~Natalie~
I took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air. The crisp air whipped around me, making the little fly-aways from my braid tickle my face. I could no longer see my breath when I breathed out which I know means that Spring is here and I couldn't be more excited.
While I loved Fall, I think my favorite season was Spring. Everything is new and just starting to bloom.
I looked into the parking lot, where I sat waiting on the front steps of the diner for E. There were still small piles of dirty snow along the road and parking lot, but with what I heard the weather was going to be like this week, I highly doubt they'll be there for long.
I smiled seeing E's car pull in and rolled right up to the stairs.
"Hey, was I too long?" E asked, as I got in and then leaned over the center console to kiss him.
"Nope. How was practice?"
E chuckled. "It wasn't practice, exactly. It was the first meeting since last season ended. But it did go well. Guess who got captain?"
"I knew you would." I said with a proud grin.
E nodded. "Yeah. It was pretty unanimous."
"Do you have an official practice schedule now?" I asked as E pulled out onto the main road
"Monday, Wednesday, and Friday after school until five. Then games will be on Saturdays." E said.
I giggled. "Well if you're up for it I still need rides?"
E took my hand and kissed the back of it, without looking away from the road. "Of course."
Once we got to my house he parked the car.
"Did you want to stay for dinner?" I asked. "Nate has been cooking a lot more lately. He seems more like himself finally."
"I'll never pass down food." E said with a wide grin.
I got out of the car, but as he was getting out on his side I grabbed him and pushed him against the car, closing the door. I smirked at his shocked expression and ran my hand up his chest.
"What are you doing, you little tease?" He said, after recovering from his shock. A hungry grin now on his face.
I bit my lip and looked up at him. His face fell and was replaced with a moan as I ran my hand down his stomach to the top of his jeans.
I giggled and pulled away from him, but this time he pulled me back and captured my lips. His tongue found its way to mine and they danced for a bit. Heat from between my thighs began to build as I ran my fingers through his hair as he pressed me closer to him.
"I fucking love you." He whispered softly, but without opening his eyes.
I leaned in, giving him one last kiss and then fully pulled away from him. E took my hand again as we walked up to the front door. Once we entered, the house smelled amazing. I smiled seeing Haley and Nate in the kitchen, but I noticed a third over by the stove.
"Mary!" I exclaimed, running over to my friend.
She smiled and hugged me back, I completely ignored my siblings for the time being.
"I'm so happy to see you." I said. "Sarah said you were on some kind of family emergency trip?"
Mary sighed. "Yeah a family member that I had no ties to, other than blood, died. My mom and dad are still up there, but I begged to come back down."
"I'm so sorry." I said in a sad tone as I felt little arms wrap around my leg.
"Natalie, we're making potato soup." Haley smiled up at me.
I looked back at Nate who was cutting up some green onions. I tried not to let the sight of Nate with a knife bother me. I kept telling myself he's okay. Mary, on the other hand, was frying up some bacon and it looked like Nate set up a little kid cutter station for Haley right next to him.
"Is it okay if E stays?" I ask walking back over to E. "Are you okay with potato soup?"
"Never had it."
Mary gasped and looked at E. "It's the most delicious thing ever. Do you like cheese fries?"
"Who doesn't?" E countered.
Mary laughed. "Well, it's the soup version of that."
E chuckled. "Well now I have to try it."
"We'll have plenty." Nate said, answering my earlier question. "Besides, E and his dad are the reason we have most of these ingredients anyway."
I clapped my hands. "Is there anything we can do?"
Nate looked around the small kitchen and shook his head. "I think you guys should wait in the den. It's too crowded here as it is."
I nodded and grabbed E's hand. Before fully leaving the kitchen I checked the washer, knowing I put some clothes in there this morning. I then opened the dryer and there they were, warm and dry. Nate probably switched it when he got home. I put the fresh laundry in the basket at my feet and headed into the den.
"Did you want to help me fold?" I asked E as I set the basket in front of us on the coffee table. I then sat down grabbing one of Haley's shirts and folding it.
E sat next to me and picked up a pair of jeans. He then folded them neatly and set them down. He then grabbed a shirt from the basket and folded that too. I was impressed.
"I didn't realize how nicely you folded laundry."
He chuckled and set the sock that he found down and then grabbed another shirt. "My mom and I used to fold laundry together all the time. It was something stupid that I liked to do with her."
I smiled at him and set a pair of Haley's undies on the other side of the basket. I then saw the matching sock that E had found.
"What was your mom like?" E looked over at me and I shrugged. "I know she was important to you. I'd love to know more about her."
He pressed his lips together and then set a pair of matching socks on the coffee table. "This was her favorite season. Spring and Summer. It was because all the flowers in her garden would bloom during that time. She loved taking me out into her garden and telling me about all the flowers."
"She loved gardening?" I asked.
He nodded. "Very much. Mostly flowers, though, but she grew a bunch of different things. I loved spending time out in her garden with her, but as she got sick that stopped. She couldn't tend her garden anymore."
I frowned, listening to him go on.
"I tried to tend it, but apparently I didn't get Mom's green thumb and I ended up making it worse." He said in a disappointed tone. "Then Dad offered to hire a gardener to help. It did, but I think it made Mom even more sad that she couldn't do it herself."
"I'm sorry E."
E shook his head. "Don't be. Dad has it set up that there are flowers around her grave all year 'round."
"That's really sweet of him." I said as I loaded the folded laundry into the now empty basket.
"Clean laundry and roses." He said softly as he brought a shirt up to his nose to sniff. "Those two smells always made me think of her."
