#she visited my home after graduation this one time and while we were hanging out on my couch she just grabbed my hand and started messing

[mooseonahunt]

Sometimes your life feels like it’s over and then you’re 6 years older in the blink of an eye.

[roosterforme]

The Intern Prologue | Rooster x Reader

Summary: You barely have a minute to yourself after graduating at the top of your Ivy League class before your father insists you find an internship. Your days of lounging by the pool and partying are numbered as he has an endless parade of his colleagues visiting the house. But one of them is familiar to you in a way that warms your skin just like the San Diego sun.

Warnings: Language (eventually 18+)

Length: 1800 words

Pairing: Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x Female Reader

The Intern masterlist. Check out my masterlist for more. Banner by @mak-32

"We need to start talking about your summer internship."

You had been home for less than one full day, and your father was already on his favorite topic of conversation: your future as a business mogul poised to take over his empire.

"Can we talk about it tomorrow, Daddy?" you asked, flashing him your sweetest smile as you yanked your sunglasses down lower on your nose. It was the end of May. You'd just graduated with top grades and a master's degree in business analytics and finance from his Ivy League alma mater. You were doing everything you could to uphold the family name as his only child, but you just wanted one day off before you got fully immersed in his world.

He sighed and glanced between you and the enormous pool behind the house you grew up in just outside San Diego. "Tomorrow morning. We will talk about it at breakfast," he said sternly. But then you watched his features crack into that soft smile he only ever shared with you. "I'm really proud of you, Sweetheart. You'll do big things."

Your annoyance with him melted away. "Thanks, Daddy." Most of your motivation to succeed came from him and his own personal success, but he worked nearly all the time. You would find a way to balance out a summer internship along with hanging by the pool and partying with your friends. You'd spent years perfecting this routine in college so that you graduated first in your class while still devoting your weekends to your sorority sisters and fraternizing with the fraternity boys.

Your father kissed the top of your head, and once he was gone, you rolled onto your belly. You wanted to feel the glorious heat from the California sun on every bit of your skin. While you enjoyed the different seasons on the east coast and the beautiful Ivy League campus, you certainly missed this weather. You were half tempted to untie your bikini top now that you were alone, but your father always had a parade of his colleagues and employees coming through the house to talk shop. And a lot of them were older and ex-military, and your dad would have a fit. You smiled, because that made you want to do it even more.

You spent all morning and most of the afternoon laying out by the pool with a book that wasn't holding your interest and your enormous water cup. You only ventured inside to get lunch where you waved off your father's chef when she tried to make something for you. It was her job, but you were twenty four and far less helpless than your father when it came to most things around the house. You made a sandwich and took it back out to the pool where the groundskeeper was testing the water. 

Everyone here was calling you 'Miss' which was already getting on your nerves. Nobody cared who you were when you were strolling through campus at the University of Pennsylvania, because their mommys and daddys were even wealthier and more famous than your dad. They just called you by your first name and let you blend in. 

"Miss, the pool chemicals look good," the groundskeeper told you. "Enjoy your swim."

Before he wandered off to work on his next chore, you called out, "Thank you." The funny thing was, your dad never used the pool. All he did was work. He probably only kept it open for the past six years while you were away in Philadelphia just in case you wanted to use it when you were home on breaks. 

And that's what had you walking over to the edge and dipping your toes in the water. There was a bit of a chill to it, probably because the sun had warmed you to your bones. Goosebumps ripped along your skin, and your nipples furled softly in your bikini top. You were suddenly very aware of your body as you heard your dad's booming laughter coming from inside the house along with dress shoes on the Calacatta marble floor. 

You swirled your toes around again as you turned to look through the open French doors at the group of men and women all in black suits. Most of them were as old as your dad with graying hair and scowling faces that conveyed how little they appreciated having their time wasted. All except for one. He was younger and taller than the rest, and he was the only person you knew by name. You hadn't seen him since you were home in December, but Bradley Bradshaw looked just as good now in his navy blue suit as he had with a glass of champagne and pink cheeks in his silk Fair Isle sweater at your father's holiday party. Maybe even better.

Now that he was a mere fifty feet away from you, it surprised you a bit that you hadn't really thought about him in months. His brown eyes met yours and he took a few steps to separate himself from the group. He shot a crooked little grin your way, and you smiled back before your eyes shifted to the pristine pool water. 

That night had been fun, even though your dad insisted you wear a modest forest green dress instead of the black one you brought home from Philadelphia. The champagne and mulled wine made it almost entertaining for you to drift from one of his geriatric colleagues to the next, intentionally asking them almost bizarre questions just to see how they would react. But Bradley had been there, and when you asked him if he'd ever had wine from Domaine Tropez in the south of France, he responded in a deep rumble of a voice saying, "I have a box of wine in my refrigerator that just says White Wine on the side of it. Does that answer your question?" 

You couldn't remember the last time someone made you laugh so hard, and he didn't look at you like the spoiled brat you almost enjoyed playing the part of.

"The vineyard sent me a bottle of rouge for my birthday. Want to try it?" you had asked him, feeling a little drunk and silly as he set his empty champagne flute on a passing tray. 

"You want to waste it on a guy who drinks boxed wine?" he asked, his voice impossibly deep and his mustache twitching with amusement. "I thought you were supposed to be smart. Your father talks about you all the time."

You had been about to take him by the hand and lead him to the kitchen where you'd stashed the wine so your dad wouldn't drink it, but then Bradley got pulled into a conversation with someone else. But you felt his eyes on you frequently throughout the night. And he did make it a point to say goodbye to you, letting you see those rosy cheeks up close one more time.

Just then you were jolted back to the present as you nearly toppled into the pool. Your father's voice carried outside, inflection full of pride as you heard him say, "My daughter flew back last night. Graduated top of her class with the same degree I earned. Following right in my footsteps, if you can believe it. Higher marks than I ever had."

There was some soft laughter and words of congratulations aimed at him, even though you were the one who had worked so hard. You rolled your eyes and planted both feet on the edge before diving as gracefully as you could into the pool. You swam nearly all the way across underwater, grateful for the bit of silence as you collected your thoughts. The water cooled you without being cold enough that you wanted to get out, and when you surfaced, you took a deep breath. 

Everyone seemed to have moved along from the open French doors, probably heading deeper into the house toward your dad's study or his conference room. You swam off toward the pool float that was drifting along in the shallow end, and you pulled yourself gracelessly up onto it. Just as you were fixing your bathing suit, about to settle in for another hour of sunbathing, a shadow crossed your face, and you nearly landed back in the water as you jumped.

"Congratulations."

It was Bradley Bradshaw standing over you with his hands on his narrow hips and his tie loosened in a way that you couldn't stop looking at. You desperately wished you had your sunglasses to help shield your eyes from the bright light as well as the fact that you were on the verge of checking him out. 

"Heard you graduated with a splash," he added, smiling as you dipped your foot in the water.

You rolled your eyes and settled back against the raft. "Crazy, isn't it? There's almost nothing you can't accomplish when you set your mind to it and have a billion dollar bankroll behind you, just helping you along the way."

His laughter made you feel warmer than the sunshine. "Are you daring to call yourself privileged?" He kept his eyes on yours, and you were impressed that they weren't straying south.

"Are you daring to say you aren't, Mr. Bradshaw?" you asked him with a smirk. "I didn't know you could buy Armani suits at JCPenney. I guess even an Ivy League valedictorian can learn something new every day."

He rubbed his hand over his lips and mustache to try to hide his amusement, and you wiggled back against the raft with a smile of your own. You weren't sure what possessed you to talk to him like this; he was your father's colleague after all. But you felt validated as he squatted down in his three thousand dollar suit to test the water temperature with his hand, because he shook his head slowly at you and said, "I'm impressed you even know what a JCPenney is. You're a bit of a brat, aren't you?"

Now you were the one trying to hide your smile behind your hand. "Don't get it twisted. I've never actually been to one. But all the prep school kids used to talk about shopping for suits off the rack along with knockoff handbags just to rile up our parents."

You thought you heard him mutter the word brat again as he stood. "Well, as much fun as this has been, I'm not dressed for swimming, so I guess I'll go find the other Armani suits and get back to work instead."

"Shame, that," you replied, clicking your tongue. "Bring your Armani swim trunks next time and stay a while."

Now that he was standing at his full height, his gaze slowly drifted down your body, and his cheeks turned ruddy just like they had after an evening of indulging in champagne last December.

"Maybe I will."

------------------------

Stay tuned for chapter one. We're about to go on an adventure. Thanks to @mak-32 and @beyondthesefourwalls

PART 1

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[darlingillustrations]

How To Know If Someone Is In Love With You

Ever since I was a kid, I was notorious for being gullible. Context clues were often lost on me, and I’d launch forward into social interactions, taking people at their word.

When I was in 9th grade, I’d just returned to the states from living in Bulgaria. I’d spent the last 4 years away from American pop culture and was clueless about a lot of things. While riding the bus home from school, the other kids told me that Tommy Hilfinger had a crush on me. They were laughing at me. I did not know who that was.

In college, I went on a study abroad program to London and struck up an easy friendship with one of the guys there. We bought a literary tour guide to the city and spent our free time visiting obscure locales important to different authors. While we were busy walking through Virginia Wolfe’s park and standing outside Rudyard Kipling’s old house, the girls in the program were taking bets on whether or not we would end up dating. I didn’t even realize the guy was into me until I’d unwittingly rejected him. After that, we didn’t hang out as friends any more.

The summer after I graduated college, I worked at a coffee shop, and I fell for one of my co-workers, a wiry Italian who invited me to her feminist book club and would drive me home from work when our shift ended after my last bus. When she invited me to her birthday party downtown, I hitchhiked to make it there (even though I was two hours late). To me, she was brilliant, and her moments of raw honesty felt real in ways that many other relationships were lacking. I could never figure out if she liked me romantically or not.

Relationships are complicated, and people are confusing.

I used to play D&D with a family who hosted in their special D&D room at their home. Above the D&D room, there was a loft with a bed, and the couple talked about how they had guests stay over often. The husband used to go out of his way to touch my shoulder as he walked around the table, but I just thought that he was clumsy. The wife would needle me, teasing me about liking David Bowie. It didn’t occur to me until years later that this couple were swingers and that they had likely been trying to see if I would swing with them.

I don’t know how to read people. If you tell me you want to see the original manuscript of Samuel Johnson’s dictionary, I will pack snacks for the tube. If you say you want to watch the Labyrinth, I will grab a blanket and curl up on the couch. If you say you have a friend who wants to date me, I will ask you questions about their interests and values, even if their name is Calvin Klein. I don’t know the difference between interactions that are flirty, friendly or making fun of me, but if I’ve learned anything in life it’s this:

I will live brilliantly. I will live my life as in love with myself as possible. If someone is in love with me or not really isn’t my business, at the end of the day. Each person is entitled to their own feelings. But I treat each interaction as genuine, and I live like everyone loves me for who I am.

And, if I want a relationship with someone along the way, I will tell them, point blank, and let the chips fall where they may.

This writing originally appeared in my newsletter. If you want to read more of my creative writing and get updates on my art, you can sign up here.

[topsytervy]

Graduation Present ~ Quinn Hughes

synopsis: Quinn flies from Vancouver to Michigan to watch you walk across the stage and he gets you the best graduation gift you could have asked for (besides a puppy)

word count: 2,574?

warnings: swearing, spelling/ grammar mistakes, small mentions of drinking, i think thats it.

Note: this may contain more mistakes than usual solely because my computer decided that while I was editing this it was going to make me miserable in every way possible. Acting slow, whenever I would correct my spelling and grammar with the suggestions it would duplicate the word or smush it together with the next one and listen, I was over it after the first five minutes of it pulling that shit so I pushed through it the best I could and fixed what I caught that it messed up. So yeah. Enjoy :)

~~

"Quinn!" You shouted, running down the steps of your parent's front porch as you watched your boyfriend unload his bags out of the car in the evening light.

A small smile made its way on Quinn's lips as he turned around and saw you running towards him, holding his arms open slightly for you and when he felt your arms wrap around his waist, his wrapped around your neck, arms resting around your shoulders.

He was absolutely exhausted from his long day of travel but seeing you lifted his spirits.

"Hey, gorgeous. Missed you." He mumbled into your hair, kissing your temple and letting himself relax slightly.

You and Quinn had been dating for a while, having known each other longer thanks to Luke being friends with your younger sister. Back in high school when you and Quinn got your license, it wasn't uncommon for you and Quinn to run into each other when one of you were picking up or dropping off your siblings. Sometimes you even took Luke home if Quinn wanted to hang out with friends. And then both of you ended up attending University of Michigan so you two stuck together as much as you could since you two were familiar with each other.

Summer going into sophomore year of college was when Quinn had asked you out and when sophomore year came to a close and Quinn was getting ready to go to Vancouver, you two decided to give long distance a shot. Both of you were pleasantly surprised at how well it was working out for the two of you.

Of course there were times when Quinn or you would wish you two weren't so far from each other, however you both knew you had a couple of times throughout the year that you two could spend time with each other.

Like now. The offseason had officially started and Quinn couldn't have been more grateful of the timing so he could watch you walk across the stage and get your diploma. He only wished he could've gotten a slightly earlier flight.

"Missed you too," you replied, kissing his cheek before burying your head back into his neck.

"Alright, lovebirds. Pack it up before I vomit all over the grass." Jack hollered, not entirely thrilled that he had to be the one to pick up Quinn at 7 o'clock at night.

"Why don't you go inside and stop watching us then?" Quinn shot back, narrowing his eyes at the boy.

He hadn't held you since you visited him during spring break so he’d be damned if he was going to let his younger brother tell him when to let you go.

You heard Jack groan as you pulled back a little and kissed Quinn on the lips, followed by a 'get a room' before hearing the front door open.

"Quinn!" You heard Ellen say and you pulled away from Quinn so she could hug her oldest son.

"Hi, mom," he greeted her as he wrapped his arms around her.

"So glad you were able to get a flight out. Are you hungry? We saved some dinner for you." She pulled away and looked at him, waiting for his answer.

"I could eat."

Ellen smiled before turning back to the house. "I'll fix your plate while you get settled in." And then she was gone.

"Feels good to be back?" You asked, reaching into the trunk and grabbing Quinn's backpack to carry inside.

Quinn made a noise of disapproval at you grabbing his things before he took his bag from you and picked up his duffle. "Of course it does, my love." He told you, kissing your lips one last time before slinging his backpack onto his shoulder. "Am I rooming with my girlfriend or am I forced into a room with my brothers?"

You grinned, grabbing his hand as you closed the trunk for him. "I'm going to be your roomie if that's okay."

"Sounds better than okay." He answered, following you towards the house.

Once inside, you grabbed Quinn's bags from him and before he could protest, you told him to sit down and eat.

He reluctantly sat down and you disappeared down the hall to set his bags in your room.

"Quinn! It's good to see you," your mom beamed as he sat down with the plate his mom handed him.

"Good to see you too, y/m/n. How have you been?" He asked.

"I've been good. How about you?"

"Doing alright."

"Sorry about the season, Quinn" your dad chimed in.

"It's alright. There's always next season." He scooped some mashed potatoes onto his fork and took a bite, glancing down the hall when he heard your footsteps coming back into the living room, giving you a smile as you sat down next to him.

The next hour consisted of Quinn catching up with his family and yours, his plate empty next to him.

You glanced over at the clock on the wall and stood up, stretching. "I better get to bed. Early day tomorrow." You sighed, grabbing Quinn's plate to wash before heading to bed but he grabbed it back from you.

"I'll wash this really quick and then I'll join you. I'm beat."

You smiled at your boyfriend before bidding good night to everyone, heading towards the bathroom to brush your teeth and wash your face. As you looked in the mirror while you brushed your teeth, you watched Quinn sneak in next to you with his own toothbrush, grabbing your toothpaste as he wets the toothbrush.

