Nothing Matters (Family Matters Book 1) (4 page)

"Oh." I was checking a text from Nathan.  It said: you didn't choke on that banana?

I laughed out loud and Antonia looked over.  "Nathan," I said, and started texting back:  still alive.

I know I'm lucky to have Antonia as a stepmother.  She never interferes with stuff between me, Cassian and Dad.  She lets Dad do all the parenting and she never criticizes, though admittedly there's never been much to be critical about.  Especially with Cash, who is the perfect son and does no wrong.  And I had been the perfect daughter until the Stacey Portman debacle.  Even then she never judged me when I came crawling back and her only comment was that I should endeavor to learn from my mistakes.  Which I guess was falling for the wrong boyfriend.  Antonia works for a cosmetics company, she's high up in the chain of command and travels frequently which is why the kids have a part time nanny. When she first found out she was pregnant with Damon she was all uncertain and panicky about being a mother,  but Damon and Dominique just completed our family.  They are the most adorable kids, although Damon is a notorious sleeper.

"Is he cute?" she asked, assembling a tray.

"I think he is," I giggled, "and he's funny."

She smiled at me.  "Are you seeing him again?"  She started walking out.

"Maybe tonight.  If he's not busy." 

Another text came through:  thank god for that, need you alive for tonight. 

I waited till Antonia had walked up the stairs and then I ran back to my room and snuggled myself back to bed, and there was only one person on my mind, someone I was definitely falling for, and falling for hard.

NATHAN

I didn't get to see Magdala till the Friday, what with school, work, training (me), study and piano lessons (her), it was the best we could do. We went to eat, and talked about seeing a movie, but that would have been torture, two hours of sitting next to her. I needed her.  I needed to touch, to feel her, to make love to her.  I had no doubt in my mind that we would, it was just a question of where.  As it was we spent ages in the food court, then walked around the mall, then drove to the beach, by which time it was almost eleven.  I knew my parents would be in bed by then. 

There was something different about me when I was with Magdala.  It was like she had put a spell on me and I became invincible, courageous, fearless.  I've never lacked self esteem, but I've never been the most confident guy in the world.  Especially when it came to girls. The girls I'd dated/been with had never been cheerleaders or honor students or sports stars, they were just ordinary girls, like I considered myself ordinary.  It was like I knew my place in the world and stuck to it.  Until Magdala. Defying reasonable logic I felt I belonged with her, felt that I could talk freely to her, could be honest, could be my ordinary, unspectacular self, and that she would like me.  Love me even.

Asking her to come home with me should have terrified me, but it didn't.  I was slightly nervous about whether I would live up to her expectations or even my own.  She seemed intrigued by the fact that she would have to sneak in my bedroom window, but she was up for it.  So I went in through the back door, tip toed to my room, unlocked the window, and helped her through.  She had taken off her shoes, so I caught them first, mentioning to her that my younger brother was asleep on the top bunk.  She then couldn't stop giggling, so I had to kiss her quickly.

I removed my t-shirt onto the floor but put her dress on the end of the bed.  I pulled my jeans and underwear off in one swift movement, then hesitated, wondering if I should grab the condom from the back pocket.  I sidled up to her, the feel of her skin against mine setting my blood racing.

"Should I use a condom?" I whispered.

I expected a yes or no answer, but she said, "Should you?"  It floored me - should I?  Was she querying my promiscuity? 

"Um, are you on birth control?" I asked.

"Yes."

I had a strange mix of emotions.  It was good she was on birth control, but why was she on birth control? "Okay I'll just use one," I said, not wanting to make a big deal about it, not wanting to be thinking about who she might have been with.  It would be too rude to ask.  Whoever it was, or had been, she wasn't with him now; she was with me.

And that's where we made love for the first time, in my bunk bed, younger brother above, parents and sister down the hallway, under a Ferrari duvet.  There was no finesse about it, I wasn't a master, it was clumsy, a little awkward, but it felt like the best damned sex I'd ever had. 

