A Friendship Or More

Aruban Vacation

It had been some time now from Norman's LA trip and he seemed to just be clinging to me more. I didn't mind it, but he and Mingus were leaving in there vacation soon. I wasn't sure how it was going to pan out. I could bearly go home anymore alone. How was he going to go a couple thousand miles away with out me?
It was the end of the filming day, well at least for Norman, Mingus was comming to the set. They were going to finish getting ready for their vacation. Of course Norman was glued to me, he had come found me. I really wasn't complainin though, but things had started like they always did between Norman and I. So interested of letting them get too far, I dumped a bottle of water over Norman's head and told him to cool down. That started it rght there and I was off and running around the set. I was getting funny looks from walkers and humans alike as I went giggling threw Nran hot on my tail. Thank god no one was filming. I ran into a very confused Mingus.
"Hey, Mingus, your dad's right behind me!" I said on my way by. He gave me a questioning look and then looked behind me and smiled. I looked too, yep there he was, hair dripping wet and smiling.
"Girl get your ass back here!" He yelled. I giggled running back and forth on the other side of Mingus.
"Stop chasing me," I said still smiling. Norman had made it to us and was fallowing me back and forth.
"Come here!" He smiled, Lunging farward. I screamed and ran.
"No!" I yelled behind me, still laughing. I had run a complete circle around set and had ended up back at Norman's trailor. I knew I'd be found easily and there wasn't much place to run, but it was a hounded degrees outside and he had AC. I went in and sat on the couch. As predicted Norman and Mingus came in, I sat on the couch smiling. Norman smiled over at me,
"You think your safe?" He asked. I giggled
"No, it's just hot as shit out there, I'm exhusted. I didn't know how you do it. So what do ya say turths?" I smiled acting cute. Norman smiled, rubbing his chin.
"Hell no!" He said comming at me and tacking me to the couch. "Now what's your punishment?" He asked looking down at me. I giggled.
"Something PG your son is here," I reminded him. Norman looked back at Mingus.
"Damn it!" He said looking back at me and then leaning in and kissing my head. "We will finish this later," he told me getting up. I sat up with a smile.
"I'm so scared," I taunted him. He made a face at me. Then slid closer to me and looked over to Mingus.
"Come sit a minute," Norman said. Mingus smiled at us.
"Are you two dating?" He asked. Setting down. I threw Norman an 'are you kidding me' look. He hadn't told Mingus anything? I waited looking at Norman just as intently as Mingus was.
"We are really good friends," Norman said Mingus smiled.
"Like Kate and you were good friends? I didn't like her though," Mingus went on. I laughed.
"I didn't either," I said. We shared a smile and Norman looked between us.
"OK you two. No not like me and Kate, Stephanie's different," he said. I rolled my eyes. Of course I was different, I wasn't dating material.
"You mean she's nice?" Mingus asked. I giggled.
"No he means we are just plain friends, not dating," I finnaly said. Mingus frowned.
"Why?" He asked. I looked at Norman too, I was also wondering. Norman stood and passed. He was at a loss for words and I felt bad for him.
"He's not looking," I finnaly said. Mingus looked at me funny.
"He shouldn't be, your right here," Mingus said. I smiled. In a perfect world yes, Norman would be with me. OK in my perfect world. I forced a smile.
"He's just taking a break from dating right now," I tried to help Norman out. He gave me a small smile of thanks. I forced one back. Mingus sat back on the couch.
"It kinda figures, you found one that's not a stuck up bitch and she's just your friend," he was blunt. I kinda laughed.
"Mingus!" Norman scolded. Mingus rolled his eyes.
"Dad, it just kinda happends you pick the worst women, and then the relationships don't work out, because they are nasty people," Mingus gave his opinion on Norman's former girlfriends. Norman sighed.
"They all weren't that bad and that's not why they all end," Norman said. Mingus scoffed.
"One threatened me with boarding school!" He said. I looked at Norman shocked.
"Alright she was that bad," he answered. Mingus shook his head. Norman sighed. "Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" Norman kinda laughed nervously. I stood and hugged him.
"You'll be ok," I encouraged him. He held me close.
"Just come," he pleased. I kissed his cheek.
"Spend time with your son," I said as I went to leave. Norman had me by the arm and pulled me back to him. It was all slow motion as Norman pulled me back to him. Put his hands on either side of my face and looked at me for just a second. Then kissed me just as passionate as the one in the make up trailor. My hands went to his hair and I tangled my figures threw his locks. We finnaly parted needing air, breathing heavy. I looked at Norman and waited for something, anything, but he said nothing. I finnaly just kinda nodded and left.
The day after that dragged, we got out kinda early and I headed to my car, it was weird not to be with Norman or be heading to his place. I sighed as I looked at my phone. There was a missed call, but not from a number I knew. Under it iwas a text message, I opend it.
'Hey its Mingus, you have to come on vacation with us. My dad is miserable with out you around! Text me back please' I read. I looked around, did Norman put him up to this? I decied to text him back
'Did your dad put you up to this? I can't let him pay for me to go to Aruba, that's insane! I'm not his girlfriend' I texted back and started home. I pulled up to my apartment and my phone was riging. I looked at it, I didn't recognize the number, so it must be Mingus.
"Hello?" I asked.
"Hey, it's Mingus. No my dad didn't put me up to this, he's actually being kinda an ass right now. I know you will put him in a better mood. Don't worry about the money, he's already bought your ticket, said he bought it when he ours," Mingus said. I was suprised, Norman really wanted me to go. I waited a moment, one out of shock and two, becuase I wasn't sure if Mingus had more to say
"He did?" Was all I could ask.
"Yeah, I don't know what's going on between you two but my dad really likes you, I can tell. I don't know why he won't ask you out. I tried to talk to him earlier, but like I said he's grumpy," Mingus said. I sighed.
"Well let me talk to him, I'll let you know ok?" I said. Migus was quiet a moment.
"Please don't tell him I called, he kinda told me to stay outta it," He said. I smiled.
"I wont," I said. We hung up and I went inside. I went to my room and looked threw my clothes. I didn't have anything for Aruba, I bearly had a bathing suit. I sighed and called Norman.
"What's up?" He asked, it was kinda weird he seemed panicked. I sighed I felt like a moron.
"What's Aruba like this time of year?" I asked. He chuckled.
"Warm sunny, bikini weather. Why?" He asked, I could tell he was smiling though.
"Ohh just wondering what you'd be looking at," I said innocently.
"Mmh, well I was hopin a really cute brunette, about five foot," he said lowly. I giggled to myself.
"Oh? And what's her name? She new?" I asked playing dumb. He laughed.
"My baby girl," he said plainly. I smiled.
Ohh? She sounds intressting, have I met her?" I was still playing dumb.
"Yeah, you two are closer then you think," he said I smiled.
"She's also broke then, and couldn't afford a plain ticket to the next town let alone Aruba," I pointed out. Norman laughed.
"Lucky for her, I've got it all taken care of," he said. I smiled, he played right in to that.
"How?" I aksed. He took a drag of his ciggarette, I could tell.
"Bought you a ticket when I bought mine, hoping you'd come. When you told me no, I just never refunded it," he explained. I sighed.
"What if I didn't call?" I asked, he took another drag.
"I'd have lost out on the money, but I had a feeling you would," he said. I smiled.
"Now you tell me, Norman I really have nothing to wear to Aruba, I said looking threw my clothes again. He laughed again.
"I figured," he answered. I stood a sharp breath.
"Reedus, I'm gonna have to drive up there to beat you arn't I?" I asked. He laughed.
"Please do," he said. I shook my head.
"Aright, see you in twenty," I said hanging up. I texted Mingus back and told him I was on my way. He sent me smiley faces, and I was on my way. Twenty minutes later I was in Norman's drive way and he was at my door. I was pulled out and in to a hug. I hugged him back.
"I didn't go anywhere but home!" I told him, he laughed.
"Far enough," he said, I gigled.
"How were you planning on leaving the country with out me?" I asked with a laugh. Noman pulled me inside.
"I wasnt, I was planning on kidnapping and drugging you," he said with a laugh. I giggled. We made it inside and Mingus stood smiling at us. I smiled at him.
"Hey! Steph's here!" He told Mingus excitedly and grabed a beer from the refrigerator.
"Hey," Mingus said causaly. I smiled.
"Sup? So I hate to be a party crasher, but you dad has kinda been bugging me about going with you guys, if you don't mind?" I kinda asked Mingus if he minded me going with them, he smiled.
"Oh, no I don't mind, dad's been a bit grumpy, maybe you'll make him feel better," he said. I looked over to Norman.