You basked in the domestic feeling of it all as Quinn asked you about a quick rundown of tomorrow as he brushed his teeth.

"Wake up, get ready, go to graduation, take some pictures, come home, eat, relax." You told him, Quinn's hand coming up to your hair to hold it back as you spit into the sink, rinsing it down the drain as you rinsed off your toothbrush.

Quinn nods, following suit before turning to you. "You're amazing, you know that?"

You smiled. "I've been told once or twice by a certain someone."

Quinn wrapped his arms around your waist, "only once or twice? Then I'm failing as a boyfriend." He joked, kissing your nose.

"Sure you are. You only get me flowers and chocolate every Valentines Day, birthday and anniversary. Always making time for me, even if it's just a five-minute phone call, no matter how busy you are. Oh, and let's not forget the care package you have Luke drop off every month when I'm on my period, which by the way, he’s tired of being your errand boy and told me to tell you to just send it through the mail. You’re totally failing as a boyfriend."

"You deserve it all." He placed a kiss to your lips. "I'm so proud of you y/n and you deserve nothing but the best. Especially now."

You brought your hands up to cup his face. "And you deserve the world because you're the best, Quinn." You told him.

"Oh my god. Seriously. You two are taking over the bathroom now?" Jack’s voice cut through the air and Quinn groaned as you let out a giggle.

"Come on, Quinny. Let's go to bed before we make Jack sick." You grabbed Quinn's hand and pushed past Jack.

"You two better not do anything," Jack called after you two but you two pay him no mind, disappearing into your bedroom and closing the door most of the way, leaving it open enough for when your cat inevitably decides to join you.

Quinn knew you wouldn’t though, at least not for another hour. You're excited that he’s here with you and that tomorrow you will walk across the stage, all the hard work you put into school finally paying off.

You and Quinn climbed into bed, facing each other as you moved closer to him so you could snuggle into his chest and he draped his arm around you, letting his hand softly rub your back as he attempted to lull you to sleep.

And as tired as he was, he listened as you quietly rambled about whatever came to your mind, humming every once in a while, so you knew he was still awake and listening. Eventually though, you trailed off, letting yourself shut down for the night as Quinn continued to rub your back, watching as your eyes fluttered close before he closed his own.

"Night baby. Love you." He whispered as he pulled you closer.

"Love you too, Quinny. Sweet dreams." You managed to get out before letting yourself finally fall asleep.

**

You sat down next to Quinn, slumping against him as his arm went around your shoulders as friends and family gathered around the bonfire your cousins had started, a beer in Quinn's hand as he chatted with everyone. You were in a hoodie that belonged to Quinn at some point and a random pair of pajama pants, your third, and final, outfit change of the night after changing from your graduation dress into something you wouldn’t mind getting something spilled in after you got home that afternoon.

Quinn glanced over at you when your aunt walked away for another glass of wine, letting his mouth drop next to your ear.

"You okay?"

You nodded. "Just worn out."

Quinn smiled as he kissed the top of your head. "Long day for you. I’d be surprised if you weren't."

"I'm surprised your voice isn't hoarse considering how loud you were cheering. The world won't believe me when I tell them Quinn Hughes was actually loud and excited for once," you teased as you looked up at him, "it was like you and Jack switched personalities for the ceremony. Your reaction to me graduating was almost the same reaction that Jack had when Luke got drafted to the devils." you finished, referencing how loud Quinn cheered from his seat when you walked across the stage, matching the volume with half of your family as you stared straight ahead, your face starting to heat up.

You caught a glimpse of all of them though when you walked off the stage. Your immediate family along with 4/5 of the Hughes family all stood up and cheered as Jack and your extended family remained seated, clapping before Jack caught your eye and shot you a thumbs up.

"Baby, you are one of the few people I will stand up and cheer for like that. You know this." Quinn’s smile grew as he brought his beer up to his lips and took a drink, swallowing before speaking again. "I think that you should go upstairs and take a power nap."

"If I take a power nap, I might not go back to bed when I get up and I can't risk messing up my sleep schedule." You tried but Quinn shot you a look.

"You won't mess it up. It's seven pm. You'll be up no later than 9 and you'll go back to bed at midnight." He said, nodding towards the screen door. "Go take a nap."

You sighed, leaning more into Quinn. "Fine, I'll take a nap but I'm taking one right here." You told him firmly, closing your eyes.

You felt Quinn move slightly, pulling the hood of your sweatshirt over your head before resting his arm back around you and starting a conversation with your sister, the sound of their voices putting you to sleep.

You stirred awake a couple of hours later, blinking as you gathered where you were.

The chatter between friends and family had died down quite significantly, along with the bonfire, just a baby if a flame dancing along the wood.

You heard your dad and mom bid Quinn a quiet good night before you heard footsteps and then the screen door opening and closing behind them.

You let out a small yawn and Quinn looked down at you, brushing the hair that had fallen into your face away.

"Don’t you feel better after that nap?" He cooed and you shrugged, sitting up straight and stretching.

"I still feel tired if I'm honest." You responded, looking around to see everyone gone.

"Well then let's go to bed, yeah?" Quinn said, going to stand but you grabbed his bicep to stop him.

"No. Let's just stay out here for a bit longer. Have some us time." You said, sticking out your bottom lip for good measure.

Quinn smiled at you, pulling you back into his arms as he leaned back on the bench, and you felt your own smile grow.

You sighed as you closed your eyes again, basking in his warmth. "Thank you for being there for all the late-night breakdowns and making sure I took care of myself."

Quinn pressed his lips against your temple. "Anytime, baby." He paused for a second before continuing. "What are you going to do with your free time?"

You laughed. "Free time? Right. Well, going to start applying for jobs, that internship I had this year should help land one fairly quick, and while I'm doing that, I'll pick up some more hours at the job I have." You shrugged. "I'm just gonna go with it, I guess. Wherever the wind takes me."

You felt Quinn start moving so you sat up, allowing him to do the same. "I have a graduation gift for you." He told you as his hand went to the pocket of his sweatpants.

You watched him pull out something slim before he handed it to you, your eyes skimming over the words that were on it.

"It's a ticket to Vancouver. It's your ticket to Vancouver." He whispered.

You looked up at him, "what?"

"I want you to move in with me." He started, "we've been together two and a half years and I wasn't going to ask you to move to Vancouver when you were still finishing your degree, so I figured I'd wait until you graduated. You can apply for jobs there and we won't have to go months before we can see each other in person again. It's okay if you don-"

You cut Quinn off by pressing your lips to his, your hands cupping his cheek, the ticket still in your hand and Quinn kissed back, his hands going to your waist.

When you finally pulled away, Quinn spoke. "I'll take that as you're coming back to Vancouver with me towards the end of the offseason."

You nodded. “Absolutely. I'll start looking for jobs and I'll put in my notice at my work in the next couple of months."

"Or," Quinn started, "you could put in your two weeks tomorrow and you can spend the entire summer with me at the lake house."

You bit your lip as your hands dropped from his face to your lap, ticket still in your hand as you stared at it.

You felt Quinn take your hands in his. "Let yourself have one last summer vacation like when we were kids. No responsibilities. Just fun."

You smiled before nodding. "Okay. I'll put in my two weeks tomorrow and then once I'm done, I'm all yours for the summer."

Quinn pulled you into his chest as he leaned back once more, kissing you yet again. "And all mine after summer." He mumbled against your lips.

