Tumgik
#jean ritchie is mother!
hairtusk · 1 year
Text
Tumblr media
Appalachian folk musician Jean Ritchie, known as the 'Mother of Folk' (1922-2015)
2K notes · View notes
folk-enjoyer · 12 days
Text
Jean Ritchie, The Mother of Folk
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
42 notes · View notes
juliesandothings · 10 months
Text
Tumblr media
American folk singer and songwriter Jean Ritchie "the Mother of Folk" posing with several Appalachian dulcimer instruments
55 notes · View notes
permanentreverie · 2 years
Text
books read in 2023
1) get a life, chloe brown -> talia hibbert: jan 1 - 3
2) the night circus -> erin morgenstern (reread): jan 9 - 11
3) lost in the never woods -> aiden thomas: jan 6 - 15
4) on earth we're briefly gorgeous -> ocean vuong: jan 12 - 15
5) clap when you land -> elizabeth acevedo: jan 17 - 18
6) comfort me with apples -> catherynne m. valente: jan 18
7) not here to be liked -> michelle quach: jan 19 - 23
8) night sky with exit wounds -> ocean vuong (reread): jan 25
9) time is a mother -> ocean vuong: jan 27
10) anatomy: a love story -> dana schwartz: jan 28 - 30
11) babel, or the necessity of violence: an arcane history of the oxford translaters' revolution -> r.f. kuang: jan 24 - feb 2
12) next of kin -> hannah bonam-young: feb 3 - 4
13) tokyo ever after -> emiko jean: feb 5 - 6
14) once upon a broken heart -> stephanie garber (reread): feb 2 - 6
15) the ballad of never after -> stephanie garber: feb 7
16) tomorrow, tomorrow, and tomorrow -> gabrielle zevin: feb 7 - 11
17) tokyo dreaming -> emiko jean: feb 11 - 13
18) the cruel prince -> holly black (reread): feb 15 - 16
19) the no-show -> beth o'leary: feb 17 - 20
20) time is a mother -> ocean vuong (reread): feb 20
21) sweet bean paste -> durian sukegawa: feb 22
22) before the coffee gets cold -> toshikazu kawaguchi: feb 24
23) the wicked king -> holly black (reread): feb 23 - 24
24) the queen of nothing -> holly black (reread): feb 25 - 26
25) tales from the café -> toshikazu kawaguchi: feb 26 - 27
26) daisy jones & the six -> taylor jenkins reid (reread): feb 28 - mar 2
27) before your memory fades -> toshikazu kawaguchi: feb 27 - mar 4
28) ninth house -> leigh bardugo: mar 3 - 6
29) hell bent -> leigh bardugo: mar 7 - 9
30) a good girl's guide to murder -> holly jackson: mar 10 - 11
31) portrait of a thief -> grace d. li: mar 12 - 15
32) good girl, bad blood -> holly jackson: mar 15 - 18
33) the last children of tokyo -> yōko tawada: mar 19
34) tiny pretty things -> sona charaipotra & dhonielle clayton: mar 20 - 21
35) the youthful you who was so beautiful -> jiu yue xi (reread): mar 22
36) shiny broken pieces -> sona charaipotra & dhonielle clayton: mar 23 - 24
37) the scarlet pimpernel -> emmuska orczy: mar 25
38) as good as dead -> holly jackson: mar 26 - 28
39) addicted to you -> krista ritchie & becca ritchie: mar 29 - 30
40) one of us is lying -> karen m. mcmanus: mar 30 - 31
41) kill joy -> holly jackson: apr 2
42) carrie soto is back -> taylor jenkins reid: apr 1 - 3
43) human acts -> han kang: apr 4 - 6
44) tender is the flesh -> agustina bazterrica: apr 6
45) this time it's real -> ann liang: apr 6 - 10
46) idol, burning -> rin usami: apr 11
47) i'll give you the sun -> jandy nelson: apr 12 - 14
48) the boundless -> kenneth oppel: apr 14 - 17
49) the great gatsby -> f. scott fitzgerald (reread): apr 17
50) beautiful little fools -> jillian cantor: apr 18 - 19
51) schoolgirl -> osamu dazai: apr 20
52) the witch haven -> sasha peyton smith: apr 22 - 23
53) the witch hunt -> sasha peyton smith: apr 24 - 27
54) a little life -> hanya yanagihara: apr 28 - 30
55) beach read -> emily henry (reread): may 1 - 2
56) no longer human -> osamu dazai: may 2 - 3
57) my dark vanessa -> kate elizabeth russell: may 3 - 4
58) the setting sun -> osamu dazai: may 5 - 6
59) the bridge kingdom -> danielle l. jensen: may 5 - 8
60) king of pride -> ana huang: may 8 - 10
61) happy place -> emily henry: may 11
62) the vegetarian -> han kang: may 10 - 12
63) the red palace -> june hur: may 14 - 17
64) the traitor queen -> danielle l. jensen: may 13 - 22
65) the sky is everywhere -> jandy nelson: may 22 - 23
66) beartown -> fredrik backman: may 24 - 25
67) deathless -> catherynne m. valente: may 26 - 28
68) notes on an execution -> danya kukafka: may 29 - 30
69) once upon a k-prom -> kat cho: may 24 - 30
70) almond -> sohn won-pyung: may 30
71) the white book -> han kang: may 31
72) my mechanical romance -> alexene farol follmuth: may 31
73) a room with a view -> e.m forster: jun 4
74) the poppy war -> r.f kuang: jun 5 - 6
75) the dragon republic -> r.f kuang: jun 7 - 10
76) the drowning faith -> r.f kuang: jun 11
77) the burning god -> r.f kuang: jun 11 - 15
78) emma -> jane austen: may 30 - jun 16
79) greek lessons -> han kang: jun 16 - 18
80) when marnie was there -> joan g. robinson: jun 18 - 20
81) bandstand -> richard oberacker: jun 21
82) white nights -> fyodor dostoevsky: jun 21
83) twisted love -> ana huang: jun 20 - 22
84) twisted games -> ana huang: jun 27 - 28
85) the bloody chamber -> angela carter: jun 28 - 29
86) my deepest secret -> hanza art: jun 22 - 30
87) coraline -> neil gaiman: jun 30
88) twisted hate -> ana huang: jul 1 - 3
89) sadie -> courtney summers: jul 4 - 5
90) twisted lies -> ana huang: jul 5 - 6
91) take a hint, dani brown -> talia hibbert: jul 6 - 7
92) better than the movies -> lynn painter: jul 16 - 17
93) act your age, eve brown -> talia hibbert: jul 18 - 20
94) beyond the story: 10 - year record of bts -> kang myeong-seok & bts: jul 17 - 20
95) love and other words -> christina lauren: jul 19 - 22
96) diary of a void -> emi yagi: jul 23
97) in five years -> rebecca serle: jul 24
98) us against you -> fredrik backman: jul 24 - 25
99) sirena -> donna jo napoli: jul 26
100) small things like these -> claire keegan: jul 26 - 28
101) exit, pursued by bear -> e.k. johnston: jul 28
102) red, white, & royal blue -> casey mcquiston (reread): jul 29 - 31
103) conveniance store woman -> sayaka murata: jul 31
104) the hurting kind -> ada limon: aug 2
105) one true loves -> taylor jenkins reid: aug 2 - 3
106) the deep -> rivers solomon: aug 6 - 7
107) all the lovers in the night -> mieko kawakami: aug 9
108) caraval -> stephanie garber: aug 6 - 10
109) we hunt the flame -> hafsah faizal: aug 16 - 18
110) we free the stars -> hafsah faizal: aug 18 - 19
111) i'm glad my mom died -> jennette mccurdy: aug 20
112) the ballad of songbirds and snakes -> suzanne collins: aug 21 - 22
113) kim jiyoung, born 1982 -> cho nam-joo: aug 22
114) legendary -> stephanie garber: aug 11 - 24
115) king of wrath -> ana huang: aug 23 - 24
116) the sisterhood of the traveling pants -> ann brashares: aug 27
117) out on a limb -> hannah bonam-young: aug 29 - 31
118) the winners -> fredrick backman: aug 1 - 31
119) the second summer of sisterhood -> ann brashares: aug 28 - 31
120) girls in pants: the third summer of the sisterhood -> ann brashares: sep 4 - 5
121) forever in blue: the fourth summer of the sisterhood -> ann brashares: sep 5
122) strange the dreamer -> laini taylor: sep 3 - 9
123) crying in h mart -> michelle zauner: sep 9 - 10
124) sisterhood everlasting -> ann brashares: sep 7 - 11
125) finale -> stephanie garber: sep 13 - 14
126) little thieves -> margaret owen: sep 11 - 16
127) les misérables -> victor hugo (reread): apr 3 - sep 18
128) business or pleasure -> rachel lynn solomon: sep 17 - 19
129) out there -> kate folk: sep 23 - 24
130) wuthering heights -> emily brontë: sep 18 - 24
131) painted devils -> margaret owen: sep 20 - 27
132) the foxhole court -> nora sakavic: sep 24 - 27
133) the raven king -> nora sakavic: sep 27 - 29
134) the hate u give -> angie thomas: sep 29 - oct 2
135) the king’s men -> nora sakavic: sep 30 - oct 3
136) the dead romantics -> ashley poston: oct 4 - 5
137) a discovery of witches -> deborah harkness: oct 6 - 12
138) mexican gothic -> silvia moreno-garcia: oct 13 - 14
139) the haunting of hill house -> shirley jackson: oct 15 - 18
140) the girl from the other side (vol. 1 - 11) -> nagabe: oct 19
151) fourth wing -> rebecca yarros: oct 22 - 26
152) king of greed -> ana huang: oct 26 - 29
153) yellowface -> r.f. kuang: oct 30 - 31
154) a curse for true love -> stephanie garber: nov 1 - 3
155) a study in charlotte -> brittany cavallaro: nov 5 - 7
156) dracula -> bram stoker: may 5 - nov 8
157) the joy luck club -> amy tan: sep 9 - nov 9
158) the murder of roger ackroyd -> agatha christie: nov 9 - 10
159) the last of august -> brittany cavallaro: nov 10 - 12
160) kamila knows best -> farah heron: nov 12 - 13
161) the case for jamie -> brittany cavallaro: nov 14 - 15
162) a question for holmes -> brittany cavallaro: nov 16 - 17
163) howl’s moving castle -> diana wynne jones (reread): nov 17 - 18
164) if we were villains -> m. l. rio (reread): nov 18 - 19
165) masters of death -> olivie blake: nov 20 - 22
166) jane eyre -> charlotte brontë (reread): nov 22 - 29
167) the name drop -> susan lee: dec 2 - 3
168) divine rivals -> rebecca ross: dec 6 - 7
169) the lightning thief -> rick riordan (reread): dec 9 - 11
170) the sea of monsters -> rick riordan (reread): dec 12 - 13
171) the titan’s curse -> rick riordan (reread): dec 14
172) the battle of the labyrinth -> rick riordan (reread): dec 16 - 18
173) the last olympian -> rick riordan (reread): dec 18 - 19
174) a study in drowning -> ava reid: dec 23 - 29
175) little women -> louisa may alcott (reread): dec 21 - 29
176) shadow of night -> deborah harkness: nov 1 - dec 30
177) the upside of falling -> alex light: dec 30
178) slade house -> david mitchell: dec 31
179) much ado about nothing -> william shakespeare: dec 31
180) romeo and juliet -> william shakespeare (reread): dec 31
132 notes · View notes
jujurose222 · 1 month
Text
I left my father, I left my mother/ I left my brothers and sisters too
2 notes · View notes
declanlikesmusic · 7 months
Text
MusicDeclanLikes: Feb 2024
Tumblr media
The second instalment of my monthly favourites playlist is here, with much more songs and much more time spent in preparation due to what the end of the month has booked for me!