"You were fine when I left earlier," I said. Norman eyed Mingus. Mingus smied, a cheesy smile. He had to of gotten the from his father.
"I wasn't grumpy, just a little stressed on making sure everything's ready," he clarified. I smiled.
"Oh, ok," I smiled. Norman took a sip of his beer. I gigled and smiled at Mingus.
"Well I'm gonna go and watch tv, you two do whatever it is you two do," he said walking away. I laughed.
"I wasn't being grumpy," Norman said again. I smiled at him.
"Well Mr. Grumpy, did you at least feed the kid?" I asked. Norman made a face. I sighed. Is there anything left in here? I asked going to the refrigerator, and looking. "Nope," I said. Norman chuckled, comming behind me.
"Wanna go out to dinner?" He asked, hugging me. I giggled, looking up at him
"The three of us?" I asked, he looked at me.
"Oh yeah Mingus, yep the three of us," he smiled. I giggled looking up at him.
"Norman," I laughed he smiled. For a long moment we just stood there and looked at each other. I felt like I was in a movie and this was were the big kiss happend. I waited.
"Dad do you.... Oh sorry," Mingus said. We looked at him. Norman pulled away from me and I kinda stood there stupid.
"Yeah, what ya need?" He asked. Mingus looked between us.
"Nothing, never mind," he said walking away. Norman went after him. I stood there still feeling stupid. What was going to happen? Nothing. We had kissed a few times already and there was never any confessions of love. Now Mingus was here, nothing was going to happen. I was so dumb. Norman came back in.
"He's hungry, doesn't care where we go," Norman said. I nodded.
"Yeah so wherever," I said akwardly. Norman looked at me funny.
"You ok?" He asked. I looked at him a long moment.
"Fine," I said but my eyes were pleading with him. I couldn't take anymore of this, I didn't know what it was, flirting? My heart couldn't take the let down every time. I smiled and grabbed my purse, looking threw it for a ciggarette.
"You sure?" He asked. I smiled at him.
"Norman, I'm fine really," I kinda laughed. He sighed and came tward me.
"I know things aren't perfect, but I'm really happy you decied to come with us," he said pulling me in to a hug. I smiled. Things deffenatly weren't perfect, in a perfect world we would be together, but for now I'd take this, I always did.
"So where are we going to eat?" He asked. I smiled.
"Where ever," I said. He sighed.
"No one wants to make a decision guess it's pizza!" He laughed. I smiled.
"I like pizza," I said. he smiled bigger.
"Mingus! Pizza?" He yelled. Mingus came out.
"Doesn't matter," he shugged. I smiled.
"No one wants to make a decision so you dad decied on pizza," I explaied. He smiled.
"Foods food," he said I laughed.
"Oh yeah, he's yours," I smiled at Norman. Norman smiled back at me.
"Yep just like his dad," Norman said with pride. I smiled.
"Your lucky," I said. Wishing I had kids by now. Norman looked at me for a second.
"You want kids?" He asked I smiled.
"Part of being a hopeless romantic, kids, wedding. Ya know all them things I'll never have," I said lowly. Norman looked at me funny.
"I think it's cute. Yeah you'd be good as a mom," he smiled. I looked at him funny.
"You've never seen me around kids, just Mingus," I pointed out. He smiled bigger.
"You can put up with me!" He smiled. I looked at him. At times he was like a child. Then I smiled.
"Your right," I agreed.
"So I'm confused are you two talking about having kids now?" Mingus asked. I giggled.
"No! Just that your dad acts like a kid sometimes," I said. Mingus looked at me funny.
"I'm pretty sure you just decied to have kids," he said and walked away. I looked at Norman who smiled.
"He's a teenager," he sads shrugging. I giggled.
After Norman smoked a ciggarette and finished his beer. We all decied to take my car, becuase it had more room, and we started out. Norman was driving, how he talked me in to that I'll never know, and was currently complaining on how everything was out of place for him.
"Reedus, I swear you bitch about one more thing and I'm gonna slap you. Why we took my car I have no idea you have more then one vehicle," I grummbled his bad mood was putting me in one.
"I wasn't bitchin I was just saying, besides your car is more....." he stopped. "It just fits the three of us better," he said I looked over to him giving him a look.
"Your impossible sometimes, your know that don't you?" I asked. He smiled at me. We were holding hands, we had sence we left the house. It was like a security thing for him. I didn't mind it though. Even though all his flirting hurt in the end. I loved when he paid so much attention to me. We made it to the pizza place and Norman let go of my hand long enough for us to get out. I saw Mingus eye us and smile. we went inside and got a table. Norman excused himself after we ordered and it just left me and Mingus.
"You are seriously just friends?" Mingus asked me when his dad was out of sight. I looked at him.
"Yeah," I nodded. He made a face.
"Your not sleeping with him?" He asked. I looked ta him shocked
"No," I said lowy. He looked at me.
"Then what is going on?" He asked. I looked at him.
"Nothing, just friends,"I said, he made a face.
"No way, my dad doesn't act like this for friends. You deffenatly have something over him. He may not have asked you out yet, but I'm positive it will be soon. I mean the kiss? The hand holding. You two non stop flirt," he said. I looked at him.
"Just your dad," I shrugged. "He's just a sweet heart. We have talked about it. He doesn't want a relationship and I'm not in to something causal," I explained. I wasn't sure why I was, but I was. Mingus nodded.
"Yeah, sence he and my mom broke up, he's pretty much sure he's cursed. He can't keep a relationship, maybe he just thinks if he dates you, he'll mess it up and then he will lose you," Mingus talked like he had inside information. I looked at him.
"I don't think so. I think he's just not looking for anyone," I brushed it off. Mingus made a face at me.
'Trust me, I've know him all my life and I've never seen him act like this. I mean a little bit, when he first finds a girl, but he told me about you moths ago," Mingus said. I looked at him.
"He really mentioned me a while ago?" I asked. Mingus nodded.
"Your new this season, right?" He asked. I nodded. "Yeah it was in the beginning of filming he told me about you," Mingus spilled the beans on his dad. I smiled. I wanted to say more but Norman made it back to the table.
"What are you two talkin about?" He aksed with a smile. I smiled.
"Norhign," Mingus shrugged. I smiled more. Norman looked between us.
"Hey, back off I saw her first," he said. Mingus smied now.
"She is pretty though," he saI'd still smiling. I wasn't sure if he was joking, I hoped he was. Norman smiled too.
"No see she's beautiful, that's the difference, your to young to know what true beauty is," he smiled more. I bushed.
"Ok! She is sitting right here and feeling very akward!" I said, bushing. Norman chuckled.
"I don't know why, I tell you your beautiful everyday, " he said. I smiled, now he was right, he did tell me evey day.
"So what time tomorrow?" I asked changing the subject. Norman looked at me and smiled more.
"It's kinda a later flight not till around ten. You gonna stay and sleep at the house?" He asked, with all I can guess, was a hopefully smile.
"How many times have I stayed the night at your house Norman?" I asked. He smiled. The waitress interrupted us, bring out food, we thanked her and she left.
"Well, if you count falling asleep on my couch, every night," he smiled. I rolled my eyes.
"I don't," I told him he frowned.
"Fine, but come on, just one nigh. I'll be there to keep you safe," he smiled again. I rolled my eyes.
"But who will keep me safe from.you," I asked with a laughed. Mingus did too. Norman grummbled.
"Never let me have any fun," Norman whinned. I smiled.
"You know how to," I reminded him. He smiled.
"Go all Mac on your cute lil ass," he sais lowy. I rolled my eye's again.
"Mac's going to get you in trouble,"I warned him. He smiled.
"Might be worth it," he smiled more. I looked up from my pizza.
"Probably not," I said warnning. He made a sad face
"Can you two save the sex talk till I'm done eating?" Mingus asked. I looked over at him ahocked.
"What?" I asked. Norman laughed.
"You two are odviously talking about sleeping with each other," Mingus said. I looked at Norman. Who was smliing at me.
"He's a smart kid," he shrugged. I blushed, I mean I knew what we were talkng about, but we never said it out loud. I serched for something to say Norman chuckled at me.
"So what did you mean when you told me you figured I didn't have clothes for Aruba?" I asked. Norman smiled. Changing the subject again.
"What's it sound like?" He asked. I looked at him funny.
"Hes got a couple bags in his room from Victoria Secret," Mingus said causaly. I looked at Norman who made a face at Mingus, then smile at me.
"Well I couldn't let you go without something to wear," Norman said defensive. I looked at him more shocked.
"I wasn't going untill about an hour ago," I said. Norman smiled.
"Well if you didn't go I would have just given them to you anyway, like for your birthday. When is that by the way?" He asked. I growled lowly.