You chuckled before pecking his lips one last time and let yourself rest against him. "Yes. And after summer too."

~~~

[mamirhodessxox]

Hey There Delilah (Part 4)

Cody Rhodes x Fem OC!Reader

(Delilah Jones)

Storyline: Delilah was born and raised by the beach in L.A and grew up in a home where her parents expected her to go to Harvard & become a well known woman who marry’s a man who is a lawyer after high school. But that’s not what she wanted, She always wanted to own a boutique/flower shop & she did, once her parents discovered she wouldn’t attend college they left her to fend for herself but allowed her little sister Kinsley to visit or sleep over whenever, Her little sister always had an eye for WWE but Delilah never understood why but little did either of them know one of Delilah’s customers would become well acquainted. (Creds to @alyyaanna for helping me w the storyline)

Contents: Toxic parents, Angst, Fluff, Smut in later chapters, Based in summer 2023, Alcohol, Violence, Corruption Kink, Size Kink, ETC, Loss of Virginity, Daddy kink, Fingering, Oral sex (Creds to @alyyaanna for writing the oral sex part bc I couldn’t do it for the life of me) P in V sex, Dom!Cody

{~I'm very serious with you guys interacting with my writing!!!! it would make me so happy & excited, the more comments & reposts the more inspiration i have to write :) likes and comments are strongly appreciated so please COMMENT COMMENT COMMENT COMMEENNTTT the more comments the more content <3!!!~}

The summer was going by slowly, Cody & Multiple of his friends would visit or hang out in the shop during the slowest of days including Delilahs childhood friend Mirabella was. She just moved back to L.A after living in new York after graduation and it had been the best time except one thing. She did not like Cody very much, Atleast Cody thought so, but to Mira she thought of him as a brother but just treated him with a lot of tough sibling love.

Today Mira sat behind the register while Lilah wrapped up a few bouquets until Cody, Randy, Seth & Jey walked in with lunch while Kinsley just made her way down to grab something, Lilah smiled and scampered over to Cody “You brought lunch? You didn’t have too I was just about t-“ he shook his head and gave her a quick kiss “Can’t keep coming in without some sort of treats that’s rude.” Mira rolled her eyes muttering “Your face is rude.” Causing Seth to giggle before Lilah smiled shaking her head

“I haven’t seen you guy’s in a while how are you?” Randy shrugged shoving his hands in his pockets “Been on the road for a little bit, Now we gotta start getting ready to go to another summer slam in Perth Australia” Lilah got a little nervous hearing about this after last weeks mishap that Mira knows a little to much about but Cody butted in “I was just about to ask, we’re getting a vila and stuff and I didn’t wanna leave you by yourself again so why don’t you, Mira & Kinsley come with?”

Lilah smiled a little bit & fiddled with her fingers “I’m sure we’d love to come with, right Mira?” Mirabella was zoned out for a minute looking at Randy but quickly nodded her head getting up to go into the backroom to go out with kinsley while Cody smiled and wrapped his arms around Lilah while the guys got tuned into a separate conversation “You look so goddamn pretty today angel.” She became flustered and nodded her head nervously which made him chuckle and run his hand through her hair, Lilah was so disgustingly attracted to Cody that anytime he touched her whether it were out if pure lust or innocence she would overstimulate herself anytime she felt those things like that time at church & he knew.

Mainly because she’d whimper and tell him she felt certain things and that’s when Cody would need to take her somewhere private just to she her get off & crying about how he makes her feel good. Cody hummed gripping her waist and that’s when she stood up on her tippy toes to mumble whatever needed to be said in his ear before he snuck her off upstairs into the apartment and took her to her bedroom, She laid down and moved her legs around while he moved her dress up and stared directly at her “what’s the matter baby use your words, I know you can sweet thing.” He teased her while she cried out squeezing her thighs together from all of the feelings she had in her tummy & what was in between her legs “f-feel funny Cody please!” She whined pawing at his arm while he smiled watching her react in such a way, he ran his hands up her thigh “Look at you baby, ‘bout to cum and I haven’t even touched you yet.” He teased while she cried into her hand nodding while he rubbed his finger over her clothed pussy making her cry and move around “Cody please!”

He smiled and leaned up to kiss her “Princess your overwhelming yourself relax.” She whined and tried calming down until Cody got back down & took off her panties “Cod-What are you doing?” He shrugged and laid his tongue flat against her clit before Cody held her thighs tightly into his massive hands after he tossed her undies to the side, he growled when he took a glance at her slick wet folds and traced them with his middle finger. He licked her gathered juices off his hand and smirked "sweet....just like i imagined..."

He layed feathery kisses on her inner thighs while maintaining eye contact and kissed her clit then licked a long stride making her whimper and squirm under him. He pushed his thick middle finger into her folds and groaned at how tight she felt "fuck..." he pushed a second finger in and scissored her clit while he licked her clean not wasting a drop of her sweet nectar

She whined and moved under him trying to free herself from his hands and at least get a look of his face He pinned her back down slightly choking her and shoved his tongue into her pussy making her see stars and shake in pleasure before she started cumming and covering her face while cody was busy lapping up whatever he could before getting up to go get her a new pair of panties and clean her up before lying down next to her “how do you feel angel?” She whined out in response before rolling over to face him “ ‘m feeling tingly..” he chuckled and pressed a kiss against her cheek “that’s normal princess don’t worry.” She smiles and flopped her head on the pillows while Cody got up “Gonna go close up the shop for you and then I’ll be back okay?” She lazily nodded and closed her eyes diving into sleep while Cody went downstairs.

Mira raised an eyebrow behind the register “Wheres lila-“ He smiled “napping, gonna close up the shop for the day since she’s very tired” the guys looked over and squinted while SETH started talking “Wait a goddamn minute she wasn’t tired 40 minutes ago.” Cody glared as he flipped the open sign “Well she is now,” Mira gagged in the background while Randy got off the phone “Flights tonight at 11 so I’d recommend we all get home and start packing.” Cody hummed leaning against the door “I already have my stuff ready just gonna spend my few hours packing lilahs stuff & Helping Kinsley.” She peeked out from the boutique “Where are we going?” She questioned while Mira started leaving to get her stuff “Australia. You’ll like it there it’s fun” Jey smiled while she squealed and ran upstairs as everyone left.

After a a long few hours of Cody picking up Lilah & Kinsley after getting his belongings, Going to the airport with everyone, flying all the way to australia which took almost an entire night & Day they finally got there, Everyone was completely jet lagged & were just glad the event didn’t start until tomorrow, They all got to a rented out Vila where they would be staying and decided to rest for most of the day. Lilah sat in a bathing suit completely knocked out by the pool while Cody did the same but with her thighs as a pillow while Rhea came outside & quietly nudged Cody awake holding a plate of food and staying as quiet as possible for Lilah’s sake “Made some food thought you two might want some?” He sat up nodding before taking the plate which was filled with shrimp alfredo & set it on the poolside tables while Rhea smiled “How’s she holdin’ up? She like it here?” Cody rubbed his eyes nodding before clearing his throat still waking up “Yeah she is, Just super tired & getting used to the time difference, she’s really excited just really sleepy.” He looked over towards Lilah who was completely knocked out “We were gonna go swimming and just as I started putting sunscreen on her she was out like a light.” Rhea laughed quietly nodding while patting his shoulder “That time difference will definitely take awhile to get used to.” She smiled and walked back inside while Cody stretched a bit and laid back down against her thigh massaging it a bit “Sweetheart wake up”

Lilah whined a bit before stirring awake and rubbing her eyes “How long was I out for?” She grumbled before sitting up and stretching her back a bit “Like an hour or 2, not too long.” He smiled while pointing at the plate of freshly made food “Rhea made us lunch incase we were hungry.” She smiled “We can share yeah?” He nodded his head in response and started to eat with her and just take it easy. Once they were finished Lilah got up to clean the dish while Cody went to go take a shower, Mira walked over to Lilah & smiled “You excited to be here?” She nodded her head which made Mirah smile even more before addressing the elephant in the room “So, You & Cody? What are you two exactly?” Lilah furrowed her brows as she thought about it and looked over at her “I actually dunno, It’s never really been addressed.” Mira raised an eyebrow and placed a hand on her hip “So your telling me your letting this bleached ass white boy fin-“ Lilah widened her eyes and covered Mira’s mouth “Shh!! Nobody needs to know!!” Mira rolled her eyes laughing against her hands before pushing them away from her face “Lilah cmon’ EVERYONE knows he’s going down on you.” Lilahs face went ghost pale & started panicking but Mira calmed her down “We just don’t care. If he’s doing all of that for you then good for you. You need the dick.” Lilah scrunched her face “Language.” Mira smiled playfully “And i’m not even getting THAT. I’m still virgin, I’m just saving myself?” Mira gave her a look “Girl- Okay.” Lilah rolled her eyes smiling before leaning against the counter “I’m gonna go up to my room & unpack now.” Mira hummed “Yeah okay. You go ‘unpack’” Lilah smiled and walked off upstairs to her & Cody’s shared room and started taking stuff out of her suitcase humming a bit before actually thinking to herself about Cody’s relationship with her.

Cody got out of his shower already semi dressed & Saw Lilah organizing her clothes smiling “Hi princess, What’cha doing?” She perked up and looked over at him “Cody what are we?” She randomly blurted out and widened her eyes quickly putting her hand over her mouth while Cody chuckled walking a little closer “What do you think we are Angel?” He hummed and moved her hand “I dunno..” he smiled smugly “Well what would you want us to be sweet girl? Hm?” He rested his hands right against her hips while she started stuttering over her words “What is it baby? You wanna be mine? Want me to make you my only girl huh?” He whispered and pressed her up against the bed grinning while she started pressing her thighs together nodding “No I want you to say it Angel, go on, Say it, Say i’m yours sweetheart.” He kissed her neck a little bit grinding his crotch up against hers while she started whining and squirming “Y-Your..Your m-mine” she croaked while he smiled and bit her neck a little bit before pushing his hand into her bikini bottoms making her gasp & buck her hips “C-Cody I think I want m-more.” She blurted out which made him look at her “Yeah baby? You want more? More what huh?” She knew exactly what he wanted her to say & she teared up in pleasure while he started fingering her in the process “Want my cock sweet girl? Go on baby, I can’t give you what you want until you start using your words sweetheart, say you want my cock angel c’mon” she whined as he curled his fingers in her pussy and started going faster “W-Want your c-cock!” She cried out.

Cody grinned and kissed her in a sloppy manner while pulling his pants off along with her panties, Lilah hitched her breath the minute he started tapping his dick against her clit, He tangled his hand into her hair and kissed her “It’s gonna hurt for a little bit alright princess?” She nodded as her eyes became glossed over and leaned her head back moaning once he pushed himself inside of her, there was a slight sting & let out a breathy sigh while Cody waited for a moment while entangling his hands into hers, Once she nodded in approval he started taking slow thrusts & letting out quiet grunts before tugging off her top & tugging on her nipples “Taking Daddy’s cock so fucking good sweetheart.” He moaned into her neck as the pain started fading away for her & soon turning into an overwhelming amount of pleasure, Lilah’s guilt set in for a little bit for not waiting for marriage like she was expected too but she also didn’t at the same time. Her legs wrapped around Cody’s hips & bit onto her lip whining once he started making his thrusts faster & sloppier, Lilah bit the back of her hand to suppress any noise which made Cody smirk and started to pull out but she shook her head begging but soon let out a loud moan once he harshly thrusted back inside and moving a hand away from hers to tease her clit.

Lilah started shaking and tapping his back “Cody ‘m gonna-“ he hummed and held her face “Gonna cum princess? Yeah? Gonna cum all over my fucking cock huh? Make me yours?” She whined nodding her head vigorously and moan against his neck before while he smiled wrapping his hand around her throat while grinding his cock directly inside of her cunt before she let out another loud moan and try pulling him further inside of her “D-Daddy!!” She squeaked out before cumming and scratching at his back leaving very visible marks before he pulled out and quickly came all over her stomach groaning. He rolled off of her and held her close letting her rest and leaving a kiss against her temple “You did so amazing angel, so goddamn good for me.” He muttered while playing with her hair before she noticed a few scratches on his arms “Oh no..I’m sorry! I-I wasn’t paying attention!” She blabbered tracing her fingers over the scratches barely sitting up while he shrugged looking over into the mirror sitting in front of the bed “Well I’m yours aren’t I angel?” She nodded shortly before he kissed her “I love you princess, I do, you should know this.” He mumbled against her lips before picking her up and carrying her into their bathroom to have her take a bubble bath.

Meanwhile downstairs Mira sat in the kitchen with Seth nodding slowly “I’m not trippin right? We both heard that?” He laughed while everyone was luckily outside at the pool “How the hell did a girl with the innocence of a literal puppy who goes to church every Sunday & pray AND read the bible 24/7 manage to loose her virginity before I do?” Seth shrugged laughing before pulling out juice from the fridge “Because you haven’t found your person yet.” Mira looked outside watching Randy teaching Kinsley how to do a proper dive and smile softly “I think I did.” Mira and Seth watched as Cody came downstairs dressed and retrieving fruit for Lilah while she took her bath Cody felt like he was being watched and looked over at the two while seth pointed out his very light arm scratches while Mira got distracted staring at Randy “Nice scratches.” Cody flipped off Seth while putting a variety of fruit into a bowl “Dude shut up.” Seth laughed while Cody made his way upstairs.

The next day it was time for yet another Summer Slam event, Cody had a match against Brock & had Lilah & Mirah sit with Samantha outside of the ring and already addressed there would be NO table smashing while Lilah was there. The boys were out into the ring as the match just started and Mirah let out a laugh as she saw very clear nail scratches displayed around his back & Arms while Lilah covered her mouth in shyness “Way to fucking go Lilah! That’s what I’m talkin’ about!” Mira nudged her arm while Cody slammed Brock into the ground part of the ring and directly pointed at his back to show off that he was clearly taken before continuing off his match against Brock.

Eventually he won & everyone met up backstage to get ready to celebrate & go out somewhere But Cody quickly approached Lilah smiling “What’d you think angel?” She smiled and kissed his cheek before hugging him “You did amazing Codes! I just didn’t like watch you getting hit.” She giggled while he shrugged “Yeah well, Had to take some in order to win.” He smiled before pressing a kiss against her lips and clearing his throat “I have something to give you sweet girl.” He dug through his suit he changed into and gave her a pretty little ring “It’s a promise ring, ‘got it for you before we flew out here when I had the time.” She smiled widely and put it on and gave him a kiss.

Lilah knew deep inside this is the man she wanted to merry whether it took time or not Cody was all she wanted, no matter what she knew he would have a future with him & absolutely looked forward to it.

🏷️ list: @ginswife @coolpastelartshoe @greatkoalawizard @cokolin044 @kotoriarlert @alicerosejensen @bunnybot55 @agent-dessis-posts @adollonyourshelf @valkyrurr @alyyaanna @niknakbucks92 @mini-rhodes @southerngirl41

xtripleiiix’s Masterlist

[simslegacy5083]

Not So Berry (Straud Descendants) Gen 9

Today's (8/23/2024) Episode: Gaming and Goodbyes

As everyone settled down for dinner after Skye aged up, Luigi snagged a seat across from Jade and wasted no time launching into 20 questions. 

"I'm one of the only sims around here who believes in The Watcher" he told her, "other than some real crackpots on the internet anyway." He shuddered. "So, what's it like for you, living under their direct influence? My Papa always said The Watcher could control just about anything but if that's true the one around here has a sick sense of humor!"

He then went on to describe some of the many misfortunes that had befallen him and Noemi in the past.

"Oh…my…that's a lot " was all Jade could think to say when he'd finally wound down. Well, Isra did warn me… she thought before responding.

"I don't think our Watcher controls everything. For example, my mom's friend Summer died quite unexpectedly recently, it was really hard on her. Being a legacy family may mean The Watcher keeps a closer eye on us, but in general more crazy things happen when we're around, not less!" 

"Do you know the legacy family here?" she asked "Isra and Par haven’t heard of one, but I thought The Watcher had favorites in every nation.”

"Well, actually…" Luigi began, before Noemi cut him off. "No. We've never heard anyone even mention a legacy family." she said, glaring at him. 

Jade could tell she'd stepped in something with her question, though she wasn't sure what. Now more ready than ever to extract herself from the awkward conversation she rose "It was nice chatting with you, but I think I'm going to go inside and get out of this heat for awhile."

"Hey! If we’re going inside, I’ll fire up the gaming console and start the real fun.” Rhys said. "Anyone else ready to join us?”

“You know that’s my jam." Luigi stood too, causing Jade to suppress a groan. At least if we’re playing he’ll stop talking so much! she thought.

“My foot has a prior appointment with Darth’s ass," Beau chimed in “Just give me a minute to visit the bathroom for the hundredth time today first." 

After a great session of gaming with the chatty e-sports pros Jade was almost sorry to see them off at the end of the night. “It was great to meet you, kid” Luigi told her. “Sorry about all that doom and gloom earlier. I have a tendency to get wrapped up in myself, but you were a trooper about it, and a pretty good video gamer to boot! If you decide to explore a career in E-Sports look me up, I can introduce you to some people.”

