Chapter 3

In spite of Nadine being Heath’s pet slave, a pack of girls in their underwear, a romantic fire, and free-flowing alcohol, no one made moves that night. Heath wasn’t in the right headspace. In truth, he craved the distraction, even wallowing in his self-consciousness was a relief from worrying about his Aunt, his car, being stuck here, the pandemic, how the girls were going to get home tomorrow, and everything else.

They eventually moved onto the couch. Nadine was quick to act, running around, filling glasses, fetching blankets, staying out of the conversation. Tabitha hardly talked, Aislin and Uly commanded. Aislin tried to be upbeat, gossiping about all of the friends they had scattered to the winds with college shut down. Uly failed to start drinking games.

“Heath!” Uly shouted after Heath and Nadine came up from the basement. He had insisted going down to the wine cellar -- which was a small walk-in room of the basement with several hundred bottles -- and not having Uly ravage it.

“These are the last two tonight, OK?” He asked. 5 people, seven bottles of wine, was quite enough, especially with Tabitha’s glass still totally full from its second refill.

“Awesome! Heath!” Uly shouted again. “Do you have a deck of cards? We could play King’s Cup!”

“No, don’t go back downstairs, Heath,” Aislin said. “She’ll have a new idea any second now.”

“We haven’t eaten since lunch,” Tabitha said. That had been early afternoon. It was much later.

“I’ll get some fruits and nuts and stuff. I saw them in the fridge.”

“Heath! Come sit down!” Uly shouted.

“You’re loud and drunk,” Heath said, sitting down on the couch. Tabitha smiled. Uly draped herself over his shoulder.

“Spin the bottle!” Uly held up one of the empty bottles.

“If you wanna kiss Aislin go ahead,” Tabitha muttered.

“No thanks,” Aislin said.

“No no no, whoever the bottle points at, they drink!” Uly slipped off the couch and tried to spin the bottle but it just slid across the carpet. “Shit. Alright, that’s kinda pointing at...”

“That’s the fire,” Aislin said. “He doesn’t drink.”

“But he does kiss,” Tabitha grumbled, “maybe get your face right in there.”

“I’ve got apples and nuts and stuff,” Nadine said carrying in a basket and a green plastic topped jar. “Uh, what’s she doing?”

“No one’s drinking with me,” Uly pouted, she sat on her knees, flopping her butt down between her ankles.

“I am,” Aislin said, with a sip of red.

“Heath, have a glass with me!” Uly asked.

“Sure,” he said, hiding one of the two bottles he had brought up behind the couch. “But this is our last bottle.”

“What about--” Tabitha got out of her seat to look but noticed Nadine and Heath looking at her. She sat down. “Yeah, that’s the last bottle.”

“Alright, um, Never Have I Ever, um...” Uly looked around.

“Nothing you’ve never done, eh?” Aislin sniped. She brushed her hair from her face.

“OK, Uly,” Heath said. He walked over, squatted in front of her, and offered his hands to Uly. “I think maybe I should get you to bed.”

“Me?” she said looking up. She smirked and swiveled her head. She stuck out her tongue to Aislin.

“What? You’re drunk?”

“Well, I didn’t need to be,” Uly slurred. She turned to Tabitha. “Oh.”

“What?” Tabitha asked.

“No, no, not bed,” Uly said.

“What then?” Heath said. “You’re a little out of control.”

“OK. OK. But um...” This time Uly looked to Nadine. “Are you taking your slave too?”

Heath frowned, being forced to recall the hours old car wreck.

“No, just you.”

“Nope,” Uly said. She pushed away Heath’s hands and scrambled over to the couch. Tabitha flinched away. Uly climbed over and hugged her, knocking aside Tabitha’s right hand and sending a fistful of nuts scattering.

“What? Get your mouth off my ear! OK, apology accepted. They’re just nuts.”

Uly sat up on her knees like a meerkat and looked at Heath. She pinched Tabitha.

“Ow! Crazy bitch!” Tabitha said.

“Uly...” Heath sighed.

“I’ll take her to bed,” Aislin sighed, getting up out of the couch.

“Oh,” Uly said with a frown. Then her eyes lit up. “Oh! OK, I’m alright.”

“You’re done drinking for now,” Heath said.

“Where are we sleeping?”

“Aunt Hazel’s room is the one left off the stairs. The others are guest rooms. Whichever you like.”

“Where do you sleep?” Tabitha asked. She was glad the power was out and the sun was set. She was blushing hard.

“Oh, um, usually on the third floor,” Heath said.

“I’ll take Uly up to the otherside room, in case someone wants to get to the phone bathroom,” Aislin said.

“No, I’ll do it. You stay and have fun,” Nadine grabbed Aislin’s shoulder.

“Sweet, Uly, time for bed.”

“What, it’s barely like 5 or something,” she slurred.