Billie Eilish – !!!!!!!
Jean Grae & Quelle Chris – My Contribution to This Scam
Moor Mother & billy woods – The Blues Remembers Everything the Country Forgot (feat. Wolf Weston)
Frank Ocean – Pink + White
christtt – jimmy
Ana Frango Eléctrico – Saudade
Prince – Raspberry Beret
Open Mike Eagle – Qualifiers
Everything Everything – The End of the Contender
Rob Thomas – Ever the Same
Olivia Rodrigo – bad idea right?
Powderfinger – (Baby I've Got You) On My Mind
Against Me! – Transgender Dysphoria Blues
Klaxons – Totam on the Timeline
OCT – Don't Touch My Clogs
Venetian Snares – Hajnal
Chelsea Wolfe – House of Self-Undoing
Squid – Narrator (feat. Martha Skye Murphy)
Deerhoof – To Fly or Not to Fly
The Chemical Brothers – Setting Sun
Tapir! – On a Grassy Knoll (We'll Bow Together)
The Smile – Bending Hectic
Future Islands – Corner of My Eye
Black Country, New Road – Track X
clipping. – Dream
Doss – Strawberry
Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Murder on the Dancefloor
Alexis Jordan – Happiness
The Knife – We Share Our Mother's Health
Shohei Animori – Stab/Text
ev.exi – Impulse (feat. UniBe@t)
clust.r – us pretenders
RiTchie – RiTchie Valens
Tirzah – Reach Hi
JPEGMAFIA – TIRED, NERVOUS & BROKE!
Quadeca – TEXAS BLUE (feat. Kevin Abstract)
2 notes · View notes
Text
Anthony Hogan's paragraph descriptions of John Byrne (Johnny Guitar), Ringo Starr, Charles O'Brien (Ty O'Brien), and Walter Eymond (Lu Walters) from the book FROM A STORM TO A HURRICANE (2016)
" John [Byrne] was born on 4 December 1939 in Liverpool to Michael Patrick Byrne, a Seaman, born 22 October 1908, and Elsie Ford, who had married in the city in 1932. Elsie was born 10 July 1905 in Liverpool, with her early years being spent at No. 2 Belfast Road in Old Swan. Here she lived with her one sister and four brothers, her mother Eliza (nee Cowan) and her father Henry, who worked as a coal dealer. Her parents had married in 1898 and moved to the Old Swan area from Everton. By 1933 Michael and Elsie were living in London, where they had their first two children, Patrick and Norma. The family returned to Liverpool when Michael's work was moved there. After their return, John and Paul were born. John was a pupil at St Oswald's school in Old Swan and a part of the church of the same name. Like Alan, John had taken dance lessons at Martin's school on Derby lane. They had both attended the boys' club there as well. Just before his teen years John was struck down with rheumatic fever. He pulled through and spent six months in a Southport hospital convalescing. "
" Charles was born Charles William O'Brien in Liverpool on 15 February 1941, to Charles William O'Brien, born 1906 in Liverpool, and Marie Brierly, born 2 October 1904 in Liverpool. The couple married in 1927 at St Michael and Sacred Heart church on West Derby Road, Liverpool. The family lived at No. 49 Pemberton Road, Old Swan, with Charles Sr working as a seaman for the Canadian Pacific Line. Charles had an older sister named Marie who had been born in 1928. (..) Young Charles became a very talented amateur boxer, training at the Derby Lane gym, as well as a very good guitar player. He had been a pupil at St Oswald's school, and attended the church there. Charles, or Chas as he was often called, had known John Lennon and The Quarrymen in their early days. He was also another member of the band who had attended Martin's dance school on Derby Lane in Old Swan, where he proved to be a rather decent dancer. "
" Richard [Starkey] had been born on 7 July 1940, at No. 9 Madryn Street in the Dingle area of Liverpool, to Richard Starkey and Elsie Gleave, who had married in 1936. The couple had spent time dancing together on the ballroom circuit, but the birth of Richard drove them apart. Richard Snr showed little interest towards his son, preferring to spend his time drinking in local pubs. Elsie raised Richard and doted after him. In 1944 they moved the short distance to No. 10 Admiral Grove, the move being done by loading their possessions onto a handcart. Within a year Richard Shr had left and a divorce had been completed; his son barely saw him again. Richard, known as Ritchie, was very ill as a child, developing appendicitis aged six that led to a stay in the Myrtle Street children's hospital. He was a pupil at St Silas primary school and Dingle Vale secondary school, where he was a classmate of Billy Fury. In 1953 he contracted tuberculosis and was admitted to the children's hospital at Heswell on the Wirral. "
" Walter Eymond was born Walter Lewis Eymond on 6 August 1938 off Cazneau Street in Liverpool. His parents, who had married in Liverpool in 1934, were Henry Lewis Eymond, born 1906, and Mary Melia. Henry was the son of Lewis Felix Eymond and Georgina Esther Carruthers (Walter's grandparents) who in 1911 were living at No. 13 Buckingham Road in Walton, Liverpool, with Lewis working as a ship's pattern-maker. Walter's great-grandfather, Jean-Marie Henri Eymond, had brought his family over to England from the Bordeaux region of France. In 1875 he was living in the Dingle area of Liverpool and working as a master mariner. Walter also had a sister named Jean who had been born in 1935. During the Second World War Walter's home was bombed, resulting in the family being rehoused at No. 11 Ulster Road in Old Swan for the remainder of the war. Walter's father Henry worked as an electrical engineer and would often take his family with him when he worked in such places as London, Newcastle and Dudley in Birmingham. "
9 notes · View notes
cbjustmusic · 2 years
Text
youtube
Jean Ritchie—referred to by some as the Mother of Folk Music—was born 100 years ago today on December 8, 1922 in Viper, Kentucky. Over her decades long career she performed and recorded 100’s of traditional folk songs, as well as writing her own songs. Here she is performing her song “Black Waters”, which is about the effects of strip-mining and mountaintop removal mining for coal on the land in the Kentucky Appalachians. ______________________ Black Waters Songwriter: Jean Ritchie
I come from the mountains, Kentucky's my home Where the wild deer and the black bear so lately did roam By cool rushing waterfalls the wildflowers dream And through every green valley there runs a clear stream
Now there's scenes of destruction on every hand And there's only black waters run down through my land Sad scenes of destruction on every hand Black waters, black waters, run down through the land
Oh the quail, she's a pretty bird, she sings a sweet tongue In the roots of the tall timber she nests with her young But the hillside explodes with the dynamites roar And the voices of the small birds will sound there no more
And the hillsides come a slidin' so awful and grand And the flooding black waters rise over my land Sad scenes of destruction on every hand Black waters, black waters, run down through the land
In the rising of the springtime we planted our corn In the ending of the springtime we buried a son In summer come a nice man, says everything's fine My employer just requires a way to his mine
Then they threw down the mountain and covered my corn And the grave on the hillside's a mile deeper down And the man stands and talks with his hat in his hand As the poisonous water spreads over my land Sad scenes of destruction on every hand Black waters, black waters, run down through the land
Well I ain't got no money and not much of a home I own my own land, but my land's not my own But if I had ten million, somewhere's there about I would buy Perry county and I'd run 'em all out
Sat down on the bank with my bait and my can And just watch the clear waters run down through my land Well wouldn't that be like the old promised land? Black waters, black waters, no more in my land
19 notes · View notes
sinceileftyoublog · 1 year
Text
Lankum Album Review: False Lankum
Tumblr media
(Rough Trade)
BY JORDAN MAINZER
Lankum are a true progressive folk band, exploring the genre’s crossover appeal. Yet, the Irish quartet don’t make accessible music, necessarily; rather, they find common themes among tales of heartbreak, murder, oppression, and the terrible things the human race is capable of, diving headfirst into the darkness of old stories and applying it to new worlds. Produced by John “Spud” Murphy, the band’s latest album False Lankum is far and away their most ambitious and best, as horrific at times as it is beautiful. It begins with “Go Dig My Grave”, a standard tale of lovelorn suicide and its resulting note with burial instructions, that’s seen versions by everyone from Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson to Lambchop. It starts with singer Radie Peat, a capella, an uneasy shrillness in the weariness of her voice and the sharp tones of the guitar stabs. Eventually, the piercing drones and stomping percussion--meant to invoke the Irish process of keening--emulate the never-ending strikes of shovels in the ground during a burial. It’s straight out of an Ari Aster film.
False Lankum take traditional Irish music and put it up against a mirror, the inherent doom of the song’s themes staring right back at it in the face. “Master Crowley’s” is an instrumental fiddle reel that morphs into something truly sinister and dangerous, woozy concertinas and string instruments squeaking and growling like rabid, out-of-breath animals. On “Lord Abore and Mary Flynn”, Cormac MacDiarmada’s pained singing carries the dark, sad jaunt about a mother who poisons her teenage son instead of allowing him to choose his own love. Epic closer “The Turn”, one of two Daragh Lynch originals, sees the vocal harmonies in lower octaves, the song structure alternating between ambient and a galloping, fatalistic chorus. “Turn, we’ll find better days / Burned to the ground / Mourn, it’s the only way / We’ll make a sound,” they sing, before the song ends with clattering drums and squealing drones, the true sound of mourning, indeed.
Of course, there’s beauty and triumph in the pain on False Lankum, like on Gordon Bok tune “Clear Away in the Morning”, where the abstractly doom-filled strings are nonetheless gentle in their delivery alongside whispered vocal harmonies. “Netta Perseus”, another original, sports muted harmonies and plucked guitars, rolling drums and synthesizers that take us into an abyss of sound. The harmonic, chanted “The New York Trader” is a sea shanty about sacrificing the life of a confessed murderer boat captain in order to calm the seas, immigrants coming ashore in “Amerikay” bloodied but alive, which is how you feel as the song thrashes about until its conclusion.
And then there’s centerpiece “Newcastle”, which has origins in the 17th century but, along with “Lord Abore and Mary Flynn”, has undeniable contemporary applications. The former could be sung from the perspective of the latter’s victim. “Why should I not love my love? / Why shouldn’t my love love me? / Why shouldn’t I not speed after her / Since love to all is free?” the band longingly ask on “Newcastle”, presenting the questions of freedoms and human agency as matter-of-fact, righteous parts of existence rather than something to be begged for. In telling these stories, Lankum keep folk alive and well, peeling back its layers to reveal raw wounds.
youtube
2 notes · View notes
ear-worthy · 5 months
Text
Three iHeart Podcasts For Women: Fashion: Past-Due Female Recognition; Katie
Tumblr media
If TV can do it, why can't podcasting. Networks like Lifetime and Hallmark program shows that appeal to women. Therefore, it's only fair that iHeartPodcasts has several excellent podcasts for women. 
