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One of the features of the house was a spa, set up in a cute little hut on the back deck. That there was such a modern device in such an old house was highly amusing, and on the last night before Oliver and I were due to return to Roden Vale, George got it set up for us, complete with a charcuterie board set up on a clever little table that attached to the sides of the spa. He and Mum sat on one side, while Oliver and I sat on the other, the hut and the warm water keeping the chill at bay. Overhead, the sky slowly darkened, and as the first faint stars started appearing, we passed the time sharing stories, laughing, and generally having a good time. 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOG0gw1jY5F
There was an undercurrent of sadness under the happiness - Oliver and I were due to leave the next day, and given Dad's vindictiveness, it was anyone's guess when I'd be able to return to St Albans. "You may have to lay low and keep your nose clean," George advised me. "My delightful ex wife is as spiteful as the day is long, and while I don't believe for a second she'd be able to have a competent near adult committed, I wouldn't put it past her to try something shady."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNEhtY10A1
I shivered, and Oliver gently stroked my thigh under the water. I moved closer to him, and he wrapped his other arm around my waist, holding me tightly. "I hate her," I said. "Was she always this way?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxDvRIgRWI
"Ever since we were in high school," George confirmed. "My equally delightful daughter is cut from the same cloth, as you can imagine, and you've no doubt heard the story of how she tried and failed to seduce Oliver. And she won't rest until she's gotten herself pregnant by him. That's her goal, and I lay you ten to one she'll try it on when you two get back."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0epsf2AjnE
"We've discussed that," I said. "I'm not going to let her get her hands on him, not if I have to..." I stopped and swore. "No, too many legal hoops to jump through."
"Isn't it the man who does the asking?" Mum teased, and I went red as OIiver laughed.
"It's 2024," I reminded her, still blushing redder than a fire engine. "God."
"But you're right," George admitted. "Now, if your father and Sally were to divorce, that would cut out one half of the legal troubles. Your mother and I, on the other hand, are very much in love, so there's still that to contend with. But," he added, raising a finger, "you and OIiver haven't lived under the same roof, and so long as you two don't shack up before you turn 18, there won't be any issues. The other issue is whether or not you've been treated as a child of Oliver's family."
"Apart from being treated like dirt, not really," I said. "I mean, you two certainly haven't treated me like a child; it's just my dad and Sally who've treated me like shit, but that's par for the course for them."
George nodded sagely. "Then I think you two are in the clear," he told us. "You've got to wait a little while longer, Charlie, but there's nothing stopping you two from..." He got no further as Mum elbowed him in the side, and I went bright red again.
"Well, that's one way to stick it to our dear sister," Oliver commented, and I felt sure my face was going to catch fire. Our parents - sensing the sudden tension - decided to decamp, telling us to turn the spa off when we were done. As they left, taking the charcuterie board and the little table with them, I dunked under the water briefly to try and control my blush. When I popped back up, Oliver was watching me closely. "Are you okay?" he asked. 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Xer2U7N9r
I nodded. "II think so," I said. "It's just ... fuck."
"That's one way to do it," Oliver teased, and I dunked under again with another groan until I ran out of air again. "Will you stop that?" I demanded once I resurfaced. "You're just as bad as your dad."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZ9ZTYZUCn
"Now you know where I get my wise-ass sense of humour from," Oliver teased, his hands tentative under the water as he gently stroked my sides. "Look, we don't have to - not right away. Hell, I haven't even kissed you yet, and not for lack of trying. I mean--"
I decided now was as good a time as any to rectify that issue, and after he got over the shock, he quite happily reciprocated. I'd never kissed anyone before, but Oliver didn't seem to mind, and showed me the ropes, so to speak, arms locked tightly around me as we finally let our feelings come out into the open
And when I went underwater again, Oliver came with me, shutting the world out in a flurry of bubbles and warm water.
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