"I'm not telling you," I said. He made a face.
"I'm gonna buy you stuff anyways you might as well just get over it," he said. I sighed.
"Why?" I aaked still annoyed. " I don't want anything!" I reminded him.
"Because you my friend and that's what friends do," he said. I sighed again.
"I feel like your the only friend in the world who does this kinda stuff," I said Norman looked at me.
"Becuase you pick friends the same way you pick your men," he said. I looked at him.
"And how's that?" I asked
"Badly, If some guy says something nice to you, your all done," he said. I growled.
"You say nice things to me," I pointed out. He shook his head.
"That's different!" He said. I looked at him.
"How?" I asked. He looked at me sturnly.
"I'm not just tying to get in your pants," he said. I looked at him. I wanted to say more wanted to tell him he was a lier, we had a whole fight about that. Insted I just looked away and sighed.
"I need a ciggarette," I said lowly and got up. I went outside and took a deep breath. I didn't want to keep doing this with him. He made me so crazy sometimes. Then again I loved when he making me crazy, and he really was just being nice. I lit a ciggarette and walked back and forth. Why? Why did I get so defensive when he tried to do something nice for me? I sighed. I need t stop being such a bitch. I looked up to see Mingus.
"Dad's commin', he said I nodded.
"Sorry I must seem like a real bitch," I finnaly said. Mingus looked at me.
"Why? Because you don't want my dad spending money one you. I get it why should be your not together, at least that's what you keep saying. The truth is my dad's a really nice guy he'd gives money to homeless people all the time. He likes you, so what if he bought you some clothes, " Mingus said. I smiled and shook my head.
"He gave me a motorcycle," I laughed. Mingus looked shocked
"He really likes you!" He said, I laughed.
"Tought me to drive it and everything," i said. "Even bought me stuff to go with it," I said. Mingus smiled.
"My dad's been talking about having another kid, says he wants a girl," Mingus said. I looked at him funny.
"What does that have to do with anything?" I was confused. He laughed.
"You better start thinking of names for my baby sister," he said. I looked at him like he was crazy. He laughed some more. I wanted to say more but Norman pulled me into a hug.
"I'm sorry," he said lowly. I looked up at him.
"Why? Becuase your the sweetest man in the world and I'm being a royal bitch?" I asked. Norman looked at me funny.
"What?" He asked.
"I'm sorry, I need to just learn to say thank you, insted of going all crazy. You are being so sweet to me, I guess I just don't know how to take it," I said. "Thank you," I added hugging him tight, he held me tighter and kissed my head.
"You welcome, you know I'd anything for you," he said. I smiled.
"So is your lovers fight over?" Mingus asked Norman smiled and we parted.
"Hey, come here," Norman said. Mingus was walking the other direction.
"I'm good," he said. Norman fallowed him, I fallow both of them
"I mean it, come here," Norman said. Mingus looked back.
"I know your gonna hit me in the head," he said. I laughed.
"Well don't be a smart ass," Norman told him. I giggled.
"I'm pretty sure he's one hounded percent you, so I doubt that will happen," I said while still laughing. Norman smiled at me.
"Don't have kids, they turned out to be brats," he laughed. I giggled.
"If my kid turns out to be half as good as Mingus, I'd have ten more," I laughed. Norman looked at me as we got in.
"Who you having eleven kids with?" He asked I smiled.
"Someone who wants eleven kids," I laughed. Norman eyed me.
"I'm gonna tire you up," he said. I looked at him.
"With rope? " I asked with a giggle. He looked at me for a second then back at the road.
"Yeah, how else ya tie someone up?" He asked. I giggle
"Ya never know what your gonna need it for ya just always need it," I said. He laughed.
"Alright get your stupid fuckin rope!" He said nailing his Murphy accent. I smiled and giggled more.
"Though we didn't need the rope?" I asked, Norman squeezed my hand a little
"If Con told me we were gonna tie up beautiful lasses with it, I would have agreed sooner," Norman continued to use Murphy's accent. I giggled.
"It's not nice to tie up people," I told him. Norman had stopped at a red light and looked at me stoking my cheek.
"May not be nice, but at least it stops you from running off and having eleven kids," he said using his Norman voice agin. I smiled
"I said if the first one turns out half as good as Mingus. How would I get a kid that great with out at least half of what made him?" I asked. Norman looked at me quickly, we had started going again. He smiled.
"You talking about my genes," he smiled. I rolled my eyes.
"No, his mothes. Yes I mean you!" I said shaking my head. Norman laughed.
"Seriously do you two ever quit with the sex talk?" Migus askes. I giggled and vot in the glove box pulling out a pair of head phones and handed theme to him.
"Here," I said he smiled at me.
"Thanks, I'll have to remeber mine for the trip," he said. I laughed.
"Now that he's taken care of, you serious?" Norman asked. My breath cought in my throat. I staired straight ahead.
"Maybe," I finnaly got out," I couldn't tell him if we were dating, that line was so over used, and it seemed to upset him.
"If we were together?" He asked. I looked over at him, he said it this time.
"Yeah," I said lowly. He made a noise, I didn't quite know if it was a growle or a grunt. He pulled my hand up and kissed it. We were silent after that untill we reached Norman's house.
"You comming in?" He asked. I giggled.
"It's only nine, yeah I'll come in," I said. He light up, as he got out I laughed as I fallowed.
"You two done?" Mingus asked handing me my headphones. I smiled as I took them and threw them on the passanger seat.
"No, it's your dad, we will never be done," I told him, he sighed.
"I think I've got more packing to do," Mingus said running ahead. I giggled.
"Don't forget your headphones!" I yelled after him. He gave me the thumbs up sign as he dissappeared. Norman came beside me.
"What's that all about?" Norman asked. I giggled.
"Ohh, nothing," I said with a smile, as he grabed my hand and we walked inside.
"I'm glad he likes you," Norman said as we reached the kitchen. I smiled.
"Me too," I agreed. Norman looked at me still smiling
"So your not going to stay are you?" he asked sadly. I looked at him, unimpressed.
"Do I ever?" I asked. He knew the answer why'd he keep asking?
"No, but I wish you would," he said lowly. I sighed, we both knew how to get me to stay. I didn't see the need to repeat it, because I flet like I was getting me no where with that anyways.
"Do I get to see these clothes you bought me?" I asked. Norman smiled.
"Can't you just take them home?" He asked. I looked at him more interested, I had to see them now .
"No, I really wanna see them," I said, smiling. Norman sighed.
"Come on," he said pulling me with him. I smiled but in was nervous, what was in that bag he didn't want me to see? We made it to his room and Norman set the three bags on the bed, I looked at him, he smiled.
"Remeber it's Aruba, it's going to be hot and stuff," he said nervously. I kinda chuckeld as I looked threw the bags. There was three different kinds of bikins, cover up, some sundresses. Lounge pants, tanks, sweaters. I looked up at him as I kept pulling things out.
"Norman, did you leave anything in the store?" I kinda chuckled. He laughed.
"Not sure, had an assistant help me," he smiled. I got to the end of the bags, and smiled.
"Thank you," I sais. I wanted to be mad at him, but I couldn't bring myself to. I knew he did it out of the kindness of his heart. He smiled more.
"Next time though just tell me I need to go shopping," I smied. He smiled back at me.
"You weren't going to though," he pointed out I made a face at him. He laughed then looked at me. "There's a couple more things," he smiled. I looked at him intently. I wanted to yell now, I did, but the look on his face made it impossible.
"More?" I asked shocked as I watched him walk to his closet. He smiled bigger.
"Every girl needs a little black dress," he smiled. I smile, I couldn't be mad at him. "And maybe just like three more to go with it, and shoes," he added. I arched an eyebrow.
"Is that it?" I asked. He smiled.
"Yes" he then looked to the side. "OK and maybe a suitcase to put it all in," he added, bring out the new purple suitcase. I smiled and shook my head.
"Reedus! I'm having trouble not yelling at you. I know it's from your heart bur you spoil me," I saisd with a laugh. He laughed too. Walking over to me and pulling me in to his arms.
"You deserve only thr best," he said hugging me. I smiled.
"You are too sweet,"I told him he kissed my head.
"So you see everything you need is here, so you don't have to go home," he said. I shook my head.
"My pjs, my shower stuff," I reminded him. He frowned.
"I'll buy you new, " he offered. I shook my head.
"You just spend a small fortune on me," I reminded him. He shrugged.
"Your worth every penny," he smiled. I giggled.
"Ummm, am I interrupting?" Mingus asked. We looked over. I then realized we were still holding eachother. We let go and I went to put my new clothes in the suitcase.
"No, your good. What's up?" Norman asked. I saw Mingus looked between us.
