1
HOPETON
YASIN
When I hear another giggle escape from the kitchen, followed by whispering voices and a chorus of muffled moans and groans, I know I’m clearly cramping my hosts’ style.
I slide on my camel cashmere coat, dark brown leather gloves and knitted hat, and wrap the assorted thick, warm scarf around my neck, before stomping heavily in the kitchen’s direction, in the knee-high cavalier boots that make my ass look amazing in the maroon sweater dress I’m wearing under my coat.
I hope I’m making enough noise, and that their activities haven’t progressed to where they won’t hear me approach. After obnoxiously clearing my throat, I slowly push the swinging door open and poke my head inside. I almost want to knock…But for heaven’s sake, who knocks on a kitchen door?!
When I walk in, it’s just as I thought. Ellie is sitting in Vaughn’s lap on one of the breakfast bar stools, looking way too disheveled for someone who was just supposed to be preparing hot cocoa. Her hair’s askew, her lips puffy, her eyes glazed over…Oh boy.
Vaughn sports a cocky grin, like he’s proud they’ve turned my girl into a sex maniac. Eth’ is standing at her right, literally plastered to her body, and Alex is in a similar position on her other side.
I shake my head.
“I don’t even wanna know what you three were doing to her.”
Elizabeth buries her face in her hands, but her light giggle resonates through the room. When she looks back up at me, she has the decency to smile sheepishly.
“I’m so sorry, Yas. We lost track of time.”
Alex lets out a snort, then taunts, “is that what the kids are calling it these days?”
Ellie throws him a glare before resuming her conversation with me.
“Just give me ten minutes. I’ll bring the hot chocolate, some warm cookies, and we can hang out,”says her half-unbuttoned-shirt ass.
I don’t know what Vaughn is maybe doing to her behind that counter, but she’s breathing pretty hard…
I shake my head again.
“Nope. Y’all feel free to proceed with whatever this is. I’m going to the mall. I have some last minute Christmas shopping to do, anyway. And I’ll be back in…”
I cock a brow toward the naughty little group. Ellie raises a finger, but Vaughn wraps his big hand around it and presses their joined digits to his chest, raising his other hand to show me two fingers.
Ethan grunts, “make it three hours, and she’ll be all yours when you return.”
I inhale deeply through my nostrils before wagging a finger in Elizabeth’s direction.
“Youinvited me here. You said y’all were done going at it like rabbits. So you better be available when I come back.”
She grins broadly.
“Yes, ma’am.”
On that note, I leave them to their shenanigans.
* * *
Elizabeth and I used to work for the company that Alex, Vaughn, and Ethan co-own. They met Ellie at work and apparently instantly knew she was theirs. Simple as that. Insane, if you ask me. They swept homegirl off her feet, then stole her away. Now they all live in a fabulous house in the small college town of Hopeton. And even I have to admit, it’s kinda kick-ass that they chose to move to a place that supports alternative weddings, just so they could officially commit to my girl.
Ellie and I stayed close even after she moved away from California. We text and call each other regularly. But it’s been months since we got together in person.
I was ready to spend another Thanksgiving alone, with a good movie, an entire pumpkin pie, and a can of whipped cream all to myself. But Elizabeth knows my family lives abroad and that I usually decline all holiday celebration invites, so she called, messaged, begged, threatened and pleaded till I gave in and flew across the country to come spend the holiday weekend with her and her guys. And honestly, I don’t regret it.
This small town has a lot of charm. The autumn colors and sharp cold are a pleasant change from the year-round same weather I’m used to. I forgot how much I enjoy seasonal changes.