“I’ll do that” Jade fibbed, trying to be nice despite having no interest in becoming a professional nerd herself. “It was nice to meet you too.”

“Luigi, I know you believe yourself to be a legacy heir the same as Jade's sister and mother do, but we both know that isn't a "thing" here." Noemi reminded him once they’d returned home. "I thought we agreed we were going to keep that little piece of Lawbourne lore to ourselves." 

Luigi sighed "I know. I just got so excited meeting someone from another legacy; I got carried away. Thank you for reining me in, as usual."

"Happy to do it" she chuckled “now, how about you get Skye to bed while I get started on my latest side project? This one wants all their phone icons updated to penguins! The things sims come up with to do with technology…"

"Thank you again, so much, for having me. I had a blast!" Jade gushed the following morning. "I've got the pictures we took, the gifts you made for everyone, and your donation for Sims United in my inventory. I'm sure everyone will love them." 

"It was so wonderful to see you again" Wren smiled "I'll be stalking you on social media; I can't wait to see those graduation photos!"

Isra chimed in, “All Elyse wanted to talk about this morning was how much she loved hanging with "silly Auntie J!“, making Jade blush happily.

"I'll be sure to send along any fun kid appropriate memes I find for you to share with my little nieces and nephew.“ After one final hug and kiss she headed towards the teleporter that would take her home, her family watching her retreating back until she blinked out of sight.

Once Jade had disappeared back to her homeland Isra’s quietly weeping par buried their face in her shoulder and whispered, “It was wonderful to see her, but so hard to watch her go.”

“I know” Isra agreed “You want to come home with me and give your grandbabies a snuggle?"

Wren nodded, grateful for Isra’s loving support as they stepped out into the warm paradise of a sunny Sulani day.

View The Full Story of My Not So Berry Challenge Here

[dangerously-human]

I had a sorta rough day yesterday for most of it; I was exhausted (I think fighting off a migraine, given the light sensitivity) and work wasn't going well and I could not force my brain to function all day. But after work, I got to go visit my uncle, hang out with him and his cat for a bit. He helped me with some planning for my upcoming Ireland trip (one month!), since he's been over there upwards of 30 times and always has the scoop. Then it was family history time: he pulled out a suitcase that my great-great-grandmother packed to send back to the States when the Berlin Wall went up. (My family came here during the war, but a lot of the extended family were still living in what became East Germany.) It was neat to see what she thought was worth keeping, and all the bits of history that so easily fade into the past. My uncle only speaks a little German and I know almost none - my grandfather was a child when they emigrated and you can imagine the attitude toward the language then; it wasn't exactly a priority to pass down - so we couldn't understand everything, but even details like a relative's military commendations two years apart, one with an older German seal and the next Nazi, like everything changed so quickly. Lots of photographs, including messy ones and silly faces (my favorite was one of my grandfather sticking his tongue out at my laughing great-grandmother) and scenery from travel, all the same things I love taking pictures of now, just everyday moments from up to 100 years ago. Then there was the letter and family history from my great-aunt (that I cried reading; it sounded just like her and I missed her terribly, I grew up pretty close to her and she died soon after I graduated college), then pages upon pages from my great-grandfather, a lifelong storyteller and dedicated keeper of family history. While we were in Ireland together two Thanksgivings ago, my uncle played for me a recording of some of Vati's stories - seeing America for the first time; lots of silly tales for the children about their dog going on grand adventures. My uncle's goal is to digitize as many of these old documents as possible, as some of them are beginning to fall apart, and ideally to get them translated, too. I'm grateful my extended family has, for generations, been obsessive history-keepers and keen storytellers, which I think makes sense for people who were forced from their homes and lived through generations of uncertain borders and constantly shifting tides. My grandfather died when I was very young, so I only have one or two memories of him, and I never got to meet the previous generations (though I've been told all my life I have Mutti's wild hair and Vati's love of learning) - but I feel like I know them, because they've been kept alive through all these memories made tangible, and they've gifted me a glimpse of people from centuries before my time, all of whom played a part in making me who I am today. It's quite beautiful.

[swimmingwolf59]

Okay. I've just about finished rereading yotsuba and I HAVE to ramble about Yanda and Koiwai's relationship because it is utterly baffling to me. (And it doesn't help that Koiwai always describes his relationships with people so vaguely lol)

When I first read yotsuba, I accepted Koiwai's vague description of Yanda as "my junior" to mean he's someone who started later than Koiwai at the same company, and they haven't known each other for very long. But upon my reread, I've realized that can't possibly be the case.

Yanda is first mentioned in CHAPTER ONE - that blew me away when I saw that. Koiwai asks Jumbo where Yanda is and Jumbo tells him that something came up and he can't make it (and that he's worthless lol). So apparently Yanda is close enough to both of them that he was expected to help Koiwai move and to give Jumbo that update, not Koiwai.

AND IT'S NOT JUST THAT. In the yakiniku chapter, Jumbo brings up someone who Koiwai says "he hasn't seen in a long time." Yanda also seems to know this person. In the camping chapter, when Yanda shows up on his scooter, Koiwai says "You're still riding this thing? That takes me back!" Both of these things seem to imply that Yanda has been part of the group for a while. Also, Koiwai's mom knows Yanda by name.

So my new conclusion is that Yanda is actually a pretty close member of the friend group, and they've been friends for a long time.

So now, the truly baffling part - he has never met Yotsuba. She doesn't know him, and he doesn't know her. He can't even remember her name. When he first meets her, he's surprised to see her answer the door! How can a close friend of Koiwai's not know his daughter lol???? Jumbo has obviously known her her whole life.

My theory is that Koiwai and Yanda met in college, maybe they were in the same department or even while Koiwai was a grad student and Yanda was in undergrad (making stuff up, but Yanda has always seemed much younger than Koiwai). They became good friends, enough that Yanda joined the friend group with Jumbo and met Koiwai's parents. But after graduating, Koiwai began working abroad, presumably where he got Yotsuba, or maybe he worked in a few different places. Regardless, I don't think Yanda would've had enough money to visit him. As he is now, he eats cup ramen all the time and apparently doesn't have access to hot water (???), the guy may even be living out of his car for all we know lol, but I don't think he has a lot of money. I don't think he would've then, either. So he didn't see Koiwai while he was abroad. Even when he came back to Japan, I feel like Koiwai might have lived at home with his parents until he was able to rent this current house. His mom knows the person who's renting to them, talks about them as if they're a friend, which makes me think she helped him get that current house. And considering the fact that they don't visit each other often, Koiwai's family home might not be very close. So, again, Yanda couldn't feasibly visit that often. Now that Koiwai's a lot closer though they can hang out again, hooray! Time to finally meet that daughter he's heard about and obviously wasn't paying attention at all when Koiwai talked about her! (Though it's still baffling to me that Yanda just shows up one day to have lunch without even announcing he's coming over but anyway LMAO.)

I love them. I love thinking about them. Mainly because it makes no sense so it's fun having like a conspiracy theory board trying to figure this out LMAO.

If you want my insane theory, Koiwai and Yanda dated in college but broke up six or more years ago (hence why Koiwai's mom knows him and Jumbo complains about him like that close friend who hates their friend's partner but can't trash talk them until they break up). HOWEVER Koiwai is the only one who knows they broke up, Yanda missed the memo (it happened in the yakiniku chapter, he has a track record lol), and now he's trying to rekindle the romance by showing up for lunch all the time. I may or may not be writing a fic about this.

[doodlebugg16-blog]

Pretty Soul

Single Dad! Mechanic! Eddie Munson x Fem! Reader blurb

18+ MINORS DNI!

Warnings: mentions of (y/n), cursing,  kind of slow but also straight to the point??, anxiety, stress, fluff, she/her pronouns, Eddie is mid 20s, reader is same age, slightly descriptive?, if i’m missing anything lemme know

Summary: You meet Eddie and find out he has a daughter

A/N: This is my first time writing on tumblr hehe so plz spare me. I’m back on my eddie phase (its not a phase, its a lifestyle). any tips with format and if I need to add to the warnings plz let me know. I used to write on wattpad lmfao. I'm also coming out of a writer's block ew ik. also, imma always put “18+ minors dni” so make sure to read the warnings before reading!  I honestly didn’t know how to end this—cry—I spent two days writing this while getting out of this horrid writers block. Plz send suggestions lmfao.Hope you all enjoy! <3

You finally moved out of your parents' house. Finally. You're waitress job finally paid off. You found a trailer just far enough away from your parents to where you wouldn't run in to them often and they wouldn't bother to visit. It wasn't much but it was yours and today you were moving in.

After pulling into your makeshift driveway, you parked and sat for a second. A sigh of relief escaped as you took in your new home.

Unfortunately, you had to unload and unpack by yourself. Your parents only cared about you getting out into the world.

You huffed as you attempted to carry one of the many giant boxes out of you car. You silently thank yourself for remembering to bubble wrap almost everything. As you set down the box inside, you turn to see the sky growing darker. You furrow your brows and look at your watch.

"It's only 3..." You mumble, looking back outside. Stepping back onto the front steps, it starts to drizzle. "Shit!" You run to your car and try to assess how much you half left, just for it to start pouring. Luckily, you have the hood of your trunk for temporary cover. You had a dodge ramcharger--curtsey of your parents graduation gift. Suddenly you heard a voice approaching.

"Are you okay? Do you need help?"

You turned to find a familiar frame. The man stood tall. He had curly hair, a little below his shoulders. Big brown eyes that looked tired. You noticed his attire--dark blue coveralls. Where have I seen him before?

"I-I'm okay! I'm trying to move in my stuff. I had no idea it was going to rain." You tried to smooth out your damp hair out of your face. He gave a sweet smile and gestured towards you and your home.

“Go inside and dry off. I can get the rest for you.” His offer was hard to resist. You sighed, doing a double-take towards the car. “Are you sure?” He nodded and shooed you away.

About an hour had passed and he had finished bringing in all of your stuff. The rain had finally stopped and you had realized you hadn’t gotten his name. 

“I’m (y/n) by the way.” You extended you hand towards him as he set a small box on the kitchen counter. He chewed his lip, contemplating the handshake.

“Eddie.” He replied, deciding not to leave you hanging. You smiled and nodded. “Thank you so much for helping me out. I probably would’ve drowned out there.” You giggled, letting go of his hand. They were warm and calloused. 

“It’s no big deal. Can’t have a pretty lady drowning, now can we?” His cheeky smile made your ears heat up. “I do have to be getting back now. It was nice to meet you, (y/n)” You nodded and walked him to the door. “It was very nice meeting you, Eddie. Take care.” With that he left and you shut the door, making sure to lock it for the night. Now it was time to figure out dinner and unpack all the chaos. 

You finally plopped on you bed after setting up your room. You turned to look at your clock on the wall. 12:00 a.m.

“Gosh it’s late..” Thinking out loud, you managed to get back up and grabbed some pajamas (a baggy t-shirt and black shorts).

You couldn’t sleep. One person kept flooding your mind. Eddie. Why was he so familiar? Why was he so nice to a stranger? Why was he so damn attractive? And why did he have to be your neighbor? 

Then it dawned on you. Highschool. The freak. That damn Hellfire club. You gasped and covered your face. 

You don’t remember falling asleep but now you are woken up by the sun hitting your face. “I gotta get some curtains..” You mumbled out, trying to rub the sleep from your eyes. It was a Saturday. You had the weekend to get things functional around the house before going back to work Monday. Looking at the clock you noticed it was 6:30 a.m.. You needed coffee badly.

You got dressed for the day. Blue jeans and a tucked in t-shirt with chucks. You wore your hair down. You grabbed your bag and keys, heading out the door. 

You locked your door and turned to notice smoke next door. You recognized the curly hair and smiled. The trailers weren’t far from each other. You walked to the end of your trailer and leaned against it. Eddie sitting on his steps maybe 5ft away.

“Good morning.” He returned the comment and took another drag from his cigarette. “Listen, I- um- I’d like to repay you for helping me out yesterday. Could I invite you over for dinner tonight? Or maybe I could bring it over since I still have boxes left?” You chewed the inside of your cheek immediately. He seemed to hesitate. “You really don’t have to repay me. I was just trying to be a decent human being.” You scoffed. “Which is exactly why I have to repay you. There aren’t many decent humans left nowadays. I have to run some errands anyways.” His lip tugged at the corned as he took a final drag and put out his cigarette. “I guess you’ve got a deal pretty lady.” You smiled and nodded in approval. “How does smothered porkchops sound?” You could see his eyes light up from a mile away. “ The pretty lady can cook?!” He exclaimed, jumping off of his steps, making it to the ground. You burst out into laughter. “Of course I can cook! And you have way too much energy this early in the morning!” You tried to stifle your laughter. He scoffed and threw his hand to his chest, pretending to be stabbed in the heart. It reminded you of how he acted in school. He never cared what people thought. He was still going to be his outgoing, weird self. “This might sound weird, but i actually remember you from high school..” He sighed and glanced back at his front door. “And you still want to offer dinner and continue talking to me?” You smiled. “I wish I had the pleasure of meeting you sooner. I would always end up in the library doing volunteer work while you guys would do your little club. It was actually quite entertaining listening to your game.” He blushed, letting a laugh slip.

That’s how it was for the next couple of weeks. You would wake up early to find him on his steps smoking. You would make coffee and join him. You noticed that on weekends he would sleep in later and work longer, later shifts. You found out that he is a mechanic and that he visits his uncle on the weekends. You felt like you were finally getting to warm up and know more about Eddie, until you woke up in the middle of the night to screaming and crying at your front door.

You jolted up and ran to the front door, yanking it open. Standing in-front of you was a little girl with dark curly hair in pink footie pajamas.

“Oh honey, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” You knelt down to her level. She sniffed and hugged you, clinging for dear life. “Daddy gone!” She whined out. You furrowed your brows and stepped onto the front step, glancing around. “You can’t find daddy? Do you know where home is?” You tried to communicate as best as you could. She immediately pointed to the trailer next to yours—Eddie’s. Your eyes widened. Did Eddie have a daughter? Why have you never seen her before? Was she confused?

You lightly bounced her and and contemplated walking over there to see. “What’s your name honey?” She rubbed her eyes and looked up to you. She had to be Eddie’s. Those big brown eyes and curly hair. “Liwwy.” She replied. She seemed to be getting tired again. You hummed and held her close, walking to the bottom of the stairs. “Alright Lilly, we’re gonna go find daddy, okay?” The little girl nodded and hugged your neck tighter. Before you started walking, Eddie’s front door swung open with him barreling down—almost missing the stairs completely. “Lilly?! Where are you?!” He yelled. He then looked in your direction and noticed the small figure in your arms. He rushed over and started spewing apologies.

“I’m so sorry—she was asleep—I—showering—“

You immediately grabbed his shoulder to calm him. “Eddie, it’s okay. She ran right over. I don’t think she went anywhere else. She’s okay.” He caught his breath and nodded. He noticed Lilly was now asleep in your arms. “I’m so sorry for waking you up. I thought the door was locked. She usually goes to my room.” You shook your head and smiled. “It’s really okay. If I would’ve known, I would’ve been more vigilant for this cute escape artist.” He smiled and ran a hand through his damp hair. “I wanted to tell you..I just—“

“Honey, you don’t have to explain. I’m just glad I could help. And if you ever need help, I’m right next door. She’s always welcome and so are you.” You spoke softly as to not wake the sleeping toddler. He nodded and gave a silent ‘thank you’. You carefully handed Lilly back and bid Eddie a goodnight.

From that point forward, you and Eddie spent a lot of time together. Lilly would spend “girls nights” with you before bed. You would often make dinner for the three of you. It was blissful. Eddie finally asked you out on an official date. The two of you became inseparable, along with Lilly.

[halcyon-digest]

2018

Art Klaudt: Walking around Glasgow during a snowstorm listening to the Units

Anonymous 1: became vegan

ava: in the summer, joining a network of music-related discord servers for the first time and meeting a bunch of people, many of whom are now my best friends. feeling like i had truly found “my people” for the first time in my entire life, feeling like the music world had opened up to me as i was exposed to so much more stuff than i ever had been before. me and my friends listened to a different album together every night, sharing our favorites and bonding in a way i had never experienced. a lot of complicated stuff would end up happening down the road but this summer was just pure unadulterated joy and wonder