I woke just before six, cherishing the fact that Magdala was in my arms, that this to me was heaven, having this girl beside me, in my bed.  But now I had the problem of getting her out of the house unseen and unheard.  I had to use the bathroom and then tried to creep back into bed, but she woke.  I should have helped her dress and taken her home, but I needed to have her again, so trying to smother her giggles, we kissed and made love.  Whispering that we would both sneak out of the window, she followed me out, and I drove her home.

That night we met up again.  Originally I was supposed to be going around to Luke's place.  All the boys had planned a pizza and gaming night.  I cancelled at the last minute, not a hard decision, Magdala or the boys, like real tough.  I picked her up from her house, she was already waiting at the front gate.  Her shoes and panties were on the front seat.

"Did you wash them?" she asked, as she placed them to the side on the floor.

"No," I said, "I had to hide them under my pillow.  Imagine if my mother had found them."

She laughed.  "So she doesn't make your bed then?"

"Actually she does sometimes," I grinned.  She clicked up the seatbelt.  I leaned across and kissed her hard, not wanting to pull away.  I'd been waiting for that all day.  Work had seemed like an endless drag today, like I'd been clock watching, counting the hours till I saw her again. "So what do you want to do tonight?" I asked her.

She shrugged.  "I don't mind," she said, "but I need to come home tonight.  Because I've got an early surf planned.  With my Dad."

"Okay," I said, wondering where the hell we could go.  "How early?"

"Like six thirty, seven."

"Fuck, we better get straight into it then," I joked, but I don't think she got it.  I wondered if I'd cancelled prematurely with Luke.  The boys would be gaming in the lounge, which meant Luke's room would be free.

"Should we get something to eat?" she asked, "and then...do something?"

"Do something?" I repeated, challenging her.

She was cooler than I realized.  "Yeah, take a walk...or something," she said, a tease in her tone.

"You wanna walk?" I asked, in mock disbelief.

"Walk? Kiss?  Make love, whatever."  She said it so casually that I laughed.

"You're amazing," I said, and I leaned to kiss her again.  We went and got some fast food, sat outside to eat it.  Then we walked.  Literally we walked, hand in hand along the beach to the Pier.  Had I ever done that with a girl?  Never.  Then we sat on a bench, talked, kissed, laughed, walked back to the car.  I figured it wasn't worth it to go to Luke's, I didn't want to demean her by just turning up for a fuck.  It was too early to take her to my place.  The backseat seemed the likeliest option. 

"Wanna jump in the back?" I asked, when we got to the car.  It took a second for her to register and her eyes widened. 

"You wanna do it here?" she asked.  Then, as if she'd thought about it, "Is it safe?"

"We might drive somewhere a little more private," I joked.  We were in a busy carpark.  She shrugged like she was undecided.

"You'd rather not?" I asked, trying not to sound too disappointed.  I hardly wanted to pressure her, even though my body was screaming for her.

"What do you want?" Her voice was little more than a whisper and I worried I was scaring her off.

"I want what you want," I replied, taking her in my arms, pressing myself into her.  If this was all I got tonight, then I'd take it.  I leaned her against the car, and my lips collided with hers, stealing her air, leaving her gasping.  Her hands searched for an entry up my shirt, pulling till her hands connected with my skin, moving up my back, the contact making me shudder.  Her touch had me suddenly needing more.

"Whoa, baby," I said spontaneously, words I never knew were in my vocabulary, my erection ready and waiting.

"Let's go," she whispered.

I pulled back.  "You wanna go home?"  Again I tried to sound relaxed, as if it was fine, as if her wants came before my primal needs.  But she shook her head. 

"Drive somewhere," she said softly.  So we did, and the Toyota’s backseat got christened that night.