"Dad I know your never here, but you have nothing eat," he pointed out. Norman laughed. Your hungry again?" He asked. I saw Mingus nod.
"You don't have anything," he said again. I finished putting my things in my suitcase and waited. Norman looked at me.
"Wanna go to thr store?" He asked. I smiled.
"You mean you wanna use my car again," I laughed. He smiled.
"I'll fill it up," he said. I laughed. Norman pulled out his phone, " we have to go to Walmart," he said. I shrugged.
"I'm going to get my headphones," Mingus said. I laughed. Norman smiled.
We headed out to Walmart. The ride there was fun, Norman brought his cord so we could listen to my phone. I'm not sure why we listened to my music all the time, but Norman insisted. I tried to get Mingus to listen with us but he said he was good. I laughed. As promised Norman filled my car with gass. I tried to talk him out of it, telling him it was fine. He insisted though and just did it anyways.
We made it to Walmart, and Mingus was everywhere, but the food aisle. I laughed as he threw random things in to a cart he grabed. I laughed as Norman kept trying to direct him to the food and he kept going a different direction, needing something else. In the end a short trip to Walmart ended a couple hounded dollar later. I was so busy watching Mingus I didn't notice the things Norman had thrown in thr cart for me, untill we were cashing out. We went t the car and I looked at him.
"What was that? " I asked, helping him load bags, as Mingus pawned the them trying to find something.Norman smiled.
"What?" He asked innocently. I eyed him.
"That stuff?" I asked, noticing a pair of short shorts and a couple tanks, all from the woman's department, and a few other things that were deffenatly womans. He smlied.
"You just shh," he told me smiling. "And get in" he said wheeling the cart away. I looked after him, but got in.
"I'm going to kill him," I told Mingus. He laughed.
"He deffenatly likes you," Mingus said opening a bag of chips.
"I'm gonna slap him. I've told him a million times not to buy me stuff, now he thinks just because I'm going on vacation with you guys he can buy whatever he wants and get away with it," I told Mingus. He laughed.
"You are the weirdest girlfriend he's ever had, you don't want anything," Mingus said. I turned to look at him.
"Because I'm not his girlfriend and I'm twenty-fivr, have a job, and fully capable of doing things for myself," I said. Mingus smiled.
"That's why he's doing it," he said. I raised an eyebrow questioning. "You don't want it, and you can do for yourself, so he wants to," he explained. I made a face. I was about to say more when Norman made his way back to the car.
"You two are chaty," he pointed out, I sighed.
"Just talking about what he got," I lied. Mingus smiled. Norman looked between the two of us suspiciously.
"Right," he said. We started going when Noman pulled out his pack of ciggarette's. "Shit," he said as he threw it down
"Hey! This isn't you Jeep, you can't just throw things," I said, seeing the floor of his jeep, it was covered in discarded ciggarette packs. He smiled over at me.
"I'll pick it up, but I need ciggs," he said. I made a face.
"I'd have never guess," I said pulling out my own. He smiled
"Ok smart ass," he said taking one from me.
"Well I mean come on," I said. He laughed.
"I'm just saying we are making a stop real quick," he said pulling in to a gass station. I giggled.
"Hold on I'll give ya some money," I said. He waved me off and got out. "Get back here!" I yelled after him.
"He's not gonna let you pay for anything anymore," Mingus said. I looked to the back seat.
"He's bugging me," I said truthfully. Mingus laughed.
"You'll get use to it," he said. I rolled my eyes.
"Does he treat all his friends like this?" I finnaly asked. Mingus offered me the chips he had. I shook my head. "No thanks hun," I said.
"No, just his 'friends'" he said emphasizing the word friend. I looked back at him.
"Might be TMI, but your dad and I have already already went threw this and he doesn't want to be in a relationship with me,. We had a whole fight, he wants casual, I want a relationship," I said lowly. Mingus made a noise.
"He's scared," Mingus finnaly said. I looked at him.
"What's do you mean?" I asked.
"That's more than, ciggarettes," he said I looked out the window to see Norman with at bag. He got in the car.
"You buy the store?" I asked. He smiled and pulled out a couple cartons if ciggarette's.
"Naw, just a few things. got ya this though," he handed me a lighter. It had heart on it. I smiled as he handed me a pack of ciggarette's.
"Thanks," I said with a smile. Norman started going and grabbed my hand.
"Anything for you," he said with a smile. I smiled back. We made it back to Norman's and we unloaded our stuff, Mingus grabbed his stuff. He yelled good night and ran off to his room. I laughed and told him I'd see him tomorrow he waved me off. That left Norman and I alone. We smiled at each other.
"So I should be heading home," I sais lowly. Norman nodded slowly. We walked to the door. He pulled me in to a tight hug, kissing my head.
"You should stay," he whispered. I sighed.
"We will be spending a whole week with you," I said. He sighed.
"Just wish you'd stay," he said lowly. I kissed his cheek.
"I'll be here first thing, you be my wake up call?" I smiled. He nodded.
"Yeah, " he agreed kissing my head. I gave him a weak smile and headed out. I drove home feeling, completely lost. Why did he want me to stay? Why did Mingus feel like that we were secretly dating. Just why? I finnaly made it home and gathered up just a couple more things for the trip, couple more clothes, bathroom stuff and a pair of sandles. I climbed in to bed and looked at my phone, I smiled seeing Norman had texted me.
'Good night beautiful, I miss you' kissy face emoji. I smiled
'Nigh hun, miss you too,' kissy face emoji I answered and went to sleep.
The next morning like clock work, my phone was ringing. I was already awake and waiting for it, but grummbled when he did call, because it was just part of our rutine.
"This early?! I though we were on vacation!" I growled laying back down. I heard him laugh.
"No way! You ass isn't on vacation from me. I'll be waking you up for the next week, and I have thought up some fun ways," Norman said laughing. I was scared.
"Should I be scared about that because I am," I told him he laughed.
"Oh yes baby girl, be afraid be very afraid," he laughed. I didn't feel any safer, but I laughed too.
" So are you comming to get me or am I driving up?" I asked. I heard Norman flick his lighter, and inhale.
"I'll be down in an hour to get you," he breathed out. I smiled. "Just have to let Mingus, know," he adddd. I smiled still.
"He's not up yet?" I laughed. Norman chuckled.
"Hell no his lazy ass isn't, won't untill just before we leave," he laughed. I giggled.
"See you in an hour," I said. Norman took another inhale.
"Might come sooner," he joked. I shoked my head.
"Doors locked," I told him. He laughed again.
"I'm Mac, remeber?" He laughed. I smiled.
"Mac better stay out if he knows what's good for him," I kinda laughed. Norman laughed again, exhaling.
"He does and it's deffenatly inside," he said lowly. I shook my head.
"Bye Reedus!" I said with a giggle.
"Bye, baby," he said, as he hung up. I smiled to myself, as much as he didn't want to be with me, I loved when he called me baby. I got up and started my new coffee maker, smiling how Norman insisted I get the best there was. It was so complicated when I first got it I had to keep calling him to have him walk me threw it. He would laugh and offer to come help.
I smiled as I went to get in the shower.I knew he ment with the cofee maker, but he was also offering for other things too. I was about to let him, I felt like it had been an eternity sence Travis, and my body begged for Norman every time I was with him. I was on the edge, and I was about to jump.
I got out of the shower and went back to my room. I looked threw my clothes, I had a few pair of shorts I had bought when I was with Travis, he had talked me in to it. Telling me I was beautiful and needed to stop covering up much. I slipped them on, looking at myself, they were really short. I sighed, it was a good thing I had started tanning with Travis too. He had broken my shell, or maybe he just found the cracks Norman had put there and I was giving him the credit for what Norman had started. I found a cute tank top to go with the shorts and went to the bathroom to do my hair and make up.
I hadn't noticed how Long my hair had gotten, I sighed, it was deffenatly time for a trim. I checked my phone. Norman had texted and said he was on his way. I made my way to the front door and unlocked it. Texting him back telling him I had done so and he could come in. I figured that if I was going on vacation I might as well have a nice hair cut to go with it. I had perfected a technique to cut it myself. I went and got my hair cutting things. I had just sectioned it off the way I wanted it, when Norman came in.
"Baby girl?!" He yelled.
"Bathroom, you can come down," I called back to him. I was brushing threw a section when he walked in.
"What are ya doin?" He asked with a chuckle and looking me up and down as he came in behind me. I smiled and put down my section to hug him. I could never resist his hugs.
"Mmmh, trimming my hair," I said smelling his colone, it smelt like heaven and his arms were home. He looked at me.
