Christmas is always a hectic time for me, and that I due to the fact that I wait last minute for Christmas shopping.  The malls are crowded with panicked parents and crying children.  This is probably the best mall in all of Westmeath.  I walked into Macy’s in search of something to get my mother. I wanted to get her something she’d love, but struggle for any ideas.  I made my way over to the jewelry counters and waited for an employee to help me.

     “I’m sorry ma’am we can’t take that back. We don’t do international returns here.” An employee said. I could not see either of them because my sight was blocked by the island on the inside of the counters. I slowly made my way over so I could get the employees assistance when she was freed.

      “Yeah. I figured. I guess I’ll just bring it to a pawn shop.” A familiar English accent replied as she put something back into a small red box. “Thanks for your time.” She looked up at the saleswoman and I saw her face clearly.

    “Beth?” I asked skeptically as I approached her.

     The familiar brunette turned towards me with a slightly astonished expression. “Niall? Wow. This is crazy. Hi.” She laughed but it sounded almost phony.

     “Yeah. How’s it been?” I smiled. It felt good to see her again, even though we had really only spoken once. She was just very good at keeping conversation flowing.

    Beth shrugged and slipped the small red box into her purse. “I’ve been better.” She laughed faintly again. “How about you?”

     “I’ve been good. Feels nice to be back home with the family after so long.” We started to walk away from the counter as we talked.

     “That’s good.” She smiled. “I’m visiting my grandparents this Christmas. They’re some whack folks.” She laughed.

     I laughed as well. “Aren’t all old folks whack?” 

    She nodded in agreement. “So, what had you in the jewelry department? Looking for a new watch?”

     I shook my head. “No I was actually looking for something to get my mother, but I’m shit with gifts. How about you?”

     I noticed her hesitation. “Just trying to get rid of something.” She laughed faintly and then sighed. “My fiancée and I broke our engagement off last week and I was trying to return the damn ring. I want it out of my sight.” She looked as though she was going to cry, but she held herself together. 

     As cruel as it sounded, this news was happy news to me. I could make a move on her. 

     “Well hey, if you and your grandparents aren’t busy, you can come over to my home tonight for Christmas Eve dinner. I’d love to see you again.” I looked at her hopefully.

     “That sounds lovely. Where do you live?” She asked smiling genuinely now. 

     “How about you give me your number and I text it to you?” I laughed a bit. 

     Beth nodded and handed me her phone. I gave her mine and we exchanged numbers. 

     “After two years and you finally get my number.” She chuckled as I gave her phone back.

     “Yeah,” I laughed, “guess we’re soul mates.” 

     Beth laughed and gave me my phone. “Guess so.” 

******

     Beth and her grandparents arrived at my house around six o’clock.  Beth was dressed nicely in a red blouse and dark colored skinny jeans. She wore a pair of red heels. Her hair was slightly curled at the bottoms. I hadn’t seen her dressed up before, she looked stunning. I introduced her and her grandparents to my family and friends. 

     Beth wasn’t shy at all, and this hardly shocked me.  She joined into conversations and was very sociable with everybody.  Come present exchange, she still didn’t look awkward or uncomfortable at all. She talked with her grandparents and to some of my old friends. 

      After opening my gifts and thanking everybody, I sat down in the chair beside her. “Sorry I haven’t talked to you much all night.” I laughed nervously. 

     Beth shrugged and took a sip of her coffee. “No apology needed. Your family is so nice.” She looked over at me.

     I nodded. “Yeah. They’re pretty cool.” 

     “Thanks for having us over. It would have been just me and my grandparents if you hadn’t.” She turned her head and glanced over at her grandmother and grandfather as they spoke with my own set of grandparents. She chuckled and then turned to face me again. 

     I smiled. “No problem at all.”

     My mother approached the two of us and I felt the nerves creep up my back again. Maura Horan had no filter; there was no predicting any words that came out of her mouth. 

     “Hello there Beth.” She smiled. “You know, you’re only the third girl Niall has ever brought home to me.

     Beth looked a bit embarrassed, as did I. She laughed nervously as she shook her head. “Oh. No. No. Mrs. Horan, Niall and I are just friends.” 

     “Oh!” She laughed. “I’m so sorry.” She looked over at me as she apologized. “Well it was still a pleasure to meet you.” She hugged Beth.

      Beth hugged my mother back. “Thank you so much for having me. You have such a lovely home.” Beth pulled away from the hug smiling.

     “Why thank you. And it was my pleasure.” My mother bid her goodbyes as she joined into another conversation.

       I turned to Beth, who was pouring herself some more coffee. “Do you want to maybe go sit on the porch with me?” I asked as I motioned towards the back door. 

    Beth nodded and followed me out onto the porch. We sat on the bench that overlooked the large backyard. We sat silently until Beth let out a soft shiver. I chuckled as I looked over to her. 

     “You cold?” I asked. I could see my breath in the cold winter air. 

     “Yeah.” Beth replied with a small laugh. 

     I laughed slightly as I slid down closer to her. I removed my blazer and draped it over her shoulders. She replied to my action with a smile and then put her arms into the sleeves.

     “Thanks, but aren’t you going to be cold now?”

     I shrugged and made a face. “Yeah but I think that you can help me out with that.” I winked and laughed somewhat at myself. I was a terrible flirt.

     Beth chuckled and she moved closer to me. She wrapped both of her arms around my waist. “Warmer?” She asked as she looked up at me with a knowing smile.

     “Yeah.” I laughed. “Much better actually.” I sipped my beer and then laid my arm across her shoulder. “Thanks doll.”