“It’s closer to 9,” Tabitha said, checking her phone.

“Still way too early!” Uly tossed her hands up.

“I don’t want to stay up too late,” Heath said. “As soon as we can get a tow truck out here in the morning, I want to get you all to the bus station or however we’re going to get you home.”

“Boo!” Uly said. “Alright, I’m coming.”

“Here, sit.” Aislin put Heath down on the couch, next to Tabitha. She sat down next to him and took a piece of fruit from the basket. “Thank you for everything.”

“What for getting you stranded in the middle of nowhere?” Heath said.

“No. For everything.” Aislin smiled and bit her apple.

“Yeah, who else would’ve jumped to help us like you did?” Tabitha said.

“Anyone? You guys know guys help pretty girls out, right?” Heath said.

“So it’s because we’re pretty?” Aislin reclined and grinned.

“Well, I guess it’s--”

Heath stopped when Tabitha frowned and Aislin kicked his knee.

“Don’t change your mind that I’m pretty,” she said. “And this isn’t your fault.”

“Yeah, Nadine was the selfish car thief!” Tabitha reminded him

“And your mom is the one who was crazy and couldn’t tell you what was really going on!” Aislin said.

Heath sighed. “I’m sorry just the same. Thanks for trying to cheer me up,” he said. He clearly wasn’t cheered up. He got up and trudged morosely to the third floor landing.

“Great, tell him his mom’s crazy. Great move, Aislin.”

“I’ll make it up to him,” Aislin decided. Smiling to herself, she opened the last bottle of wine.

“He said the third floor,” Uly reminded Nadine, after Uly was pushed onto the second floor bedroom.

“Oh?” Nadine said.

“Yeah, wait!” Uly said sharply. “How big’s the bed upstairs?”

“Probably a queen?” Nadine said, having seen the other two beds on this floor.

“OK, well don’t tell Aislin or Tabitha. It’s hard enough for a threesome on a queen.” Uly’s whisper was closer to thunder.

“I don’t think he’s really happy with me,” Nadine said. “Wow, understatement.”

“Yeah, you’ve been killing his boners,” Uly agreed. “But, you’re just his fuckable slut. If I asked Tabitha or Aislin, I’d have to share him.”

“He sent you to bed, without him,” Nadine scowled.

“Oh, shit,” Uly frowned. She sat up happily when Heath filled the doorframe. He knocked on the door.

“You two taking this room?” he asked.

“Two?” Uly said, like “Blegh!”

“That’ll put Aislin and Tabitha together, I guess,” Heath said.

“Heath?” Nadine said, hopefully as Heath turned.

“Night, I think I need some time to myself.” He didn’t want to hear another apology. An apology didn’t get his car out of the trees.

Tabitha never finished her glass of wine. The sixth open bottle was half full on the coffee table next to her glass.

“You’ve been smiling like the Cheshire Cat,” Aislin said.

“Yeah?” Tabitha said. “I guess I have.”

“Feeling a little brave, taking the girls out in front of Heath?” Aislin mimicked Heath’s leer over Tabitha’s large breasts. Tabitha covered herself with one hand and sneered at Aislin. Aislin raised her hands in surrender. “Hey, you’re not the only one.”

“That doesn’t make it better,” Tabitha said.

“Don’t be jealous, I’ve got the smallest tits of us all,” Aislin said.

“Like he didn’t look,” Tabitha sighed, “Plus your ass is perfect.”

“Thanks,” Aislin said. “Yours has been looking much better since you started playing volleyball with us.”

“So it was bad before?” Tabitha said, thinking she’d figured out why Heath hadn’t made a move by now.

“Hardly! And now it’s just awesome,” Aislin said.

“Why’re you talking me up?” Tabitha asked.

“Trying to return the compliment,” Aislin shrugged. “You need to start believing people when they say you’re hot.”

“We can’t all be full of ourselves like you,” Tabitha grumbled.

“Let’s not fight, there’s enough shit in the air,” Aislin said.

“Maybe we should just go to bed,” Tabitha said. She left Aislin on the couch.

Aislin took some more food. Give the girls another fifteen to get settled in. This might be her last chance with any guy before she headed home tomorrow. Even without the pandemic, Heath would be there for her, even if she was the length of the province away from him. It wouldn’t be the worst thing to have a ‘boyfriend’ to come back to when school was back in session.

Heath sat on the third floor bed. He had wanted to scream, to shout, to just let loose and he hadn’t done it. He looked into Nadine’s eyes and didn’t have the stomach to let it out. That just made him more angry. Angry with himself.

He leaned his eyes into the crook of his elbow and leaned forward against his knees. Shit. He could get a signal well enough by the window. He didn’t want to talk to his mom. He was mad at her too.