"I'll take you to a salon," he said. I smiled up at him, we still hadn't let go.
"Why? I'm a hairdresser, " I laughed. He smiled.
"You deserve to be papered," he said kissing my head. I kinda laughed.
"I can't afford a salon," I laughed. He looked down at me.
"I said I'd bring you," he repeated. I shook my head.
"You've already done enough, I'm so thank full,"I said turning away and starting on my hair. He smiled at me in the mirror. For the time it took me to do my hair he was quiet. When I was done I brushed I out and asked him how he liked it. He smiled turning me around and grabbing a fist full gently pulling my head back.
"So beautiful," he breathed. I giglged pushing him away.
"I'm almost done, just got to do my make up," I said smiling at him. Norman was still behind me grabbed my ass. I was shocked. "Norman!" I said suprised. He smiled.
"Don't need it," he said kissing my head and letting go of my ass. "Loving these shorts, by the way, they make your ass look great, not that it didn't look good before," he said. I blushed.
"Friends don't check out each others asses," I managed. Norman lit a ciggarette. Norman inhaled and smiled.
"Bags in your room?" He asked. I nodded.
"I need to put this in there when I'm done," pointing to my make up. He nodded as he went to my room. I smiled to myself, god he was killing me. I couldn't help but want him. Norman return a few moments later, with bags in hand. I smiled, I had finished my make up and put it in a bag of its own to go in the other bag. I smiled, playing with my hair a minute. I hadn't done anything with it, just cut it. Norman kissed my head.
"I like it," he said holding me. I could have melted.
"Mmh, I'm ready," I said leaning against him. He smiled.
"Mingus isn't exspecting us bsck too quickly, if you want we can take a little bit longer," he smiled. I looked up at him, did he seriously just suggest we go have sex, was I being that odvous? I sighed, as much as my body craved him my mind wouldn't let me. I'd feel awful after and I knew it.
"Norman," I said. He smiled kissing me again.
"Baby girl I have to try," he laughed. "Come on," he laughed. I smiled fallowing him. We left the house and got in his Jeep. He found my hand again as soon as we were in. I smiled, and we started off.
"Coffee?" He asked handing me a cup that had been sitting in the cup holder. I laighed.
"Yum!" You sure know how to butter a girl up!" I smiled. Norman smiled back.
"I try," he said. I seriously thought I might be in love with this man.
"So what's the sleeping arangements for this trip?" I asked, Norman smiled.
"One very large California King bed for two," he smiled. I shook my head.
"Norman," I said, he laughed.
"Three a joining rooms," he said, I smiled. "But seriously if that California King gets lonley, you come find me," he smiled. I looked at him.
"Wait, I'm seriously getting a California King bed of my own?" I asked, with a smile. He laughed.
"Yeah we all are," he said still laughing at me. I smiled bigger.
"That will seriously be the biggest bed I have ever slep in," I said with a laugh. Norman scoffed.
"It's not that great, really big and very lonely. I like something smaller, for cuddling," he said. I smiled a over at him. I could image laying in his bed, at his house, cuddling, only my mind cuddleing lead to kissing and kissing led to, something more. Norman was smiling at me when my brain stopped the sex scene in my head.
"That was a beautiful face, what were you thinking about?" He asked as we hadiscussed stopped at a redifferent light ans stared going again. I shook my head, what kinda face did I make?
"Spacing," I said lolwy taking a sip of my coffee. He chuckled.
"Thinking about cuddling with me" he asked. I smiled, it was true I loved cuddling with him.
"Yeah," I admitted. He squeezed my hand.
"How was it?" He asked. I looked spaced out, again thinking about how it could be.
"Amazing," I finnaly said lowly. He smiled.
"Who you fantasizing about?" He laughed. I looked over to him lost.
"What?" I asked. What did he mean by that?" He laughed.
"Baby girl I don't know what you imaginin when you imagining us, but I'm not that good," he laughed. I looked over at him.
"I already know your a great cuddler," I said trying to hid the fact he knew I was having a sex day dream in my head about him. He laughed.
"I ment the sex and you know it," he laughed. I looked at him funny.
"I never said anything about sex," I said innocently. He smiled at me as we pulled in to the drive way. He put the Jeep in park and turned to me.
"Baby you didn't have to, the look on you beautiful face said it all," he said kissing my cheek. I blushed.
"I was not!" I said getting out. I heard him laugh as he fallowed me, comming beside me and finding my hand.
"Ok, well, I'm sorry if it does happen I'm going to ruin them fantasies, you're not having," he laughed. I sighed, if? Why if? I wanted to know, so it kinda fell out.
"If?" I asked. He looked over at me as we walked in to the kitchen.
"Yeah if," he said. I looked at him quetioning. "What?" He asked. I shrugged.
"Kinda figured you'd say when," I said setting my coffe down and picking up EITD, Norman made a face.
"There's no garentee, you'll let me" he said comming over and stoking my lips with his finger. My eyes shut, I couldn't help it. I opend them again.
"Your the only one stopping it," I said lowly. He sighed.
"Hey Steph," Mingus walked in to the kitchen. I smlied, letting EITD down, as he went after Mingus.
"Hey, Mingus, how'd ya sleep?" I aksed. He looke over from a cupboard.
"Fine," he said getting coffee, he looked up at me. "You?" He aksed. I smiled.
"Good," I smiled. He looked over to Norman, I did too. He was staring at me.
"Dad, stop staring at her, your going to creep her out," he said Norman looked at Mingus making a face. I smiled.
"I've known your dad a while now, his staring at me isn't going to creep me out," I laughed. Norman stared at me again while moving his head in and kissed my cheek. I smiled looking over at him.
"You sleep here last night?" Mingus asked. I shook my head.
"No, I went home," I said. He looked at me.
"Why?" He asked. I smiled and shook my head.
"We aren't dating," I told him again. He gave me a look of disbelief.
"Ok, well I'm going to make sure I'm packed, and getting dressed, then I'm starving," he said walking away. I smiled.
"See you when your done," I said. He smiled back at me.
"What's that all about?" Norman asked. I laughed, with a shugged.
"He thinks we are secretly dating," I laughed. Norman smiled.
"Damn kid," he said looking over his shoulder. Then he came over to me. Pulling me close and holding me. I smiled, I was loving this, but my body also ached for him too.
"Norman," I tried to sound sturn, but I wasn't in was losing that quickly. He looked down at me.
"I just love, hugging you," he said kissing my head, but then letting go of me. I smiled at him. I loved him hugging me too, but it was killing me.
"I know," I said. He smiled still.
"So breakfast?" He asked in a happy voice, I shurgged.
"Where ever," I told him, he smiled.
"I have the place," he smiled at him
"What about Mingus?" I asked. He looked in the other direction.
"I'm going to have to go see how much longer this will take," he said walking down the hall. I kinda laughed as I found my coffee again. I sighed this vacation might kill me. Between Mingus telling me to date his father, and me trying to convince him it was his father who didn't want to date. It was going to be a long week. Norman returned with Mingus smiling, his bag in hand.
"Dad said we are going to get food," he smiled at me, I smiled back.
"Yep, we were just waiting on you," I smiled. Migus smiled again.
"I'm ready," he said. I looked at him a minute.
"Got your headphones?" I asked. He smiled.
"Yes," he said as he went out ahead of us. I laughed, Norman came beside me with my suitcase and his and I fallowed Mingus. Norman had my hand as we loaded up and got in to one of Norman's vehicles, and started to head out. The ride was fun, Norman and I chatting Mingus throwingin his two sence when he saw fit. Usually ending with me laughing and Norman making at face at him. We made it to the diner where Norman and I went when we first hung out and I smiled.
"I heard the pancakes here are really good," I said to Norman he smiled over at me.
"I think I might have to try them," he said. I laughed as we got out.
"Do you two, ever stop?" Mingus asked. I smiled as Norman took my hand and we went in.
"No," I giggled. He sighed.
"Norman," Marge said as we walked in, Norman smiled at the older waitress.
"Hey Marge," he said with a smile.
"Stephanie," she smiled bigger. I smiled and blushed a little.
"Hello," I said lowly. She laughed.
"Still just as shy as ever arn't ya, sweetheart? And who's this handsome young man?" She asked as she showed us our table. Mingus looked at his dad, then me.
"My son, Mingus," Norman said proudly. Mingus smiled.
"Hello," he said, quickly, looking at his menu.
"It's nice to meet ya," Marge smiled at him. "I'll bring ya some coffee," she said walking away.
"She likes you," Norman smiled. I blushed.
"I know, she still thinks I'm your girlfriend, remeber?" I asked, kinda annoyed he never told her the truth. He smiled.
"She has good tast then," he said still smiling. I rolled my eyes.