kate: My phone reminds me of this often because for some reason it's the only thing I ever put into iCloud and it got copied onto my new phone while everything else I ever took pictures of I've manually moved onto my computer. But anyways my partner and I went to Cape Verde to visit an old couple he's friends with who are kind of like his surrogate parents. I tried learning Portuguese, and some of the Portuguese creole they speak there but didn't get very far and ended up never using it. We stayed on Mindelo, and in my mind the whole time I was fantasizing that I was in the Abarat, a book series I liked as a kid that centers on an archipelago where each island represents an hour of the day. I remember being most struck by the buildings there, which are old and colorful and gorgeous. Stray dogs roam everywhere, and there was a gas station down the road where you could get a coffee (espresso) and a ham toasty for a dollar each. Truly ideal. Also everyone drinks grog. We visited the top of a mountain, and there was a grog stand up there. And we had shots of grog. At 10am. On top of a mountain.

Anonymous 2: the directionlessness that comes with graduating high school and suddenly being told you are an adult. i have a particular recollection of standing in a wawa and looking at the cigarettes behind the counter. i couldnt buy them because the prior year my state had raised the age from 18 to 21 but it made me think about what it means to be an adult

Lucas: I remember my route home from school on bike

Anonymous 3: Lying down on a banquette in the strange public area of my university that was completely encased in a plastic membrane, making it unbearably hot and stuffy, lying with my cheek against the rough grey fabric of the banquette, smelling its smell, looking across at the other banquette opposite, feeling unbearably hot and stuffy and sleepy, just woken up from a nap, and listening to "Ravens" from "A Crow Looked at Me" while seagulls walked around on the plastic membrane above me.

Anonymous 4: Tearing my ACL and my battle with depression

Anonymous 5: A haze

superswag: incel ohase

v0w0v: Dancing at the only strip club in town, freshly 18, freshly moved to a new city for school. The people there were all old and strange. I thought I was getting ahead of them, tricking them in some way. One night one of the bouncers invited me over to hang out at their house after a shift. At a certain point in the night,  child came downstairs, and asked "What's going on?". Was hit with the terrible realization that the person I had the most in common with in the room was this child. A bouncer named "T-Bone" called me an Uber back to the dorms.

Anonymous 6: Getting an email from the person who made a video game I cared a lot about at the time.

Anonymous 7: marxism.

binnie: ... engaging in a not too distant LDR and not long after meeting this girl in person and spending a week together.. and ... feeling like things were gonna be okay for me actually ...

Anonymous 8: Two of my friends drowning to death and isolating myself

April M. Mildew: It is autumn. I am on the back porch. I am sending my friends a picture I drew of my fursona. She is a girl now. I will go inside and try to fall asleep on an air mattress next to my dad. He does not want the TV to be turned off. It is loud. I have school in the morning. I have formed an association in my head between this new place I have moved to and the album Congratulations by MGMT.

[kytedevlin]

Dream Journal 00005

About a day ago I experienced a dream, warning that I did go to sleep aroused so it remains 18+ from this point. So the dream begins with me on a military base being interviewed, i recently decided to head to the National Guard building in real life, so this is no surprise. But that's a topic for another time. The base was not like the base I visited, in fact the base was somewhere close to the sea. Numerous aircraft had literred the lot In which I was standing, and I was in the midst of doing some form of training with other recruits, we had all gathered together, and we were going through what I can only assume was basic. Though there were numerous recruits getting tired and bowing out, though they had all seemed fit. After awhile I was taken aside, and then told I wasn't going to be able to continue joining, despite my performance I was being disqualified for another reason. This frustrated me, in the usual way, as slight disappointment washed over me I was handed some papers and left the base. There are some hazy bits in there but I end up around my grandparents house. (I know its becoming common but i did live with them for quite some time after graduation) though my room was that of the house that followed, a kind of strange warp, where the neighborhood outside and the home on the inside kind of blended together. But essentially due to my loss of what I consider of a job, i sought to drown a bit of the frustration, sexually, I would exercise and scroll the internet, for pornography, as well as try to work on game design. (my dream was pulling from my day to day currently, as If I was hardly sleeping as much as thinking unconscious) but after a hazy moment of calamity, and the possibility of something more criminal, someone knocked on my door. It was two white men, And older white man, and a younger white man, very straight looking, dressed in what you could consider dress clothing or business casual attire, brown hair neatly trimmed but long enough to hang over his forehead, and wearing pitch black shades, that wear round enough to cover the entire socket. The older man, in a white shirt and short blue jean shorts short white hair, and a white beard, slightly round gut and bit shorter than his younger counterpart with light blue eyes. The two were carrying a woman, a naked woman, wearing a blue wrapping around her waist sort of like ghandi. Thin topless. Very fair skinned, blonde, seemingly tired. She latched onto me and they simply nodded, and left. In my head I immediately knew what they meant and inaudibly I knew. That the girl was a virgin. And that I could have sex with her if I wanted as much as wanted, as long as I have children, and marry her. But she is mine, as she has agreed to the arrangement. And she is my responsibility to now feed and cloth for the rest of her life. These are customs that I recognize to be like ancient. And obviously not something practiced today. So while I knew this and was horny in the dream, as soon as I brought her in i laid her down on the bed. She spread her legs, and me standing over her throbbing with anticipation. Stopped. And we appeared in the kitchen where I fed her food in the way my grandmother would cook me food in the morning. Despite how i was basically leaking, I quit, everything receded and It just felt like i needed to take a piss.

I woke up cold, and hot at the same time. A faceless adult virgin woman placed into my care for no reason other than to start a family with. She wasn't ugly. i didn't look at her face, i just know she had blonde hair, blue eyes, fairly pale skin, thin, relatively tall, taller than me, small breasts, A or B cup. She didn't speak, and she was as willing as i was. I am certain that is supposed to be either a fantasy I am supposed to have or something i should feel poorly for. Either way. One of the few dreams I have, so here is the log.

[dankusner]

pdf

OPINION

A comfortable chair can take you anywhere

We all need a place to think, write, pray or play

My 5-year-old grandson, Finnian, and I play a game: comfortable chair.

I sit on the couch and say with great satisfaction “Ah, after a hard day’s work, it’s so nice to sit in a comfortable chair.”

Finn is behind me when suddenly there is a lump pushing on my back and shoulder.

I try to wiggle back into comfort until there is what feels like little feet pushing against me, and I hear a giggle.

I sigh and say “Well, I guess I have to go to the chair store and look for a new comfortable chair.”

Finn hops on my back and we go shopping around the living room for a new chair.

We laugh each time.

There is magic in that chair, a place where a boy and his grandfather will always remember with delight.

On the back porch of the house where I grew up there is a simple chair where my grandmother sat during many summer afternoons.

She arrived from Belgium each spring and flew home each autumn, and in between she darned socks, baked cookies, played cards and sang songs with us children.

One afternoon I heard my grandmother calling my name.

“Hurry, Christopher! A monkey! There’s a monkey in the tree!”

My grandmother had seen monkeys in Africa, and when I tried to assure her that there were no monkeys in the United States, she sat in that chair with dignity and certitude. “I saw a monkey.”

The next day she called out again and I arrived in time to see what she saw: a raccoon stretching its arms upward as it climbed the tree, and from a distance it did, indeed, look like a monkey.

When I showed a picture of a raccoon in a tree, and when we looked up into the tree, my grandmother laughed and I laughed as she leaned back into her comfortable chair, and then we played cards and drank some lemonade.

A few days before my grandmother died in a hospital in Belgium at the age of 92, I heard her plaintive voice on the telephone: “Oh, Christopher. Oh, Christopher.”

When my mother was 92 she loved sitting in that same chair on the back porch. We take our turns on the comfortable chair. When I came to visit, my mother and I fed peanuts to the chipmunks, and watched the deer sheepishly walk through the garden. We talked about poetry and about the news. I sat beside my mother in a wobbly rocking chair while she sat up straight and confidently as the trees gathered sunlight and not monkeys deep inside the branches of what I remember. A chair is a place for contemplation, meals and writing, a place where a grandchild and a grandmother can laugh. One of my favorite images of a chair is in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird perfectly depicted in the film with Gregory Peck playing Atticus Finch. You see Atticus sitting comfortably in a chair at the front of a jailhouse protecting Tom Robinson who was incarcerated and wrongly accused of raping a white woman. Atticus knew a mob fueled with ignorance and prejudice was on the way to hang an innocent man. Because of Atticus’ steadfastness, the mob disbanded and went home. I have read in books and in magazines that prolonged sitting can cause diabetes, cancer, depression, blood clots, even shorten our lifespan. I am doomed. I have been a writer since my lonely days as a graduate student in my dorm at Columbia University in 1974, 50 years ago, 50 years sitting in my chair two, three, four, sometimes five hours a day, every day for 50 years. Mason Currey wrote in his book Daily Rituals: How Artists Work that Ernest Hemingway “wrote standing up, facing a chest-high bookshelf with a typewriter on the top, and on top of that a wooden reading board.” Yes, Hemingway created beautiful books while standing, but we all find our own ways to wisdom. I found my voice in my sedentary life as a writer, writing in a comfortable chair while hearing a grandson laughing behind me, while climbing trees hunting for monkeys. A chair is just a chair, but mine has wheels rolling me along the edges of paradise on this earth each day as I write. In William Shakespeare’s play Richard III a king who is dying on the battlefield powerfully asks for one last chance to survive: “A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse!” A chair, a chair, my kingdom for a chair. Christopher de Vinck’s 17th book, “Things that Matter Most: Home, Friendship, and Love,” was published by Paraclete Press. He is a contributing columnist for The Dallas Morning News.

[aita-too-long-for-reddit]

AITA FOR RUINING THINGS BETWEEN MY EX & THE GIRL HE CHEATED ON ME WITH?

WARNING: Very long

Let me start off by saying I (26F) and my ex (26M, who we will call Mark) had a toxic relationship. We both know this and tried to remain friends/friends with benefits even after everything that happened. I know, stupid on my part, but I was hopeful both of us could possibly change and work it out.

My ex and I were together for about 6 years. We got together right before graduating high school. He even moved states with me and my family since we couldn’t afford to remain in our home state. It was only a few months before we moved out on our own after moving states.

Mark has always been a flirt, but even at the worst parts of our relationship he never physically cheated. I had forgiven a lot of what he did, even though he would gaslight me as though it was my fault even when I asked for the bare minimum of honesty and to not flirt with the girls the way he was. (i.e. receiving nude photos, telling them he loves them, etc) I was stupid to stay, I know this.

That is until he gaslit and pressured me into trying out a polyamorous relationship, which at first he was being very honest and communicating. That is until he met this girl (20F, we’ll refer to her as Liz). He began being super sneaky and going to see her all the time after work. He would say he’s “going over to comfort her” because of Liz living with her mom and stepdad. According to them her stepdad would pray on her so she didn’t feel safe and he would be there for her. I told him I became increasingly uncomfortable with their friendship because my gut feeling told me something was wrong. I asked him to stop seeing her or to at least distance their friendship and that I wanted a closed relationship because my trust in him was fading along with my insecurities from past events was flaring up significantly. I even spoke to her about it and both said that “You’re being crazy, we’re just friends.” Fast forward a bit when one day Liz was hanging out at our house. I went to work and returned home that evening to find them in our game room that is attached to our bedroom, hooking up.

I completely lost it. I started to scream and I threw my shoes at him because I was devastated. Liz stood there after getting dressed, looking guilty. I was the one who ended up driving her home because I didn’t want him to get to sweet talk her on the ride home. She admitted that they had been doing things at her mother’s when Mark would visit her and that he told Liz that he was going to leave me.

We ended up breaking up and with the economy I couldn’t afford to just up and move out. My other mistake was building him up without building myself too. So we shared a car. I relied heavily on him, through out our relationship and even now. Mark and Liz got together, which is when everything became a lot worse. Mark moved to one of the spare rooms and I remained in the master so that I would have privacy and didn’t have to venture out of my room often. After about a month or so after them getting together, Mark bullied and gaslit me into allowing Liz to move in. I hated them both at this point, but they were making my life such a living hell I just rolled over and kept to myself.

That was until Mark wanted to be friends again. Unfortunately, I tried to be due to still harboring feelings for him and just being the stupid person I am that tries to fix anything she can. We stared getting a little close again and he would flirt with me. Liz never cared that he flirted with people because she did it too. However it escalated to him wanting to cheat on her with me. I told Liz and while she was mad she still forgave him. It ended up happening again where we got close and him wanting to cheat, to which he begged me not to say anything to Liz. I did so anyway. She broke up with him and left.

Liz ended up dating this other guy and rubbing Mark’s nose in it. However, Mark and Liz still talked via Snapchat all the time. Eventually Mark and I started to sleep together again (yes, stupid of me). Mark would never admit it to Liz, though. I honestly wish I knew what he told her about me because he’s always made me out to be the villain.

After Liz and her new boyfriend split up, her and Mark began to hang out a lot again. I would always ask him about it and he would tell me that they are “just friends. Liz doesn’t even like me like that anymore.” That is until I did find out they were sleeping together. I told Mark I was uncomfortable with her being at our house if that’s all she was there for because this is a woman he cheated on me with and left me for. I also expressed that I don’t sleep with people who are sleeping with other people because it makes me feel gross and I have an irrational fear of STDs so if he was going to do that then we needed to stop. Mark made it seems as though he and Liz had discussed it and set boundaries, saying “Me and Liz won’t work. We want different things out of life.” He would also talk about her like Liz was starting to get on his nerves or that he simply wasn’t interested in her anymore. This is where I get even dumber because I believed him. We continued to mess around, until I found out they were still messing around too. So I messaged her and asked her what was going on between the two of them since I couldn’t trust what he said.

Liz didn’t reply, instead she ran to Mark and who knows what she said. All I know is he texted me about not causing drama and telling me if I message her again that he would cut me off. Which probably would have been for the best, but being locked into my lease I couldn’t just up and leave nor should I have to abandon my home because of him. I’d even told him multiple times to get out and leave, but as his name is on the lease I couldn’t force him to leave either.

They stopped talking for a bit and stopped seeing each other until the events of yesterday. Liz came over to hang out while I was gone at work (thank you cameras) because Mark was on vacation and wanted company. I’d warned him that I don’t want them hooking up in the house and because we were sleeping together. He’d ignored all my texts, leaving them on delivered as he does when he’s with her. Eventually he did tell me they messed around and I got angry because he knew from what had happened before and had said he understood how it made me feel after the last time. Though, looks like he didn’t care as he repeated what caused the conflict between us and keeps doing so.

Anyway I was upset and told Mark to get her out of the house. He kept refusing and so I told him, then I will tell her everything as I knew he had been lying to her and feeding her whatever sweet words he had. I probably shouldn’t have done so, but I was running on anger and hurt feelings. So I hopped on the living room camera and used the talk feature to tell her that he’s been lying to her and messing around with me even when he’s telling her he wasn’t.

Liz ended up calling someone to come get her and leaving. Mark started telling me how awful I am, that me doing this is why he never thinks I’ll change and never hesitate to “rip his life apart”. He also commented on how she’s gone for good this time because she actually blocked him ending it with “thanks for running Liz off again.” Mark also told me now he has nothing.

So I know I’m probably the dumbest person on the planet, but Am I also The Asshole in this situation?

Note 1: He even tried to control who I was hooking up with or going on dates with while he was dating Liz. I only slept with 2 people in the span of a year of being single. One of which was a friend I trusted. I even cut this friend off later on when Mark said it made him uncomfortable since he knew the guy. Also I never have friends over unless they are here to help me with something or when my best female friend would come over during my suicidal episodes because of how Mark and Liz would treat me. Yet he has always fought for her to come over after they broke up, yet I was wrong for wanting friends over because my friends don’t like him for everything he has done. I also spent many nights drunk out of my mind to escape the pain as I have always been hopelessly in love with Mark and seeing him with someone else was devastating. Again I’m very stupid and tend to think with my heart over my head.