“Shit! Shit, shit, shit,” he swore through clenched teeth. The wine was a dumb choice. What the hell was up with Uly, with Aislin, with Tabitha? Women didn’t make any sense. If they liked him, why hadn’t they said anything? He liked them. He hadn’t said anything. But why would they be terrified? They were gorgeous. They were amazing. He was just ... He was a coward.

“What?” he shouted, snapping as the bedroom door opened.

“Oh, you’re mad...” Nadine leaned against the doorframe. “Do you want company?”

“I want--” He shut his mouth before he lied. Yes, come in. A lie. No, fuck off. A lie.

“He-ey!” Uly stumbled up the stairs. She peaked at the door. “The party’s up here?”

“I thought you put her to bed,” Heath said.

“I didn’t belt her down,” Nadine said.

“This is the party?” Uly said. She smiled and licked her lips. “Are you going to invite us in?” She fingered the back of her bra. “Is there a dress code?”

“What?” he asked.

“Shit!” Tabitha squeaked. She ducked her head back down, hiding on the stairs, when she saw Uly and Nadine outside of Heath’s door.

“Ha-ah,” Heath sighed and climbed out of bed. He crossed the room to the door.

“I’m done for tonight,” he told the three of them. “Go to bed.”

Tabitha’s head popped up like a prairie dog. Green eyes, grey eyes, and brown eyes grew wide. Uly slurred a “Good night.” Tabitha chirped a “Sweet dreams.” Nadine muttered a “I really am sorry.” Heath shut the door, fell back against it, and huffed out forcefully.

The girls walked down to the second floor, flowed around Aislin who watched them all with frowns. Nadine took one bedroom; Uly and Tabitha took the other. Aislin smiled.

“Too easy,” she said, and climbed the stairs. He’d closed the door but hadn’t locked it.

“Aislin?” Heath said, turning around at the bed. “I’m in a bad mood. Go away.”

“Away where?” Aislin asked.

“To bed, like the others.”

“Sure!” she said and closed the door with her inside.

“Aislin?”

“Shh...” she gestured over her lips. She walked over to him and took his hand. He let her pull her into bed.

“I don’t think this is a good idea. You should go, like the others,” he said.

“Stop it,” Aislin said. She sat down on the bed and smiled. Lightning flashed through the window. He saw her face. She was gorgeous. He couldn’t tell her to go again. She reached up and touched his face.

“C’mon,” she said, slapping her hands on the bed and dragging her ass and legs up on the comforter.

“Is this a good idea?”

“If we don’t do it now, we’ll be kicking ourselves over the whole pandemic. ‘What if?’ is the worst question.”

“OK, um, I’m--”

“It’s alright,” Aislin said, reaching up and unhooking her bra. “Everyone is until some point.”

“I never even--”

“I’ll show you,” she interrupted again. “Now, come here.”

He really didn’t want to be alone with his hurt and anger. He felt weak though. If anyone had pushed, Tabitha, Uly, or Nadine. Didn’t Aislin deserve to be special?

“Unless you’re thinking about me,” she stroked his cheek, “it can wait Heath.”

“I,” he touched her cheek and she let her bra fall forward down to her elbows. She dropped it off the back of the bed. He looked down. She grabbed his chin.

“First base first,” she smiled. She kissed him. Just lightly, then she inched back and smiled. He kissed her. He was light, for only a second, she just had to make that noise. A rumble that said “yes please.” He pushed harder, kissing her for a good fifteen seconds before the “is this how you do it?” panic settled into his mind.

That went straight out a heartbeat later. She lifted his right hand and laid it on her chest. She smiled into their kiss, let him lay her back onto the pillow. His tongue was overzealous, a little less than surgical. She slap-fought him back. There was a little happy giggle mixed in with her sighs and moans.

She ran her fingers around the elastic of his underwear. He broke away for a moment.

“Wow,” he said, not having let go of her breasts. Of all the things he imagined would be awesome in reality, getting his hands on tits were incredible.

“Yeah,” she said, “You’re good. It feels great.”

Overstatements, first time white lies that kept his sails full and made his smile intense and genuine. She hooked her fingers into his boxers.

She had caught a glimpse down in front of the fire. She knew what she was working with. She loved dicks, thick ones, warm ones. She reached into his shorts. If he could see her face, her eager grin would’ve broken his resolve and he would’ve made a premature mess.

“Take my panties off,” she smiled. He stopped. He had long, a little bit cold, slender fingers on his cock. He breathed sometimes.

“Yeah?” he asked.

“Yeah,” she nodded. “I’m happy too.”

“We haven’t gone out or anything or--”

“We went out lots of times,” she said. “How many double dates have we had with Cale and Lucy?”

“Oh,” he sighed. “I didn’t know those were dates.”

“Well, they paid off,” Aislin said, while hotly lidding her eyes and licking her lips.

He leaned over and kissed her. His face wasn’t settled.

“What?” she asked.

“I still would like to take you out, maybe go to dinner and a show,” he said.