"Why does she think your his girlfriend?" Mingus asked. I looked at him.
"Because we came here before and she kinda asked, kinda assumed, and your dad never told her different, so she still believes it," I explained. Mingus hummed.
"Why didn't you tell her, Stephanie's not your girlfriend?" He asked Norman. Norman looked between us.
"Why do you two feel the need to gang up on me? Do you want me to tell her?" He asked, sounding upset. I looked at him.
"You don't have to now, just wondering why you didn't in the beginning. We bearly even know each other back then," I said. He sighed.
"Fine the next person who thinks we are dating, I'll tell them," he said. I sighed.
"Ok, no need to be an ass, the whole world kinda already thinks it, so it's a little late now," I kinda grummbled.
"I hope you two hurry up and do start dating, I can't stand this fighting," Mingus said. I looked at him.
"We aren't fighting," I said normally.
"Yeah," Norman said. Mingus looked between us. He looked like he wanted to say something, but Marge came back with coffee.
"Now, we decied?" She asked putting the pot down.
"Two orders of pancakes," Norman said with a smile.
"Three," Mingus chimed in. Marge smiled.
"Alright, three orders of pancakes!" Mage said and walked away.
We sat and talked the three of us. Norman and I tried to keep the fighting and the flirting down. Mingus did keep asking though if we were ever going to start dating. Norman and I both were at a loss for words. God I hoped so. We finished, and said good bye to Marge and we're on our way to the airport. On the way Mingus had to stop and get more food and a drink. I smiled as Norman grummbled.
"He's just a kid," I said. Norman looked at me.
"You sound like his mother, he never stops eating," Noman said. I smiled.
"He's sixteen, right," I asked Norman nodded. "He's just growing," I said with a smile.
"You really sound like his mother," Norman laughed. I knda giggled.
"Now what?" Mingus asked as we pulled in to the parking lot of the airport. I smiled.
"Your dad was complaining how much you eat, I told him you were a growing boy. Then he told me I sounded like your mom," I laughed. Mingus smlied.
"I like her," he said as he got out. Norman looked at me and I smiled at him.
"I like him too," I laughed as I got out. We got our luggage and headed inside, we checked out bags and I looked at Norman.
"I don't have....." I was cut off by Norman handing me a passport. I smiled at him kissing his cheek in thanks. We got on the airplane and found our seats.
"Doesn't matter who sits where, these three are ours," Norman said pointing to three seats two side by side and one just on the other side of the aisle I smiled.
"Sit with your dad," I told Mingus, as I took the seat furthest away. I saw Norman watching me as I smiled at him. He sat with Mingus though, but kept watching me. I made a face at him. He made one back. I laughed. A gentalman came and sat down beside me, he looked to be around Norman's age, as he smiled at me.
"Why you sitting over there?" Mingus asked. I looked at him confused.
"This is yours and your dad's vacation," I said plainly. He kinda looked at me funny, but didn't say any more. The plain started to go after a little while longer and I got comfortable in my chair. I cought Norman throwing me sideways looks as he and Mingus talked. I smiled at him as I played on my phoned. He didn't seem inpressed. After a little while the man beside me looked over to me with a big smile
"You on vacation with your family?" He asked. I looked at him kinda funny.
"Somthing like that, I shrugging with a giggle. He smiled.
"Oh are you the nanny?" He asked looking around. I understood noe what he was getting at, he wanted to flirt and wanted to know what was going on.
"No, actually it's my husband's and my fith aniversery, and we are going to Aruba to renew our vows!" I said excitedly. The man looked at me funny.
"Your husbands there?" He asked pointing to Norman, I smiled.
"Yeah, the best man in the world," I said still smiling. The man gave me a quick smile and pulled out his table. I chuckled to myself. Mingus tapped me on the shoulder.
"Switch places," he said I looked at him funny but changed.seats with him.
"What's he doing?" I asked Norman. He looked over to Mingus.
"Wants to listen to some music," he said. I smiled. "What he want?" Norman asked. I smiled.
"Wanted to know who I was in vacation with," I said wth a smile. Norman raised an eyebrow at me.
"And?" He asked, looking over to the next seat.
"Is he watching us?" I asked, Norman nodded.
"Kinda told him we were married and we were going to renew our vows," I said. Norman looked at me with a smile and quickly moved in and cought my lips. We kissed untill we were both out of breath, when we parted I looked at him.
"I love how shocked you look when I kiss you, like you didnt know I was going to do it," Norman laughed. I threw him a look.
"I didn't!" I said. He smiled finding my hand and holding it. "Your just going to sit there?" I asked looking at him still. He smiled at me more.
"Just shhh," he said getting comfortable. I eyed him.
"Don't shush me!" I laughed. Norman pulled me into a hug.
"So fuckin cute," he said. Kissing my head. I smiled. The rest of the plain ride we held hands and talked. Mingus seemed content beside us listening to his music. I asked him a couple times if he wanted to come back and sit with Norman, but he said he was fine.
We finnaly landed and I was nervous and excited as we go off the plain. We collected our bags and got in a cab. Thr ride to the hotel was good, I mostly looked out the window. This was my first time out of the Untied States, so I was so excited to see all the new stuff.
We made it to the hotel and Norman checked us in. I stood with Migus and waited. Norman walked over to us smiling big and we fallowed him. Insted of going up stairs in an elevator thouh, we walked threw the hotel and out side to a bunch of huts. They were huge! I looked at Mingus who looked back at me and shrugged. We finnaly stopped infront of one and Noman looked at us both smiling.
"So we have this amazing hut to stay in," he smiled. I looked at him funny.
"There are three beds in there?" I asked. He smiled.
"Come on," Norman went up the stairs to open the door. We fallowed and sure enough it was just as big on the inside. We walked in to a living room. Looking around we could see a kitchen and soemone doors. We speed out looking threw out our hut house. I found a room and set my stuff down finding the oversized bed and falling on to it. I looked up to see Norman in the door way.
"So?" He asked. I smiked at him.
"Amazing!" I said as I looked around to see a tv and closet, with a bathroom attached. He smiled bigger as he walked over and sat beside me.
"I'm really glad you came," he sais kissing my hand. I smiled at him.
"Me too," I said as I pulled him down so we could cuddle. I hadn't gotten to cuddle with him enought lately. He laughed as we found a comfortable way to lay togeter. Norman kissed my head.
"Mmh, wish we could stay like this, but it's a vacation and there's a beach out there," he said I sighed.
"Alright, but I get to cuddle with you later," I told him he smiled down at me.
"Fuck yeah," he agreed getting up. " Now, no excuses, I wanna see you in one of them bikins I got you," he smiled. I rolled my eyes.
"That was your plan! Why cuddle Whe you can look at me half naked!" I accused. Norman rsised an eyebroe with a smiled.
"Rather look at you all naked," he said, plainly. I threw a pillow at him and he left.
I got in to my suit case and looked threw the clothes. All clearly bikins. Nothing more suddle, bra like tops and skimpy looking bottoms. I sighed as I picked one out and put it on. I looked at myslef and shuddered, I felt naked again, and Norman was begging to see this?! Why? I found a dress style cover up and threw it on, slipping back on my flip flops and heading out.
I stood in the living room area, waiting akwardly. Norman and Mingus must still be changing. I sat down on the couch and waited, pulling at my swimsuit cover, because it felt too short. I sighed, assuming that's why it was gotten when. Mingus came out. He smiled.
"Your wearing a cover over your suit?" He asked, still smiling. I kinda bushed making an akward face.
"Yeah," I said still blushing, he kinda laughed.
"You deffenatly not like the other girls my dad dates. They'd be standing around in the suit alone posing like it was a fashion show. All to get his attention," he said. I made a face.
"I'm no fashion model," I said lowly.
"She's way to modest, if this girl wanted to be a model all she has to do is say so. I have a camera and I have friends," Norman said coming out from his room. I blushed.
"He's crazy, I have no idea what he sees in me," I said getting up and waiting. Norman sighed.
"You going to take that off when we get to the beach?" He asked. I smiled.
"Maybe," I shrugged, but really didn't want to. Norman came over and hugged me.
"She will or I will," Norman laughed lifting me in the air. I giggled.
"Put me down!!" I yelled while laughing. He set me down.
"Your no fun, come on," he said pulling me along.
We made it to the beach, and Norman made sure that the swimsuit cover came off. I was so embarrassed at first, but I was quickly in the water. Norman laughed as he and Mingus fallowed me in. I spend most of the afternoon hiding in the water. Norman pulled me late in the afternoon. I quickly looked for my swimsuit cover and put it on. We walked to our little hut the three of us.