Note 2: Our lease ends at the end of next month. We ARE parting ways. I hate this is how it ends and wish things could have worked out.

Note 3: There is a TON to this story, but it would be even longer than this to get into detail.

[pinnithin-writes]

May 20

It hurts, kind of, when it moves.

I didn’t notice it the first time - probably because I was so startled - but now I know it feels like a persistent stomach ache. Honestly though, compared to period cramps it’s only about as bad as that, at worst. Not looking forward to worm pain and uterus pain hitting me at the same time.

At least when I have to take the afternoon to hide in my room, laying on my side and clutching my stomach, Gina doesn’t question it. I spend most of my time in there anyway. My roommate and I don’t hang out a ton. We’re on friendly terms, but I wouldn’t say we’re friends. 

To say Gina’s the more functional of this apartment’s tenants is an understatement. I mean, it’s just the two of us, so one of us has to claim the title, and it sure wasn’t gonna be me. She’s had to be self-sustaining longer than I have, though, so I was fine with letting her take the reins on paying the landlord and the utilities, submitting maintenance requests when the sink broke, that sort of thing. Like, she already knows how to do all that kind of stuff. 

Maybe we would fight more if I had more of an ego, but when she leaves a sticky note on my door that says “RENT <3” I read it more as a friendly reminder than harassment. I still wouldn’t really call her a friend - we signed the lease together only a few months ago and I only know her from being my partner in chemistry lab last semester, but she was there for me when Will left, and she did her half of the work so I figured she’d be okay to live with when her roommate graduated and I got sick of living in the dorms, surrounded by people. I’m tired of people. Gina leaves me alone.

I wouldn’t be totally helpless without her. My parents taught me some things. My dad taught me how to cook and my mom taught me how to clean up after cooking, so I’m at least good for something. And I don’t leave my shit out in the living room like she and her friends do. 

I don’t know. She works, and I get an allowance. It feels like cheating. My folks aren’t exactly rich, but they make enough to keep me from having to get a job so I can focus on my classes. I get a feeling Gina’s fending for herself out here. She’s never gone home for holidays or anything. I don’t know how to ask about that sort of thing, and I’m not sure I’d really want to. Like, if someone were to come up to me and ask, how’s your relationship with your parents? I wouldn’t exactly be thrilled to tell them my life’s story. I bought a tapeworm online. What do you think?

She’s got more friends than I do, though. I guess now I have the worm, but I’m not sure it counts. Not exactly a great conversationalist, while Gina’s friends can be heard talking with her in the living room well into the morning. It’d bother me if I wasn’t also awake at the time. It’s hard not to fall into Youtube rabbit holes about how steel shipping cables are made, or those videos where a hydraulic press crushes a bunch of random objects. Sometimes I like to imagine myself putting my arm under that thing. Or my head.

I get a lot of enjoyment out of watching those survival shows where they drop contestants in the middle of nowhere and they have to live off the land for thirty days for a cash prize or something. The worm seems to like them too; it was still and complacent while I fed it veggie straws and watched Naked and Afraid yesterday.

I emerged from my room once to get a soda out of the fridge and Gina’s friends were all in our common area, sprawled across the couch or sitting on the floor. One had their head in another’s lap. I don’t know if they’re together or just really close friends - it always seems like a few of them are snuggling and it changes every time they visit. I wonder what it’s like to be so casually comfortable with so many people.

One of her friends, Brent or Bradley or something like that, said hey to me when I was walking back to my room. He’s cute. Has blue hair and a lip piercing. I almost lingered to chat, but the tapeworm lurched in my stomach, anticipating the sugar and caffeine of my soda, and I retreated to my room again.

I don’t know if that was anything. Maybe next time we’ll talk. 

A Helminthic Romance

Short story about a girl who falls in love with her intestinal parasite, told through entries in the narrator's journal.

[Posting these in short installments in conjunction with the the dates of the journal entries.]

Read on Ao3

May 13

I felt it move inside me this morning.

I was warned of the symptoms. That is, I warned myself with some conscientious online research. Some discomfort is to be expected. Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, insomnia, malnutrition - I know what I’m getting into. I took the pill in March and anticipated I’d start feeling the effects by now, but I hadn’t expected to feel it move.

I was standing at the coffee pot, measuring grounds into the filter. I only drink it black now, which kind of sucks, but there are fewer steps to making it at least. But I wasn’t doing anything especially exciting, and it chose that moment to stir in my gut.

I’m not sure how to describe it. It lurched, but it’s not big enough to lurch. It squirmed, but it’s not yet long enough to squirm. It just… moved. Like how a human infant will turn its head and stare at movement that fascinates it, uncomprehending but its attention held. That’s what it felt like. I’d done something to catch the worm’s attention, and it raised its head, as much as it was able to, somewhere unseen in my digestive tract. Just a small movement, observing but uncomprehending. 

Much like you can’t give caffeine to a baby, I wondered if I could, in good conscience, give caffeine to a newly born tapeworm. What would that do to it? I don’t want to do anything to hurt it - not this early in its development. I mean, I took it for a reason, and if I killed it before it did its job, or damaged its ability to do its job, then that would kind of defeat the whole point of this experiment.

I got the pill online. It was surprisingly cheap - only 35 dollars. The seller informed me that the egg would hatch inside me and it would take a few months for the tapeworm to reach maturity. As it grew, it would eat everything I ate, growing in size until it was no longer sustainable for it to live inside me. The pill came in a set of two - one to birth the worm and the other to kill it. I’m supposed to take the second pill once I’ve either reached an acceptable weight or the tapeworm becomes too uncomfortable to live with, whichever comes first. 

I’ve thought about naming it, now that I can feel it, but I think that’ll only make it harder to kill once I’ve reached my weight goal. I ended up drinking the coffee. People put coffee grounds in their compost bins and it doesn’t kill their worms, so this shouldn’t be any different.

But I mostly just wanted to stop drinking it black. I took some of Gina’s french vanilla creamer. Who knows, maybe the worm will like it. I know I did.

[fanficimagery]

First High

You decide to get high for the first time, much to Steve, Robin and Eddie's amusement.

Words: 4.4K Author's Note: ST4!AU. Vecna never happened so this is Eddie hanging with Robin and Steve for the first time.  Also I've never smoked a day in my life, so excuse my poor description of it.

All throughout elementary, middle and high school, you had been content to fly under the radar and do what needed to be done in order to graduate school. You'd done well up until you decided to get a summer job when Starcourt Mall opened up, scooping ice cream alongside Steve Harrington and Robin Buckley.

Everything was fine and dandy, but then a secret Russian base was found underneath the mall and all hell broke loose.

You had trouble comprehending everything you learned about Hawkins Lab, a girl named El, and a dimension they called the Upside Down. Being drugged and beaten also didn't help things at all, but those who were in on the secret did their best to help you cope.

Steve and Robin ended up getting new jobs, both being hired at Hawkins Family Video, but you ended up becoming somewhat of a recluse and barely left the house. And when you did leave the house, it was because Steve and Robin picked you up to drag you somewhere.

Your parents were surprised when Steve and Robin showed up on your first day of senior year, the ex-king of Hawkins High unintentionally becoming your and Robin's chauffeur. Robin made sure to check in with you during school hours, even making Dustin and Mike check in with you when she couldn't. Lucas was there every once in a while, but his main priority was Max who was surprisingly not taking Billy's death too well.

So, for a while, everything was good.

It was fine.

But then Thanksgiving break came up and your parents had plans to travel to your grandparent's place that was a couple hours away. While that didn't bother you much, they then had every intention of staying your entire break up there. One day you could handle, but the entire week? Nope. Out of the question.

So, after a little convincing, you got your parents to agree to let you stay behind.

A few days before, they even went out and bought you everything you'd need to make your own Thanksgiving meal, and then a bit more groceries to last you until they came home.

Your first night alone led you to having little to no sleep since you jumped at every little sound your house made, so you ended up visiting Robin at work to ask her to stay with you during break. Steve overheard and invited himself, and you found out firsthand how the two absolutely had no sense of boundaries as they piled into your bed to sleep.

Luckily for you, you loved your space in bed, so there was more than enough room on your king-sized mattress for all three of you.

On the day of Thanksgiving, all three of you sleep in. And then when you do wake up, Steve immediately puts on a football game while Robin heats up a couple cans of Spaghetti O's so you're not too full for dinner.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you," Robin says as you're washing up the slight mess in the kitchen. "I invited someone from school to have dinner with us."

"What? We were allowed to invite people?" Steve wonders as he joins the two of you in the kitchen. "Why wasn't I aware?"

"Because we don't want to watch you suck face with Heidi," Robin tells him. "And I invited Eddie Munson," she then tells you.

You freeze just as Steve huffs. "Eddie Munson? What'd you invite him for?"

"You didn't see him at the store yesterday, Steve! Him and his doe eyes, and he just looked so glum about choosing what frozen meal to buy. Frozen meals are disgusting!"

You whirl around, hands still soapy as you stare at your female friend with wide eyes. "You invited a cute boy and you're only telling me now?"

"What?!" Steve yelps just as Robin grins and says, "You think Munson's cute?"

"Robin! Now I have to clean the house!" You whine.

"Gross," Steve then mumbles.

"Oh, shut up," you grumble at Steve. "I might have been quiet and kept to myself before we became friends, but that doesn't mean I didn't watch everyone around me. Need I remind you who you bedded before Wheeler got her hooks in you?" His eyes subtly widen as Robin starts to giggle. "Yeah, that's what I thought. So, while I start on cleaning the living room, Robin gets to finish cleaning the kitchen."

"Hey!"

"Ha!" Steve laughs.

"And Steve gets to pick up all the dirty laundry from my bedroom floor and put it to wash."

"Aw, come on."

"Nope. I don't want to hear it. And after you're done with that, I'm going to need you to take out the bathroom and kitchen trash so I can get started on the dinner prep."

"Ugh," both Robin and Steve groan as they get to work.

Though you're a little anxious for Eddie's arrival, you manage to keep your cool. Steve does everything you've assigned to him, as does Robin, but she ends up joining you in the kitchen while you're putting the turkey in the oven.

"So, Munson, huh?"

You shrug with a little laugh. "He's cute."

"Since when?"

"Since he let his hair grow out and got the tattoos."

"Ahh. I get it. It's the ink."

"And his stupid smile," you say a little breathily as you gather some potatoes to peel.

"And the doe eyes." Robin flutters her own eyes at you, and you laugh, throwing a dish towel at her. "But in all seriousness, why didn't you ever go for him?"

As you take a seat at the table, you huff. "Have you seen me? Like really seen me?" You ask. "I am not the type of girl Eddie goes for and he's just- he's.."

"Incredibly lucky to have a girl like you pining after him," Steve says, leaning over the little counter that separates your kitchen from your living room. "Seriously. I'd date you if I knew you'd go for me."

You and Robin both laugh, and Steve shrugs as he goes back to his game.

Lowering her voice, Robin then scoots closer to you. "Would you ever go for Steve?"

"I might have," you murmur. "That Scoops Ahoy outfit really did it for me."

"Seriously?"

"Yep. But we're too platonic now for us to ever find our way out of the friend zone."

"Platonic with a capital 'p'. Got it."

You snort and then finally start peeling the potatoes.

"So, what are we all having tonight?" She asks. "Anything I can help with?"

"Turkey and gravy, dressing, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, and some rolls."

"Well, you pre-made the dressing and casserole last night," she says.

"Mhm. And those will be popped into the oven as soon as the turkey comes out. I'll also put the potatoes and macaroni to boil while the turkey rests, and then I'll need your help collecting the turkey water and grease for the gravy." Her nose wrinkles and you laugh. "It's good. Trust me. It's going to blow your mind."

"You're already blowing my mind by doing all of this. I sometimes mess up making a bowl of cereal."

"And that's why your job is to put the rolls into the oven for a few minutes after everything comes out."

Robin chuckles. "I can do that."

You, Robin and Steve lounge around while the turkey cooks, the smell making all three of you groan in hunger after the first hour and a half passes. Steve helps you retrieve the turkey every now and then so you can bast it, and then it takes everything in you to not fall back asleep while waiting.

However, just as you decide to pull the turkey out of the oven for the final time, you remember you were expecting another guest when there's knocking on the door.

"I got it!" Steve calls out.

You glance at Robin who beams at you in response, and you wrinkle your nose at her. "Please don't say anything. Let's just get through tonight and you can tease me all about Eddie after he leaves."

"Fine. I'll behave."

"Oh man, it smells good in here!" Eddie Munson walks into the kitchen, inhaling deeply as Steve rolls his eyes in amusement behind him. Sparkling brown eyes land on you and a boyish smile breaks out. "Sorry for the intrusion, but Buckley said it was cool that I come. And bring a set of pajamas which I thought was weird."

"Yeah. No, you're good." You flash him a smile as you chuckle. "And the pajamas are to lounge around in. After stuffing yourself full of food, jeans are very uncomfortable to be wearing."

"We can always make this a no pants party."

Both Robin and Steve snort with amusement as heat instantly blooms in your cheeks and Eddie smirks at getting you all flustered.

"I, uh, shut up," you end up muttering when the other three laugh at you. "There are drinks in the fridge. Help yourself. We'll be eating probably in half an hour."

"Well alright then."

Robin lingers around the kitchen with you as you put water to boil for the potatoes and macaroni. The pans of dressing and the green bean casserole get placed into the oven to heat up, and you have Robin set the table.

Once the food is all done and Steve's carved up the turkey, you set everything out on the table.

"So where are your parents?" Eddie asks as he piles the potatoes onto his plate. "Kind of odd you aren't together for this."

"Oh, uh, they're at my grandparent's place," you say. "They're gonna be there for the entire break and I didn't feel like being there."

"Got it." At his first bite of food, Eddie groans. "Are you kidding me? How do you cook like this and still be single?"

You choke on your bite food, Robin claps a hand over her mouth as she barks out a laugh, and surprisingly Steve nods along in agreement. "He's right. This is really good," he says while dipping some turkey wrapped up in a piece of roll into the gravy. He then shoves it into mouth, groaning appreciatively. "So good."

You clear your throat and try to will your blush away. "Well, it's nice to know I can win you boys over with my cooking."

"Don't forget your good looks." Eddie winks.

"Can you please stop flirting? I'm eating here!" Steve grumbles though you can see he's fighting off a grin.

Eddie and Robin laugh, and you shake your head in amusement.

This boy was going to be the death of you.

Everyone eats their fill, telling you how good it all is. Then as you go about putting up the leftovers, Eddie sheepishly joins you at the counter and asks if he can make a plate for his uncle. You agree and put together a container of food, setting it aside to cool off before it can be refrigerated.

"Too bad no one thought of dessert," Steve says as everyone relaxes in the living room.

"Who says I didn't?" You sleepily grin.

"What do you have?" Steve asks.

"Pumpkin and apple pie."

"Oh my god. This is the best Thanksgiving ever," Eddie mumbles.

"Just- just let me take a short nap and then I'll pop the apple into the oven."

"But- but why can't you do it now?"

"Are you serious?" Robin scoffs. "How are you still hungry? I'm stuffed."

"Now the pajamas make sense," Eddie muses. "I'll be right back. I'm gonna grab mine and change. I mean, only if it's cool that I still hang out with you guys."

"Yeah. Feel free." You wave him off. "My parents don't return until Sunday afternoon, so it's just going to be us here. There's no rush for anyone to leave."

"Cool. Is it alright if I smoke?"

"Oh, uh, yeah. We'll just.." you trail off, glancing around the living room. "Do it in my room. I don't want the smell to cling to anything in here."

As Eddie walks out of your house to go grab his change of clothes, both Steve and Robin look at you.

"Are you really going to smoke with Munson?" Steve asks.

"If he offers." You shrug. "I've never actually smoked weed. Just cigarettes."

"What?" Steve's eyes widen before he starts to smile. "You're so totally getting high then. I need to see this happen."

"Like I said, if he offers, I'll join in."

"Oh, he's offering," Steve says. "If I have to buy it off him right now, I will."

When Eddie walks back into your house, you realize he'd changed in his van. Instead of the band tee and jeans he'd been wearing, he's now wearing one of his infamous Hellfire club shirts and a pair of red and black plaid pajama pants. He kicks his shoes off by where the other shoes have been left behind and you must audibly swoon because Robin elbows you. "Knock it off unless you want him to notice."

Grumbling, you pull out the pies from the refrigerator and place them on the counter. The pumpkin is automatically picked up by Steve as Robin retrieves the whipped cream, and you put the apple into the oven before setting a timer to remind you to check on it.

