My girlfriend still had a huge grin on her face as we arrived our destination. And when I thought the word “girlfriend”, I too felt a huge grin form on my face. How could I not? It was a dream turned reality.

Still… what had come over me last night? It was clear to me, but at the same time, a bit hazy. From the beginning I’ve been weak to her charms, that was part of it, but there was also how much I’ve held back all this time. Her talking about how romantic our sleeping arrangements were was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

And while I had wished I hadn’t jumped steps, I still had no regrets over it. It was par for the course for us to do so after all.

“Pfft, hehe.”

“What?” I asked, also giggling.

“Just remembering how red you were while I scrubbed your back.”

“D-don’t bring that up here!”

“Nobody’s around, and it was nice, was it not? I certainly enjoyed our first couple’s shower.”

Another thing I was wondering how I went along with. She was right though, it was nice. Not having to contort my arms to wash my back certainly was a very nice consequence of my pliability.

“Hehe,” she laughed as she read my thoughts.

Haah, whenever Abby is happy, she can only go at her own speed. A bit of a handful, but that’s one of the many reasons I ended up falling for her, even if it can feel a bit tiring at times.

Our first stop at the mall was the furniture store. More precisely, the mattress section. I had brought with me the last payment I got from the restaurant and was determined to spend it all in the best they had that I could afford. Yes, we could use the one reserved for the guests we never got, but then we’d stop having one, creating yet another problem in case someone came visiting. Plus, it was also one with springs like my old one, and after having slept on one made of foam, I didn’t want to go back to using anything else.

“Erm, babe? Don’t you think this one would be good enough?” Abby asked when she saw me inspecting one in particular.

I went to her side, looked at the price tag—it was a budget one—and placed both hands on it, pressing down with some of my weight.

“The other one is better,” I concluded out loud before going to see another one.

I was evaluating a fourth choice when I noticed Abby looking at me very apprehensively.

“What?”

“No, it’s just, erm…” she stammered as she searched for words, something that was rare to happen. “Is it because of me?”

Was I so headset on buying something I thought was more on her level?

A small part of my reasoning was that, but there was a lot more going on in the backstage.

An argument could be made that, in about two years, buying such an expensive “commodity” now instead of something that “would do” was excessive, but when the time comes, we can just take it with us since we have plans to keep sleeping tight like two peas in a pod. When we come for visiting, we could stay at her father’s, or finally give the spare mattress at my place a justification for its name.

Mostly, I wanted something that would make my—already— sweet, beloved sleep even better.

“I see,” she said with a slow nod, a chuckle leaving her mouth before she kicked another tease. “You do like your sleep.”

For the longest time it was one of the few sources of reprieve I had until she came along. Since then, things changed, but my love for sleep was still going strong.

“Shame that we can’t try one out before buying.”

“I don’t think I’d try one if that was allowed.”

I’d be careful not to get it dirty, but would others do the same?

“Can I help you?” an employee asked, and just in time too.

There was a brief back and forth between me and Abby to decide which one we’d take home—that was mostly left for me to decide—followed by going to the counter to talk business. Delivery was needed, and so it was arranged before settling on the final price. A hefty sum, but one I could cover, some money still remaining at the end of the transaction, money I’d use to pay for our lunches, I decided there and then.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know, but… I want to treat… my girlfriend.”

My explanation sent her on one of her giggling fits.

“Say that again,” she asked in between her giggles as she rubbed her face on my armpit.

I repeated it again, to her ear, as I hugged her close to see if I could make her settle down a bit, but only got me to join her in rocking side to side until she calmed down by herself. Well, I say calm down, but it’s more accurate to say she slowed down her speed and changed gears before grabbing my hand and pull me along in a rush.

“Let’s go to the clothing store!” she cheered very enthusiastically.

“This girl…” I thought before noticing the wide and goofy grin I had on my face as she pulled me along.

“I know! I’ll pick some underwear for you!”

That’s erm… it sounded a tad dangerous, somehow. Although… maybe something more… mature was in order?