To be clear, podcasting has podcast networks that are female-owned, such as Critical Frequency and Earios.
First up is Climbing In Heels, which just returned every Friday for season three. If you didn't know (I did not), Rachel Zoe is recognized as one of Hollywood’s most powerful fashion authorities. She welcomed audiences into her fast-paced life as an A-list stylist on her Bravo show, The Rachel Zoe Project and her fashion brand is known globally.  The podcast's marketing pitch is: "Host Rachel Zoe’s podcast Climbing In Heels promises to be your weekly dose of glamour, inspiration and fun!"
 I listened to an episode with celebrity stylist Dani Michelle, whose clients include Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner. Zoe is a sold host, keeping down the melodrama in favor of sharing her expertise and that of her guests with her listeners. The January 2024 episode with Kroma wellness founder Lisa Odenweller discussing health and nutrition was informative, and kudos to Zoe for not turning it into a Kroma commercial spot. I think the best episode is the March 29, 2024, show with actor Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who played Meadow Soprano on the hit HBO TV series The Sopranos.  While Sigler continued to work in the entertainment industry after the show ended, she was diagnosed with MS, which she didn’t share publicly for 16 years. Zoe does a superb job as host, as Sigler discusses her career, motherhood, and MS.
Season three promises, "Conversations with incredible women across many industries, from models and beauty industry stars to doctors, entrepreneurs and TV personalities, and Rachel will be sharing her insight and knowledge of her over 20-year career in fashion."
 Next, we have Womanica. Here is their marketing pitch: "Historically, women have been told to make themselves smaller, to diminish themselves. Some have used that idea to their advantage, disappearing into new identities. For others, a disappearance was the end to their stories, but the beginning of a new chapter in their legacies."
I listened to several episodes and loved the show. Its premise of women not getting the attention, respect, adulation, and recognition they deserve for their contributions is inspired and so overdue.
Every episode starts with the title "Disappearing Acts." Then the five-minute episode highlights a woman whose contributions have been overlooked by history and society.
There's an episode on Fanny Eaton (1835-1924), who was a model and muse for dozens of iconic paintings from the pre-Raphaelite era. Her face can be found in museums around the world, and yet she remains unnamed and overlooked even today. Jean Ritchie (1922-2015) was the mother of folk music. She was an instrumental voice in the American folk music revival of the 1940s and 60s, and introduced a traditional dulcimer sound to a wider audience. Sophie Germain (1776-1831) was a French mathematician and physicist who contributed to the study of acoustics, elasticity, and number theory. She was forced to assume a fake male identity to have her work taken seriously, but her efforts paved the way for further breakthrough discoveries in mathematics.
Take your pick. It's a daily show. Womanica is a podcast for everyone. For all those male-oriented podcasts where the host whines about men playing second fiddle to women and minorities, please listen to some of these episodes about women who made major contributions for little or no recognition.
Finally, we have Katie Couric. Unlike other celebrities jumping on the podcasting bandwagon like carpetbaggers and scalawags, Couric began her podcasting career long before it was cool to be in podcasting. Ten years ago, a celebrity starting a podcast often elicited a "what happened to their career" comments.
Couric has done a nice job with her show. Last week, iHeartPodcasts
and Katie Couric Media announced the launch of the ninth season of Next Question with Katie Couric.
The marketing pitch is: "Katie is back on the mic for a new season, promising listeners intimate and unexpected conversations with some of the world’s most interesting and influential people."
The season premiere serves up Couric with Kris Jenner to talk about Kardashian-Jenner stuff. If you're into that, you'll love it.
0 notes
hairtusk · 2 years
Text
Tumblr media
Jean Ritchie, the "Mother of Folk", with her dulcimer (1950)
199 notes · View notes
skunked-up-kicks · 4 years
Text
alright bitches, i wanna know ur favourite aftg related songs. i'm putting mine in the tags, u can reblog and do the same, put em in the notes, send an ask, whatever u want. but u are now legally obligated to tell me them.
112 notes · View notes
atlafan · 4 years
Text
Office Neighbors - Part Eight
a/n: a very Andy heavy part, not proofread (reblogs and feedback are super helpful!)
warnings: slight angst, fluff, and smut
words: 15K
masterpost
Tumblr media
“I’m not gonna let you talk to her until you both settle down!” Harry shouts at his mother and sister.
“We’re settled, just dial the number!” Anne shouts back.
“Yeah, the TV can only occupy all the kids for so long.” Gemma says. “She’s probably waiting as it is.”
Harry was ready to throw up. He couldn’t remember the last time he introduced a woman to his family, and it wouldn’t even be a proper introduction since it was over FaceTime.
“Okay, okay, Christ.” He swipes your contact. “Just let me say hi to her first before you two jump in.”
You answer after a moment, you were sitting up on your bed at Phil and Julian’s. You made sure your hair and makeup were done, and your headphones were in, just in case there were wandering ears.
“Hi, Y/N.” Harry smiles warmly.
“Hey! How’s everything going?”
“Good! Everyone’s good. We all decorated my sister’s tree last night.”
“Oh, fun! Phil made sweet potato pancakes they were so good.”
“That’s great.” He smiles.
“Yeah.” You smile.
You see a hand smack Harry’s shoulder and you suck your lips into your mouth to keep from laughing.
“Right, well, my mum and sister are here…” He side eyes Gemma. “Would you like to say hello?”
“I would.” You nod. It was the whole point of the FaceTime, but you thought it was sweet he was being so formal. Both Anne and Gemma come into view and smile. “Hello! It’s nice to sort of meet you both.” You chuckle.
“Same to you, dear!” Anne says brightly. “Oh, Harry, she’s lovely.” She whispers, but you hear her.
“Yeah, I know it’s not the same as in person, but this works.” Gemma says. “Hope we didn’t wake you up too early for this…”
“Not at all! I was up anyways getting some work done. How’s the weather over there? It flurried a bit, but it hasn’t been too bad.”
“Freezing rain here, I’m afraid.” Harry says.
“Is that Y/N? Hi, Y/N!” Andy says as he comes into the kitchen where the meeting was occurring.
“Andy.” Harry sighs. “You’re supposed to be-“
“Oh, just give the damn phone to me. You know her plenty, Mum and I don’t, so shoo!” Gemma snatches the phone from Harry, and Anne follows her into the adjacent room.
“Well…isn’t that just perfect.” Harry says to Andy.
“Auntie Gem told me to do it, sorry.” Andy giggles and runs out of the room while Harry chases him.
“Sorry about that, things can get a little hectic around here.” Anne laughs.
“Oh, it’s no problem.” You chuckle.
“So, where are you this week?” Gemma asks.
“I’m staying at my brother’s place in Boston. I’ll be here until the day after New Year’s. My friends and I usually get together for the fireworks and all that.”
“Oh, that sounds like fun!” Anne says. “I can’t remember the last time I actually stayed up late enough to watch the ball drop.” She laughs. “I’m usually home watching all the kids while Harry and Gemma go out.”
“Yeah, we have a couple of parties of our own to go to. Lots of friends for Harry to see. He’s quite popular amongst our group.”
“That’s nice, you share a lot of the same friends?”
“Oh, sure.” Gemma shrugs. “We’re only a couple of years apart in age, and we worked at the same bakery growing up, sort of attached at the hip.”
“You two were awfully cute. They’d even willingly wear matching Halloween costumes.” Anne says. “Remember the year you were Mario and he was Princess Peach?”
“Now that’s something I’d love to see.” You say.
“Okay!” Harry bolts into the room and snatches his phone. “Think you’ve all chatted long enough.”
“You got an entire meal with her family, I think it’s only fair-“
“Mum! Lizzy won’t stop touching me!”
“I’m not doing anything!”
“Seems like your kids need you.” Harry sneers.
“Wonderful, three brats.” She rolls her eyes. “It was nice chatting, Y/N.” Gemma says as she leaves the room the scope out the scene.
“I better go help her.” Anne chuckles as follows out as well.
“So…Princess Peach, huh? You don’t still happen to have that costume do you? I bet you look lovely in a dress.”
“I was five.” Harry rolls his eyes. “And you’re right, I look exceptional in a dress.”
“They’re very nice, your mum and sister. Um…is Gemma not married, or…?”
“She’s widowed, unfortunately.” Harry whispers. “That’s why my mum lives with her, she needed help with her kids and I obviously wasn’t around. It sucked, he had cancer.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s been a few years, she’s doing much better, but she doesn’t date. She’s tried, but it’s too much.”
“I don’t blame her.”
“Did you have a nice Hanukkah with your family?”
“I did! I refereed a game of dreidel for my younger cousins, it was pretty funny.”
“You really like kids, don’t you?”
“I love kids.” You blush.
“Suppose that’s why you’re so good with them then, huh?” He was blushing too, but he was giving you that toothy smile you loved so much.
“I miss you, Harry.”
“I miss you too.”
“Dad…you better get in there…Lizzy and Ritchie have started to wrestle.”
“Better go pry them apart.” Harry chuckles. “I’ll talk to you soon, love you.”
“Love you too, bye Andy!”
You sigh as you hang up. You knew you’d physically get meet everyone someday so it would be less chaotic, but it was nice to meet them nonetheless.
//
On New Year’s Eve you throw on a black turtleneck bodysuit and a pair of jeans with some booties. You head out with Phil and Julian once they’re both home from work to meet your other friends at the bar. You send Harry a quick selfie, wanting to still look cute before you inevitably got sweaty and drunk. It was already the New Year in London, and Harry had sent you a selfie before he went out. It was sweet.
“Y/N!” Your best friend Nora squeals as soon as you see her.
“Hey!” You squeal back and hug her.
“It’s so good to see you, I’m so glad we could get together for this.”
“Same here, I know hard it is for you to get away…”
“Oh, don’t be silly. Wouldn’t miss a New Year’s in Boston. Hi Phil, hi, Julian.”
“Hi, Nora.” Phil smiles. “Y/N, we’re gonna go get a booth.”
“Okay, I think I’ll hang by the bar for bit with the crew.”
You say hello to your other friends: Claudia, Mark, and Darcy.
“Okay, so, where’s your man? We’ve been dying to meet him.” Mark says.
“He’s in London with his family.” You shrug. “You’ll meet him eventually, I promise.”
“Too bad, Nora says he’s quite the hunk.” Claudia says.
You side eye your friend as she laughs.
“You send me the best pictures, how could I not share?”
“His tattoos are really interesting.” Darcy says. “Never thought you’d be into a guy so inked up.”
“Neither did I, but I like them a lot.” You bite the rim of your cup and smile.
“I feel like it’s been forever since you’ve been serious with someone.” Mark says. “What’s it about this one?”
“Yeah, doesn’t he have a kid?” Claudia asks.
“He does…and I care a lot about him. His name is Andy, and he’ll be twelve in May.”
“Twelve?!” They all exclaim.
“How old is this guy?” Darcy asks.
“He’ll be thirty-three at the beginning of February. Would you all calm down? He had his son young, it is what it is.” You shrug.
“I knew you wanted to be a mom, but shit.” Nora laughs. “Whatever, you’re happy, right?”
“Very.”
“Then that’s all that matters. Now, I’m much more interested to hear how your love life is going, Mark.”
