Salty Licorice

Chapter 53

Marisa's POV

Mateo is sitting on the rug on the living room floor, playing his new video game on the TV. I sit curled up under a blanket on the armchair with my new book in my lap and a hot chocolate next to me. I look over and see my dad taking a nap on the couch, his arm is hanging off the edge of the couch while he snores lightly. The fireplace is lit and I have christmas music playing in my headphones as I read.

I hear the kitchen door open and hear a bag dropping on the tile in the kitchen before I catch sight of Avery in her work clothes as she walks over to stand in front of me before dropping her weight on me and laying over my blanket that's covering my tucked up legs. She lays over the arm of the chair and lets her weight go on me. She kicks her shoes off her feet and nuzzles her head into my shoulder while I just sit here confused. I wiggle my book free from under her arm and open it back to the page I was on and continue reading.

I ignore Avery's weight on me and the sound of Mateo's game and focus on the words from my book. I let Avery lay there making my legs fall asleep under her weight till I notice she has fallen asleep.

"Why don't you just push her off?" Mateo's voice breaks me from my concentration.

"She's asleep, and I don't feel like dealing with her grumpy ass," I admit.

"Why is she so tired?" He asks.

"She's worked every day since break started, buddy."

He just nods and goes back to his game, and I go back to my book. It is already late and the sun has set hours ago. The Christmas tree is still lit in the corner of the room as well as the lamp behind my head, allowing me to see. Mateo heads up to bed soon after Avery passed out on my lap. I idly run my hand over her head, letting my fingers brush through her hair. I would never admit that I actually enjoy when she does stuff like this, and instead blatantly act appalled by her affection. I know she knows that deep down I don't mean all the words I say aloud, but she still tries to get me to admit it. I look up from my book and glaze down to catch Avery drooling onto my blanket, all I can do is shake my head. I look over at the tree and see her presents she doesn't even know are awaiting her.

My father insisted on getting her something and so did Mateo, claiming he can't leave out his 'favorite sister' in his gift shopping. I just scoffed and drove him to the store anyway. She has a family here, only if she would just open her eyes and see that. I know how hard she's had it this holiday season, with Tom being home and all the church functions she either has to get forced to attend or she blames work for her absence. Even at the holiday dinner, that one was like pulling teeth for her. She was sat next to yet another 'suitor' lucky this one was from school and knew her history with Liz.

I hear her mumble in her sleep before turning her head over on my lap. Her movements cause the pins and needles to run over my numbed legs. I stifle a squeal from the uncomfortable sensation till it disappears again. I lean my head against the back of my chair and look out of the window hearing the rain patter imagining it to be snow.

"Princess, where's Mateo?" My father grumbles sitting up on the couch rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Oh, when did we start letting strays in?" He jokes seeing Avery in my lap.

"So funny," I sarcastically laugh. "He went up to bed." He nods once.

"Is she sleeping?" He chuckles lightly.

"Has been for about an hour or two, yeah," I shrug, marking my book before closing it and putting it on the end table.

"Need help?" He offers.

"She's not exactly light," I gesture to the jolly green giant half on my lap.

"Eh, I'll make it work. Is she a heavy sleeper?"