Frenemies

42

The next day when I wake up, I am in a stressed mood. My head was hurutjg as soon as I woke up, and Grayson wasn't beside me. I sigh knowing that he was probably at work, trying to get an hour in before my parents get here.

I'm stressed as I eat breakfast.  Which nowadays when I am in a mood is me clinging onto Grayson while he attempts to get house work done. I'm following him to the laundry room as he is taking the clothes down for weekly wash. Earlier today, Grayson was going around asking his siblings to put all of their clothes in the hamper. By the look on his face, I had a feeling the kids were slacking in that department.

Grayson doesn't pay me any mind as he loads the clothes into the washing machine. Eyeing his arm muscles, I place my hands around his torso from behind as I watch him work, my head resting on his back.

This is comforting, he is comfort.

He starts the washingmachine, the system running and causing a noise to echo through the room. He leans back toward me and then says,"You have a good three seconds to move away before I…" 

"You what?", I draw out my words, teasing him. I knew what he would do, I knew that he liked it. He liked me clinging on to him, he preferred it.

Grayson turns his head around and catches my eye. He is giving me a chance to back down. I don't though, I keep his eye contact and with one fast movement, he abruptly turns around and grabs my waist. I feel as though I'm flying when he takes a step and places me on top of the washing machine. 

I feel the vibration of the machine from under me, and Grayson stands in the space between my legs. He crossed the distance and I wrapped my legs around his torso, wanting him close.

"What's wrong?", my boyfriend whispers. He knows me well enough to know I'm not doing good. He knows that my parents coming here to talk is taking a toll on my mental health.

"I'm just nervous", I admit to him. 

"Don't be", he whispers against my neck, his protests flying out the window from before. "It'll be okay." 

"I'm just", I stop and then smile. "Screw that, let's do this." 

"Do what?", he asks his voice a tease, his breath on my face. 

"You know what", I say and then place my hand on his head pulling him to kiss me.

"Oh hell, the laundry can wait", he murmurs into the kiss and I giggle, my body pressing closer to his.

••••

My parents show up shortly after the both of us are dressed again. We had barely had the time to head downstairs when we heard the knock on the door. Grayson heads for the door and then opens it to find my parents standing there. 

My mom is dressed differently, that's what I notice first. As opposed to her high end fashion clothes, which at times consist a silky shirt and dress pants, she is wearing some jeans and a plain shirt. She has her signature necklace on though, one my father gifted her when they first started dating. 

"Good afternoon", my dad says his voice softer than the last time I've heard him. I feel a ping of feelings wave through me, the feeling of missing him, and before I can think twice of it, I run straight for him.

I walk into my dad's chest and he holds me tight. Tighter than he usually does and it makes me want to cry. I missed him, that much is true as I stand here. I've missed them so much even though me staying over at Grayson's isnt much different than my own house. In my own house, I barely saw my parents.

My father presses a kiss to my head and I pull away. It reminds me of when I was younger, where he would be the one to pull away after I have. He would hold me tight until I pulled away, giving me the time to seek comfort from him. For the past few years he was the one pulling away first. But today? Today he held me until I let go.