Dinner was absolutely amazing. Even Zac seemed to enjoy it. I made sure that everyone thanked Olivia for the wonderful dinner.
I helped Dad clean up the kitchen, with Olivia insisting on helping my mom put away any leftovers.
“Oh, Olivia, I was going to ask you. What are your plans for Christmas?” Mom asked.
“Umm… Well, I don’t have plans.” She said. “My dad works a lot, so I was just planning on going to bed early and stuff…” She mused.
My mother’s eyes widened. “Oh, no, honey! You should come here! We have a big event here every year, with lots of family and everything. It’ll be fun. You’ll love it!”
Olivia glanced toward me worried. “Are you sure?” She asked, glancing toward me.
I smiled. “Yeah, that sounds great.” I offered.
“Oh, absolutely!” Mom insisted. “Oh, but we’ll have a turkey. We could possibly pick up that um… vegetarian alternative… umm… what’s it called?”
“Tofurkey?” Olivia prompted. “It’s alright. I can just not eat the turkey. There’s no need to make a big fuss over me or anything…” She shrugged.
I smiled, moving my arm around Olivia. “I think it’ll be fun.”
She smiled happily up at me.
“And what about Christmas morning? Are you going to be alone then, too?”
“Umm…” Olivia glanced up at me. “I’m pretty sure I will be. But it’s okay. I don’t want to be crashing the family events or anything.”
“Nonsense.” My mom insisted. “You’re welcome here. You’re practically family anyway,” Mom insisted.
I smiled. It would certainly make my holidays a lot easier to handle. I’d have someone there to keep me from going absolutely insane.
“Are you sure?” Olivia asked. “I don’t want to be a bother or anything.”
“Of course not!” Mom insisted.
Dad agreed. “You’re always very welcome.” He insisted.
Olivia smiled. “Thank you, it’s very sweet. I would be honored to spend Christmas with you and your family.”
I moved my arm around her further, my fingers curling her gentle, silky curls.
“Hey, why don’t we go watch TV downstairs in the basement?” I offered. “Zac and Taylor are playing video games up here in the living room…”
Olivia nodded. “Okay.”
I led her from the kitchen and opened the basement door. “The stairs are a little steep and sometimes the carpet can be slippery, so just be careful, okay?”
Olivia laughed. “I think I can manage.”
We reached the bottom of the stairs. “I like your house. It’s cute and comfortable. At my mom’s house, there are certain rooms we can’t use because they’re just for show. You guys have living rooms that you can actually live in.” She smiled.
I chuckled. “Right.”
Olivia reached the bottom of the stairs. “Want to see my room?” I asked with a grin.
Olivia laughed. “Okay.” I pushed open the door to my new found bedroom and turned on the light. “Home sweet home.” I told her.
Olivia smiled, moving into the room. “It’s cute.” She sat down on the edge of my bed. “It looks comfy and it has all of the necessities.”
I shrugged. “It gets a little cool down here sometimes, but it’s definitely worth it to get my own room. I’m almost willing to sleep outside to have a room without my two brothers. Having privacy is nice. And there’s a bathroom down here. There’s no shower, but no one bugs me down here. I like it.” I sat next to her carefully.
Olivia smiled, laying her head on my shoulder lightly.
“I think my family is crazy about you.” I mused. “Almost as crazy about you as I am.”
Olivia smiled. “It’s very nice of them to invite me for Christmas too. I can’t wait… I need to get a new dress to wear though…” She mused. “Not much time left to decide on one. I’ll definitely need something to wear.”
“I think you should go naked. I’ll dress to match.” I smirked.
Olivia laughed “And that’ll go over well with your family…”
I shrugged. “Yeah, they hate me anyway.”
“Isaac… they don’t hate you.” Olivia insisted. “They love you. I could see it in their eyes that they love you. Your mother adores you. She speaks very highly of you.”
I sighed, moving my arm around Olivia.
She laid her head on my shoulder with a soft sigh.
I pressed a gentle kiss against Olivia’s forehead. She turned and tilted her chin up to meet my kiss. Her lips curled into a smile, and she returned my kisses gently.
Olivia yawned tiredly. “Oh, what time is it?”
“Uhh….” I glanced toward the alarm clock on my nightstand. “It’s almost nine.”
“Huh. I don’t know why I’m so tired…” She mused.
“Liv, maybe you could crash here tonight. It’s a long way back into town…” I worried.
“Isaac, I’ll be okay.” She insisted. “I’m not that tired. Besides, where would you put me? Your house is practically bursting at the seams.”
“You can sleep in my bed, I’ll sleep on the sofa. I’m sure my parents would watch us like a hawk. There’ll be no premarital sex going on under their roof.” I smirked.
Olivia laughed sweetly. “Right, of course. I’ll be fine though. I swear… I should get going though before I fall asleep on your bed.”
“You should, it would be the perfect excuse for my parents to let you stay here.” I shrugged.