"So how much would a pre-rolled joint cost me?" Steve asks.

Eddie looks up from his plate of pie. "You looking to buy, Harrington?"

"Yeah. Our wonderful hostess has yet to partake in the fun and I need to be there for her first time."

Eddie glances at you then, a smile blossoming. "You've never...?"

"I didn't have friends before. I wasn't going to get high all on my lonesome."

His smile falters. "You didn't have friends? I could've sworn..." he trails off, frowning. "You were always surrounded by a group of people."

You open your mouth to reply, but Robin speaks up, grinning. "Watched YN, did you, Munson?"

Eddie freezes, his own cheeks turning a faint red as Steve starts to grin. Eddie looks nervous all of a sudden, so it's your turn to elbow your friend while coming to Eddie's rescue. "Knock it off, Robin. And just because people were around me, it didn't mean we were friends. I wasn't very confrontational back then so everyone just kind of sat around me and carried on with their conversations as if I weren't there."

"Jesus. That's cold," he says.

You slowly smile at him, and Steve rolls his eyes. "So how much, Munson?"

"Free." Eddie's fast reply surprises even himself. He then clears his throat and tries to make himself seem cool and collected as he digs into his piece of pie. "I love popping cherries."

His smug and teasing smile as his lips wrap around his fork makes you blush so hard that Robin ends up muttering, "Trust me, that cherry has been popped for a while."

"Robin!" You bark at her, and Steve and Eddie explode with laughter. "Jesus Christ." Your friends stare at you, giggling, and you shake your head at them all. "This is why I never keep friends."

"Oh, come on, YN. You know I'm your favorite."

Steve and Eddie end up splitting the pumpkin pie while you and Robin wait for the apple. Then when the boys are nice and full again, and you've cleaned up the kitchen to the best of your ability, you lock up the front door and lead the way to your room.

Eddie enters last, whistling slowly at what he sees. Your room has a black and white theme, with very little color splashed here and there. There are band and movie posters along your walls, as well as a small section dedicated to nothing but polaroid pictures you started taking when you worked at Scoops Ahoy. Your king-sized mattress sits in the right back corner of your room, pillows and blankets piled on top of it and looking quite inviting. White Christmas lights are strung up above your bed, and Robin hurriedly plugs them in so you don't have to turn on the main light.

Steve immediately opens the door to your small balcony and then crawls into your bed to sit right next to Robin. Eddie glances between your desk chair and your bed, and you grin as you grab your ash tray that was hidden within your desk before walking towards your bed.

"Hop in, Munson. We don't bite," Steve muses. "Well YN might."

"You sleep right next to me, Harrington. I will strangle you."

"Not tonight. Robin's taking the middle."

With Robin and Steve gleefully sitting side by side at the head of the bed, their backs against the wall, you sit with your back against the other wall and pull a pillow into your lap. Eddie tries to figure out where it's best to settle down before he caves and shamelessly lays across the foot of your bed.

Setting the ashtray between you and him, you wait for Eddie to light up.

Eddie takes the first hit before passing the joint to you, and when it's your turn you inhale and exhale so easily that he doesn't believe it's your first time. "How the hell..."

You grin as you take another hit, letting the smoke release from your nostrils before passing it back. "I smoke cigarettes when I'm stressed and lately I've been stressed a lot. Smoke is smoke."

"You're going to regret those words in about half an hour," Eddie muses. He takes a hit and closes his eyes in pure bliss, pushing one hand beneath his head. "Cig smoke doesn't relax you like you're about to be relaxed."

Once the joint is finished, you crawl over to Robin and lay down with your head in her lap.

"Are you doing okay?" Steve asks, amused.

"I'm good, Harrington." You practically moan as Robin slides her fingers into your hair, nails scraping at your scalp. "Nothing's kicked in. I'm just getting comfortable."

Eddie chuckles as he moves the ashtray to the floor, laying back down on his side with one hand supporting his head. "If you're a sleepy stoner, I'm gonna be seriously let down, YLN."

You grin, letting your head loll to the side and cracking open an eye. "Talk nerdy to me, Munson. I won't know what you're talking about, but I actually like the sound of your voice."

Eddie gapes at you, and you and Robin end up giggling. After Eddie finds his footing, the boys start talking to each other, landing on the topic of Dustin since that was the only person they had in common. Surprisingly, they bond over the fact that they both think the freshman is a little shit.

Eventually you feel your body really sink into the bed and you subconsciously start to hum. Robin's fingers slow in your hair and the boys stop talking. You continue humming, smiling with your eyes closed until...

"Okay, so am I the only one who thinks that's the creepiest song ever?" Robin asks.

You huff a laugh and continue humming.

"I know that song. Why do I know that song?" Eddie mumbles.

Your humming trails off. "Stars shining bright above you," you sing instead. "Night breezes seem to whisper I love you. Birds singing in the sycamore tree. Dream a little dream of me."

"Wow," Steve says. You chuckle as your eyes open once more, turning so you're hugging Robin's legs now. "You're totally stoned," he then realizes.

"Maybe."

"You so totally are." Eddie laughs.

"Stop laughing at me." A buzzer suddenly sounds and you hurriedly sit up, gasping. "The pie! I got it."

You try to crawl over both Robin and Steve, only for your arms to give out on you and for you to fall face first onto the hardwood floor. Luckily it wasn't a far drop and your friends laugh at your misfortune.

"Jesus H. Christ." Eddie guffaws. "Are you okay?"

"Ow." You grumble and maneuver around until you're laid out on your back. "Fuck you, gravity."

Steve continues to giggle as he gets up, no doubt going to check on the pie for you. Robin lays out on her stomach, head hovering over the side of the mattress as she looks down at you. "You good?"

"Fantastic." You sigh and then quickly sit up. "Hey, have you ever thought what would happen if gravity just like... cut off?"

"What?" Robin snorts.

"Would we- would we just float away?"

"YN, that's- that's a horrifying scenario."

You laugh, but then slowly come to a realization that she's right. It's terrifying! A look of horror overcomes your expression and your friends both laugh at you. You grasp onto your bed covers, gripping tight. "I don't wanna float away."

Hands drag you onto the mattress then, arms and legs wrapping around you. "Don't worry. I got you, YN."

"Oh my god." Robin laughs.

When Steve re-enters the room, he stumbles to a halt. Eddie and YN are sitting side by side, a blanket wrapped tight around their shoulders and over their heads as Robin snaps a picture with a polaroid camera. "Uh.. what did I just walk in on?"

"YN's convinced she's going to float away and that was Eddie's answer to keeping her grounded."

"They're so stoned."

"Totally stoned," Robin agrees. She snaps another picture when Eddie murmurs something to YN that ends up with her giggling, and then hands the camera off to Steve. "Here. Take this and document anything cute or blackmail-ish. I gotta pee."

As Robin leaves, Eddie glances at Steve and practically beams.

"Hey Harrington, who am I?" He then points his finger towards the ceiling just a bit, shaking slightly, as he says, "ET phone home." Steve snorts and YN giggles, falling to the side and dragging Eddie down with her. The two stoned individuals maneuver around until Eddie is behind YN, arm wrapped around her waist. Their giggles die down and Eddie hums. "How is your bed so comfortable? I seriously don't want to go home now."

"Then don't." Your amusement vanishes as you start to play with Eddie's fingers that were tapping against your abdomen. "Steve and Robin are staying. You might as well too."

Steve groans and Eddie laughs. "Are you inviting me to an orgy?"

"No!" Your face heats up, eyes wide. But then you calm down and- "Well..."

"Don't even think about it," Steve says.

"We don't have to do it, but I'm still going to think about it."

Steve frowns at you before turning his attention to Eddie who's shaking with silent laughter at your back. "See what you started!"

Robin walks in to see Steve, hands on his hips, glaring at Eddie and YN who are still wrapped around each other, only this time they're laying down. "What did I miss?"

"Apparently we've just acquired another bed partner."

"Well, on the bright side, if Munson stays wrapped around YN like a limpet, then we'll have more room in the bed."

Steve seems to brighten up a bit. "Fine, but if there are noises coming from their side of the bed in the middle of the night, I'm suing for emotional damages."

"Whatever. Just get in bed."

The next time you're fully conscious, you grimace and try to hide under the covers from the sunlight. An arm squeezes around your waist and you tense just as the person chuckles.

"How are you feeling?"

You reluctantly turn your head and lift the covers to find a sleepy Eddie grinning at you. Your nose wrinkles at him. "I have a headache. Why do I have a headache?"

"The weed hit you hard."

You groan and hide back under the blanket, letting your body relax once more. "So, how'd you sleep, Munson? Was casa de YN to your liking?"

He chuckles. "Better than I ever imagined, princess."

"Imagined it a lot, did you?" He doesn't reply and it's your turn to chuckle at him. Reluctantly turning over, you smile up at him as he tries to hide behind his hair. "I'm just messing with you. I'm happy you had a good time."

"Are you?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well until yesterday I wasn't sure you even knew who I was."

"Are you kidding me?" You lean back a little, staring incredulously at him. "Eds, you're hot. Of course I knew who you were!"

His expression is slack in awe until a shit eating grin forms. "You think I'm hot?"

"Dude, do you even know the number of girls at Hawkins High that find you attractive? It's a lot, but they're just a bunch of stuck-up bitches who will never admit it outside of the girl's bathroom in fear of it messing with their reputation."

"So, what does that make you?"

"A dumb bitch for just admitting that I think you're hot to your face." Your face heats up as your words finally catch up to you and your heart pounds. You can't believe you just admitted that to him.

Eddie snorts and pulls you closer to his body, and you willingly go with an embarrassed groan. He leans his face close to yours, his nose just barely brushing yours. "Then it's a good thing I think you're hot too."

"Y-Yeah?"

"Mhm." His lips press chastely against your own and you quietly moan at the contact, especially when his hand travels down to your thigh and lifts your leg until it's settled over his hip. "And don't even get me started on that sailor's uniform you had to wear when you worked at the mall."

Surprised laughter spills from your lips and Eddie smirks at you. You continue to laugh as he presses a kiss to your jaw, teeth quickly nipping at your neck.

Suddenly your bedroom door is shoved open, and you and Eddie spring apart.

"Gross." Steve scowls at the two of you. "Now if you two are done canoodling, we kind of need YN downstairs. Robin burned breakfast."

Groaning, you reluctantly pull out of Eddie's embrace so you can turn over. "How many times do I have to tell you Robin can't cook?"

"Sorry, but we were hungry and you were dead to the world!"

"Yeah, yeah. Go clean up and I'll be right down to cook something for us."

"Thank you!"

As you sit up, you stretch your arms above your head and then glance over your shoulder to find Eddie smiling fondly at you. You return his smile. "To be continued?"

"To be continued."

[staygoldwriting]

Could I request something where it’s like early to mid 90s evryone has graduated and has their established lives (in or out of Hawkins) and reader runs into Eddie. They were aware of each other in high school but not to the point they ever said more then a few words here and there or hung out. But they are older now and they start to blossom a relationship with each other :)

Hello, my dear! I have poured myself into this story, and I have enjoyed writing it so much! Warning: It's a long one! I hope you enjoy it! ❤️

Word count: ~4.8k

Warnings: Mentions of Chrissy's death and past trauma of Eddie and the reader, a dog has a cut (he's 100% okay!!!), another character is pregnant, all fluff per usual 💕

🐾 Puppy Love 🐾

As Eddie drove into Hawkins in October 1993, seven years after the tragedies of ‘86, he felt uneasy. Even though the painful trial proved his innocence, the citizens of Hawkins could not shake their suspicion and hate for him, and he was relentlessly taunted and hated by most except those who knew the truth. He needed a new start, so he moved to the city, but when he heard that his uncle Wayne was unwell, he decided it was time to return to care for him. 

Steve offered his home for Eddie to stay in while he adjusted; Eddie discussed the idea of staying with Wayne, but he simply didn’t have the room. Besides, Eddie was looking forward to catching up with his old “buddy” again and seeing what he had been doing these past years. 

As Eddie glanced down at the map and Steve’s address, he arrived at the little suburban house. Pulling into the driveway, Steve emerged from the front door, smiling widely and shaking his head with his hands, as always, on his hips.

“Eddie Munson!” he yelled. “Get over here!”

Eddie grinned widely and hugged Steve, clapping him firmly on the back.

“Nice to see you, man,” Eddie said. 

“You too,” Steve smiled. “Let’s get your stuff.”

Eddie didn’t have much, so he brought everything with him, keeping his essentials in a few duffel bags and the rest in boxes to be unpacked later if he decided the move needed to be permanent. 

“Thanks for letting me stay with you and Amanda, it means a lot,” Eddie said, lugging two duffels into the house.

“Hey, no problem, man, it’s our pleasure,” Steve replied. “And here’s my beautiful wife now!”

Amanda Emerson, now Harrington, came downstairs to greet her guest, her pregnant belly taking up most of her body. Eddie smiled in shock, holding his hands out.

“Amanda! It’s so good to see you! I can’t believe it!” he said, hugging her then looking at her belly. “May I?” he asked, holding his hands toward her belly.

“Please!” she said as Eddie placed his hand on her stomach, instantly feeling a kick. 

“Looks like he recognizes his namesake,” Amanda smirked, and Eddie gazed at her with wide eyes. 

“No way,” he said, shocked.

“Yes way,” Amanda mimicked his tone. “If Steve had never come to visit you in the city, we would have never met! You deserve it,” she said, smirking. 

“I’m honored,” Eddie said bashfully.

“Alright, big guy, let’s get you settled,” Steve smiled. “Your room is upstairs and to the left.”

Eddie entered the neat guest room and smiled at the fresh blue sheets, the big window overlooking the street, and the small tv atop the dresser. He placed his duffel bags down and opened some drawers, organizing his things. Steve joined, hanging things in the closet and taking his toiletries to the adjoining bathroom. 

“So, what’s the plan for today?” Steve asked. “Man, you still have this?”

Eddie looked over to see Steve holding his Hellfire t-shirt, which was filled with holes and stains.

“How could I not?” Eddie chuckled. “It’s basically a relic.”

“You still play?”

“Not really. I don’t have many D&D-playing friends outside of Hawkins, as you could guess,” Eddie smiled crookedly. “As for the plan, I’m going to see Wayne and then walk around for a bit, visit some old haunts.”

“Sounds good. Dinner will be at six thirty tonight, so make sure you’re back by then,” Steve said, then faced Eddie with a smirk. “Henderson’s coming tonight. He’s gonna wet his pants when he sees you!”

“No way, Henderson?” Eddie asked, overjoyed. “I haven’t seen him since he started college.”

“I know, he’s been a busy guy,” Steve said. “Alright, I think you’re all set in here. Do you need anything else from us?”

“I think I’m good for now, I just have to pick up a few groceries.”

“Eddie, man, this is your house now. You don’t need separate groceries,” Steve said, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

“Thanks, Steve, but I don’t want to impose,” Eddie said cautiously. 

“You’re not an imposition,” Amanda said, peeking into the door. “I overheard,” she shrugged.

“Thanks, you guys, really,” Eddie smiled. 

“It’s our pleasure. It’s really good to have you back, Eddie, I mean it,” Steve said seriously, bringing him into a hug.

“Steve’s right. And if Wayne needs anything, we’re here to help,” Amanda added. Eddie gave her a side hug and thanked her, then grabbed his jacket to head out to the old trailer park.

-🐾-

“Hey, Wayne,” Eddie called as he entered the trailer. 

Wayne was sitting on the couch, playing a card game with Max. They both smiled brightly as they saw Eddie.

“My boy,” Wayne smiled, tears gathering in his eyes. Max helped him get up as he walked over to Eddie, wrapping him in a tight embrace.

“It’s good to see you, Wayne,” Eddie said, tears coming out of his eyes too. 

“Hey, Eddie,” Max said quietly, and Eddie grabbed her in a big hug.

“What’s up, Mayfield?” he laughed, holding her. “Thanks for taking care of Wayne while I’ve been gone,” he said.

“Anytime, we have fun together,” she smiled. “That is, when he’s not kicking my butt in gin.”

“Years of experience, Maxie, years of experience,” Wayne chuckled. 

“So, Wayne,” Eddie began, “I wanted to come talk to you about--”

“Not now, my boy,” Wayne said, holding a hand up. “If you’re here to move back for me, then buy me a house and let’s not say another word about it,” he smiled softly. 

“Sounds good, Wayne,” Eddie chuckled. “You do seem well.”

“I am well! Who told you I’m not?” Wayne asked suspiciously.

“You,” Eddie laughed. “And Max.”

“Maxine!” Wayne gasped in mockery.

Wayne had been feeling sick for some time, but he was afraid to frighten his nephew. His breathing had become more labor after working for more years than he could afford. His life was always simple: wake up, work, eat, go to sleep, repeat. Now in his older age, he was struggling to work with the same vigor, and he was being sent home from work regularly. It was time for him to retire, and Max’s greatest hope was that Eddie could convince him to do so. 

The trio spent some quality time together, mainly playing gin while chatting. Eddie unearthed his old skills and won six games out of ten, shocking his uncle. As five o��clock rolled around, Eddie promised that he would see them tomorrow, but he needed to be back at Steve’s for dinner and still needed to run some errands. They said their goodbyes, and Eddie felt comforted knowing that Max would take care of Wayne in his absence. 

-🐾-

Driving into the main Hawkins square, Eddie parked his car in front of the Hawkins Post. Nancy Wheeler, now Byers, was walking out, and upon seeing Eddie, ran to hug him.

“Eddie!” she called, hugging him tightly. “What are you doing here?”

“Hi, Nancy! I’m here visiting Wayne,” he explained. “How are you? How’s Johnathan and Barbara?”

“They’re well! Jonathan has been busy with work, and Barbara just took her first steps!”