It seemed like such an adventure, like we were partners in crime, all very Romeo and Juliet.  There was no reason not to reveal our relationship, but for some reason I held back from telling my parents, possibly because I expected that they would disapprove of me dating a girl from Beverly Hills.  I had sworn Ben to keep his mouth shut about Magdala arriving and leaving through the window.  I had no doubt that he would give me payback some time in the future.  Though things got a bit embarrassing when we both climbed out of the window the next Saturday morning, to find Dad out by the front gate, with Rocky.

"What's going on?" I asked innocently, clearly caught red-handed.

"Rocky was restless," he said calmly, "thought there was a prowler.  Did you hear anything?"

"Um, no."

"What are you doing up so early?" His tone was quite controlled.

"I'm just taking Magdala home," I said, "Um this is Magdala.  Magdala this is my Dad."

Magdala shyly nodded and smiled, as did Dad.  "Best be off then," he said, his voice sounded non-judgmental.  Unlike Mom, who was a hundred and one questions when I returned.  I tried to make out I needed to go back to bed, but she set a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee in front of me and said, "Talk!"

They both rolled their eyes and looked at each other when I told them I'd met her two weeks ago.  "And you've already had her stay overnight?" Mom gasped.

"She lives in Beverly Hills, it's pretty much out of the way, so it was easier to have her stay here," I defended weakly.  And I saw Mom's eyes pop at the words Beverly Hills.  Dad busied himself with his tablet, I could see he wanted no part of the conversation.

"Nate, you need to be careful here," Mom advised, her voice now serious and business like.  Did her family know? Did she ring them? Have you met them? What do they do? Why didn't you tell us about her? I barely had time to swallow any food with Mom firing the questions. That's the reason I smuggled Magdala in and out of the window, to avoid situations like this. I'm convinced Magdala would run a mile after a conversation with my mother; her interrogation skills could get her a job with the CIA no problem. 

"Its cool," I said, "don't worry about it.  I love her like crazy."  The words had just slipped out, I'd surprised myself.  I saw Mom's eyes pop even wider, even Dad looked up at me.  They looked at each other.  I gathered my bowl and cup and took them to the sink.

"I'm going back to bed," I announced.  "I've got work at ten."  And I went and texted Magdala:   Wtf, I just told my parents I love u. 

And she texted back:  wish you'd told me first :(

Me:  I'll come over after work and tell u. 

Her:  u better!

And I did.  She was waiting out by her front gate wearing a short denim skirt and a bikini top when I drove up.  I was still in my work clothes.  She had a family dinner she was going to, her Aunt's birthday, so I knew I only had a few minutes with her.

"Wow," I said, "you look great," as I took her in my arms and kissed her.  It was crazy that I was so forward with her, that I didn't even think twice about touching her, kissing her, complimenting her.

"I'm not even changed yet," she said.  "We're going to a restaurant so I have to get dressed up."  She pulled back, surveyed my clothes and fingered my name badge.  "Nice uniform.  Nate!"

"Don't be smart," I laughed, leaning in and kissing her again.  "What have you been doing today?" I murmured, my face nestling in to her neck.

"Piano lesson.  Went shopping with Antonia.  Swimming.  That's it," she said.  Her hands slid from my back down over my ass.  "Such a hard life," she murmured, "while you've been working all day."  She squeezed my ass and said seductively, "Thought you had something to tell me?"

"Did I?  Do I?" I was as hard as a rock and her touch was seriously causing amnesia.  I moved her so that her back was up against my car, pressed myself close, closer.  "Can't remember."  My lips found hers again, my tongue invading her mouth, my only thoughts being how much I wanted her, needed her. 

A car slowed up beside us and I pulled back.  Magdala smiled and waved.  "Cash," she said, as the driveway gate rolled open.  "He's been playing tennis all day.  I probably should go and get ready."

"I'll miss you tonight," I said, and I meant it.  Any time apart from her seemed to be torture.

"I might miss you too," she said, touching my badge again. "Nate."  She laughed.

"Magdala," I tried to sound serious. 

Her face straightened.  "Nathan?"