Eventually - All or Nothing #2

23rd December 2022 Pt.2

"Bye baby, be good."

In a cloud of perfume and glittery make up, Aimee leant over the sofa where Rosie and John were cuddled up underneath a thick blanket, cupped Rosie's cheeks in her hand and kissed her goodbye. She ignored Rosie's cries of 'ew' as she wiped Aimee's lipstick mark away from her own lips as Aimee turned to John and did the same to him. She let her lips linger against John's for a little longer than she had Rosie, he tasted of the peppermint bark that he and Rosie had covertly eaten whilst Aimee was getting ready for her girls' night.

"Bye babe, have fun, don't let her stay up too late."

John nodded, he was going to make sure Rosie was in bed on time, then he was going to make the most of a night without Aimee and shut himself in his games room for some uninterrupted play time. No Aimee nagging him to come spend time with her, only for her to fall asleep on the sofa whilst he was left watching whatever crap she had chosen on Netflix.

Before Aimee could pull away, John raised a hand to her neck, gently caressing the nape of it, right underneath her high ponytail.

"You look gorgeous," he told her, unable to stop his eyes travelling downwards from hers to steal a peak down her drape necked cami top. She's not wearing a bra. He locks eyes with her again and smiles cheekily; she looks so fit, it is wasted on her being stuck in Chloe's doing whatever nonsense Christmas activities they have planned. "Have a good night babe," he strokes her bum, wondering if she was teasing him in choosing to wear her leather leggings, as she knows how much he loves them.

"Wait up?" Aimee raises an eyebrow, and he nods eagerly.

"Mummy, can you move!? I can't see the television," Rosie pipes up.

Aimee and John turn to look at her simultaneously, Aimee wearing a dark look, and John is now the one with the raised eyebrow. "Please," Rosie smiles sheepishly.

"That's better," Aimee moves so she is no longer blocking Rosie's view. "You'd better not have been eating that peppermint bark from the tin on the island?" Aimee flashes John the same look she usually gives Rosie when she has been up to no good.

"No," John shakes his head.

"You taste very minty." She kisses him again, just to make sure, and also because his lips are irresistible at the best of times.

"Just brushed my teeth," he smiles smugly.

"Well, where's the tin gone?!" Aimee has just been in the kitchen looking for it, she knows she is still the queen of disorganisation, but she distinctly remembers leaving her new Emma Bridgewater Christmas tin sitting next to the display of jars holding baubles. "That was for your mum."

"I know," John nods. "Put in the car so I didn't forget to take her it, didn't I?!"

"Hmm," they share a smile. Aimee looks unconvinced by the innocent look John is wearing.

"You're gonna be late Aims!" Her timekeeping is no better this Christmas, than it was last.

"I'm going," she picks up her jacket and bag, leans over the back of the sofa and kisses Rosie, one last time, on the top of her head. Then runs a hand through John's hair, tilting his head back, and pressing an upside-down kiss to his lips. He unmistakably tastes of peppermint, not the mint of their toothpaste. "You'd better not be lying to me John Stones."

"Never," he kisses her back.

"You got your fingers crossed underneath that blanket?!"

"Might do."

Aimee laughs lightly and ruffles his hair. "Maybe the elf took your chocolate," John grins mischievously with his eyes fixed on the television screen.

"There's no elves in this house!" Rosie declares in between stuffing fistfuls of popcorn into her mouth. "Because I'm so good, Santa doesn't need to send anyone to check up on me, right John?"