Aurora Book 1: Soitera

14. Christmas Cookies

A guy our age steps out of the helicopter. I've never seen him before. I thought it was Dante's helicopter, but it's obviously not.

"Helicopters must be common here."

Everett glances up from the folder. "Yea. Consider the houses. A helicopter is like a basic car to these people."

"Must be nice."

The man walks up to us. "I was told to ask the help for a swimsuit. Are you the help?"

"No. But I can help you." I go into the store with him. "Do you know how sizes work?"

"No."

"Ok. You'll have to try it on in the fitting room."

"That's fine."

He picks something he likes. I go through the sizes and hand him one. "Fitting room is over here. Come out when you get it on."

He comes out after a minute. "This seems right. You shop well."

I grab the shorts and pull on them a little bit. "Yea, they won't go anywhere in the ocean. Those are fine."

"What I wouldn't do to have a sexy man do what you just did."

I crack up laughing. "I'm sorry I'm not a sexy man, but at least you know they won't get ripped off in the ocean now."

"Consolation prizes. I guess." He goes back to the fitting room. Then he comes back with the shorts and his fancy shoes on. "Do they have shoes here?"

"I'll grab some."

I get him sorted out and he picks a tee-shirt.

We go back to Everett, who pays no attention to us. "There is an aquarium a couple blocks from here. You want to check it out?"

We both say, "Yes."

"Let's take the helicopter. I'm not walking in these shoes. How do you keep them on your feet?"

Everett laughs. "You'll figure it out."

The new guy grabs my arm. "Oh, fuck... Check him out."

Everett yells, "HEY."

I close my eyes and hug him as fast as I can. "I DIDN'T LOOK."

The guy laughs and pulls me away from Everett. "You're allowed to look. You're not allowed to touch. Open your eyes."

"NO."

Everett finally starts laughing too.

"Fine. I guess it would be disrespectful to check out another guy in front of your boyfriend. I'll let you win this one."

"Thank you. That was awkward."

"Yea. I'll only point out sexy men when he's not paying attention."

Everett smirks. "Thanks, I guess."

"Oh, I'm Aurora. This is Everett."

"Call me Nyx. Do you live here?"

"No. We're here for the holidays."

"Same. I'm staying with my uncle. He knows a student that got recruited into the same college as me. I guess he's setting up a meeting or something. But it works. A lot of people in this area went to the college."

My mouth falls open. "Your Uncle is Frank?"

"You know my Uncle Frank?"

Everett cracks up laughing. "You two are going to be hilarious."

"I'm the other student. I'm going into astrophysics. He told me about you. He said he was setting up something for Friday, I think."

"Yea, after the holiday." He crosses his arms and seems nervous.

"What?"

"Nobody knows I'm gay. I hide it from everyone. I figured it wouldn't matter if you knew. I didn't think I would ever see you again."

"We won't tell."

Everett nods. "That's your secret to tell. We won't say anything."

I bounce. "Let's play a joke on them when we meet Friday."

"You are so ornery today, woman."

Nyx seems intrigued. "What do you have in mind?"

"I have no idea."

"Let's think of it on the way. I'm done standing in the parking lot." Everett motions us to the helicopter.

We spend the day at a big ocean aquarium. It has rides and food. We see a show with dolphins. Nyx buys us lunch with his uncle's credit card. He assures us it's ok. Then he takes Everett and me back to the boat place before he flies home.

I snuggle beside him on the boat. "That was so fun."

"It really was. You two are going to have a blast going to school together. It makes me feel better knowing you'll have a friend with you."

"He is my friend. I've never had one of those."

He laughs and hugs me. "I'm sure you will point out lots of hot guys to each other."

I giggle and bury my face in his chest.

"Uh huh. Little ornery girl." He twirls my hair.

It's late when we get back. We eat dinner in my room and go to sleep.

Christmas is random. I didn't think it would be anything other than awkward though. But it's not so bad. Everyone eats breakfast, lunch, and dinner together. In between times, people break off into their immediate families. Probably for gifts and things. It leaves me a lot of free time.

I fill the tub after lunch. I put so many bubbles in it. Then I find a remote. I didn't realize the tub has jets. I turn it on, a big painting turns into a TV. I nearly fall in the tub. This is the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me.

I grab a bunch of snacks and sit them beside the tub. Then I pick a funny movie and get in. This is the best day ever. So relaxing and warm. Everything smells good. There is food at my fingertips.

I refill the bath when I get chilly. Then I start a second movie. I could live in this room.

I'm eating chips when Everett walks in.

He doesn't stop laughing for a whole minute. Then he turns down the lights with a knob.

"I didn't know they did that either. I want to take this room home with me."

"I can tell." He strips and steps into the tub with me.

It's a little awkward, and I'm afraid to peek at him. I don't know what to think.

He smiles and washes my back. "I was worried about you being alone all morning. I need to know you're ok."

I snap out of my awkwardness. "This is the best day ever. Three meals with conversation. Unlimited snacks. A huge bathtub with a TV. This is Christmas times ten. This is the best Christmas I've ever had. Hell, this is the best day I've ever had."

He laughs and kisses the back of my neck. "You have always liked your alone time too. I should have known you were fine. But I would still like to spend some time with you today."

"Do you want some snacks?"

"I'm not going to eat potato chips in the bathtub, woman."

I giggle and lean back against him. His d**k is hard as a rock. I move away and sit beside him. I don't know what to do. Everything is awkward again.

He pulls me closer and kisses my shoulder. "We never have to do anything. I'll never pressure you or hurt you. But I want to be close to you. I want to sit like this in the bathtub. I don't want us to hide anything. The most important thing is that we're comfortable with each other. I want you to be comfortable and trust me. Please don't be afraid. And yea, I'm in the bath with the sexiest girl in the world, my d**k isn't going to be anything other than hard. That's just the way it is. But I will never force you."

My muscles relax and I snuggle him. "Sometimes you know exactly what to say."

"I wish those times happened more often."

We laugh and enjoy the movie. He eventually has some chips with me. We get out just in time for dinner.

His mom smiles at me as we sit down. "You smell good."

"Thanks, it's the bath stuff."

"Are you doing ok?"

"This is the best day of my life."

Everett cracks up laughing. "She found the TV in the bathroom."

After dinner, I go back to the bath and watch another movie. Everett went with his family again. It makes me happy that he thought about me on Christmas. He is thoughtful.

"Did you want your cookies in here?" The servant lady stares at me. She seems confused.

I swallow my chip. "I have cookies?"

"Yes. Christmas cookies. Do you want them in here?"

"Yes, please."

She gives me a big plate of cookies and a glass of milk. Then she refreshes the towels before she goes. It's kind of awkward she was in the bathroom with me while I was naked, but I guess that's normal here. I bet she's walked in on some interesting things.

The cookies are amazing. I eat six of them. Then my stomach hurts. But I don't care, it was worth it. I put on a nightie and fall into bed. This was the best Christmas ever.