“Single and ready to find some New Year’s dick tonight.”
You all burst into laughter and clink your glasses. You all end up bar hopping a bit, saying goodbye to your brother and letting him know you’ll be back whenever, which he has no problem with. You get pretty sloshed with your friends, and you ended up at a dance club. You were having an incredible time. The club had plenty of TV’s going so a little before midnight, you all huddle together to watch the ball drop. You all kiss each other’s cheeks, it was cute. You feel your phone buzzing, and it’s a FaceTime request from Harry.
“Hello?!” You shout.
“Happy New Year!” He smiles. You nearly melt. He was still in bed, and he wasn’t wearing his glasses yet, and his hair was all floppy. “Where are you?”
“At a club, and-“
“Is that him?!” Nora shouts and goes behind your shoulder. “Oooo, look at him! Hiya hot stuff!”
“Isn’t it, like, really early in London?” Claudia slurs to Darcy.
“Yeah, babe, isn’t it, like, six in the morning?”
“Yeah.” He chuckles. “I was getting up anyways, and I wanted to call.”
“Aww.” You and your friends swoon.
“Well…I can see you’re busy, so I’ll let you go.”
“Okay! Happy New Year, love you!” You hang up before he can say it back.
“Damn, Y/N, he’s handsome.” Mark says.
“Mhm, and he’s allll mine.” You giggle with your friends.
//
“There’s my baby!” Paige exclaims as Andy gets off the plane. She throws her arms around him and kisses him. “Did you have a good time?”
“Yeah! Grammy and Auntie Gem say hi.” He holds her hand as they make their way to baggage.
“Oh, that’s nice of them. You had fin with Lizzy and Ritchie?”
“Yeah, we got to play the new game Y/N got me.”
“What game is that?”
“What Do You Meme, it’s a lot of fun.”
“Well, that was very nice of her to get that for you. Seemed like you got a lot of other nice gifts from when we spoke on Christmas.”
“Mhm, and Grammy got me a ton of new clothes. She got me those sneakers I’ve been wanting.”
“She sure has an eye for fashion, huh?” She chuckles. “So, we’re going to grab your bag and then Noah and Rachel are waiting in the car. Are you too tired for lunch?”
“No, I slept pretty well on the plane. One of the attendants sat with me and held my hand when we took off.”
“I love it when they do that for you, that’s so nice.”
“Gram’s not coming for lunch?”
“No, she ended up going to New York with Auntie Allie for New Year’s…she’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Alright, it’ll be nice then, just the four of us.”
“Yeah, it will. Everyone missed you, honey.”
Andy actually enjoys his lunch with everyone. He and Rachel talk about their new gifts. It warmed Paige’s heart to being having some real family time. The few days Andy is home is wonderful, and come Sunday, you show up to pick Andy up. You’d be having brunch with Paige before taking Andy back to Harry’s. You made sure to stock the fridge with all his favorites already. You take a deep breath, and ring the bell. After a couple of moment, Paige answers the door.
“Y/N!” She says brightly. “Come on in, you must be freezing.”
“Hi, thanks.” You smile and enter the home. She takes your coat and hangs it up. It was oddly quiet. “Where is everyone?”
“Oh, well, my sister came back with my mom late last night, so they’re out with Andy now having a brunch of their own, and Rachel has Hebrew school on Sunday mornings, and they usually get lunch together after that. So it’s just us two, I’ve got quite the spread for us, come into the kitchen.”
She really did have quite the spread. Bagels, cream cheese, eggs, juice, and fruit.
“Wow, you didn’t have to do all this…”
“Oh, sure I did. Would you like some coffee?”
“That’d be great, thank you.”
She nods and gestures for you to sit while she gets the coffee.
“I’m so glad we could finally get together to do this. I feel like I know you, but don’t at the same time.” She sips her coffee and makes up a plate, as do you. “Did you have a nice holiday?”
“I did, yeah, thank you. Did you?”
“As good as it could have been, I suppose.” She nods. “It was weird without my dad, but that’s life.” She shrugs.
“I’m so sorry, it must have been difficult.”
“It was weird, all of the fun helped distract us, but I know it was really hard for my mother. The first holidays without them are always the hardest.” You nod at her. “Anyways, I…oh, that’s a lovely necklace.” She points to your palm tree, and you clutch at it.
“Thank you, um, Harry got it for me.” You swallow.
“This doesn’t need to be weird, Y/N.” She smirks. “You’re in his life, which means you’re in my son’s life, and I just wanna know more about you, that’s all. This isn’t a one way street either, if there’s anything you’d like to know about me I’d be happy to answer.”
“I know…I have to admit, I was a little nervous to be one on one with you. I hope you know, I care a lot about Andy.”
“No need to be nervous. Harry trusts you, so I do too.” She shrugs. “He’s always been such a great judge in character.”
“Can I ask…how did you two meet?”
“Oh, god, years ago when we were in college. He came to our school when he was a sophomore, and joined our group. I was dating this other guy at the time, but we became fast friends. He was always so sweet. The other guy and I broke up eventually, and then I can’t quite recall what it was, but long story short Harry and I got together. I graduated a year ahead of him, but we made it work.”
“And Andy was an accident?”
“He certainly wasn’t planned.” She laughs. “I’ll spare you the details, but we were shocked to say the least when we found out. I was already working at the law office, thank god, so I had some decent benefits and maternity leave and all that.”
“Were you scared being so young?”
“A little…I was more so worried at the time about being so far away from Harry. I had started working in this area, so we were long distance. I was grateful he found a grad program in the area that worked for him. I sort of felt guilty for making him grow up so fast, but I got over it. He really stepped up.”
“He’s a great dad.”
“He really is! He was a natural right away.”
“And…it just didn’t work out between you two?”
“I was sort of stubborn, and a little resentful. He was getting to work on his career, and I felt like I was in a rut. My parents were getting to me…and…one morning I woke up and looked at him and realized I just wasn’t in love. When we were dating in school it was just fun, you know? I hadn’t really been given the chance to see if I wanted something future wise with him. For all I knew, he could have decided to go back to London, you know? It was awful because we were living together, and we had Andy, and I just couldn’t figure out how to end it, and then…well, he asked me to marry him, and that was when I knew it had to be over, so I told him no and we broke up. I felt sick over it because I knew I hurt him.”
You blink as you take all of the information in. Sometimes people just weren’t compatible, and that was okay, and maybe Harry had been looking at things with rose colored glasses.
“His parents were divorced growing up, so I think he thought getting married would make everything better. We fought a lot, things just stopped being fun.” She shrugs. “But that was all a long time ago, and we worked on things for Andy’s sake, and I’d like to think we’re doing right by him now. He raves about you, they both do, and it makes me so happy to hear it.”
“You really want what’s best for Harry, huh?”
“I do.” She nods. “And for my son, obviously. I know at times it may seem weird that Harry and I are sort of close…especially after my father died, but it’s really not always like that. It’s not like we text or talk every day. We only meet up when we absolutely have to. I think sometimes when we see each other more we fall into that old patter of friendship, but it doesn’t go further than that, I hope you can see that. I love Noah, I really feel like he’s the person I’m supposed to be with.”
“I…feel that way about Harry.” You mutter and sip your coffee, but you don’t miss her smile.
“That makes me so happy to hear, you have no idea.” She gives your hand a squeeze. “So, tell me, you’re working on your PhD, and then what?”
“Hopefully become a full professor at some point. I really like working at the university, so I won’t be going anywhere once I finish.”
“I just hope they give you a pay bump afterwards. Harry had to fight for his, he honestly almost left when they said no, but they didn’t want to lose him.”
“Right.”
“You’re just on a yearly contract, right?”
“Yeah, I can’t go for tenure until I have my doctorate.”
“Do you have anything planned for while you’re with Andy?”
“I have a couple of craft ideas, yeah. You’re not mad he wanted to stay with me?”
“No, I get it. He was so annoyed last year when he had to get up earlier for school and all that. Plus…right now he still enjoys seeing my mother, my biggest fear is that if he’s here a lot he may not like the visits as much. She’s sweet on him now, but she has this way of saying these little things that eventually just get under your skin.”
“God, I’m so sorry, that must be so difficult.”
“I’m just glad she has her own section of the house to putter around in.”
“Would she ever go back to living in a condo or anything? Maybe there’s some type of old folks community she could go to.”
“They were living in one before, but she really doesn’t want to live alone, and I don’t blame her. As shrill as she can be, I know she likes being around people.” She sighs. “Look, I guess I just wanted to say that I’m glad Harry has you, and I’m glad Andy has you too. Becoming a blended family isn’t easy, and I’m sure Harry having to watch me move on wasn’t easy either. He had started talking about you here and there, his new office neighbor, and how funny she was.” Paige grins. “I knew right away he had a little crush on you. I’d never seen him play it so cool because I’ve only ever known him as a flirt, but I know it’s different when you work with someone.”
“Andy told me something similar. God, how embarrassing for him to be gushing about me.” You chuckle.
“No, it was so sweet! I remember when he asked if he could bring a friend to Andy’s party, as if he needed my permission. We were very excited to meet you. I’m glad things have been going so well for you two.”
“Thanks, that means a lot.”
“You and I don’t need to be best friends or anything, but I definitely want us to be friendly, you know? I look at Noah and Harry, and I know there are times they have their own squabbles, but it’s nice they get along so well. I want you to feel comfortable here.”
“That’s very kind of you, thank you. I definitely don’t feel nervous around you anymore. Um, so, is there anything I should know about taking care of Andy for longer than just a few hours?”
“He’ll try to get more TV time, and he loves talking on the phone with his friends, if you don’t cap it at an hour, he’ll wrack up the phone bill. He won’t admit it, but he still likes the crust cut off his sandwiches. Oh! You’ll need to help him with his hair after he showers.”
“What does he need help with?”
“Well, there’s this special mousse he uses to help his curls really come out. Harry uses it, so he likes using it. You need to dry his hair with a t-shirt, and then comb through it. Then you have to get the mousse in your hands and run it through his hair. It’s best if he doesn’t shower right before bed because then you have to let it air dry.”
“Okay, very good to know. I don’t think I’ve been over when Harry’s helped him with that.”
“Other than that, it’s just helping him with homework and packing lunches. He’s not one of those kids that needs to sleep with you if he has a scary dream or anything like that. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me, alright?”
“Alright.” You smile at her and she smiles back. You’re able to finish the rest of your meal in peace.
A little while later Andy comes in with his Gram and Auntie Allie.
“Y/N!” He shoots over to you and gives you a hug.
“Hi, did you have a good flight and all that?”
“Yeah! I’ll go up and get my stuff.”
“Okay.” You chuckle as he races upstairs.
“You both remember Y/N from Andy’s birthday party, right?” Paige says to her sister and mother.
“Yes, hi.” Allie smiles and shakes your hand. “Good to see you again.”
“You too.” You smile. “Hello Lydia.” You shake her hand and you watch as she sizes you up.
“Hello, so, you’re taking my grandson from me?”
“Mom, please.” Paige says. “Andy wants to be able to stay at home easier with Harry gone.”
“This is home too.”
“It is, but he goes to school in another town, so it’ll be easier for him to stay with Y/N.”