     She laughed faintly. “No problem at all.” She held me a little tighter. 

     We sat quiet again, but it wasn’t awkward this time. Beth laid her head on my side as she remained snuggled up to me. 

     We returned to the party after neither of us could stand the cold. I got my blazer back. 

     When the night was close to over, and Beth and her grandparents had to go, I walked her to the door.

     “Thanks again for having us over tonight.” Beth smiled up at me. 

     “No problem.” I smiled back. “How much longer will you be here? We should get together again soon.”

      “I’m actually here until March.” She laughed a bit. “I was going to leave after New Years but my grandparents wanted me to stay longer.” 

     I nodded. “Well we will have to hang out for sure.” I said hopefully. 

     She nodded as well and we stood in silence. An odd urge overcame me and I slowly started to lean in closer to her, stopping just as our noses touched. I closed my eyes and laughed nervously, pulling my head away. 

      “Sorry I uh, wow.”

     Beth smiled a bit, standing on her toes and planting a gentle kiss on the side of my lips. “Goodnight.” She turned and walked out to her car where her grandparents were already seated. She started her car and drove away. 

******

    I didn’t see Beth again until New Year’s Eve. I had a party that night and invited her to come. There was music and drinks. My house smelt vaguely of weed. Almost every room was crowded with people. 

     Beth arrived to the party around ten o’clock. She wore a little, long-sleeved, tight black dress and a pair of black heels. I couldn’t help biting my lip at the sight of her. She looked around as if she were lost and overwhelmed. I made my way over to her. I greeted her with a hug and smile. She was a bit surprised by my hug, but hugged me back. 

     “You look great!” I said as I pulled out of her arms. 

     “Thanks!” She smiled and looked around. “You have a really nice house!” 

     We were yelling over the music.

     “Thanks! I worked damn hard for it!” I laughed. “Let me grab you a drink.” I motioned for her to follow me. 

     We walked into the kitchen. I got her a beer from the fridge and handed it to her. She thanked me and twisted it open, taking a sip. She looked around my kitchen and then back at me. She smiled. 

     “You have a lot of friends here.” She stated as a group of people made their way into the kitchen. 

     “To be completely honest with you, I don’t know many of them all that well.” I laughed. 

     Beth laughed too and then shrugged. She took another small sip of her drink.

     Within the hour we were both nearly intoxicated and all over each other. We danced to the blaring music, grinding and trying our best to stay on our feet and keep the liquor down. 

     I, Beth, and the rest of the crowd watched the ball drop, cheering out the countdown. I had my arm around Beth’s waist and my beer in my other hand.

     “Five! Four! Three! Two! O-“

     Beth took a hold of my face and pulled me down to her. She kissed me hard and I took no hesitation to kiss her back just the same. I dropped my beer, letting it fall and break on the floor, as I grabbed on tightly to her waist. I eventually lowered my hands and gripped onto her ass. I could taste the alcohol in her breath probably as she could in mine. Either one of us were too drunk to care. I pulled away from the kiss to catch my breath. I felt even more intoxicated than I was before. Beth brought her lips to my neck and I smirked. 

     “Should we take this to my room?” I asked as I gave her ass a squeeze. 

    Beth looked up at me and nodded. I let go of her waist and took her hand, guiding her to my bedroom. I kicked the stragglers out and locked the door. As I turned around, Beth was there behind me. She lifted off my shirt and kissed me, running her cold hands up my torso and then holding onto my shoulders. I kissed her back, clinging my hands onto her waist. She bit my bottom lip and tugged on it gently, releasing it and smirking up at me. I smirked back and walked her backwards towards my bed. I softly shoved her onto it. I kicked off my shoes and crawled over to her on the bed. I hovered over her. I kissed her as I unzipped her dress. As I struggled to remove it, Beth pushed me aside and sat up as she took it off herself. She straddled my lap in only her lingerie. She sat me up and kissed me again. I held onto her ass as I kissed her back. She kissed my neck again and began to unbutton my jeans. I slid my hands beneath her panties. As soon as my pants were off, I could tell she could feel me hard beneath her. She found the sensitive part of my neck and kissed it hard, causing me to grind myself up against her. She smirked against my skin.

     “Stop with the teasing.” I muttered my plea. 

     Beth got off of me. She removed my boxers. I stripped off her lingerie and pinned her down to the bed as I knelt between her legs. I took my grip to her waist and pushed myself inside of her. I tried to keep my rhythm slow, but the pleasure and her erotic moans overwhelmed me and I penetrated her harder. I was somewhat sloppy and uncoordinated, falling out of her a few times, but alcohol does that to you. She moaned out my name loudly as she fell into her orgasm. I smirked at her as she looked me in the eye. I could feel myself about to let go. I pulled out of her and tried to rub myself to orgasm. Beth stopped me and sat me at the edge of the bed. She knelt down on the floor between my legs and started to suck me off. I tangled my hands in her hair and threw my head back, moaning out profanities. I came inside of her mouth with a final tug of her hair. She pulled away from me and swallowed, wiping the sides of her lips clean. She laughed softly and looked up at me, then stood up to her feet. I pulled back the covers and pulled her down into the bed with me.

     “That was fucking awesome.” I whispered into her ear with a soft chuckle.

     Beth nodded in agreement and laughed quietly. “Yeah, I know.”

     I wrapped my arms completely around her waist as we spooned. The arm that lay beneath her began to tingle with pins and needles, but at this moment it did not bother me either because I was too drunk to care or too comfortable to move it. 

     Beth fell asleep within seconds. I fell asleep moments after her.