Hmm… doesn’t it defeat the purpose a bit if she’s the one getting it for me?

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

I at least would prefer if she surprised me.

“Oh, and don’t worry,” she said with a sudden halt. “I won’t pick anything wild or anything like that. Erm, why are you turning red? I said I won’t be doing it.”

“I-it’s nothing!”

“Pftt, could it be… were you thinking that—”

“I said it was nothing!”

“Pfft, ah-haha! Sure, sure.”

Really, how dirty minded could I be?

“Hmm?”

She suddenly curled herself against me, my arm hugged against her chest, and looking awfully shy.

“Well, since we are dating now… what do you think?”

Right now I was thinking how unbelievably adorable my girlfriend was, and how weak in the knees I was feeling facing such adorableness. Next was how much I wanted to kiss her, but we were in public, so it would have to wait until we got home. It’d most likely send Abby into another one of her fits if I kissed her so suddenly too.

Her phone rang, putting our talk on pause, allowing me to try to cool my head while she talked with Mathilda about something.

“Sure I’ll ask Violet if she wants to go. Yeah, most likely, but, hehe, she has been full of surprises lately. Yeah, talk with you later, bye.”

In a few days Abby’s parents should receive an invitation to Mrs. Fletcher’s party, and Mathilda called before those invitations were sent to ask if we were going.

“Come to think of it, I only saw her at the party a couple of times, and on those occasions, she was either alone, or tailing Mrs. Fletcher.”

“Doesn’t she have any friends?”

“You mean besides us? Yes, but none in those social circles, I’d wager.”

But Mathilda was so approachable! How could that be?

“But anyway, it’s still a long time until then, so think about it at your own pace, ok?”

A party filled with rich people? I had two minds about that. I know, shocking.

Anyway, on one side, I was very curious to see if said party was like they portray them in the movies, or if it was all pure fantasy. On the other… people. Lots and lots of people I didn’t know and who might give me side-eyes when realising I didn’t belong there. I’d be with Abby, so that wouldn’t be that bad. I’d most likely be too focused on her to notice the other people around. Oh, and Mathilda. Mathilda would be there too.

“I’m also looking for a dress,” Abby told me while we looked through what was available at our favourite store.

“A dress?” I echoed, very surprised by that.

“Yeah, I think I’d like to look a bit more feminine when going on dates with you. Or do you think I’d look weird?”

“No no no! You’d look gorgeous in one!”

“Hehe, you think so?”

“Y-yeah! In fact…”

I left her side to go fetch a simple summer dress I saw right as we walked in. Cute, fresh, simple, and it’d match with the one I was wearing right now. You know, the one she gave me? That one.

“Yeah, I could wear that,” Abby said as I showed it to her once I got back to where I left her. “Hehe, you’ve been fantasising about me wearing one, hmm?”

“I-I erm… hmm…”

“Oh? You admitted!”

“…Since those seniors wanted you to join their play as the Red Riding Hood.”

She hummed and took the dress out of my hands, giving it a closer look.

“Maybe I should add a small red cape and hood to it?” she asked with a wry smirk while glancing at me, enjoying my second wave of embarrassment. “It already looks the part as is.”

“Abby…” I whined.

She laughed softly, pulling me down by the shoulder for a smooch on my cheek and an apology for teasing me so much today.

I was fine with her teasing me, specially today. There was a lot to be celebrated, and Abby poking fun of me was one of her ways of doing that, as well as showing me her love in a public-safe manner.

I followed her to the changing room, getting inside too without even realising it until she pointed that out.

“Well, it’s not like you haven’t seen everything there is to be seen anyway,” she said with a shrug.

Come to think of it… we were now alone and out of sight.

“Erm, h-honey?” I asked to make her turn around.

Waiting for us to get home was more of a pain than dealing with one of her fits, so I went ahead and gave her a kiss.

“Hehe, could I get another one?”

As many as she felt like. Within reason, of course. Like I said, we were at our favourite store, so getting banned from it would be terrible.

