PART FORTY NINE
"So we'll give you your house back," Aston's mum declared once we'd eaten and cleared things up from the cooking marathon that had taken up most of the afternoon, "Conor and I should be heading off anyways, don't want to be driving in the dark."
"You sure?" Aston asked.
"Yup, looks like you two have plans for the evening, don't want to spoil them," she winked, not so subtly. I was beginning to understand where Aston had gotten his cheeky streak from, just a little bit.
"Alright," Aston conceded, "Thanks for coming round. And for the food."
"Not a problem sweetheart," his mum replied, enveloping him in big motherly hug. I hung back and watched the familial exchange, still feeling that tiny pang of jealousy as I watched them all interact.
"Jessica," Aston's mum beckoned once she'd released her son. I wandered over to her and was surprised when she pulled me into a tight embrace as well. "It was lovely to meet you, good luck this week."
"Thanks," I said, gently returning the hug before pulling away a bit.
"The pair of you will have to come up soon so Jessica can meet the rest of the family," Siobhan declared as she released me and went to grab her things.
"Sure," Aston replied, "We'll find a time once the Tour is all over and Jess' racing quiets down a bit."
"Sounds fantastic," Siobhan smiled, "Now we're off, have a good night you two."
"Bye," Aston and I chorused after a quick goodbye to his brother. We hung by the open front door until their car had left the front drive and disappeared down the street.
As the door snapped shut I watched Aston heave a huge sigh, "I'm so sorry about that."
"I said earlier, it's fine," I told him, touching his arm gently as I indicated we should go sit down in the lounge. Together we plopped down on the couch, Aston's arm around my shoulders as we put our feet up on the coffee table.
"I know you said its fine, but I feel bad. We spoke all week about the different things we could do with our day together and then my mum and brother have to show up and ruin it all."
"They didn't ruin it," I asserted.
"But..."
"Aston!" I laughed, "I enjoyed meeting them! Just chill."
"Ok, sorry," he sighed.
"You know my Counselor and I were talking about us meeting each others' parents last week."
"Yeah?" Aston asked, his fingers starting to play with the ends of my ponytail.
"Well, we were more discussing you meeting my Dad," I said, "But yeah, families in general."
"And how do you feel about me meeting your Dad?"
"Honestly?" I said, "Not yet."
"Why not?" Aston asked a slight frown on his face.
"Well I've definitely got to get through this whole Germany thing," I sighed, "If it goes poorly my Dad is going to be on the war path, I can just feel it. Don't think you want to get involved in that... Could get pretty nasty. And I think he still needs some time to get used to me being with someone regardless of how this week turns out."
"You'll be fine in Germany," Aston said quietly, his lips close to my ear as he cuddled me tighter. "You've got to quit talking yourself down."
"I know," I replied, reaching my hand across his torso to link with Aston's free hand.
We sat like that for a while, a calm silence hovering between the pair of us. I felt insanely comfortable in that position, I could have stayed there all night.
"Should I put in a film?" Aston asked after a few minutes.
"Ok," I yawned, feeling just a bit drowsy from how comfortable I was, "I'll go get some drinks." I squirmed my way out of Aston's grip and began to wander off to the kitchen.
"What you getting?" Aston asked.
"I don't know..." I shrugged, "Something hot. I'm in the mood to treat myself just a bit..."
"Ohhh how about hot chocolate?" Aston grinned, following me back to the kitchen.
I nodded my head fervently as I leant my back against the counter, grinning at Aston, "Sounds lovely."
"Here, let me help," he told me as I began pulling open doors to cupboards, looking for some mugs. Once I'd finally gotten two, I turned to see Aston heating up some milk on the hob. "Cocoa powder is in the pantry," he told me.
Wandering over to the pantry I couldn't help but smirk to myself about what had happened earlier.
"What you laughing about?" Aston asked.
"Don't think I'll ever be able to look at this door the same!"
"No? Me neither," he replied, following me over to the pantry and pressing me up against the door again, capturing my lips in a soft yet warm kiss.
"Who's going to walk in this time?" I mused, pulling away just a fraction.
"Nobody, I hope," Aston laughed, kissing me again, his hand falling to my waist. If we weren't in the midst of making hot chocolate, with milk on the hob, I would have gladly let things proceed.
But, because I really didn't want to burn the house down, I gently pushed him off of me after a minute, "Back to work mister."
"But..."
"Later," I told him, "If you're good."
"Yes ma'am," Aston giggled, heading back to the hob to check the milk. I quickly made my way into the pantry and pulled out the cocoa powder, returning to the counter just as Aston was pouring the milk into mugs.
Ten minutes later and we were cuddled up on the sofa with a film playing in the background, hot mugs in our hands. It was very cozy.
"Can you believe we've only been a couple for two weeks," I giggled.
"Is that it?" Aston asked, "It feels like at least a year."
"I think its because we had a somewhat long courtship period where you pursued me tirelessly, we've kind of skipped the awkward getting to know each other phase," I replied.
"Hmm..." Aston grinned, setting his empty mug down on the table and pulling me nearer him, "I'm not sure if I completely know you just yet."
"Aye?"