Olivia laughed softly. “Oh, Isaac.” She stood and stretched. “Come on, walk me out before I change my mind, okay?”
I nodded, following Olivia up the stairs. I definitely didn’t want her to go.
We went up stairs, finding my parents sitting together in front of the television. My dad was watching a baseball game, and my mom was reading.
My parents were so lame and cliché.
“Are you heading home, Olivia?” Mom asked, looking up over the back of the sofa.
Olivia nodded. “Yes. It’s getting kind of late, and I’ve got to drive downtown Tulsa…” She mused. “But thank you very much for having me for dinner. I had a wonderful time, and dinner was wonderful.” She smiled sweetly.
My mom laid aside her book and stood, reaching out and hugging Olivia. “You are always very welcome in this home.” She beamed happily.
Olivia laughed. “Thank you, very much.”
Mom held Olivia at arms length. “Are you going to be okay driving home? It’s awfully dark out…” She turned to my dad. “Walker, you and Isaac should follow her home to make sure she makes it okay.”
Dad was already laying the paper aside and pushing himself up from the sofa.
“Oh, no. No, I’m okay, really.” She insisted. “I don’t want to be a bother.”
“It’s no trouble!” Mom countered.
Olivia shot a pleading look at me.
“I think she’ll be alright, mom.” I intervened. “Olivia is an excellent driver, and she’ll call us the second she makes it to her dad’s house, just to let us know she made it there okay.” I soothed.
My mom drew in a deep breath. “Okay.”
Olivia smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ll be okay.”
I placed my hand on Olivia’s lower back. “Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.” I offered.
“Thank you.” Olivia smiled.
I walked her to the front door and as she put on her complicated boots, I removed her coat from the hanger. When she finished with her boots, I helped her slip her arms into her coat.
I took her hand and ventured outside without a coat.
“Watch the steps, sometimes they’re a bit slippery.” I mused.
Once we reached the driveway, we walked toward her car. She climbed inside and started the engine. She cranked up the heat and I helped her brush the snow off the windows. I met her around the car at the driver’s side and brushed her hair back from her face. “Well, it’s official. My parents love you more than me.” I mused. I’d meant it to be a joke, but Olivia was clearly mortified by the sentiment.
“That’s not true!” She protested.
I smiled. “Well, they like you very much. My mom absolutely adores you. And my brother’s think you’re hot. I actually think they’re jealous of me. I kind of like it.” I grinned hugely.
Olivia laughed. “That’s kind of sweet… I think. I hope everyone wasn’t too put out by the whole vegetarian thing. I kept insisting that there could be a meat dish, but your mom was adamant. Your brother seemed pretty devastated…”
“Nah, I don’t think anyone actually even noticed there wasn’t any meat on the table. Taylor was on his third helping before he discovered that he was actually eating something healthy. But he’s not that bright.” I shrugged.
Olivia laughed.
She reached out and gently laid her hand on my cheek. “You must be cold with no coat on. You should go inside.”
I shrugged. “I’m alright.” I smiled. “I want to say goodnight to you properly.”
Olivia smiled. “Okay.”
She stood on her toes and I leaned down, kissing her lightly.
She strained toward me more, and I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tightly.
Olivia laughed sweetly. “Oh, I should go.” She said, breaking the kiss.
“Okay. I’ll talk to you in a bit? I’ll make sure to answer the phone when you call so you don’t get stuck talking to my mom for hours.” I sighed.
Olivia laughed. “Oh, she’s so sweet. I can see where you get it.” She beamed up at me.
I chuckled. “Lets not go nuts.”
Olivia laughed. “Okay, I’d better get started on going home.” She mused.
“Okay. Drive safely.” She mused. She lightly kissed my cheek and climbed into her dad’s car. I closed the door behind her and waited while she pulled from the driveway. I waved to her as she shifted the car into drive and drove from sight.
I shuddered and jogged back into the house, kicking off my shoes.
I walked into the living room, where my parents were still sitting, waiting to ambush me.
I stopped. “Okay, spill it.” I sighed. “What now?”
My mom looked at dad then turned back to me grinning hugely. “Oh, she’s perfect! She’s the nicest girl you’ve ever brought home… well, technically she’s the only girl you’ve ever brought home, but I am so glad you did! She is smart and sweet and very pretty! She’s such a good influence on you!”
I shrugged. “Well, I like her. I don’t think I’d make it through the year at PCA without her.” I mused.
“Oh, I hope you marry her! She would be the perfect daughter in law!”
I gaped at my mom with wide eyes. “Mom! I’m only seventeen! I’m not even thinking of that yet” I groaned. I pinched the bridge of my nose between my thumb and forefinger. “Please do not mention that anywhere near Olivia! The last thing I want is to scare her away, or worse! She might like the idea! It’s far too early!”
“Di, you’re embarrassing the boy.” My dad smiled. “But aside from that, Olivia seems like a lovely young lady. And we would be honored to have her join us for Christmas.”
I nodded. “Okay.” I agreed.
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