Shirley
There’s a smile on my face as I wake up the next morning and I know it can be blamed on the lovely scent that drifts up into my nose. As I roll in bed, I happily stretch across the soft bedding, finding that the smell is all around me, warmly greeting me for the morning.
Even Cicy seems delighted as she wiggles around inside of me, wearing her own grin as she brushes her fur into the scent. She even nudges me, causing me to lightly sweep my cheek against the pillow under my head as I take another long inhale.
However, as I register the quality of the material against my skin, I immediately feel myself tighten. The next second, my eyes fly open and then I find myself swiftly sitting up, blinking wildly as I take in the room before me that is now glowing in the morning light.
Keith’s. I’m at Keith’s.
I’d somehow completely forgotten an
ShirleyKeith and I don’t talk much on the way back - mainly only to discuss the dropping temperatures or when he scolds me for slapping his hand when he tries to change the radio station. Again, it’s another enjoyable encounter that has me feeling mixed up inside. However, it also leaves a small smile on my face.Only, my smile seems to fall as we pull into his driveway and I notice two figures walking up to the door.“What is she doing here?” Lily calls out the second we step out, not shy about voicing her disdain while Ron stands quietly at her side. Her question makes me want to shake my head, but I keep myself calm as I close my car door. As much as she hates me, just imagine if she found out that I’m -“She’s staying here,” Keith replies. And welp, consider the beans officially spilled.Lily takes the news li
ShirleyAs I’m getting ready for the day the following morning, I can’t help but acknowledge the restful night of sleep I’ve had - despite the dinner with Keith, despite him asking me to spend Thanksgiving with him, despite everything. Somehow, I managed to pass out soon after I returned to my room, and I slept soundly throughout the whole night.And now I’m moving around the guest bedroom, tidying up a little so Keith doesn’t think I’m some wild animal. Meanwhile, I have my phone propped against my shoulder and Jean’s sweet voice filling my ear.Well, it’s sweet despite the sadness in her tone over the news I’ve just shared.“What do you mean you’re not coming home for Thanksgiving? I was really hoping I could see you,” she tells me.“I know, Jean. I was too,” I tell her as I fo
ShirleyI’ve spent the last few hours locked up in my room, working away on the rest of the day’s tasks. I’d like to say I’ve only cooped myself up in here so I can focus, but I know that another part of the reason is because I’m avoiding Keith.It’s silly - I know. But I figured it was a better alternative than returning to the kitchen table, unable to type any coherent words as I listened to his shower running in the background. I wanted to get something done after my elongated break and I know this is the only way to accomplish that.And it worked. I was able to finish all of my work today and even clear my head a little. Maybe that can also be blamed on the house being fairly quiet, but either way I’m thankful.Rewarding myself, I decide to change into my nightgown and grab my book again, soon wiggling onto the bed. I pick up where I lef
ShirleyAll at once, my dirty thoughts from the afternoon seem to trickle back into my mind, and I find myself squirming again, pressing my thighs together. But I realize my reaction is a mistake as it catches Keith’s attention, drawing his stare to my exposed skin that only makes me hotter.And then his eyes begin to slowly raise back up, and I watch as his lips begin to part. However, it’s not his voice that soon meets the room, but the distant sound of a phone ringing. My phone.Jean. She’s calling.Stumbling over myself, I stand from the chair, clearing my throat.“I should go take that,” I tell him, and he watches me as I adjust my nightgown. His stare is still heated, but thankfully it has become a little tamer.Without another word, Keith hands me back my book and I leave the room, trying not to focus on
ShirleyHe couldn’t be…could he?My head is still reeling with the thought, feeling dizzied by the possibility as Keith and I finally sit in the car and buckle our seatbelts.I’m questioning it, trying to make myself believe that I’m mistaken and something else must have set Keith off. But it’s becoming harder to ignore my suspicions as he aggressively throws the car in drive and speeds away from the estate.There’s a buzzing silence between us that’s not even filled by the ambient sound of the radio as Keith has already turned it off. I assume that every mile we put between us and the party that his mood would get better, but it doesn’t. He only grips the steering wheel harder, keeps his angry stare on the road.Finally, I can’t hold my tongue any longer.“What’s wrong?” I ask,
ShirleyI wait. I wait for Keith to cross that last inch, to bring his lips to mine. I feel like his prey, but for some reason I’m willingly defenseless and ready for him to take control.His hand on my cheek tilts my chin a little and then I know his lips are almost again mine. I feel that flutter in my lashes as they long to close, to submit so Keith can take over.But they never fully close. Instead, they remain open as I hear his voice.“Go inside,” he states.It’s laced with lust, mirroring whatever desire I’m feeling. And yet his words were a perfect contradiction to the emotion, causing me to draw back an inch as Keith does the same. I’m left looking up into his golden eyes, my throat growing tight and dry as I see the intensity behind them.“Go inside,” he repeats.
ShirleyThe next two days seem to fly by as the team is busy working on their own necessary tasks. Even I barely remember to take a moment to eat as I stay glued to my computer, typing away furiously to do my part.And I hardly see Keith. In fact, I only really saw him once and it was from behind as his back had been turned to me and he’d been on the phone. I’d made sure to soundlessly move into the next room so I wouldn’t disturb him.When the morning of Thanksgiving arrives, I find myself waking up early and almost immediately leaving the house. I have a few errands to run for the day, including trying to see if the post office is open so I can redirect a few of Jean’s old packages that were apparently being held.Warren doesn’t seem too bothered to be working on the holiday as he drives me anywhere I need to go. However, I also try to sweeten him up more when
ShirleyThere’s no way this is happening. I’m dumbfounded as I stare at Keith’s mother, seeing she has the same golden gaze that is currently widened with bewilderment as she blinks at Keith and me.I know how this looks to her - it looks bad. Well, actually it isn't necessarily bad, but she’s probably getting the wrong idea from this scene. Keith and I both dressed up, sharing Thanksgiving alone? Again, it looks intimate and there’s probably a million thoughts swirling around in her head.“What are you doing here?” Keith finally asks calmly, getting up from the table. He goes to his mother, giving her a simple hug as she begins to bounce back a little. She embraces her son, giving him her attention as I also stand.“We were trying to surprise you,” his mother confesses. “We didn’t want you to be alone for Thanksgiving, but it seems that’s not an issue.”She looks at me again, but her gaze isn’t cruel and neither was her tone. It’s clear that she isn’t bothered by my being there, maki