"Change in to one of them dresses," Norman smiled at me as he went to his room. I smiled at him heading to my room. I looked threw the dresses, there was a cute little black, red and I purple one. I smiled, he knew my favorite color, it just made me fall for him even more. I decided to put on the black dress and head out to the living room. I was second to Mingus who smiled at me. I blushed.
"What?" I asked. He shook his head.
"You are beautiful!" Norman said, as he twirled be around so he could see me from all sides, I giggled, as he let me stop and held me untill I wasn't dizzy anymore. I looked at Norman he looked nice. Dressed in his usual jeans and a t-shirt, but they were both black and he had added a jacket and boots. Looking very handsome.
"You look nice," I said shyly. He smiled at me.
"Just clothes," he said. I bushed.
"You look good in them," I said lowly. He smiled.
"I'm going eat, so if you two just wanna take it to a room, I'd appreciate it," Mingus said heading out the door. I blushed at Norman, he smiled as he grabbed my hand.
"Come on," Norman said. As we headed out the door.
We went inside the hotel, and to the restaurant inside. We were seated and I felt so fancy.
"Wow," I said feeling completely out of place in Noman's world. I hadn't really ever done anything with him like this, so I never noticed how different we were. Norman smiled, and chucled softly.
"First time in a hotel restaurant?" He asked. I nodded, feeling stupid. Norman and Mingus probably did this stuff all the time. I looked at my menu. "Hey," Norman said lolwy. I looked up at him. "It's ok, I thought it was cute. Guess I forget what it's like to see this for the first time," he said. I smiled shyly, but still felt kinda dumb.
We ordered our food, and Norman ordered a drink, and tried to get me to order one. I told him no, and we had discussed why before. He told me it was a vacation and I should loosen up, but I couldn't. I knew if I drank, I would turn in to a different person. I didn't know if I was ok with being around Norman while I was that person.
We ate dinner and Norman got a little drunk, but no as bad as the night he and Sean had. We had a great time at dinner, but by the time we decied to leave I was ready. We headed back to the hut and I helped Norman to the couch. He was a big flirt the whole time. Mingus ran to his room, and I was left alone with a very flirty Norman.
I looked at him eyed wide. Why was I so nervous lately to be with him? It wasn't lke anything was going to happen, unless we agreed. I had delt with a drunk a Norman before, just put his ass to bed. Norman smiled at me leaning in and kissing my lips slowly and sweet. It didn't last long but I was as red as the sunburn I was pretty sure I had gotten earlier. His hands had been on my waist the whole time and gently pulled me closer.
"I'm not drunk, I just wanna hold you," he whispered. I melted in to him. He was perfect, his chest was always the right pillow, and his arms were always inviting me in.
"I'll fall asleep like this," I said horsely, from my moment of shyness earlier. He kissed my head.
"It's the only way," he said stopping. I looked up at him.
"Only way?" I asked. He smiled.
"Just let me hold you a little while, please?" He asked. I smiled.
"Alright" I agreed. We sat like that for a log time and of course I ended up falling asleep.
I woke up, hearing something. I opend my eyes to Mingus. I jumped about four feet as he smiled down at me. He put his fingure to his lips to tell me to be quite. I threw him a look, he was the one scaring the shit out of me! He pointed up, I looked. Norman was still sleeping. We had fallen asleep together on the couch. I kinda figured it was Noman's plan, but I also didn't care. I was still tired. I burried my head back in his chest, a second and then looked back to Mingus.
"You two sleep like that all night?" He asked lowly. I looked at him, like it was odvous, he smiled. "Not datin?" He asked again withe a small chuckel. I rolled my eyes.
"What time is it?" I whispered. Mingus smiled.
"It's not late, only about eight," he said. "I was thirsty," he added. I nodded.
"Can I go back to sleep now before he wakes up?" I asked. Mingus nodded.
"He drank last night, so you're good for a little while longer, he also sleeps heavier," he said heading back to his room. I waved to him, and cuddled closer to Norman. I wasn't about to leave and go sleep in my own bed. When his arms were so willing to hold me, and it felt like an eternity sence I had been held.
I woke up, again, but I refused to open my own. I heard a small crash, and a louder shush. I stayed still. A kiss came to my head and I was pulled closer to Norman. I knew it was Norman, I remebered falling alseep with him and Mingus had woken me up earlier to point out we had fallen asleep together.
"It's noon," Mingus whispered. I felt Norman shift. I sighed, it was noon. I opend my eyes to see a smiling Norman. I smiled up at him.
"Good morning sleeping beauty," he said leaning in and kissing my head. I smiled bigger.
"Morning," I said trying to sit up, but Norman kept me in my spot. I looked up at him. "You gonna let me go?" I asked. Norman looked at he funny.
"No," he said plainly. I looked at him.
"Norman, I have to get up eventually," I said feeling the need to use the bathroom, but I didn't want to say that. It was weird though as long as wwe had been friends I couldn't look at him and be like. 'I have to pee, let me go.' His face changed and he smiled.
"Ohh yeah," he said, letting me go. I looked at him, what had he thought I ment? I smiled though and got up heading to my room. While I was in there I changed in to shots and a tank top. I wouldn't say it was more comfortable then the dress, but I felt a little better. I went out to the kitchen where Norman was now shirtless and drinking a cup of cofee. I looked, a but longer then I should have. I had seen him shirtless before, I just liked what I saw. He smiled at me raising his eyebrows.
"Well if your gonna look I wanna turn," he said. I quickly looked anywhere else, blushing. He laughed. Coming over and pulling me in to a hug. Now I'm pretty sure this was my first shirtless hug from him, because I would have remebered how much I liked his bear skin against mine, even if mine was limited.
"You two are impossible! All I ask if for you to go to your own room. The living room and the kitchen, when I'm here is not where this stuff happends," Mingus was complaining. We parted and I looked around Norman to see Mingus was smiling. I smiked back.
"Stop complaining!" Norman said as he turned to see a Mingus smiling, he then looked at me and saw I was also smiling., he started to smiled too. He then pulled me over to the bar and pulled out my chair. I looked at him still smiling as I got in the barstool and he went and got me coffee. Mingus watched too, as Norman brought me back a cup. I smiled at him.
"Thanks," I said hissing his cheek as he set it down.
"You must really like her, you don't make coffee for anyone of your other girlfriends," Mingus said. Norman threw him a look. I giggled.
"Your dad's just a really sweet man," I said. It was true, I just wished things were like Mingus was implying. Norman smiled at me.
"So coffee, shower, more beach time. Nothing to do but lazy around in the sun," he said. I smiled.
"Sounds like a plan to me," I said. So we drank our coffe and Norman made his special, breakfast, eggs. I was suprised to see our little hut was filled with food, Norman said it was a complementary thing. I went with it, and after a short discussion on making sure my egg was fully cooked, and not burning his. We were out at the beach most of the day and I wasn't any more comfortable with being in a bikini today then I was yeterday. Norman pulled me close to him and told me it would all be ok, I was beautiful. I smiled, I never saw this, I wasn't one of them girls that could look at herself and think I was. I sighed though and took off the cover. Getting in thr water with thrm for a while and then getting out to work on my tan.
Norman fallowed me out and we sat together for a while, but as usual he got bored and said he would be back. I smiled and shook my head as I watched him walk off. I watch too long as usual because Mingus cought me.
"You really do like him don't you?" He asked. My head snapped up, I had truthfully forgot about Mingus.
"He's a great guy," I said shrugging and looking away.
"He told you he doesn't want a relationship?" Mingus asked. I nodded, I hated reliving that part, but I did everyday. I tried no to look at Mingus because no matter how many times I heard it, it killed me. The worst part was, he was my world. Mingus sighed.
"Don't worry, he will come around. I've never seen him act like this before, he has to be fighting it for some reason," Minus said I looked at him now and gave him a weak smile.
"Why are you so eager to help you dad? Most kids want there parents back together," I said. Mingus smiled.
"My parents haven't been together for a long time, and I'm ok with that, people grow apart. They still talk and we have still done things together. My mom has a boyfriend she's been with a long time now, she's happy. My dad, hasn't had a steady relationship sence my mom, ans he's miserable. Throwing himself in his work. You know this year is the only hear he hasn't been completely booked for work?" Mingus told me. I shook my head.
"You are the most sweetest young man I've ever met. I find it very sweet that you want your dad to be happy, but no I didn't know he had pretty much taken the year off," I said feeling kinda weird about it. Mingus smiled.
"Besides, I like you, you haven't threatened to send me away yet either," he kinda luaghed. I looked at him.
"Why would I do that? Your his son, I didn't even want to intrude on your vacation," I smiled, Mingus did too.
