waiting, but at that moment, I couldn’t remember it.
That’s when the laughing got louder. It took a second for my mind to kick in, and when it did, I was almost too late. I pushed Abigail off of me and to the other side of the tent as I rolled onto my side, hiding the noticeable lump.
“Hey!” Abby cried, obviously too into the moment to understand, but that quickly became a non-issue when Leo threw open the tent flap.
“Come on, you two! Gram said breakfast is ready, and it’s past time you both woke up.”
Abby did her best to hide the look of horror that sprang to her face as she realized what almost happened. She did okay with that, but less so with the embarrassment that followed. It was so bad that instead of blushing, she even grew pale. The only saving grace was that Leo took a couple of seconds after his announcement to stick his head inside.
“We’ll be right out.” Abigail’s voice was a touch higher than usual, but her brother didn’t seem to notice.
