The Word

I sighed heavily and dramatically threw my head back onto Maverick's solid, but not bare, chest. I resituated myself several times, a grimace etched across my face as I did. I gave up trying to find an even moderately comfy position and came to a conclusion that I needed to stretch.

I half somersaulted off the couch and delicately landed sitting criss-cross apple sauce on the matted carpet. I lowered my face until the tip of my nose was touching my toes. After a couple of seconds of that, I extended my legs and arms so my body looked like it was folded in half.

"Evie, what are you doing?"

I snapped up and twisted to face him. The corners of his lips were hinting at a smile; the dimples that it usually came with were slightly visible. I could see the amusement sparkling in his green-bean colored eyes, which caused me to grin.

"You're thinking about the color of my eyes again, aren't you?" he accused.

I subconsciously batted my eyelashes. "No..."

"For the thirtieth and probably not the last time, comparing my eyes to green beans is not a compliment."

"I think green beans have a nice coloring," I hummed.

He rolled his eyes and shook his head, trembling from silent laughter. "You're impossible."

I closed my eyes and pushed my head out, beaming. "Thank you."

"You're no good at telling the difference between a compliment and an insult."

"Maybe you're just looking at the glass half empty."

"Speaking of glass half empty, mind filling up my cup? It's half empty."

I narrowed my eyes. "Do you want to try that sentence again?"

"Uh...I don't want a refill?"

Now it was my turn to roll my eyes and laugh. "Good enough."

"So what if I do look at life half empty?"

"You're a very gloomy person and should convert to my way of thinking."

"No," he whistled, dragging out the 'o'. "That's the equivalent of signing up for AP Calc when the highest math class you've taken is Pre-Algebra."

A smirk crawled its way up to my face. "So you're saying that my way of thinking is more complex and sophisticated than yours?"

He held his hands up. "Whoa, I never said anything about sophistication."

"Okay, advanced. I'm more advanced than you?"

"That's not what I was getting at! I'm just saying it's like a death wish."

"Keep talking and you'll get your wish."

He made that 'zip your lip and throw away the key' motion. I dove for the imaginary key and dangled it from my fingertips. I sauntered over and plopped down on his lap.

"I'll be keeping this," I sang. "Besides, you won't need your voice for awhile."

He cocked his head to the side, as if to ask why, which reminded me of a puppy. To anyone else, it would've been an intimidating dog, like a Rottweiler, but to me, he's a cuddly Golden Retriever. Maybe a good in between was a St. Bernard.

A second later, my lips were pressed against his. Hopefully this would warm him up for the exciting, yet somewhat menacing news that I had to tell him.

When we both pulled away, there was a sliver of terror in my eyes. "Mav...I have to tell you something." He nodded his head slowly, urging me to go on. "But before I do, remember that I have the key to your voice box. You're not allowed to talk until I unzip it." I took a deep breath. "Nana wants to meet you," I blurted, tossing the imaginary key to him.

As he pretended to fumble with unzipping it, my heart was thumping loudly; the anticipation, killing me. I bit my lip, waiting for his answer. I just wanted to scream, "It's not a real lock!" but I didn't. That would be breaking some unwritten rule.

He let out a breath of relief. "Whew, thank goodness." I shot him a puzzled look. "I thought you were going to dump me or tell me that you're pregnant."

I looked at him in a mix of horror and wonder. "You thought I was going to break up with you?"

He shrugged. "That was the first thing that crossed my mind."

"You have no faith in our relationship," I muttered. "And two, we haven't even done it, you ninny."

He chortled. "You can't say the word?"

"Intercourse."

"The other word." I could tell he was getting entertained by this.

"Coitus."

"Keep going." A wide grin was stretched across his face.

I licked my lips. "Love-making."

"And...?"

"Why do you want me to say it so bad?"

"Just seeing if you can actually say it."

"Of course I can say it! I'm not a nun."

"So do it," he dared.

"S-se...secks." That would work, right? They sounded similar enough.

"That's not even a word, Miss Evangeline."

"Fine, sex. There, happy? I said it."

"Very."

I playfully hit his shoulder. "Stop loafing around and go get ready to meet Nana. And a word of advice? My grandma is very prim and proper, so no bad words, mister. I know how much you like to use them."

"Wouldn't dream of it, doll face."