"That's another reason I like you, you don't want to take my dad away. The other ones do, they think because their dating they are just untitled to all of his time," he told me. I fround.
"Believe me, I spend enough time with you dad," I kinda laughed, Mingus did too. Just then we were interrupted.
"Excuse me miss," a man said. I looked up, yep it was a man.
"Yes?" I asked worried Norman had gotten in to trouble and they were throwing him out of the country.
"I couldn't help, but notice you over her, with your brother and I just thought you were so beautiful, I had to come talk to you," his accent was thick so his words were hard to make out. Seriously though, my brother? Why did people just assume, Noman was my father and Mingus was my brother? Hadn't they ever seen a couple like us, ok we weren't a couple, but still.
"Umm well thank you, but he's no my brother," I tried to act politely, but I was more creeper out.
"Dude back off," Mingus said. I smiled thanks at him, the man on the other hand wasn't so thankful.
"Kid run alone and let grown ups talk," he said rudely. I was pissed, he didn't just get to come over, try and flirt with me and then tell Mingus get lost.
"Mingus, you're fine. You can run alone, buddy and don't you dare tall to my son like that again!" I snapped, and I wasn't sure why I called Mingus my son.
"You son?" He asked shocked. I looked at Mingus who was smiling cocky. It gave me more confidence.
"Yes my step son, do you have a problem with that?! If you do you can wait another Minute and his father will be back to help you with your problem," I said seeing Norman walking back. The man took a breath an turned to walk away. I smiled after him.
"That was awesome! None of my dad's girlfriendside would have done that! They would have told me to get and flirted with him untill he came back, and then acted dumb, just to make him jealous," Mingus said. I made a face.
"The fuck is wrong with people?" I asked. Mingus started laughing ad Norman made his way to us.
"Whats going on?" Norman asked. I smiled at Mingus who was still laughing.
"Dad you missed it! Steph was kick ass, tellin that guy off! Told him you'd beat him up," Mingus smiled with pride. Norman looked at me with raised eyebrows.
"What happend?" He asked more excited. I kinda laughed.
"He came over trying to flirt with me, wich I'd have been nicer letting him down, but he was rude to Mingus, so I told him if he had a problem you were on your way back and could probably help him fix it," I explained the short verson, leaving out the part were I said Mingus was my son. Hopefully Mingus would too. Norman smiled.
"Well, maybe you don't need this drink, but here," he said handing me a drink. I made a face at him. "Relax, we are on vacation, have one," Norman said handing Mingus a drink. I rolled my eyes.
"This one will get me in to enough trouble,"I said looking at the drink that was as blue as the ocen. Norman chuckled.
"I won't let you get in trouble he said.
"I'll hold you to that Reedus," I said taking a sip. He smiled. The rest of the afternoon fadded, because I'm pretty sure by the time Norman helped me in to my room in the hut I had about three drinks, way more then I should have. I clung to him, this is why I didn't want to drink in the first place. I wasn't myslef and I knew it. He set me down on my bed and I looked up at him smiling. My drunk brain couldn't stop my drunk body. Pulling him tward me and kissing him. Norman kissed me back as I laid down, and he came down on top of me. We kissed untill we were out of breath. Then Norman looked down at me.
"I hate being responsible," he laughed, I knew he had been drinking too. I smiled, sliding my hands up his chest.
"Don't be," I tried to sound cute, as I kissed at his neck. Norman growled and leaned in to my ksses.
"Steph," he breathed as he pulled away. I looked at him sad.
"Norman, I'm lonely," I said lowly trying to get him back. He sighed heavily.
"No," he said sitting up. I looked at him.
"It's what you want," I said moving closer to him, and holding his face in my hands. He sighed.
"It's not what you want though. Your durnk. I get its been a while for you, but I'd rather have you pissed of at me drunk tonight. Then pissed off at me in the morning when you realize what happend," he said. Kissing my head. I looked at him, I was hurt, my brain knew what he was saying. I just never though, being turned down when I was so willing could make me feel so stupid.
"Your right," I said lowy. I couldn't look at him I was choking back tears.
"Steph," he said, trying to pull me back in to his arms. I pulled away walking to my bathroom. I swallows a hard lump.
"Good night, " I managed shutting the door as tears streamed down my face.
I couldn't figure it out, I didn't want anything casual, but it seemed to be the only way Norman wanted it. So I tried, I got drunk, I was ok with it now, why wasn't he? I'd be mad at myself in the morning, not him. I also hoped I could remeber it in the morning. Sure things might have been akward for a little while, but I'm sure they would have gotten better. My brain raced with questions of why I wasn't good enough for him. I tried to brush my teeth, but my crying was making it hard. I looked in the mirror and saw exactly why Norman didn't want me. I wasn't anything, nothing, just a charity case he felt the need to keep around.
I finished wh my teeth and listend. Norman had stopped knocking trying to get me to come out. I opend the door and looked aroud. He was gone. Ofcouse be was, why did I assume he would stay. I climbed in to bed and covered my head. I felt dumb, and alone, I just had to face it, I was not going to get the happy ending. My drunk in brain fell asleep.
I woke up again, feeling like crap. I sighed as my head pounded and I didn't want to get up. I looked at my phone, that killed my head, it was almost eleven. I listend, there were sounds of life outside my room. I remebered last night and just wanted to crawl in a hole. Why was I so stupid? Norman didn't want me. He didn't even want to wake me up this moring. I rolled over and went back to sleep. I felt a light kiss to my head as I woke up again. I didn't want to open my eyes though. I waited as I heard breathing.
"I assume your ignoring me," Norman said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset last night. I just know you always told me you were a different person drunk. You're right, you are. It's not that I didn't, I just know you don't, we'd have to talk about it," he kinda stumbled over his words. I turned and burried my head in is chest. He held me.. "Please don't cry again, I don't know if I can handle that," he said kissing my head. I didn't lift my head just rested it on his chest.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have," I didn't know what to say. Drank? Thrown myself at you? Norman held me.
"Why we had fun last night. Hell, I know I wanted to keep the fun going," he kinda laughed. I looked up at him.
"It's fine, I get it," I said. Knowing he really didn't want anything to do with me. He looked at me funny.
"No you don't. If you were to say right now it was still something you wanted. I'd have no problem going ahead," he said seriously. I smiled lookig at him in disbelief.
"Norman.." I tried to say more but he cut me off.
"Just say it," he said, I laughed.
"What? That I want to sleep with you?" I asked. He smiled.
"Tell me," he encouraged me with a smile. I looked at him he was serious. I was still kinda drink I thought when it crossed my mind to say it.
"Have you been drinking?" I asked with a laugh. He smiled. Laying me down, I looked up at him as he hovered over me.
"No this beautiful woman last night started something. I'm a gentleman, and she was drunk and I made her stop," he said holding my hips and kissing at my neck. I couldn't help myself I moaned, it felt good and the most action I had in a long time. He smiled.
"Norman," I pleaded, not sure what I was pleading for, him to stop or keep going, becaue at the moment I wanted both.
"What is it baby girl? How does this end?" He asked kissing my lips slow and sweet, but way too short. His thumbs making circles on my hips, making my head spin more.
"Norman, oh, god," I couldn't think with his fingers and his hot breath and then I fell out. "We have to stop," I finnaly decied, aparently. He nodded and kissed my head.
"That's why I stopped last night," he said I sat up, because he had moved.
"Norman, I just," I didn't have the right words. He smiled pulling me close.
"I know, I get it, you want the whole thing. It's not fair for me to ask you to change your mind for me. Right now, that just won't work. It's harder then it sounds.There are things involved I can't ask you to do," he said. I wasn't sure what any of that ment. I looked at him questioning. He smiled down at me weakly. "Come on, let's get some food in you," Norman changed the subject again. I sighed but agreed.
I was more confused about us then when I woke up. Aparently Norman was intrested, but the whole girlfriend thing had something more to it he didn't want me to go threw. I wasn't sure I just know that for the rest of that day and the days that fallowed things were different. Norman made sure I was closer then normal, but at the same time it was like he was pushing me a bit further away. I wasn't sure what was going on, like he was struggling with inner demons or something. Mingus noticed it too and by the end of the trip we weren't sure what exactly was going on with him.
As I got in to my car to leave Norman's after saying good bye. Norman was at my side. I didn't exspect any different, but I was suprised by the kiss good bye. I shouldn't have been, but I was. The drive home had my brain in so many directions. Norman, and me, then everything Mingus had told me. When I finnaly arived home I was exhusted. I didn't bother to put my clothes anywhere but by the front door as I went straight to m bed and crawled in. Norman and his changing behavior would have to wait. I needed a rest from my vacation.