Free Save the Date (Modern Arrangements) by Sadie Grubor Page A

before gulping down a beer she pulled
from the refrigerator. "Seriously, how many times would I have to tell you
no before you would get the hint I wasn’t interested?" She looked directly
at me.
    "Ummm…" Straightening my back,
I searched my head for the right response.
    "Don’t answer," Dixon whispered
harshly. Celia giggled.
    "Oh, never mind!"
    Dixon gave me thumbs up. Lilli fumed
down the hallway until her door slammed.
    "Okay, well I think I should go."
    "Dude, you don’t have to go. Stay
and hang longer. We can shove a movie in." He stood up, placing Celia in
the chair by herself, and walked over to some shelves of DVDs.
    "No really, I have plans tomorrow
so I—"
    Lilli entered the room wearing cotton
shorts, a tank top and those damn knee socks with the stripes. If someone were
to describe this outfit to me I would laugh but it was hot on her.
    "Lilli, you’re scaring Aidan,"
Dixon chuckled.
    "No she’s not," I protested.
    "Are you scared Aid-man?"
Lilli grinned, sitting down just one cushion away from me on the couch.
    I grimaced. "You know, I’m not a
fan of the nickname."
    "So you prefer Aidan-O?" She looked
at Celia. "That’s Phoebe’s lover boy name for him.”
    Without even thinking, I launched the
jacket I held in my lap at her. I inhaled quickly, ready to apologize but she
was cracking up. Laughter burst from my mouth.
    About 3 beers and half a movie later, Celia
fell asleep on Dixon’s chest. I’m not sure when sleep found me but waking to
the smell of cherries and flowers was nice. Groggily, I opened my eyes and
started to stretch. A warm body shifted next to me. Still exhausted, I forced
myself to look at the source of the warmth. Lilli lay against my chest and
legs, both of us stretched out on the couch. Lying side by side sent a
comfortable ease I hadn’t experienced with a woman before. Savoring the comfort
and warmth, I cuddled in closer to her.
    Next time I woke to the smells bacon and
syrup. Stretching, I found myself alone. Sitting up, I shoved off a blanket
that hadn’t been there before.
    Did I dream it? Maybe Lilli hadn’t been cuddling
on the couch with me.
    Noise in the kitchen drew my attention. Lilli
and Celia stood in the kitchen cooking and attempting to be quiet. They were
failing. As I headed toward them Celia turned around with a plate full of
bacon.
    "Good morning," she smiled. Smiling,
I rubbed the back of my head. She was definitely in Dixon’s shirt, it was huge.
    "Coffee?" She placed a cup in
front of me.
    "Oh God, please, yes!" I rubbed
my eyes.
    "Another caffeine addict in the
house I see," Celia smiled.
    I smiled and picked up the full mug.
    "Thanks," I took a sip.
"Dixon one too?"
    Celia shook her head. "Nope,"
then she motioned to Lilli. "Miss I-hate-the-morning is a caffeine
addict."
    Lilli turned around and made faces at
the back of Celia’s head. Celia turned quickly and Lilli plastered a smile on
her face.
    "I know you’re up to something."
Celia pointed at her.
    Lilli feigned innocence.
    "You staying for breakfast?"
Lilli pointed at me with her black plastic spatula.
    "No, you don’t have to—"
    "That’s a yes," Celia
answered. Lilli put three pancakes on a plate and slid them in front of me.
    I looked down at the pancakes for a
moment before I reached for the butter and syrup. While I was pouring syrup,
Dixon finally emerged.
    "Yes, pancakes!" He looked
like a kid on Christmas morning as he sat down next to me. My eyes almost fell
out of my head when I saw the stack of pancakes Celia handed him.
    When my eyes met hers, she shook her
head.
    "I know what you’re thinking and
yes, he is a pig." She laughed.
    "Hey Lilli makes the best blueberry
pancakes ever!" Dixon held his hand up. Lilli moved around Celia to give
him a high five.
    I chuckled and took a bite. The moan
that left my lips rivaled Dixons.
    "Holy shit." I closed my eyes.
    Dixon leaned in and said into my ear. 
"Told you, best fucking pancakes ever," he patted my back.
"You’ll be begging her