“Hey, babe?”

“Hmm?”

“Have I told you that I love you lately?”

Did she mean like in the last hour? Only two or three times. As for me…

“I love you to,” I told her as I closed the gap between our lips for a final kiss before I leave her to change alone.

“Hehe, silly.”

Some time later, I was back at my place. Abby had gone to the gym, and there was the matter of the mattress delivery, so I’d stay there until her return. Maybe after that we’d go for a walk or something. The absurd heat of the house was giving me a hankering for ice-cream, and Abby never refused anything sweet.

“Come on! Move a bit!” I told Oliver who was merely looking at the toy I was waving in front of him.

He yawned and came to curl on one of my feet, the lazy furball.

Humph. Takes after me, I guess.

The neediness of Abby, the carefree nature of my dad, and my love for sleep. What about William though?

…What even am I thinking about?

The heat must be getting to my brain. I’d go grab a drink from the fridge, but how hot I was feeling, and way Oliver was all nuzzled up to my foot and purring like a sports car engine which would make me feel super guilty convinced me to stay put.

“Look who they are, the cat and his momma,” my dad joked as he walked in. But where’s the other momma?”

“Gym. Didn’t know you were home already,” I commented back, my speaking skill taking a hit from the heat.

He told me he and the guys got tired of cooking under the sun, so they cut it short, apart from Paul, Abby’s friend whom I was yet to meet.

Before, I didn’t care about that, but now that we were dating for real… should I ask Abby to introduce us? I think I should.

And speaking about what I should do or not…

“Can we talk?” I asked dad.

Asking wasn’t necessary, the man could be put in charge of holding the world and he still would drop it on the floor if it meant he’d do something for me, no matter how insignificant.

“Abby and I are dating now,” I blurted out before letting intrusive thoughts pop up and ruin my courage.

“You mean, finally?” he asked, smiling but still managing to annoy me enough to ask him what he meant by that. “I mean, I’ve been watching you two for almost a year now, and it had always been obvious this is where you two were headed. It was quite annoying seeing my thick-headed daughter being so dense and not catching on Abby’s feelings. Sometimes I felt like—”

“Dad, please!” I pleaded as I hid my face with my hands. “Stop pointing out how dumb I was!”

“…Are you happy now?”

I uncovered my eyes to see what expression he was wearing. It was the same loving one he always offered when he felt proud of me or remembered something I used to do as a child.

“Yeah… very happy.”

“That’s good,” he said with a nod. “Still… I think we need to talk about you two.”

“…About what?”

“Look, you two are at that age, and you are both healthy teens, and both girls, so there are no risks, but… and I know you two went outside because the bed broke, but… please, be mindful where you do it, ok?”

“D-dad!? D-don’t bring that up! And who do you think we are!? Rabbits!?”

“I’m just saying! And there’s nothing wrong with you two… you know… I’m just telling you to—”

“Oh my God, shut up already!” I shouted as I tossed him a pillow before running into my room to hide. It was a lot hotter in there and Oliver was abruptly awoken, but in that moment I couldn’t care less about that.

Abby arrived a bit later after that. I hugged her as I sat on a chair and whined about the talk I had with my father while she combed my hair to pacify me.

“We got busted, huh?”

“Mmh-hmm.”

We fell silent for a moment while she kept moving her hand through my hair until she asked if I’d join her for another shower.

I was sweaty, hot and feeling very needy, so I decided to ignore my dad’s words and accept her invitation. It was just a shower we were having anyway.

“Hehe, yay!” she cheered as she broke our hold apart.

I watched her grab one of the bags we brought from the store.

“Here! A present for later,” she told me with a wide smile.

I asked what it was, but she only told me to look inside if I wanted to know. I went completely red after the fact.

“T-this is…!?”

Abby was already on her way out of the bedroom, looking at me at her most mischievous state.

“Don’t make me wait,” she hummed before leaving.

Wait?! Wait for what?!

Dad simply wasn’t aware how charming Abby could be, nor how weak I truly was to her charms.