That Time of Year

8- WTF

NATASHA

I got home to my mom laying out her stockings on the table. I smiled, noticing she placed one down for Trinity. I miss my baby girl. She was my best friend and mini-me/a little bit of David. She was perfect. The thought of her made a limp well in my throat. I pulled my phone out quickly and texted David’s mom, asking her to have Trinity call me. “What’s the plan, Stan?” I asked my mom as I poured myself some of the cocoa in the pot on the stove. “I’m starting up our old traditions. Again. " I mean never stopped, but I feel like my kids are forgetting the spirit this time of year brings!” I saw her. “Really cute mom.” I sipped the hot liquid. Mmm, soothing. All my nerves from Alex to my bakery, David and just missing Trinity… This was what I needed. Bianca then stormed in, “Mom! Oh- hey sis. " Mom! “Honey, the inside voice is still very much a thing.” Mom smiled at her when she got around the corner and Bianca rolled her eyes. “It’s a wedding emergency!… they sent the dresses, two shades too light! " It’s going to look like an Easter wedding, not Christmas!” Bianca was on the verge of tears. It was a big deal, but I felt she was being a bit much. “Can’t you reorder?” I asked, sipping again. Bianca’s head turned slowly to look at me. Like she could ring my back. I thought I caught her eye twitch. “And to be fitted and ready by Christmas? Even after measurements, it'd take weeks to get the dresses back. " The ones I got took two weeks, with expedited delivery I paid for too!” I shrugged, putting my one free hand up to look as if I was surrendering, and took a swallow of my beverage.

Joe walked in and eyed the three women, and we looked at him. “I feel like I have walked into something…” Joe smiled and held his hands up as if to surrender. “Dress crisis, Dad. " Respectfully, not your vibe,” Bianca said, greeting him. He then greeted me and then kissed my mom hello. They were just so sweet.

After calming my baby sister, I walked silently, dismissing myself to my little home a few yards in the back. When I entered my little home, it had a chill. I went over to my chimney, starting a fire with a log. I sat back and looked at the turned-off TV mounted on the wall next to my fireplace. The fire grew, and I decided a shower was the next step before I trudged back over for dinner.

The hot water flooding over me was exhilarating! I felt like I could finally breathe. I kept imagining where Alex’s mouth and hands were. His smell. Even being washed over, I could still smell him. It is etched in my senses forever now. My breasts perked up. I ran my water cold to dismiss this thrill he gave me only after so many interactions. I felt so bad for wanting him.

I got out and began to dry off. The house feels warmer and cozy. I decided to put on a sweatshirt and sweatpants. And then my blanket and started to gather small things to decorate our stockings. The snow crunched under my boots. I looked up, as my arms full of the items my mom needed and my items, to see if anyone was outside to help. To my utter surprise (not really), Alex's truck was pulling in. And Bianca was greeting her long-time bestie, Raquelle. I nodded to the girls and quickly hurried in. I let all the contents in my arms fall onto the counter. Flustered. Great, I had just been soaking wet for this man, talking myself out of interest in him, AND NOW he was here. Just great.

Bianca's friend filtered in and Alex behind her. After a few minutes, a few other family members and friends also came over, and it became a Christmas get-together. I reveled in the ability to disappear amid my family and not think of or run into Alex more than I cared to. However, I did notice he had taken a call over to the kitchen table's nook space. Everyone was in the family/living space. Away from him. He looked so good! And so far away. Maybe I could talk to him? Everyone was in the social space I was in, so... Oh? I watched Raquelle do a cute little trot into the same area as Alex was in - at least I thought everyone was over on this side... What the f**k.

ALEX

I laughed at the voicemail I was listening to from my aunt. I had stepped away from the group to check my phone. I hadn't seen her in years. I mean, at one point I was too f****d up all the time to even visit her at Bays Prison. Or think about it. But once I came clean about that, she understood. Forgive me, I hope. I clicked out of my voicemails, briefly tapping into and eyeing my social media. Like. Like. Cool car. Like. I saw a photo pop up of Bianca's bridal party. All the girls I remember and knew about or from living in Cicle. Natasha. She has her hair down, and she's holding up a little bag that reads 'Maid of Honor!' She looked so damn good. Her pose made her ass poke out, and I instantly regretted 'tapping in'. I just had my mouth on her neck and her lips kissed mine. I tasted her tongue. Disappointing, I never got to taste her.

I shook my head, as the sound of clicking heels snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned to see one of the family members. "Hi, you. " What are you doing over here, all sneaky like?" she said. She was one of the girls in the photo I had just seen! I knew of her too, but she was a couple of grades behind Dawson and me. "Hey," I said, more like a question, "I'm sorry, what was your name?" I asked. Then she shook her full and pretty blonde hair, extending a hand, "Raquelle Martin. And you're Dawson's friend. "It's Alex, right?" Her hand slid into mine and her grip was tight and soft, at the same time as we shook hands. She was thinner and had huge t**s and a decent enough ass from what I could get from my angle. I stepped back and smiled. Awkward. I don't want to entertain a woman right now, I thought. "So, want to get back to the party?" I began to walk back. I felt her soft hand graze my forearm and, intimately, place her other hand on my shoulder, turning me to her, fighting my slightly reluctant and stiff body movement. "I came over to talk to you." Raquelle licked her lips, eyeing me up and down quickly. Her big smile twinkled. "Um - Er, well..." I didn't know what to say to her. "What's up?" Nice, Alex. I scolded myself. I felt a little awkward. The only other time a woman has thrown herself like this on to me with genuine interest was by Nat. Nat. I looked around quickly. I didn't see her. "I think you are a knock-out, Alex. I've always thought you were so cute. And now," she clicked her tongue, eyeing me again. I took a few steps back, and she mimicked me but came toward me. I was going to decline when, suddenly, "Oh no!" I turned to see a smiling Bianca who just exclaimed and continued, "Raquelle and Alex under the mistletoe, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" I looked up. Dammit. I saw fresh mistletoe hanging from the entryway. I looked between Bianca and Raquelle. Bianca was laughing and egging it on, while more friends and family joined and Raquelle was practically licking her chops at me. "I couldn't, I barely met her." I smiled at her and lifted my hands in surrender. "Oh come on now, have some Christmas spirit!" Dawson's mom chants with Dawson. God dammit! Right then, I locked eyes with Nat. She watched me, waiting. I felt like I had a cop's light in my face. Bright. Blinding. Testing me. I looked at Raquelle, grabbed her hand, and placed a kiss on her hand. Everyone playfully groans and moans in disappointment. Raquelle looks like she just got mooned! And I walked off laughing with others, getting a stocking and beginning to try and craft. I would never disrespect Nat by kissing her earlier and then another now.