The River Speaks

Chapter Thirty Eight: Eight Pack

Chapter Thirty Eight: Eight Pack

Any flights out of Venice for Christmas were cancelled due to weather, so Aiden and I spent the holiday alone in the hotel room with room service watching Christmas movies on his laptop. They were on the TV but everything was in Italian.
We took a flight from Venice to Philadelphia to pick up Aiden's Mom. My Mama was insistent that she come for New Years because, and I quote, she's my "future mother-in-law"
My parents don't have a car big enough for all of us, so Aiden and I rented one.
I tried to split the cost but while I was digging my wallet from my purse, he just handed the man his debit card and told him to swipe it fast.
I think he feels bad that I flew all over looking for him, because he wouldn't let me pay for my plane tickets, and he intentionally bought our tickets back home to Boston on the third.
Currently, we're driving from the airport to the farm, and I'm excited to be here for a week and one day, but I can't stop thinking about what's going to happen when I get home.
My apartment is trashed, I'll have a stack of bills, and my job?
Well that's gone for sure, considering I haven't shown up in a week.
I need to destress.
Somebody pulls out in front of me, and the rental Prius slows down by itself.
"So who all is at your parents house?" Jackie asks from the back seat.
"Let's see, my grandparents on both sides, my Mom's two sisters and their husbands, my cousins, their kids, um, one of my cousins' babies, and then my Dad's sister, his wife, and my aunt, who was my uncles wife."
"Was?" She asks.
"Um, my Dad went into the Air Force when we was eighteen with my uncle and my uncle's plane went down and my Dad's was missed by a hair."
"I didn't know that." Aiden says.
I nod.
"Yeah. My Dad and Uncle were apparently inseparable."
"Does your family have a big military background?" Jackie asks.
"Oh yeah. All of the men went, and a few of my cousins."
"That's awesome." She says. "What is your childhood home like?"
"Well, it's a farm."
"Really?" She looks surprised.
"Mom, I told you Lily and I went horseback riding."
"I figured it was somebody else's horse." She shrugs.
"Nope, they're ours."
"I'm nervous to meet so many of your relatives." Aiden admits.
"You can't make a worst first impression than mine on yours." I say. "Plus, my Mom and sisters adore you. They're probably talking you up." I laugh.
"Aiden, do you know you've been to jail?" Jackie asks.
"No." He says quietly. "They know I used to steal though."
"If it comes up, just be honest." I say. "My Dad might question you about it."
"Do you think it will affect things?" He asks quietly.
I glance at him.
"I hope not. If it does, I'll handle it."
"I don't want to cause issues with you and your family." He says.
"You wouldn't be. They would."
Aiden and I are a package deal. He's not who he used to be. If they can't accept that, they lose both of us. Simple.
We're all pretty quiet for the rest of the ride. Aiden messes with the radio, I drive, and Jackie looks out the window.
I turn onto the road and follow it down to the driveway, turning into it.
I park behind the truck and shut the engine off.
Aiden and I get the luggage and head up to the house with Jackie.
It smell like cookies when I open the door. I have Aiden leave the stuff by the front door and walk into kitchen where everyone is hanging out.
"You're back!" Mama exclaims. I accept her hug.
Everyone is kind of checking out Aiden and his Mom.
"This is Aiden and his Mom Jackie." I say, putting my hand on Aiden's arm. "Guys, this is...everyone."
I go around and introduce them all by name, and Aiden shakes everybody's hands.
Both of my grandfathers seem pleased and my grandmothers seem pleased too, when he hugs both of them. My cousin Amanda passes me a thumbs up and mouths he's hot to me. I grin, because it's true.
He's just wearing jeans and a black long sleeve shirt, but his shirt is straining against his muscles. Aiden shakes hands with Noah and Dad last since he already knows them, and he hugs my Mom who looks like she wants to hit him with the spoon she's holding, probably because she thought he forgot about her.
He makes a point to kiss her cheek for good measure.