“You’re always giving in so easily, Paige, you should have never let-“
“Pardon me, but what are you doing?” You say.
“Excuse me?” Lydia says.
“No, I don’t think I will. Were you seriously just about to start an argument with your daughter about her son in front me? What is wrong with you? She’s his mother, I think she knows what she’s doing. You may have zero clue about what it’s like to raise a child with someone you’re not with, but she’s doing her best. I think it takes a lot of strength and courage to change up a living arrangement the way she did. It may not be my place to say because I’m just the girlfriend of the guy who she used to be with, and I know you just lost your husband, but you need to check yourself lady.”
Allie sucks her lips in to keep from laughing, and Paige has to do the same. This was prime entertainment.
“Maybe she feels like she can’t stand up to you because she’s trying to keep the peace, but she shouldn’t have to do that in her own home. You should be grateful she didn’t ship you off to a retirement home. I’m sure you have a lot of things to be angry about, but let it go. Your daughter’s made a wonderful life for herself, and I think you should recognize that before it’s too late.”
Andy comes down with his things, and goes over to give everyone a hug.
“Thanks again for lunch Gram.”
“You’re, um, more than welcome sweetheart.” She was in shock.
“See on Friday, Mum.” Andy says as he hugs his mother. “Bye, Auntie Allie, love you.”
“Love you too.”
“It was nice seeing everyone. Thanks again for brunch, Paige, it was wonderful.” You and Andy head out and leave them all stunned.
“Oh, I like her.” Allie says with a laugh.
“Who speaks to a stranger that way?!” Lydia says.
“She had a point.” Paige says. “Who starts an argument in front of a stranger? And, fuck it, she’s not a stranger! She’s Harry’s girlfriend, his serious girlfriend, who I happen to like, and Andy adores her. She was right mom, you need to check yourself. Take some time to figure out your priorities because I can’t live like this! I’m walking on eggshells in my own home. My home, not yours.”
“Okay, can everyone just take a deep breath?” Allie says. “Let’s just sit down and have a conversation without this becoming a screaming match.”
//
As you drive Andy to Harry’s, you hear him trying to bite back a laugh.
“What’s so funny back there?”
“Nothing, it’s just…I’ve heard my dad raise his voice at Gram before, and hearing you do the same thing just proves you two are a good couple.”
“Oh god, you heard me?”
“Yeah, but it’s okay. Thanks for standing up for my mom.”
“Of course! She’s a really nice person, she doesn’t deserve to be talked down to in her own home like that. I couldn’t just stand there and let it happen.” You scoff. “Anyways, what do you say when we get back we get you unpacked and then we talk lunches for the week?”
“Sounds good to me. Thanks again for wanting to stay with me.”
“I’m happy to do it. It’ll be fun.”
“Do you think…um, if it goes well, that you’ll move in?”
Your eyes grow wide and your heart skips a beat.
“That’s a conversation I’d need to have with your dad, Andy. It’s sort of a big deal for two people to move in together. I’ll be honest with you, I don’t think I’m ready for that, but I really do enjoy staying over when I do.”
“Alright, I’ll take your word for it.” He shrugs.
You turn up the music and take a deep breath. Once you get Andy inside, and he unpacks his things you go into the kitchen with him to discuss lunches for the week.
“Just pb and j’s are fine, it doesn’t need to be fancy.”
“I know, but I wanna make sure you’re not hungry. I could cut up some carrots for you and put some chips in there too. Would you like that?”
“Yeah, whatever.” He shrugs. “Are you gonna make baked ziti tomorrow? Dad usually gets up early on Monday mornings to get it all together and then he just throws it in the oven when we get home.”
“Sure, I can make that. I don’t know if it’ll come out as good though.”
“I’ll get up early to help you, hold on a second.” Andy goes down to the basement where Harry has another freezer and comes back up with a container of sauce. “This needs to thaw overnight in the fridge.”
“Thank god you remembered, I wouldn’t have even thought about it. So it’s pretty much just boil the pasta and get it together with the sauce?”
“Mhm.”
“Alright, I shouldn’t need your help then. What time should I wake you up in the morning?”
“6:30.”
“Okay.” You nod. “Well, I know you had a big lunch, so just let me know when you feel hungry and I’ll whip up something for dinner.”
“Sounds good, I’m gonna go hang out in my room.”
“I’ll be up in the loft working if you need me.” You smile.
You: hey baby, I’m at your place with Andy. I’m gonna make him pb and j’s for lunch this week :)
Harry: that sounds great! Just make sure to cut the crust off, he won’t tell you to do it, but that’s how he likes it
You: so I’ve heard…I had a nice time with Paige today
Harry: not too awkward?
You: not really no, although, I did tell off her mom
Harry: you did?!
You: yeah, she was about to start some argument with Paige in front of me and I was like uhhh I think the fuck not!
Harry: lmao good for you, like I said, Lydia can be a bitch
You: for real
Harry: what are you up to now?
You: I’m gonna get some work done, wbu
Harry: just reading, the house is finally a little quieter…got my big meeting tomorrow
You: I know! I can’t wait to hear all about it
Harry: maybe we could FaceTime after??
You: definitely!
Harry: maybe we could plan it for when I’m getting ready for bed 😈 😈 😈
You: you’re an idiot
Harry: come on! Could be fun
You: normally I’d be game for phone sex, but at the time you’d be going to bed, I’d be eating dinner with your son, not exactly appropriate
Harry: maybe you could just send me a sexy pic then
You: a sexy pic?! How old are you???
Harry: 32, you’ve got a shit memory babe
You: you’re not helping your case
Harry: just teasing!
You: mhm, I’m going to do some work now
Harry: okay, okay I’m sorry
You: don’t be I just blah because I got my period this morning…so no sexy pics, but maybe when Andy goes back to Paige’s we could get a little frisky over the phone
Harry: sounds like an excellent compromise to me darling
//
You get up early the next morning to put the baked ziti together, and then you get Andy’s lunch box all set. You take a quick shower, and get dressed before going to wake up Andy. You gently open his door and peep your head in.
“Andy?” You coo. “It’s time to get up.” You hear him groan. “I’ve been told not to leave until you actually get up.”
“Ugh, fine.” He rips his blanket off and puts his feet on the floor. “Happy?”
“Very.” You smile. “Any requests for breakfast?”
“Oatmeal, please.” He yawns and you nod.
You drop Andy off at school on time, and wave to him as he walks inside. Morning one is done, you can do this.
Andy goes to his locker and puts what he doesn’t need away, and grabs his things for his first few classes.
“Andy!” Brandon exclaims and hugs him.
“Oof!” He giggles. “Almost knocked me over.”
“Sorry.” Brandon steps back and clears his throat. “How was London?”
“It was great, I had so much fun. How was your holiday?”
“It was good. Connecticut isn’t as exciting as London though.” He laughs and they both head to homeroom.
They sit in their seats and talk with their other friends. Their teacher comes in speaking with another student. Andy does a double take and his eyes grow wide. It was a girl with long, flowing brown hair. She had it up in a ponytail on the top of her head, held with a blue scrunchie.
“Hey, who’s that?” He asks his friends.
“Never seen her before.” Brandon says.
“Everyone!” The teacher says after the second bell rings. “Let’s settle down. I hope you all had a wonderful break. Today I’m excited to introduce a new student, Caroline Stearn, I hope you all will give her a warm welcome. Caroline, would you like to say a few things about yourself?”
“Um…sure? Hi, I’m Caroline, I just moved here from Maine…my mom just got a teaching job at the university down the road and my dad also just started working at the university, but he works in IT. I have three older sisters, they’re all in high school.”
“Thank you Caroline, why don’t you have a seat in front of Andy over there?”
She nods and does as told. She smiles at Andy and he smiles back. The teacher starts talking about whatever news the students need before homeroom is over.
“I’m Andy.” He whispers, and she turns around almost surprised.
“Nice to meet you.” She smiles.
“I was new here last year…but I came from a school a couple towns over.” He smirks. “You can sit with us at lunch if you want.”
“Really?” She sounds relieved. “That’d be great, thanks.”
He nods and she faces back front. He looks over at Brandon who was making a face at him. Andy mouths ‘what’ at him, and Brandon rolls his eyes. Andy felt nervous, but he wasn’t sure why.
//
“Carline, how’s your first day going so far?” Tyler asks her during lunch.
“It’s okay. “ She shrugs. “Everyone seems nice so far.”
“Do you miss living in Maine at all?” Andy asks. She was sitting next to him.
“Honestly, not really.” She giggles. “We were from a really small town with nothing to do.” Everyone at the table bursts out laughing. “What?” Her face was red now.
“And this town doesn’t scream small town to you?” Brandon says. “The closest arcade is thirty minutes away, same with the movie theater. There’s literally nothing to do.”
“My class sizes back home were ten people max. There’s like twenty of us here.” She says shyly and takes a bite of her sandwich. She sees Andy’s and smiles. “You don’t like the crust either?”
“No.” He smiles at her. “You know what’s funny? My dad’s girlfriend made this for me, and I didn’t even have to ask her to cut it off. She’s like, psychic or something.”
“Oh yeah, Y/N’s staying with you, right?” Brandon chimes in.
“Mhm, she told off my Gram yesterday. It was so funny. She’s so cool, I’m really glad my dad’s with her. He can be so lame sometimes.” He rolls his eyes, and then looks at Caroline. “Sorry, that must all sound confusing.”
“It’s okay. Maybe we could get together some time and you could explain it to me.”
Andy nearly chokes on his sandwich. He takes a sip of his water, and starts nodding.
“Yeah, um, we could definitely do that.”
“Cool.” She smiles.
“Cool.” He smiles back, and then look up at Brandon who just rolls his eyes.
//
Since you had time before classes started back up in a couple of more weeks, you decide to go to the library to get some work done, rather than go to your office. It would almost be too quiet. Normally you’d just sleep in, but it was almost good you needed to be up for Andy, it would keep you in a routine. Lisa was hoping to see a very rough draft of your work once the second semester started.
You get a fuck ton done before needing to pick Andy up at 2:30. You decide to stop off at Dunkin beforehand to surprise him with a hot chocolate as a treat. The first day back to school after a break always felt long as a kid, so you thought you’d do something to potentially perk him up. As you pull up you see Andy walking out with Brandon, but also with a young girl. He waves goodbye to Brandon and hangs back with the girl.
“Thanks for being so nice to me today.”
“It’s not like you made it hard…” He blushes. “Um, so, you were thinking maybe Thursday after school?”
“Yeah! It would have to be your house, though, we’re still unpacking.”
“I’ll ask my dad’s girlfriend, I’m sure she won’t mind.”
“Okay…I’m excited.”
“Me too.”
“Oh! There’s my mom’s car, I better go. Bye, Andy.”
“Bye, Caroline.”
Andy sees your car and races over, getting into the back seat.
“Hi, how was school?”
“It was…really great actually.”
“Oh, good. Here, I got you a hot chocolate.”
“You’re the best, Y/N! Thanks.”
“You’re welcome…um, who was that girl you were just talking to?” You ask as you start to drive away.
“Oh, that was Caroline. She’s new, I helped her out a little bit today. I was actually sort of hoping she could come over after school Thursday.” He mutters.
“I’ll have to ask your dad if girls are allowed over.” You smirk. “You might have to hang out in a more open area.”
