This Year is My Year

Touch

I didn't watch one moment of The Shining – Eddie made sure of that.

Once he closed the distance, he didn't remove his lips from me once. We were laying on the couch, Eddie on top of me, kissing every part of my neck. My heart was still pounding from our first kiss, and every touch since.

Jack Nicholson was chopping through the bathroom door on the screen, eliciting screams from Shelley Duvall. I watched momentarily, and Eddie placed his hand on my face, pulling me back in to his lips. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him in deeper. I felt him smile as he traced my side, sending shivers all over my body. I never wanted to let him go.

Eddie's phone suddenly started to ring, bringing me out of our bubble. We glanced over, then back at each other.

"Ignore it," he pulled me back in and I followed his instruction. I traced his back, which made his hair stand on end. He moved down my neck, kissing one spot. I knew what he was doing – I didn't stop it.

The phone rang again, startling us. Eddie tried to continue to kiss me but stopped when it kept ringing. He buried his head into the crook of my neck, sighing deeply.

"God damn it," he looked at me, kissing me quickly again, and got off the couch. He dramatically pulled the phone off the receiver, looking at me, smiling again.

"What do you want?" he hissed, hoping to wrap the call early and come back to me. I propped myself up on my elbows, smiling back at him.

"Eddie Munson, do you have any idea how God damn late it is?" I could hear Dustin yell over the phone. His eyes widened, and he looked over at the clock.

12:17AM.

We looked back at each other, wincing. I sat up, and he tried calming Dustin down.

"No, I'm sorry, little one – sorry, Dustin – we didn't realize – no you're right, it was my responsibility." Dustin was furious, taking Eddie to task. I smiled and stood, gathering my things. Eddie kept speaking to Dustin, trying to quell his anger. "No, buddy, I'll take her home now."

I put Eddie's jacket on the table and grabbed my flannel, turning back to him. He was still on the phone, but shook his head, gesturing as if to say to switch it back. I was confused. Eddie walked over, agreeing with Dustin as he took his jacket and offered for me to wear it.

I was confused – that was his favorite jacket. He nodded expectantly, as if it was obvious. I put the jacket back on, and he pulled it tight. He beamed, and then kissed me on the forehead.

"Alright, Mr. Henderson, I'm taking her home now." He hung up the phone, grinning wildly. His goofy confidence was new, and it made my heart flip-flop in my chest. He pulled me close to him by the collar of the jacket.

"You're not giving that back so soon. How else will people know you're seeing the freak?" Before I could answer, he pulled me back in for a deep kiss. We both smiled through it.

---

Eddie held my thigh the entire ride home, singing Peter Gabriel songs to me, loudly and badly. I laughed, putting my hand on top of his, squeezing it when he made me laugh hard.

We arrived at my house and Eddie parked. We stared at each other, tension growing. As if on cue, the two of us reached out to one another, kissing again, hungrily. I laughed as Eddie pulled me on to his lap, and he started kissing my neck again, working the same spot from earlier. My heart was pounding, and I tried to make a joke.

"Eddie Munson, are you trying to give me a hickey?" He chuckled into my neck and sparks flew through my body. He put his lips to my ear.

"Trying?" We both started laughing and he kissed me again. I saw the porch lights flip on – I could only imagine how angry Dustin was.