"Well..." he started, his lips brushing my ear gently as he spoke, "I can think of a few things I want to find out, upstairs..."
I could feel the shivers shoot down my spine from his touch even though I was still holding my hot mug. "But I'm not finished yet," I moaned, trying to focus my attention back to the film and my drink.
"Aww come on," he whispered, his breath tickling my ear.
"You're going to become Mr. Persistent again, aren't you?" I giggled.
"If that's what it takes..."
I shook my head lightly at him as I continued to sip on my drink. Over the course of the next ten minutes I could feel Aston fidgeting around next to me as I tried to really enjoy my drink and figure out what was happening in the film. His fingers had tired of playing with my hair and had begun stroking my neck gently while he whispered things in my ear.
As I finished off my drink I set my mug on the side table, my head pretty much clouded by the silly boy sitting next to me. In a moment of inspiration, I shook Aston off of me, standing up and wandering off.
"Where you going?" he asked. I shrugged my shoulders dramatically as I went to the front hall and started up the stairs, "Jess?"
It took Aston until I was nearly at the top to figure out what was going on, and when he did he came running after me.
"You minx!" he laughed as he grabbed ahold of my waist and pulled me into his room as I shrieked with laughter.
"I can't believe it took you that long!"
"I had no idea what you were doing!" Aston protested.
"Well..." I replied, twisting around so I could wrap my arms around his neck, "I was giving into your persistence, again."
"I see that now," he replied, kissing me gently as he walked me back to his bed and tugged at the bottom of my top, "Let's pick up where we left off earlier, when we were so rudely interrupted by my family."
"Sure," I giggled, as my top was flung on the floor and I was pushed back on the bed. Aston climbed onto the bed over the top of me, laying kisses on every bit of my upper half as I wrestled him out of his shirt and later his jeans. "Your mum says you think I'm exciting," I breathed out as Aston pulled away to yank my trousers off.
"You are," he replied, "I have absolutely no idea what you're thinking, ever."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" I asked, as my trousers hit the floor.
"Good," he replied, leaning up and kissing me again, his fingers trailing down my back. "And it kind of freaks me out."
"How so?" I asked against his lips as his hands fumbled for the clasp of my bra, my back arched to help him out.
"I don't know how you're going to react to things, if you'll be happy or mad or whatever," Aston replied, "It keeps me on my toes."
"You're exciting too," I replied as his lips trailed up my neck, my fingers tracing around the top of his boxers as things got more and more heated, "For once in my life, I feel like I'm actually living when I'm with you."
I didn't get a response to that statement as Aston's lips pushed against my own again and our remaining garments were quickly shed and thrown to the side as the duvet came up over us. As things proceeded from there I couldn't help but grin into every kiss, every touch, every movement. Aston's lips were mirroring my own in a big smile as his eyes looked down into my own.
"Stop it with those eyes. You're making me want to laugh," Aston mumbled against my lips as things proceeded and his breathing became heavier.
"Good," I said, a hint of laughter on my own voice, my fingers running down his bareback. As we reached climax and things slowed down between us, our bodies still pressed close to each other, I couldn't help it. In that moment, even though things were incredibly intimate between the pair of us, I burst out laughing.
"That damn twinkle in your eyes," Aston giggled as he cuddled me close ten minutes later, back down on the sofa with the film back on, the pair of us in trackies and t-shirts after I'd insisted I was not ready for bed yet. To be fair it was still quite early, there was certainly time for another round.
"What about it?" I asked.
"It's one of the things makes you exciting... And enticing..." Aston whispered, tipping my head towards his for another kiss.
PART FIFTY
I stood in front of the full-length mirror on my wardrobe door, smoothing out the zebra print high-waisted skirt I was wearing and fretting about how I looked. I hated going out with my legs bare unless I was at the track—they were so muscular and manly, it made me feel funny. But, I'd been told to dress nice, and in a spurt of spontaneity earlier in the day while out shopping with Aston after training, I'd bought a few new things to wear out. I was going to need them if this thing with Aston continued!
"Babe hurry up!" I heard shouted up the stairs as I stood and stared at myself.
"One more minute!" I called back. I took a deep breath and ran my hand through my long hair quickly before grabbing my bag off the bed and heading down stairs.
"There you are!" Aston said, looking up from his phone. His eyes narrowed at me for a second before he stood up and wandered over to me, his hands clamping on my hips as he stared me down.
"What?" I asked.
"This new?"
"What?" I asked, again, slightly confused.
"The skirt," he said, wrapping an arm around my waist and kissing my head gently, "It's nice."
"It's not too much?" I asked, "I was debating tights but its actually kind of warm out for once. Don't want people looking at my legs funny."
"No, its perfect. You're legs are perfect. You're perfect," he replied.
"You're saying all the right words right now," I said as I returned his affection and kissed his cheek lightly.
"Just speaking the truth," he replied, "Now let's get going or Joe is going to be ringing you pretty soon."
"Yes sir," I replied, linking my fingers through his as we headed out of my house, locked up and then climbed into his car for the drive to the restaurant.