“Brandon and I don’t have to do that…”
“Very true, but even still, you and Brandon don’t keep the door closed when he’s over.”
“You got me there.” He shrugs. “I’m sure Dad will say yes.”
“When do your basketball practices start?”
“Next Tuesday.”
“Do you have everything you need for that?”
“Yup, I got a ton of new stuff for Christmas.”
“Okay, cool, just wanted to make sure. So…Caroline’s nice?”
“Super nice, and…her smile is pretty, so are her eyes. They’re like…the prettiest brown eyes I’ve ever seen.”
“Oh!”
“She…she gave me the butterflies, Y/N.” He runs a hand through his hair.
“Already?”
“Yeah, and now I’m confused because I thought Brandon gave me butterflies.”
“Well…sometimes two people can give you butterflies, that’s okay.”
“But she’s a girl and he’s a boy…why am I so weird?” He groans.
“Oh, Andy, you’re not weird at all. A lot of people feel like you about boys and girls.”
“They do?”
“Sure! One of my really good friends Darcy likes boys and girls.”
“How does she decide which one she likes better?”
“Well, she doesn’t.” You shrug as you pull into the driveway. You both get into the house and sit on the couch to continue your conversation. Andy holds a throw pillow to his stomach. “I’ve been around her when she’s had a boyfriend, and when she’s had a girlfriend, both make her equally happy. I think for her, at the end of the day, she’s attracted to the type of person they are, so the gender doesn’t really matter.”
“My dad said something like that once, he says he just likes the person and the rest doesn’t really matter. And then I asked him if he liked boys like that and he said no, so I was just more confused.”
“Sexuality is an ever evolving thing, Andy. You may decide you like one thing now, but in a few years you could like something else. I know it all feels stressful and confusing, but remember you’re eleven. You have so much time to figure it all out.”
“So…you only like boys?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“How did you know?”
“I don’t know exactly. I’m just not attracted to women in a way that would make me want to date one.”
“Caroline is, like, really pretty. I’ve never really thought girls were pretty before.”
“Could just be a sign you’re growing up.” You give him a soft smile. “Can I ask…if you think Caroline is pretty, what do you think of Brandon?”
“Brandon’s…ugh, Brandon’s cute, Y/N.” Andy runs a hand over his face. “I like his smile too, and I mean, look the bracelet he made me. I made him one too, but he’s not as artsy as I am, and it’s literally perfect.” He holds his wrist out so you can get a better look at the bracelet.
“It’s a beautiful bracelet.”
“Can you do me a favor?”
“Of course.”
“When you ask my dad if Caroline can come over, can you please not mention anything else to him? I don’t want him to know about any of this.”
“Andy, he just wants to be there for you…”
“I know, but…he’ll just be so, like, after school special about it. Then he’ll tell my mom about it, and I really don’t want her knowing.”
“I don’t know if I can keep a secret from your dad, Andy.”
“You wouldn’t be! Please, Y/N?”
“Okay…I’ll keep this stuff between us.”
“Thank you.” He sighs with relief and leans forward to hug you.
//
After dinner you end up FaceTiming with Harry. He speaks with Andy for a bit first, and then it’s your turn. You take the phone into the bedroom for some privacy while Andy takes a shower.
“Hi.” You smile at him.
“Hey, baby.”
“How was your meeting?”
“Could not have gone better.”
“Really? That’s great!”
“They loved what I had, and signed me write another piece for the journal!”
“Harry, that’s incredible. I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks. So, how was your first real day with him?”
“It was good.” You bite your bottom lip. “Can he have a friend over Thursday?”
“Sure, I don’t care if Brandon comes over.”
“It’s not Brandon…”
“Oh, Tyler then?”
“No, this is a new friend…a girl named Caroline.”
“A girl?! Wow, yeah, that’s fine. Did he tell you anything about her?”
“We actually had a long conversation about a lot of things today, but he asked me not to tell you and I don’t wanna betray his trust.”
“He…doesn’t want me to know something?”
“He doesn’t want an after school special lecture or whatever.”
“I do not do that.” He scoffs. “You really won’t tell me anything?”
“All I’m going to say is that he’s extremely confused, and I validated his feelings, and then he hugged me.”
“Does he like this girl?”
“He thinks she’s pretty.”
“And what about Brandon?”
“Can’t say.”
“Come on, Y/N.”
“Harry, I’m stuck here. I really wanna respect him. He’s not in any danger or anything so I think it’s okay that the conversation stayed between he and I.”
“I don’t like it.” He pouts.
“I’m sorry, baby doll.” You pout back.
“Y/N?! I need some help with my hair!”
“Welp, duty calls.” You giggle. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Thanks for being there for him. I’m happy he has you to talk to.”
“Me too.”
You end the call and meet Andy in the living room. He looked incredibly cute with the t-shirt wrapped around his head. He sits down on the floor in front of the couch and you sit down. You comb through his hair as carefully as you can, and then you apply the mousse. You hear him sigh and it makes you smile.
“Wanna watch TV before you go read?” You ask him when you’re done.
“Yeah, can I put my show on?”
“Of course.” You smile. He gets cozy next to you, and you smirk when you see he selects Family Guy. “Andy…are you old enough to be watching this?”
“Dad lets me watch this all the time, it’s funny.” He shrugs.
“Do you even get half of the jokes?”
“Not really, but it’s still funny.”
“Okay.” You shake your head.
“Would you play with my hair?”
“Sure, do you wanna rest your head on my lap?”
“Yeah.” He smiles and grabs a pillow to get comfortable. “Y/N?”
“Yes?”
“You’d make a good mom.” He says with a yawn as he keeps his eyes on the TV.
“Oh, um, thank you, Andy.”
//
When Thursday rolls around, you pick Andy up, and you’re also met with Caroline getting into the backseat of your car.
“Hello, you must be Caroline, it’s nice to meet you.” You smile.
“Nice to meet you too.” She smiles.
“I’m Andy’s dad’s girlfriend. I hear your mom works at the university? So do I.”
“Oh, really? She works in the Psychology department…my dad works there too, but he’s in IT.”
“Well, feel free to tell your mom to look out for me and Harry. We teach in the Communication department.”
“Okay.” Caroline smiles.
You get the two of them home and fix them with a snack. You tell them you’ll be up in the loft and you remind Andy to keep his door open.
“She’s really nice.” Caroline says as she sits down on Andy’s bed.
“Yeah, she’s the first girlfriend my dad’s had in a long time. I like her a lot.”
“How long have they been together for?”
“I don’t know…seven months I think.”
“Wow, that’s a long time!”
“Super long. They were friends for a while before they got together too, so they knew each other really well.”
“That’s so sweet! My parents met on a blind date.” She giggles. “How did your mom and dad meet?”
“In college I guess.” He shrugs. “She lives about thirty minutes from here, I see her every other weekend.”
“Does she date anyone?”
“She’s engaged actually. His name is Noah and he has a daughter, Rachel. She’s a year younger than us.”
“Wow, it’s like that movie Blended.”
“Yeah! They’re nice enough, and Noah makes my mum happy, so that’s all I care about.”
“That’s, like, really grown up of you.” Caroline was in awe of Andy. He blushes slightly and clears his throat.  
“Enough about me, what’s it like having three older sisters?”
“It can be fun and annoying. Like, they help me with my hair and clothes, but other times it feels like we’re always fighting. I feel bad for dad.”
“Why?”
“Because they all get their…monthly visits at the same time.”
“Oh! That video they showed us in health class was gross.”
“Did they show you the one about the girl who gets it for the first time, and then they talk about a girl’s insides?”
“Yeah! And then we had to watch the same one, but about boys, and then we had to watch a video about giving birth…”
“Ew, and they actually show the baby coming out, right?”
“Yeah…nasty.” They both shiver and then they both laugh.
“I know you guys said there wasn’t much to do around here, but what do you do for fun?”
“I play basketball with Brandon, his dad is our coach. Winter program on Fridays is fun. Do you ski?”
“I do! I can’t wait for tomorrow. Would you wanna sit with me on the bus?”
“Well…I would, but…I sit with Brandon.”
“Oh, that’s okay. I can just sit near you, maybe? Are you two best friends?”
“Yeah, we are.” Andy blushes. “And yeah, you can definitely sit near me.”
“Cool.” She smiles and grabs her books out of her bag, and Andy does the same. “You’d been so great to me all week. I’m really glad that seat was open in front of you in homeroom.”
“Me too.”
Later that night, after Caroline’s mom picked her up, you and Andy watch a little TV on couch. He had been quiet.
“So, do you have everything together for winter program tomorrow?”
“Yup, got my ski bag ready to go.”
“Make sure to pack what you need for your mum’s, she’s gonna get you after school tomorrow.”
“And then I’ll see you Monday after school, right?”
“That’s right.”
“I had a lot of fun with you this week. You make me not miss my dad as much.”
“Aw, that’s sweet. It’s okay to miss him, though, I miss him a lot too.”
“You forgot to say that you had a lot of fun with me too.” He rolls his eyes.
“Oh, did I?” Andy likes praise too, it seems. “Well, I had loads of fun with you this week, and we’ll have loads more next week.”
“I hope we get a snow day or something. Brandon’s dad usually takes us sledding.”
“Maybe you could bring Caroline with you too. She’s very nice.”
“Yeah, I like her a lot. She asked if she could sit with me tomorrow, but I had to tell her no because I sit on the bus with Brandon.”
“That’s good you didn’t flake on Brandon.”
“He’d kill me if I did, although, I feel like he’s getting a taste of his own medicine.”
“What do you mean?”
“Remember when he was with Molly? Everything was about her, now he knows how it feels.”
“Right, he’d talk about her a lot.”
“Mhm.”
“Do you talk about Caroline a lot?”
“Pretty much, it’s hard not to. She’s funny, and she always smells like cherries.” He swoons.
“And to think you’ve only known her for four days.” You chuckle.
“I wonder if she’ll go on the lift with me tomorrow, shoot, I should have asked her while she was here.”
“Do you have her number?”
“Yeah…”
“So text her and ask. Tell her you had a nice time hanging out, and then ask her if she’ll save a run for you tomorrow.”
“You’re brilliant, Y/N! I’m gonna go do that now and then get ready for bed. Goodnight!”
“Night.” You smile and watch him run off to his room.
//
You felt like a full on basketball-mom sitting at Andy’s practice. Watching all the boys was pretty fun, you never got to see Andy be sporty other than going on hikes. There were some other parents and older siblings in the gym watching as well. You got some funny looks from some, and others were quite friendly. You brought your laptop with you to get some work done, but you ended up taking pictures for Harry to see. You knew it killed him to miss Andy’s first week back in action.
Brandon’s dad had the boys running drills, back and forth, sprinting up and down the court. He had them all working on their dribbling, and at the end he had them scrimmage a bit. You noticed how when the boys had to stand and listen to directions that Brandon and Andy were often leaning on each other mindlessly, or touching in some fashion. When practice ends, Brandon chats with Andy quick.
“Did you wanna do homework over the phone later?” Brandon asks.
“I can’t. I need to shower and eat, and then I told Caroline I’d call her.”
“Oh…”
“Sorry, maybe tomorrow?”
“Sure, yeah, maybe you could just come over after school?”