"You know Aiden, I have three daughters and a lot of boys have come into my house interested in at least one of them, but you're the first one I really like."
"Aww, thank you Julie, I'm touched." He puts his hand on his heart and smiles, and I swear Mama swoons.
That man could turn a straight guy gay with one freaking glance.
Mama and Jackie strike up a conversation and a few of the girls in my family join, and then my sisters and most of my girl cousins are ushering me away from Aiden into the living room so we're still visible from the kitchen but not in earshot.
"So?" April whispers, grinning. "Did you guys have sex?!"
"Oh my god." I start laughing.
"Have you kissed yet, at least?" My cousin Amanda whispers. "He's hot as hell! You have to find a way to get him to take off his shirt."
"Guys." I laugh.
"Come on." May grins. "We're not asking to take turns having sex with him, just let us see if he has abs. Does he?"
"Oh yeah." I smile so big that my cheeks hurt. "He does."
"Have you had sex?" April whispers.
"Is he a good kisser?" Lindsay whispers.
"I bet he is." Rachel nods.
"Give us some details." May says.
I sigh.
"Yes, we had sex. He's a very good kisser and he has an eight pack."
"Does he have the v line?" April whispers, practically bouncing for information.
"Yes." I laugh.
"Okay, what about his dick?" May whispers. All of them start to giggle and I laugh.
"There's a line, okay? I'll try to get him to take off his shirt."
I'm not going to flip out because they're asking me about Aiden. They're my family and this is what we do. I remember one Christmas Lindsay brought over a guy we all thought was cute because he had floppy hair so we kept questioning her about him, just like this. He had the start of abs, and we asked all the same questions.
This is just what we do.
"Is he good?" Rachel whispers.
I know she's referring to sex.
"Yes."
"Really good? One a scale from one to ten-"
"He's like...sixteen." I say, and it's true.
One thing that he's good at, is sex. I have no idea how he's so damn good at it, but he is.
"How many times have you done it?" Lindsay asks.
I hold up two fingers.
"Okay. Are you guys official?" Amanda wonders.
"Yes in the airport leaving Italy he referred to me as his girlfriend and I was like "Oh, I am?" And he was like "I don't know. Are you?" And he was smiling. He's so fucking cute."
Lindsay practically screeches.
"He's coming over here." May hisses.
We all fall silent, our smiles disappearing in an attempt to act normal.
Aiden walks right up to us, standing behind me.
"What are you guys talking about?" He asks.
"Nosy." I say.
"It's not nosy if it's about me." He says. Before I can reply, he speaks again, this time to me directly. "I need to talk to you."
"So talk." May cuts in.
"Sorry ladies, I need to talk to Lilliana alone."
He hardly usually my full name, but it's sexy when he does.
I step away from the group and walk into the foyer with him right behind me.
When we're out of earshot from everyone, he turns to me.
"I feel bad." He whispers.
I hesitate. "Why?"
"Because you family...well they seem to love me a lot."
"So? Lovebug, that's a good thing."
"Lovebug?" He grins. "That's..."
"I don't know. It just kind of slipped out." I smile.
"It's cute." He says. "You should keep saying that."
"I will." I say. I link my fingers through his. "You were saying?"
He sighs.
"I want them to know the real me."
"They do already. Aiden, I told you-"
"The past isn't who I am. I know. But..." he sighs. "I'm not planning on leaving you. Like...ever. I want them to know the truth."
I don't really say anything, mostly because I genuinely have no idea how my parents are going to handle that information.
"Okay." I decide. "We can tell them together."
"Right now." He insists. "While everyone else is distracted."
"Okay, go up to my bedroom and I'll get my parents."
"Only your parents, okay? I don't want the whole Kindell bloodline knowing."
"Okay. I'll get them and be up in a minute." I kiss his cheek.
He slips upstairs and I take a deep breath.
My father is old-fashioned. He likes handshakes and loyal Christian men.
I'm terrified to know how he's going to take this.
Hopefully he sees it my way.

*****

Sorry I has writers block
~Sam