This Year is My Year

Parcheesi

"Dustin – I promise, we will still be here. Just go take a shower, buddy – you stink," I insisted, holding a stack of fresh clothes for him. He groaned and stomped his feet.

"Eddie promised that we would play games!"

"And we will – as soon as you stop smelling like a dead raccoon," Eddie teased, organizing the living room for the sleepover he promised Dustin.

Dustin scoffed and snatched the clothes from my hands, stomping towards Eddie's bathroom. I rolled my eyes and turned to Eddie, grinning as he plopped on the couch and opened his arms for me. I crawled onto his lap and wrapped my arms around him, nuzzling into the crook of his neck. He kissed my cheek and hummed happily.

"I'm so excited to sleep in a regular bed tonight," he said cheerily, rubbing my back. I laughed.

"Bold of you to assume that he's not going to make us sleep out here with him," I replied, making him laugh. I closed my eyes and leaned further into him, the exhaustion of the last couple of days catching up to me, in spite of the nap that Eddie and I took earlier this morning.

"I still have three days and the whole weekend left of my spring break," Eddie said quietly. I smiled, my eyes still closed.

"What are you going to do with all that time?" I asked, nudging him. He sat for a bit, thinking.

"Spend it with you, obviously," he answered, pinching my thigh and making me laugh. "I'm not sure what to do, though."

"We'll figure it out," I sighed, shivering as he scratched my back softly. He kissed my jaw.

"What's the world record for staying in bed?" he questioned abruptly. I opened my eyes and looked at him, furrowing my brows.

"I don't know – why?"

He smirked and leaned close to my face, brushing my nose with his.

"Maybe we could try to beat it with the rest of my free time," he flirted, making me laugh. I shook my head.

"Only sleeping, right? Nothing else?" I replied, poking his chest. His smirk grew.

"If you mean sleeping with each—"

"Okay, game time!"

Dustin bounded back into the living room, freshly showered and dressed, but his hair soaking wet. He scrunched is nose.

"You guys are gross," he sneered. Eddie laughed and I rolled my eyes, sliding off his lap.

"Buddy – your hair is soaking," I teased. He shrugged.

"It'll dry," he replied. I groaned and pointed back to the bathroom.

"Go back and get your towel, you menace," I ordered. He rolled his eyes and ran back to the bathroom, grabbing his towel. I gestured for him to sit in front of me and started drying his hair like when he was little. Eddie kissed my neck and stood, crossing to a trunk that operated as a coffee table. He pulled it open and glanced in.

"Alright, little one, what do you want to play?" Eddie asked.

"What do you have?" he questioned. Eddie turned to him, deadpan.

"You know what games I have – quit being a princess," Eddie ordered. I stifled a giggle and finished drying my baby brother's hair. I put my hands around his head, pulling it back. He scrunched his nose and I smiled, kissing his forehead quickly.

"Fine, asshole – Parcheesi," Dustin answered. I smacked his shoulder.

"Language!" I snapped. I looked up at Eddie who was grinning ear to ear at us. I felt the familiar warmth I had when it was just the three of us. My little family – both chosen and blood. Eddie pulled the game out of the trunk and started setting it up.