“Well, Y/N is watching me for a reason, you know? You could come to place, though.”
“Yeah! I’ll ask my parents.”
“Great, well, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Andy comes over to you. “Hi, Y/N.”
“Hey, you looked great out there.”
“Thanks, can Brandon come over tomorrow?”
“Sure.” You shrug. “Come on, I ordered a pizza for dinner and I need to go pick it up. Thought it would be a nice break from my cooking.”
“I like the way you cook, but pizza sounds great.”
//
Brandon was fuming, and you could feel it. Andy had accidentally invited Caroline over too, and you were just trying to keep them all happy. They were all playing video games in the living room, and you popped them some popcorn. They had all done their homework together, but you could feel the tension when you gave them dinner. Luckily they’d be getting picked up soon so you could chat with Andy about it. Caroline’s phone goes off.
“Oh! My dad’s here.” Andy pauses the game to walk her to the door. “Thanks for having me.” She gives Andy a hug goodbye after she gets her coat on, and heads out.
“Isn’t she cool, B? She knows how to play Smash Brothers.” Andy says as he sits back down with Brandon.
“It’s not rocket science.” He mumbles.
“Are you okay? You were sort of quiet…”
“Well, I thought just you and I were hanging out today.”
“I told you at school, when she and talked last night I just sort of told her she could come by. I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal. You used to do it with Molly all the time.”
“Yeah, but Molly was my girlfriend, that’s different.”
“How is that any different?”
“Because she’d let me kiss her after. You wouldn’t say no to someone who lets them kiss you.”
“Maybe you should go back to kissing her then.” Andy rolls his eyes. “I like hanging out with Caroline…”
“More than me?”
“No…it’s just different.”
“Well, it sort of feels like you have a new best friend.”
“Don’t be like that, she’s not my new best friend, she’s just a new friend. She’s really pretty. Who knows, maybe I’ll kiss her.”
“You like her enough to kiss her?”
“Maybe.” He shrugs. “She’s really pretty, don’t you think?”
“She’s okay.” Brandon shrugs, and he sees his phone light up. “My mom’s here, I have to go.”
“Alright, see you tomorrow.”
“See you.” They both hug before Brandon leaves.
“Andy…um…”
“I don’t wanna talk about it.” He huffs and goes to his room. You follow after him and stand in his doorway.
“I was just going to ask if you wanted some ice cream.”
“No, thank you.” He sighs. “I feel Brandon was upset with me. I really didn’t think he’d mind it if she came.”
“Well, now you know. Maybe don’t make it a group thing.”
“He’s the only one of our friends that seems to mind her. I don’t get it.”
“Maybe he’s jealous that you’re suddenly not as available.”
“Then that makes him a hippo because he did the same thing with Molly.”
“I think you mean hypocrite.” You chuckle.
“Whatever it is, you know what I mean. This is so annoying, I acted supportive when he told me he was dating her.”
“Are you saying you want to date Caroline?”
“Maybe! It shouldn’t matter, he should be there for me. I should be able to talk about girls and stuff with him.”
“Andy did you ever stop to think that maybe Brandon is confused in the way that you’re confused?” His eyes widen at that.
“You mean…Brandon could think that I’m cute?”
“He could, yeah.”
“Oh my god.” He looks around like he’s searching for an answer. “But what if Caroline thinks I’m cute too?”
“Do you think that she thinks you’re cute?”
“There are rumors going around that she does!”
“Okay, so what do you want to do?!”
“I have no idea!” He flops onto his bed. He mumbles something into his pillow.
“What?!”
“I think I wanna ask her out!”
“Are you even allowed to date yet?!”
“I don’t know! I didn’t think I’d be feeling this way so soon so I haven’t asked!”
“Well, now I have to tell your dad what’s been going on!”
“No, you can’t!”
“I have to!”
“Okay, everybody just be cool.” Andy stands back up. “Screaming won’t get us anywhere.”
“Andy, you can’t ask her out unless your dad says it’s okay. I don’t know how he feels about you dating. You’re only eleven!”
“But I like her…”
“Then you need to wait until Harry gets home, and you need to talk to him about all of this. I won’t say a word, but you sure as hell will.” You cross your arms and so does he.
“I don’t wanna talk to him about this. He’s too romantic about everything, and then he’s gonna be like ‘my baby has a crush’.”
“Well, his baby does have a crush. It’s adorable when you think about it.”
“God, not you too.” He runs his hands over his face. “Fine, I’ll talk to him when he gets back and I won’t make a move beforehand.”
“Good.” You nod and stick your hand out for him to shake. “Pleasure doing business with you.”
You went to bed exhausted as fuck that night. You needed Harry home, now.
//
The next morning at school Andy takes a deep breath before going over to Brandon at his locker.
“Hi.” He says shyly.
“Morning.” Brandon says without looking at him.
“I’m sorry about yesterday.” Brandon closes his locker and looks at Andy. “I should have asked first before just inviting someone else over with us.”
“It’s okay.” Brandon sighs. “I get it.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, Caroline is really pretty. Do you, um, think you like like her?”
“I might…I think so, but I’m a little confused. It doesn’t matter anyways, she probably doesn’t like me like that.”
“Why wouldn’t she?” Brandon smirks and throws his arm around Andy’s shoulders as they walk to homeroom. “You’re a great catch.”
“Shut up.” Andy chuckles and nudges Brandon.
//
Things seemed fine between the boys as basketball practice. You could just tell by their body language. You and Andy share a dinner of pasta and veggies after he showers.
“Did you stay here all weekend while I was at my mum’s? I didn’t even think to ask.”
“No, I went back to my place. I’ll do the same when you go back on Friday. I had water my plants and all that.”
“What’s your place like?”
“It’s just a simple two bedroom.” You shrug. “I like it a lot cause it’s all mine. I love decorating and interior design, so I’ve had fun really making it my own.”
“If you could redecorate here, what do you think you’d change?”
“Hmm…” You look around. “First off, I’d paint…everywhere. It’s dark too dark in the living room. I’d paint it a light grey, and then find some curtains with some color to make it pop. I’d also get blinds for the sliding door, I hate that there’s nothing covering it. In here I’d probably get a round table to save some space. It’s a great size dining area and kitchen, but a round table would just make more sense, I think. I’d also put a glass coffee table in the living room to make it seem like there was more space, not that it’s cramped. It’s a wonderful sized home. More spacious than most ranches I’ve seen.”
“I literally agree with everything. Dad said we could do some painting over his spring break. I think he focused a lot on getting the outside to look nice.”
“Oh, you can tell he loves landscaping. This home has a beautiful curb appeal.”
“Do you think after dinner we could watch House Hunters together again? It was a lot of fun the other night.”
“Definitely!” You smile. “How were things with Brandon today?”
“Good, I apologized for just inviting Caroline over, and he said it was okay.”
“And how was Caroline today?”
“God she…she shared her cosmic brownie with me.” Andy rests his chin his palm and pouts. “I didn’t even ask, she just offered. She’s so nice, Y/N.”
“That was very nice of her.” You chuckle. “Those are the best brownies.”
“Dad never buys them because he says they’re overly processed, so we’ll make them here. It was a real treat.”
Andy helps you clean up dinner, and then you both get settled on the couch. He had gotten into a rhythm of resting his head on a pillow in your lap and wanting you to play with his hair. He had murmured that your nails felt nice like at the hairdresser. He loved listening to your commentary while watching the extremely staged show.
“Oh good, it’s House Hunters: Renovation! I love when they show what they did with the house after they bought it.” You say.
“Me too, I always like seeing if they make it worse or better.”
“I crack up when a lot of them try to do these intricate home projects by themselves. Hire someone for fuck’s sake.” You scoff and then blush. “Sorry.”
“Mum swears all the time.” Andy giggles. “If I tell her about someone that’s bother me, or something she just says fuck ‘em, it’s her…uh…what’s what word that starts with a ph?”
“Philosophy?”
“Yeah! It’s her philosophy.”
“Not a bad one to live by.” You smirk.
After two episodes, you send Andy off to bed, and get ready for bed yourself. You setting into one of Harry’s tee shirts, and decide to listen to one of those mediation bed time stories he’s always suggesting. You plug your headphones into your phone, turn the lights off and settle in. Just as you’re beginning to relax, the story stops, and Harry’s contact photo pops up on the screen, surprising you.
“Hello?” You whisper.
“Hi, baby.”
“Harry, it must be the middle of the night over there, why are you awake?”
“Couldn’t sleep.”
“Why not?”
“My body pillow just isn’t doing it for me tonight, I miss you.”
“Aw, babe, I miss you too…only a few more days. You’re back Saturday, yeah?”
“Mhm...are you gonna be at my place or yours?”
“I’ll probably be at mine since Andy will be at Paige’s. We’re having loads of fun. His basketball practices are going well. You got the pictures I sent?”
“I did, thank you for sending them along. Any other news to report, or are you still holding out on me?” You could practically hear the smirk that was sure to be on his face.
“All I can say is that Andy is going to have an important question to ask you when you get back.”
“Can you give me any hints?”
“He…may want to start dating…”
“Brandon?!”
“No, actually, someone else, but I’ve said too much already. I told him he had to ask you if he even was allowed to date.”
“Oh, it’s so meaningless at this age, I don’t care, but thanks for telling him that.”
“It’s not totally meaningless. There was a boy that asked me out when I was in seventh grade, and I said yes because I thought I had a crush on him, and then I realized I wasn’t ready to date, so the next day I told him I didn’t want to. It was so awkward.”
“And…you remember all this?”
“Of course, a girl never forgets.”
“Changing subject a bit…um…are you still, uh, on the rag?”
“On the rag?!” You nearly cackle. “No, you idiot.”
“I didn’t know how else to phrase it!”
“Just ask me if I’m on my period or not.”
“It’s an awkward question to ask.”
“You don’t seem to have a problem fucking me when I’m ‘on the rag’.”
“Not at all. Makes me a real man if I say so myself.” You hum your response, not having the energy to say something sarcastic. “Are you in bed already?”
“I am, I was even listening to one of those bed time stories you’re always talking about.”
“Is it alright that I’m interrupting?”
“Mhm.”
“What are you wearing, Y/N?”
“One of your shirts, your Rolling Stones tee.”
“Ah, that’s a good one.”
“What about you?”
“Just my boxers.”
Harry’s voice was low, and gravely. It was sort of nice listening to it with your headphones in. Heating him in surround sound was raising goosebumps on your body. If you closed your eyes it would be like he was there next to you, talking into your ear.
“Harry, did you call to have phone sex with me?”
“Would you me mad if I did?”
“No…just wish I had one of my items here to help me along.”
“Guess you’ll have to do it the old fashioned way and use your hand.”
“What are we in medieval times?”
“Alas, fair maiden, it seems we are.” You giggle softly at him. God, he was so cute. “So, you’re okay with this?”
“Very okay with it.” You bite your bottom lip.
“Are you biting your lip?”
“Yes.” You hear him hum in understanding.
“Wish it was me doing it. I’d bite your lip and then nip across your jaw to your neck.”
“Oh, I like it when you do that. I’d like you bite every inch of me.” You smile. “You know what else I really like?”
“Tell me.”
“I like when you kiss on my tits, and then when you blow on my nipples once they’re all wet.”