"There you two are!" Joe said as we finally got to the restaurant and were led back to our table. Joe and Kat were sitting on one side of the table, drinks in front of them already.
"We're only five minutes late!" I protested, taking a seat across from Kat. I knew if the boys got off on some tangent it would be much better to be across from the other female at the table.
"Still!" Joe argued.
"You're just being difficult!" I scolded him.
"Have a seat Rego," he grinned.
"Boys," I sighed, grinning over to Kat as a menu was placed in front of me.
"You want anything to drink?" Aston asked me quietly as the waiter stood to his side.
"Still water for me," I said, "Race in a few days and all."
"You got it," he replied, turning back to the waiter.
As everyone sorted out what they wanted a silence hovered over our group.
"I haven't been here before," Aston declared after a minute of scanning the menu, "What's good?"
I watched on as Joe and Kat explained their favorite dishes to him. It was just a typical Italian place over in Joe and Kat's neighborhood that we frequented from time to time. It was much easier coming here than venturing into the city proper since Joe and Kat had a babysitter home with Stella.
"Jess what you getting?" Aston asked me after another minute of pondering the menu.
"They have lovely fresh pesto," I said, "So that and some crusty bread. Need to start carb loading for my race in a few days."
"Hmm..." he mused, looking over the menu, "You'll let me try some yeah?"
"I guess," I sighed.
"Ok, spaghetti and meatballs for me then!"
We put in our orders with the waiter as our drinks were brought round and then a comfortable silence hovered over the table for a moment as we all sat staring at one another.
"So Ast, you see the football at all earlier?" Joe asked. And they were off, in the world of boy talk.
"I'm not going to even try," I grinned at Kat.
"I knew this would turn into more of a bromance date with us on the sideline," Kat replied, "I think Joe is tired of hanging out with just us two girls... and Stel." I giggled at this comment as I began talking about Stella with Kat. "She's trying to walk now!" Kat exclaimed.
"Seriously? Already?" I asked, shocked. It seemed like just yesterday that Stella was born!
"Yeah, she's pulling herself up on everything! I'm afraid she's going to pull something down on her so we've kept her relatively cooped up in her playpen so she doesn't have any sort of accident. She isn't pleased!"
"Aww bless!" I grinned.
"So what did you two get up to yesterday?" Kat asked me, giving me the tiniest of winks.
As she said this I felt Aston's hand trail up my thigh and grab hold of my own hand. If I didn't know any better I'd guess he had one ear in on our conversation. "Aston's mum and brother came round to cook for him, so we just hung around the house with them," I said simply.
"Ohh, you met his mum! How'd that go?"
I heard Aston choke slightly on his drink as this question was asked and I couldn't help but grin a little bit.
"What?" Joe asked, completely out of the loop.
"Jess met Aston's mum yesterday!" Kat said excitedly.
"What? You didn't say at training!"
"You didn't ask," I replied with a shrug.
"So how'd it go?" Kat asked again.
"It was fine," I said, reliving the moment just a tiny bit in my head. It had already gone from being slightly mortifying to somewhat hilarious.
"Why you laughing?" Joe asked.
"Cause my brother and mum walked in on us making out..." Aston started as my cheeks burned red, "... topless."
"Both of you?" Kat asked, a shocked look on her face. I could only nod as everyone else at the table burst into laughter.
The meal went on comfortably from there, the four of us joking about and enjoying our food. As things wrapped up Aston excused himself to get up and go to the toilet.
"You know he's going to go pay while he's up," I warned the others the second he was gone.
"I'll deal with it when he gets back," Joe said, "Don't worry."
"Just warning you," I replied, "Thanks for this, its been great."
"He's a really great guy Jess," Kat said, "You've done well."
"To be honest, I have no idea what I did, but I'm not complaining at all!"
"Well keep him around," Kat said.
"Yeah Rego," Joe said, "He's great for you."
"Thanks guys, means a lot," I smiled as I watched Aston wander back.
"Here mate," Joe said, passing him a few bills. I watched Aston scowl slightly as the money was held in front of his face.
"Caught you out," I said, squeezing his side lightly, "Just take it."
"I tried," Aston sighed dejectedly as he took the money. "We ready?"
"Yup," I said, standing up and slipping my coat back on. The four of us wandered out of the restaurant and split off into our pairs. "See you at the track tomorrow Joe!" I shouted across the lot.
"Bye!"
"Good luck in Germany!" Kat shouted after me as I climbed into Aston's car.
"Where to?" he asked as he started the engine.
"Mine?" I asked.
"Perfect," Aston replied, reversing the car and easing it out onto the road, his hand falling to my thigh as he went off towards my house. "You're friends are great Jess."
"Thanks for doing this," I replied, "I really appreciate you making an effort to get to know them."
"Wasn't much of an effort," he replied, "I invited them round mine once you're back from Germany, before the boys and I have to head out on the second half of our Tour. We can cook for them or something... hopefully celebrate something..."
"You did that?" I asked.
"Sure, they're great people!"
"Thanks babe," I replied, picking up Aston's hand from my thigh and kissing it gently. I was definitely planning on keeping him around, although I'd have to keep from losing him to his new found bromance with my best mate!