“That’s great,” Eddie smiled. “The last family picture you sent me is beautiful, I’m so happy for you, Nance.”

“Thanks, Eddie,” Nancy smiled. “Anyone in your life?”

“No, the whole ‘freak’ persona isn’t exactly a chick magnet,” he chuckled.

“Well, the ‘good guy with a heart of gold’ persona usually works, so don’t lose hope,” Nancy smirked. “Will you come to dinner sometime this week? I know we’d all love to see you.”

“That’d be great, Nancy, thank you,” Eddie replied. “I’m staying at Steve’s, so you can call for me there.”

“Sounds good,” Nancy smiled. “Well, I have to get home, but I’ll see you soon?”

“Yeah, see you soon,” Eddie smiled as Nancy kissed his cheek.

Nancy drove away as Eddie walked down the street to the convenience store. He had run out of toothpaste just before his trip, and then his comb broke while in his suitcase. As he exited, he saw a dog, maybe a couple years old, hobble toward him. 

“Oh, what happened, little guy?” Eddie asked, bending down to look at the dog. The little dog limped over to Eddie’s outstretched hand, sniffing it. His front leg had a cut on it, and he was obviously a stray, so Eddie took it upon himself to care for him.

“Let’s get you to a vet, buddy,” he said, scooping the dog up in his arms.

Eddie walked down two blocks and arrived at the veterinary clinic. Pushing open the doors, he told the receptionist what had happened, then she assured him that the vet would be out in one minute to help. As he waited, he comforted the dog and scratched his ears, and the dog reciprocated by giving Eddie’s hand a lick of thanks. Soon enough, he heard you, the vet, come out.

“Who has the stray dog?” you asked the receptionist, then looked at Eddie sitting nervously in the chair. You smiled in disbelief, a rush of emotions flooding your chest and making your heart skip a beat.

“Eddie Munson?” you asked quietly. He looked up at you with wide eyes.

“Y/N Y/L/N?”

-🐾-

You and Eddie had gone to high school together. You were best friends with Chrissy, and she had opened up to you about her fears and how she was going to seek out Eddie’s help.

“I know it’s madness, but I just can’t deal with this anymore, Y/N,” Chrissy cried to you.

“It’s not madness, Chrissy. Eddie’s not a bad guy, and I’m sure he’ll be able to help.”

“I hope so.”

When Chrissy died, your heart was shattered. You were the main person who organized the gatherings to honor her, unlike Jason, who was hunting Eddie. You were on the frontlines after the earthquake hit, helping people reestablish their lives and finding ways to honor those who were lost. You supported Wayne as Eddie endured the terrible and long trial. One day, when Eddie was finally free and back with Wayne, you decided to pay him a visit.

“Eddie?” you said as he opened the door. “Can we talk?”

“Listen, it wasn’t me, I swear,” Eddie began to argue, tears gathering in his eyes. “I would never--”

“I know,” you said quickly. “Eddie, I never, ever thought you killed Chrissy.”

“Really?”

“Really. I-I know you’re a good person, Eddie. You care about people, and Chrissy called me after she met with you in the woods. She told me how kind you were, how sweet and understanding you are. I-I tried to tell people, the judge, the lawyers, anyone who would listen, but they didn’t, and I just wanted to help you--”

“Y/N,” Eddie said slowly, holding your arms. “You saying that and you trying is more than anyone in Hawkins has ever done for me. Thank you. Not everyone would defend someone they barely know, let alone a freak like me.”

“You’re not a freak,” you said, holding his hands that were still resting on your arms. 

“I wish there were more people like you in this world, Y/L/N.”

“Same to you, Munson,” you smiled. “And I wish we could’ve been better friends in high school. Maybe I’ll see you around sometime, you know, when I’m not in college.”

“I think I might need to get out of here,” Eddie admitted. 

“I understand. Take care of yourself, Eddie.”

“You too, Y/N.”

-🐾-

“I can’t believe you’re a vet now,” Eddie smiled. “It makes sense, though. You always liked helping those who were hard to understand.”

“So, you remember me,” you blushed.

“Of course I do,” Eddie gasped. “You’re one of the few people in Hawkins who’s actually nice. Your heart is too good for people.”

“Ha, you’re as sweet as I remember,” you smirk. “Come on, let’s get your little friend to the back for some TLC.”

Eddie carried Buddy, as he had now named him, to the back, following you to a small room. Placing him on the table, you put some gloves on and took a look at his paw.

“Okay, pup, let’s see what’s going on,” you said, gently dabbing at his paw. 

“I found him like this, just hobbling around,” Eddie said sadly, and you nodded.

“It doesn’t look that bad, and it’s fresh, so it’s really good you brought him here. If he spent the night alone with this cut, he might have been looking at an infection. Good job,” you smiled. 

“Thanks,” Eddie blushed. “So, you can help him?”

“Yes, definitely,” you said, grabbing some supplies. “I’m going to stitch him up, but I think he also needs a bath.” 

“Okay, thank you, Dr. Y/N,” Eddie said sweetly. 

“Of course, Eddie. I’ll be right back,” you said, carrying Buddy out of the room. “There are some magazines behind you if you want to read something, and I also have a stash of candy in that cabinet,” you said, pointing to the upper right cabinet.

“Human candy?” Eddie chuckled.

“Yes, human candy,” you laughed.

Soon enough, Buddy was all stitched up and bathed, and you brought him back to Eddie, who smiled brightly.

“Thank you again, Y/N,” he smiled. “Is there any way I can adopt him?”

“Yeah, I’ll get some paperwork for him,” you said, giving Buddy a pet.

As you left, you smiled to yourself, gathering the paperwork. Seeing Eddie again made you feel warm, but it also made you remember your tragic connection. You were happy to see him well, but your gut lurched thinking of how the rest of Hawkins would receive him. Returning to the room, you handed Eddie the paperwork, a collar, and a little bit of dog food.

“Just some essentials,” you explained. “I have a few other things in the front like dog bowls and a few toys I can send home with you. In terms of the paperwork, just fill it out as best you can. I hope your uncle enjoys him too.”

“Oh, I’m actually staying with Steve Harrington,” Eddie replied. “Should probably pass this by him, huh?” he chuckled.

“I didn’t know you’re friends with Steve,” you said with surprise.

“Yeah, we ran in different circles back in the day, but after the earthquake and the trial, we sorta put our differences aside,” Eddie explained, trying to hide the real truth. “But this dog might put us back a few years,” he laughed.

“Would you like him to stay with me?” you offered. “Just until you talk it over with Steve. You’re welcome to visit him anytime you’d like.”

“Could you?” Eddie asked, smiling. “That would be amazing, thank you, Y/N.”

“Of course,” you smiled back. “I’ll go ahead and take him home today and get him adjusted, and you can stop by tomorrow to see him. I actually live a couple doors down from Steve, so it shouldn’t be far.”

“Thanks again,” Eddie said, then gathered some confidence. “Can I buy you some dinner tomorrow, as a thank you? I’d really like to catch up too, if you’d like.”

“I would love that, Eddie,” you blushed.

“Okay, it’s a date! I mean, if you want it to be,” he looked up at you bashfully.

“Definitely,” you nodded enthusiastically, then wrote your number down on a piece of paper, handing it to him. “Just in case,” you winked.

-🐾-

Eddie arrived home around six thirty, sneaking in just before Dustin pulled into the driveway. He waited by the door as a now grown-up Dustin walked up, knocking enthusiastically. He hadn’t seen Steve since the summer, so Dustin couldn’t wait to be reunited with his old buddy.

Eddie opened the door when Dustin knocked, grinning widely as he watched Dustin’s face change from confusion to shock, then to pure joy.

“What’s up, Henderson!” Eddie yelled, stretching his arms out.

“EDDIE?!” Dustin yelled, running into his arms. “Oh my gosh, dude! What’re you doing here?” 

“I’m visiting my uncle, but I might also be moving back for good!”

“For good? Dude! Please come back, we miss you so much!”

“I miss you guys too, but half the town probably still hates me.”

“Oh, come on,” Dustin scoffed, walking into the house. Eddie followed him to the kitchen, where Steve and Amanda were cooking.

“Hey, Dustin,” Amanda smiled, hugging him tightly. “It’s so good to see you!”

“You too, Amanda,” Dustin greeted, then turned to Steve and extended his hand. “Mr. Harrington.”

“Get over here, you weirdo!” Steve yelled, grabbing Dustin and almost suffocating him with a hug. The two laughed, instantly back to their old ways.

-🐾-

“What a great dinner, thanks, Amanda!” Eddie said, puffing out his stomach. “I gotta go check on my dog now, if you’ll excuse me.”

“Your what?” Steve asked, laughing.

“Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you, I got a dog today,” Eddie said nonchalantly.

“Where is it?” Amanda asked.

“He’s with Y/N Y/L/N,” Eddie replied simply.

“Y/N Y/L/N?” Steve asked in disbelief, and Eddie nodded. 

“Dude,” Dustin said.

“What?” Eddie chuckled.

“She’s like--” Steve started.

“Beautiful,” Dustin breathed.

“Yeah, she is,” Eddie said slowly. “But she’s also the vet who took care of him when I found him. He was a stray and he had a cut, so I took him there. I saw Y/N, we caught up for a bit, then she offered to keep Buddy with her until I settled and talked it over with you and Amanda, Steve.”

“She offered to watch him?” Steve asked, shocked.

“Yeah, she’s a vet and she’s nice, why wouldn’t she want a dog in her house?” Eddie was so confused.

“The question is why does she want your dog in her house,” Dustin commented. “She’s into you, there’s no other explanation.”

“There are a thousand explanations,” Eddie reasoned. “She knows how Wayne has been, so she knows he can’t stay with him.”

“But Max could take care of Buddy,” Amanda pointed out. “For once in their lives, I think these two are right, Eddie.”

Eddie sat still for a second, blushing. He pulled out the piece of paper he had stuffed in his pocket and looked at it. Call me if you need anything, Y/N <3 (xxx) xxx-xxxx. 

“What’s that?” Steve asked, snatching the note out of Eddie’s hand. “There’s a heart on it!” he yelled, and Dustin took it next.

“With her number! She lives two doors down, why would you need her number?” 

“To call her late at night and romance her,” Steve teased. 

“It’s not like that,” Eddie sighed.

“Oh? So you’re just gonna go over there to see the dog and not say a word to her?” Amanda smirked, high-fiving Steve.

“Well, we have a dinner date tomorrow.”

“A dinner what?” Dustin screeched. “You need a haircut! What’s the best outfit you brought? Did you clean it properly? Do you have plenty of dental floss?”

“Dustin, chill!” Eddie yelled. “We’re having dinner, that’s it.”

“But… it’s a date, right?” Amanda asked cautiously.

“Yes. It’s a date. We said so,” Eddie sighed.

“Don’t get us wrong, man,” Steve said, resting a hand on his shoulder. “We’re really happy for you.”

“I know, I’m sorry, you guys, I’m just so nervous.”

“You don’t need to be nervous, you’re dealing with one of the kindest people in Hawkins. I remember when you told me what she said after the trial was over,” Steve said. “She’s not a faker, she meant it.”

“She’s asked me about you before,” Dustin said. “She knew we were in Hellfire together, and every once in a while, she’d drop by Hawkins High for whatever, and she’d see me and ask how you were. She seemed happy to hear you were doing well, but once or twice, it looked like she really missed you. Like she wanted you to come home.”

“Oh, come on, man, you’re just saying that,” Eddie dismissed.

“Well, let’s go see then, shall we?” Dustin said, rising from his seat.

“What?” Eddie asked, confused.

“You have to see your dog, right? I’m coming with you and I’m showing you--” Dustin pushed a finger into Eddie’s chest, “that she’s into you.”

-🐾-

Eddie tapped his hands nervously on his sides as Dustin knocked on your dog. They heard soft barking and your hushing tone, then the door unlocked. As you opened it, Eddie admired you in your everyday clothes instead of your scrubs. You were wearing basic jeans, big slouchy wool socks, and an oatmeal sweater that was also very bulky. Your hair was still tied up, and you were smiling widely with Buddy in your arms. 

“Hey, Eddie! Look, Buddy, Dada is here!” you giggled, petting Buddy’s head. Dustin nudged Eddie, winking. 

“Hi, Y/N, I hope it’s okay I came too,” Dustin smiled. “I wanted to meet Buddy.”

“Of course, Dustin, it’s great to see you! Both of you, come in, sit down!” you smiled, welcoming them into your living room. As Eddie sat, you placed Buddy into his arms.

“How’s he been?” Eddie asked you.

“He’s good! He’s adjusting to the house well so far, only a couple accidents, but that’s okay! They happen,” you smiled sweetly.

“Thanks again for watching him,” Eddie smiled. “I told Steve about him, and I think he might come around.”

“Oh, I didn’t get that at all!” Dustin said loudly. “I mean, Amanda’s pregnant, you’re here, Steve’s always at work, I mean, it would be madness!” he said, throwing his hands in the air.

“Sounds like Steve’s just trying to be nice, Eddie,” you replied. “Buddy is welcome to stay as long as he likes, and he can even come to work with me if you’re busy during the day.”

“Okay, but I can run it by Steve one more time if--”

“Eddie!” Dustin interrupted. “Y/N has been kind enough to share her home! And besides, Buddy might be a good opportunity for you two to catch up,” he smirked. 

“Exactly, you said it yourself, Eddie!” you said. “I think it’ll be great to get to know each other more. I always regretted not talking to you more in high school.”

Eddie smiled, blushing at the comment.

“Same here, Y/N.”

“How about we start now? You guys want some hot chocolate?” you offered.

“I need to get back to Steve, but I’ll let him know you’re staying, Eddie,” Dustin smiled, waving goodbye.

“Guess I’m staying,” Eddie shrugged, smiling.

“You don’t have to,” you said.

“No, I want to,” he said, looking at you. “I’m still sort of in shock that we ran into each other like this.”

“Same here, I’m glad you’re back,” you said, handing him a mug. “How did everything go today? Were people kind to you?”

“For the most part,” Eddie said, sipping his hot chocolate. “This is good,” he chuckled.

“Good, on both counts. So, what are you doing these days?”

“I’ve been working as an electrician, actually. When I left Hawkins, I found a trade school, and people sure do need it these days. There’s a lot more tech than when we were kids.”

“I know, it’s overwhelming sometimes,” you said, looking down. “You know, we don’t have an electrician here in Hawkins. You have to call the guy two towns over. It’s a tough commute for him, and you don’t have the convenience of somewhere near to help. Just something to consider.”

“I see,” Eddie smiled. “Maybe I’ll have to stick around after all. I just want to get my uncle retired and out of that old trailer.”

“Does he have anyone else to live with?”

“No. He’s been spending time with Max Mayfield, but she’s just as stuck in the park as he is. That’s why I think I might need to move back. Wayne needs a house, he needs his family back. When I left, he had energy, motivation, but now, I--”

“I understand,” you said, holding his hand. “It’s really difficult seeing the ones you care about suffer.”

“Chrissy?” Eddie asked, looking into your eyes.

“Yes… and no,” you said, trying to hide the fact that your heart was racing.

Eddie maintained eye contact, taking a deep breath in. He reached up to cup your face gently, then leaned in. You did the same, meeting your lips in a brief kiss. As you pulled away, you laughed softly, smiling.

“Did I forget to mention I’ve had a major crush on you since middle school?” you admitted.

“You don’t say,” he smirked. “So, my flunking out for two years must have been a real treat for you, huh?”

“I’m not above saying yes.”

-🐾-

“You kissed her?”

Eddie was sitting on the counter as Amanda was scooping ice cream. He was dangling his feet like a child, recounting the night to her, Steve, and Dustin. All three of them smiled at him brightly, clearly happy to see this new development take shape.

“And you’re seeing her tomorrow?” Dustin asked, piling sprinkles on top of his vanilla ice cream.

“Yeah, I think I’ll take her to Enzo’s,” Eddie said bashfully.

“Nice job, big boy,” Steve teased, wiping chocolate ice cream from his mouth. “What are you gonna wear?”

“I don’t know yet, but I can’t tell if I’m shaking from excitement or nerves,” Eddie chuckled.

“It’s definitely both,” Amanda smiled.

-🐾-

You were waiting outside of Enzo’s, wearing your favorite blue dress with long sleeves and a low scooped back. You wore a black jacket on top and black boots since it was too cold for heels. Besides, you never liked heels that much anyway. 

Eddie soon pulled up, tumbling out of the van with a bouquet of flowers, smiling widely. He was wearing one of Steve’s button-down shirts, plain black pants, and his leather jacket. 

“Hey, I hope you haven’t been waiting long,” he said, then offered you the flowers. “These are for you.”

“Thank you, Eddie,” you said, kissing his cheek and accepting the flowers. “Where did you find peonies this time of year?”

“I have my ways,” he smirked. “Shall we?” he offered his arm.

“We shall,” you smiled, wrapping your arm around his.

Your dinner was even better than your past interactions. You laughed, shared stories, ate delicious food (which you also shared), and felt completely comfortable with him. You both never stopped smiling, even when going through your past pains, feeling like Eddie understood your struggles, and you his. You had never felt such a strong connection to someone, and the warmth in your stomach remained constant. As you all finished, you took a walk around the Hawkins square, arm-in-arm. 

“This has been an amazing night,” you said, leaning into his shoulder. “I feel like I’ve known you forever.”

“Well, technically we’ve known of each other for over twenty years, but I know what you mean,” he smiled. 

“Hawkins seems to like you,” you said softly, making Eddie blush.

“I think they like me by association, but I appreciate the compliment,” he chuckled. 

“Stay,” you said quietly.

“Yeah?” he asked, stopping and turning to face you. 

“Yeah,” you said shakily. “I-I really want you to stay.” 

Eddie kissed your forehead, smiling softly, feeling the same warmth.

-🐾-

(Two years later)

Eddie was walking down the street after a long day of work. Hawkins Post had a power outage, so Eddie spent the majority of the day there. Packing his trunk with his tools, he took a sip of water as Buddy bounded towards him.

“Hey, Buddy!” Eddie greeted. “How was your day, boy?”

“Sorry, Eddie!” you yelled, coming to put Buddy’s leash back on his collar. “He slipped away, again,” you sighed, laughing.

“My little runaway,” he laughed. “I still can’t believe you kept him.”

“I know,” you said in mock disbelief. “And would you believe his owner moved in too?”

“No!” Eddie replied, mocking your tone.

“Yeah!” you countered. “He came in with all his boxes, even moved his uncle in too! And you know what he gives me instead of rent?”

“What?” Eddie said playfully.

“This!” you said, holding up your hand to show a wedding ring. “The nerve of some people.”

“Couldn’t agree more,” Eddie sighed. “I moved into some woman’s house, and she didn’t even give me my own room. She gave me one of those too,” he said, showing his wedding ring. 

“Well, I don’t know about you,” you said, kissing him, “but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Same here, Dr. Munson.”

🐾❤️