Tiger Teeth - Terms & Conditions // Book Two

Chapter 14

Chroi and Dallas were all about making a traditional Irish dinner.  Whatever the fuck that was.  I was Irish and I didn't even know.  But we came home with just about the entire grocery store.  Normally I wouldn't have minded every room in my house being occupied, but I really wanted to talk to Chroi and I felt like I couldn't do that with everyone around.

So I pasted on a smile and I did my duty until I could get her alone.  It had started snowing.  Dallas kept taking pictures and posting them to Instagram.  I thought the many Christmases she'd spent in New York were far more "christmasy" than anything here but she kept thanking me for allowing her to come so she could experience a real Christmas. 

Josh, Dallas and my cousins all found some murder mystery documentary on Netflix and emptied out of the kitchen, giving Chroi and I at least a few moments alone.

I was stirring the vegetables at the stove when I felt her arms wind around me from behind.  She set her chin on the back of my shoulder,

"This is really peaceful."

I snorted, gesturing to the other room where Willie was yelling at the top of his lungs about a police officer lying,

"Yeah, peaceful like a rock concert."

She smiled,

"I mean it's nice to be here with you.  With no distractions or pressures."

I nodded.  I wanted to believe her but it was hard to after what I'd heard earlier.  I felt her arms release their grip on me and I knew she felt what I'd been trying to hide,

"Are you alright?"  I heard her ask moments later.

Lie.  And keep lying until you two can talk alone.

I set down the spoon on the counter and I turned slowly to face her,

"Did ya mean what ya said earlier? Bout-"  I stopped.  Don't say anymore. Lie about something else she said. "Bout bein' a virgin."

She blinked, seemingly shocked by my question,

"Yeah."  She answered after a bit.  She searched my face, "Why?"

I averted my eyes, suddenly feeling really stupid for asking,

"Oh."  I answered.  When my eyes met hers again she looked as though she was waiting.  My shock bubbled up then and I couldn't hide it anymore.  I knew my shock was going to come off as anger but I couldn't help it.  I side stepped her, shaking my head, "How could ya not tell me that?"  I said softly.

I wasn't looking at her but the silence told me what I needed to know.  She took a breath,

"I mean...it was...would it have changed anything?" 

I whirled around, my eyes wide, prepared to react with the shock that was waving through my body just as Willie, Dallas and Josh returned to the kitchen.  None of them were paying any attention to us, all engulfed in their own discussion, effectively ending our conversation.

There was tension between Chroi and I all throughout dinner.  Shocking, I know.  I couldn't stop over analyzing every bit of the last sentence she said to me.  "Would it have changed anything?"  My initial reaction was to scream out YES! IT WOULD HAVE CHANGED EVERYTHING!  I would have taken my time.  I would have made sure she felt every bit cherished and beautiful.

But then it occurred to me.  Hadn't I done that anyway?  I didn't know.  I always assumed my lovemaking skills were top notch...but...

Ugh.  I fucking needed a goddamn drink.