A Roller Coaster Ride We're On || (n.j.) || Book 1

29~Family Party

"Ready to meet more of my family?" I ask Nick as we get our suitcases out of the trunk of our rented vehicle.

"Yup." He assures me. I know they'll just love him. He's charming, great looking, and just all around amazing.
We go up to the door after we have our little pep talk/kissing session. I ring the doorbell and there's an answer right away.

"Charlotte! Nick!" My mother greets us.

"Hey mom." I say, stepping in the door.

"Hello, Mrs. Davis." Nick waves and steps in as well.

"Oh Nick, you know you can call me Lynn." My mother responds to him.

"Mat, Cal! Charlotte and Nick are here!" Mom yells through the house.

"Nick!!!" Mattie goes straight to hugging my boyfriend and completely ignores me. I give Nick a fake dirty look and he just shows his confused smile.

"Wow, I'm really hurt." I start to fake cry.

"Charlotte, stop." Mat demands, hugging me.

"Hey Mat, how are ya doin?" I whisper in her ear.

"Great. Now that your hottie of a boyfriend is here." She snickers and runs to her room. Oh Mattie.

"You guys could go get settled in if you'd like, your aunt and uncle should be arriving soon with their 2 girls." My mom tells us.

"Thanks mom." I lead Nick to the stairs, as we lug our suitcases.

We eventually manage to get up the stairs. "Welcome, again, to my humble abode." I do jazz hands and look around the room. It's just how I left it.

"Can I put my stuff in the corner?" Nick asks, a little devilish smirk on his face.

"Duh." I punch his arm.

"Owwww." He collapses to the ground, in fake pain.

"You know, you're a really good actor." I giggle as I go to lay beside him. He looks at me with his gorgeous deep brown eyes and his smile is so cute.

"And that," he starts as he strokes my hair," is why I joined the business." He then looms over me and starts to kiss my lips. I immediately kiss him back and it's amazing. Seriously though, he's an amazing kisser.
Nick's lips move to my collarbone and I start to giggle.

"Weak spot." Nick chuckles against me.

"Yup."

"I'll stop." He gives in. But then I kiss him again. Nick takes the invitation and we get into a very heated make out session.

"I love you." I murmur against Nick's lips after about 3 minutes.

"I love you more." He breathes hard.
Then there's a knock at the door.

"Come in." I say, Nick quickly gets off of me and he straightens his shirt.

"Hey, just wanted to let you know your cousins and some other relatives are here." My mom pops her head in.

"We'll be down in a second." I reply.

"Okay." She smiles and walks out.

"Well." Nick exhales deeply.

"Well." I smile and plant another quick kiss on his jaw. He smiles like a goofball and I love it.

"Let's go." I take his hand and help him up.

"Let's do this." Nick is ready to meet my family.

****3 hours later****

"So have you two, like, slept together?" My cousin, Taya, asks me. I've had about 3 glasses of wine and I'm starting to feel a little tipsy. Nick obviously isn't going to drink tonight. Lots of my relatives came over today, and we're all just having a party basically. Nick is getting along with my cousin, Sam, who's 19. So they're in the same age loop.

"Psh no, I wish." I slur my words.

"You are so freaking lucky girl." Taya slurps her cocktail. She's 21 like me and so we get along real well. There are also some little kids, who Mattie has been occupying in her room while all of us adults are occupying the kitchen and living and dining rooms.

"I know. He's pretty freaking hot." I almost feel myself getting a little light-headed.

"Do you need to sit?" Taya asks, concern in her tone.

"I think I do." I put my palm on my forehead. My cousin guides me to a chair at the table. Nick has been watching me for a little while now, probably to make sure I'm okay.
As I sit down, he can tell something isn't quite right.

"Babe, you okay?" He asks, standing by me.

"Yes, yes, I am O.K.A.Y." I spell out 'okay'.

"Maybe we should call it a night." He looks concerned for me.

"No, honey, honey, Nick I am totally okay. I'm just having fun." I stuck my tongue out at him.

"If you're sure.."
"She's fine!" Taya chimes in, she's looking at Nick very flirtatiously and I don't quite like it.

"We...should....sleep....together..." I whisper in Nick's ear. I can smell the alcohol on my breath.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nick's POV
Charlotte is getting drunk. I can tell. Her cousin, Taya, sits her down and I go and make sure everything is okay.

"We...should....sleep....together..." My girlfriend whispers in my ear. I can smell the wine on her breath.

"What?" I hiss back.

"Yes. It was all her idea!" Charlotte pointed at Taya, as if she was a detective solving a case.

"Let's not make any-" Charlotte cuts me off as her lips come down on my mine. She tastes like wine and her perfume. I pull us apart before it goes any further.

"Baby, what are you doing?" Charlotte whines, sticking out her bottom lip.

"Let's not make a scene in front of everyone now." I lean forward and whisper to her. She really is drunk and I think it's time to get her upstairs to bed.

"Nick, she's just having a little fun." Taya tells me for the third time.

"I'm just looking out for her." I say quietly through gritted teeth. Charlotte's cousin just rolls her eyes at me. She also bites her lip, clearly to try and get with me. Ha, not gonna happen.

"Come on honey, let's get you upstairs." I start to help Charlotte out of her seat.

"Are we gonna-"

"No we're not doing any of that for awhile." I whisper in her ear, before she finishes her sentence.
I pick Charlotte up, bridal style, and carry her towards the stairs. Her parents come over to us and make her their daughter is okay.

"Yes she should be fine, just had a little too much." I assure them. They nod and smile.

"I'm just going to take her upstairs and I think we'll call it a night." Charlotte's dad, Cal, pats me on the back and thanks me.

"Just so you know, we are all getting together tomorrow for Taya's 22nd birthday." Mrs. Davis says to me.

"Alright. I'll figure it out with Charlotte tomorrow." I adjust my girlfriend in my arms.

"If you need any water or anything for our little angel, it's in the fridge." She finishes.

"Okay. Thank you very much." I nod and then head upstairs.

I lay Charlotte on the bed and tuck her in. I find some stray blankets on the floor and a pillow and I set myself up on the floor. I kiss the side of Charlotte's head, tell her goodnight, and then get comfy in my own makeshift bed.

"I love you Charlotte Marie Davis." I whisper and turn off the light.