“Yeah? Gets your nipples pretty hard, huh?”
“Mhm.” You lift your shirt up over your chest so you could rub your palm over one of your breasts.
“Please tell me you’re touching them.”
“I am.”
“I love your tits, Y/N. Love touching and kneading.”
“I like feeling your big hands on them, and then I like when one of your hands slides between my legs while you’re still kissing on them.”
“And you’re always so wet for me once I get there.”
“M’wet now, Harry.”
“Fuck.”
“How hard his your dick right now?”
“Very, it’s throbbing for you.”
“Why don’t you lick your palm and wrap your hand around yourself like I would. Want you to touch yourself while I am.” You hear some rustling, and then a grunt from him. “Love when you listen to me.”
“Love when you tell me what to do.” He grunts again. “Tell me what you’re doing.”
“I’m just moving my fingers around myself, feeling myself get more wet.”
“Put a finger inside and then drag it up to your clit.” He hears a soft moan come from you. “Good girl.” He breathes.
Your eyes snap open. He had never said that to you before. You kind of liked it.
“What’s that? I’m your good girl?”
“My very good girl.”
“Christ, Harry.” You groan as your fingers press circles into your clit. “Fuck, I wish you were here, want your mouth on me.”
“Where?”
“Right on my clit so you can suck on it.”
Harry’s tip was leaking so much now that he was able to spread his precome all over his length. It felt incredible, but it was nowhere near as good as being squeezed by your walls.
“I’d do that, and slip my fingers inside, pet that special spot.”
“Oh my fucking god.” Your back arches slightly as you imagine it. “Harry.” You whine.
“That’s it baby, say my name while you make yourself come.”
“Want you to come too.”
“I will once you do. Gotta hear you do it first.”
“Fuck, Harry.” You groan as you rub yourself faster. You were so drenched you had to kick all of the blankets off yourself. You plant your feet into the bed as you bend your legs at the knee. Your arch your back up to get a better angle, and god does it feel good.
“Bet you’re squeezing around nothing, just wishing I was there.” All he could hear was you grunting and moaning.
“Harry.” You grit your teeth. “I, I’m, oh fuck!” You press your face into the pillow so you can moan out, but keep it muffled.
“God.” He breathes. “Blew my load just listening to you, Y/N.”
“Harry.” You whimper. “I’m a mess now and you’re not even here to clean it up.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” He chuckles slightly. “I’m a mess here too if that makes you feel better.”
“It does a little.” You giggle. “I really can’t wait to see you.”
“Me neither, my love.”
His words make you feel all warm and fuzzy.
“Well, unless you wanna listen to me pee, which I really hope you don’t because that’s just one kink I would have to shame you for, I think I should go.”
“Nope, no pee kink here, baby.” He laughs. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Sweet dreams.”
“Back at you.” You sigh and hang up the phone. There was something strangely erotic about getting yourself off alone in Harry’s bed. Calling you like that was sneaky, but you knew you’d sleep better, and he would too.
//
“Mm, hello?” You groan at 5AM when your phone goes off.
“Due to weather and road conditions, school is cancelled today.”
You sit up right away. You had no idea it was supposed to snow last night, and you also had no idea how to use Harry’s snow blower. You get up and throw your robe on, you needed to tell Andy there was no school. You quietly go into his room, and put your hand on his shoulder.
“Andy, sweetie, you have a snow day today.” You coo.
“M’kay.” He whispers sleepily.
You smile and leave his room so he can go back to sleep. You look outside and see it’s still dark. You figure you should go back to sleep as well. Yours and Harry’s cars were in the garage, so it wasn’t like you need to worry about digging them out. You could tackle the shoveling in a few hours.
You end up starting your day around eight, deciding that sweats would be most comfortable. You think Andy would enjoy some waffles for breakfast, so you get the batter going in the waffle maker. He appears from his room shortly after, the aroma being too intoxicating for him to stay in bed any longer.
“Morning.” He says, knuckling at his eyes.
“Morning, you hungry?”
“Mhm.” He smiles as she places a stack of waffles in front of him at the table. “Thank you.”
“You’re more than welcome.”
“What kind of snow is it?”
“The powdery kind. I need to get out there soon to clean up the driveway. You don’t happen to know how to use the snow blower do you?”
“No idea. I usually stick to shoveling the walkways and the stairs.”
“I’m sure I’ll be able to figure it out. How hard could it be?”
After twenty minutes of tinkering, you Googled how to start a snow blower, and found a video to watch. Once you got it going, it was pretty simple. You cleared the driveway of all the snow as Andy worked to clear the walkway to the front door.
“We make a pretty good team!” You say as you get the snow blower back in the garage.
“Yeah!”
You both head in through the garage and go into the basement to shed yourselves of your wet jackets, snow-pants, and boots.
Caroline: hey Andy! My sisters are taking me sledding since the roads aren’t too bad, do you wanna come?
Brandon: My dad’s gonna take me skiing today, do you wanna come?
“Shit.” Andy says to himself as he checks his phone.
“What’s up?” You ask him as you hand him a mug of hot chocolate.
“Both Caroline and Brandon invited me to do stuff with them…what should I do?”
“Who asked you first?”
“Caroline did…”
“Which activity would you rather do?”
“I’d rather go skiing, but I’d also like to hang out with Caroline…”
“Well, maybe you could go skiing with Brandon, and then meet up with Caroline later.” You shrug. “She could come over here and I could set a movie up for you in the living room, and I could sit up in the loft while you hang out.”
“Really?”
“Sure.”
“You don’t mind me being out all day with my friends?”
“Not at all, snow days are supposed to be fun, and the roads aren’t that bad right now.”
“You’re the best, Y/N!” Andy hugs you, and goes to text his friends.
Andy: Sure! I just need to a few minutes to get my gear together.
Brandon: Awesome! I’ll let my dad know, see you soon! Did Y/N want to come?
Andy: I’ll ask
“Y/N!”
“Yeah!”
“Did you want to come skiing?”
“Oh god.” You laugh. “No, I think I’ll save that for your dad, but thank you.”
Andy: she said thanks but no thanks lol
Brandon: okay lmao
Andy smiles and then goes to text Caroline.
Andy: Thanks for thinking of me, I’m actually going skiing with Brandon, but Y/N said you could come over for a movie later if you want???
Caroline: of course! Totally don’t blame you for wanting to go skiing. I’d love to come over later, I’ll ask my parents. Wanna just text me when you get home and we can figure it out from there?
Andy: sounds good to me ☺️
Caroline: ☺️☺️
“Okay, this should all work out.” Andy says to you. “I’m gonna get my stuff together.”
“Alright, will you just let me know once you’re there and all that. Text me updates so I know you didn’t split your head open. I don’t think your dad would like me very much anymore if that happened.”
“Yeah.” Andy laughs. “I think he’d take some brownie points away for sure.”
//
Andy was having a great time skiing with Brandon and his dad. After a couple of hours they all go into the lodge to get a quick lunch. Mr. Stewart goes up to order all the food while the boys sit at the table.
“Did you want to come back my house after? My mom’s making beef stew for dinner.”
“Aw man, I love your mom’s beef stew.” Andy pouts. “But I can’t, I have plans later.”
“Oh yeah? What are you up to?”
“Um…I invited Caroline over for a movie.”
“Oh.” Brandon’s face falls.
“But only because she invited me to go sledding today, and I said no I could ski with you.”
“Oh.” He perks back up. “What movie do you think you’ll watch?”
“I have no idea, I’ll probably let her decide. Any time me, my dad, and Y/N all watch a movie he always lets her decide.”
“Why?”
“Because it makes her happy.” He shrugs. “And then she’ll kiss him, and he likes that.”
“Right.” Brandon swallows. Before he can say anything else his dad comes over with the food.
//
You got a fuck ton of work done today, you were really proud of yourself. Harry’s loft was a perfect working space, even if you did miss your office at home. You hear Andy come in the door, and he shouts hello and that he’ll be in the shower. You chuckle to yourself and save what you’re working on for now.
Andy comes out a little while later just as you’re rifling through take out menus.
“I was thinking you could get something yummy for dinner. What do you think she’d like?”
“Pizza and mozzarella sticks sound safe.” He says.
“Alright, I’ll order it in a bit so it’s here when she is. I’m sure a lot of people are doing delivery tonight.”
“And you’ll just be upstairs?”
“Mhm, I don’t need to hover…just… you know, don’t sit on top of each other.”
He makes a face at you like he’s grossed out and then walks away from you. Not too long after the food arrives, so does Caroline.
“Thanks for getting all this, Y/N.” She says to you.
“Oh, you’re more than welcome. Did you two settle on a movie?”
“Cars.” Andy says. “Right, you wanna watch Cars?”
“Mhm.” She smiles.
“Okay, Cars it is.” You smile and set the movie up on Disney+. They both settle on the couch. “I’ll be right upstairs working if you need anything.”
“Thanks.” Andy says and watches you go upstairs. “I like this movie a lot, Brandon and I watch it all the time.”
“It’s one of my favorites. I don’t really like the sequels though.”
“Me either!”
“They suck.”
“Yeah.” Andy smiles.
“I really like Wall-E, too.”
“My dad and I watched that together for the first time a couple years ago and he cried.” Andy laughs.
“He did?!”
“Yeah! I have no idea why. He cries a lot when we watch movies, though.”
“He sounds funny, I can’t wait to meet him.” She smiles and turns her attention to the TV.
About halfway through the movie, once they were done eating, you noticed it had gotten a little quite, so you peer over the banister to see what was going on. They were simply entranced by the film, giggling occasionally. You smile and sit back down.
There was the part in the movie where the town comes back to life, and the cars all pair of to cruise together. Caroline sighs softly, and he hand brushes Andy’s. They both look down at their hands, and Andy makes a bold move in holding her, fingers intertwined and all. She smiles at him and blushes.
“Is this okay?” He asks.
“Yeah.” She nods with a brighter smile.
“Cool.” He sighs with relief, and they continue the movie like that, holding hands.
You stand in the kitchen while Caroline gets her coat on after the movie ended and her oldest sister was in the car outside.
“Thanks again for having me, it was fun.”
“Anytime.”
She throws her arms around his neck to give him a hug, and out the door she goes. Andy sighs contently and walks into the kitchen with a huge smile on his face. He gives you a surprising hug.
“What was that for?”
“For being so cool to let us chill alone. Knowing my dad, he would have walked by every two seconds, or if I were at Mum’s she would have had Rachel watch the movie with us. We…we held hands, Y/N.”
“Oh my.” You smile. “Big step.”
“No kidding.” He agrees. “I…I need to go call Brandon.” He races into his room and closes the door.
Andy was so innocently sweet, and it warmed your heart like nothing else ever could.
//
“He was a perfect angel, honestly.” You say over the phone to Janette as you stuff your face with the ice cream you had in your freezer. “He’s very popular, and is always busy. No wonder Harry didn’t make time to date before, I’m exhausted.”
“Doing it alone is tough, but now he’s got a great partner to help him out.”
“I love helping. He and I didn’t have one single disagreement, and he listened to me the whole time.”
“Well, of course he did. You’re his dad’s girlfriend.”
“True, but I was really expecting him to try to get away with something.”
“He probably knew he couldn’t test you. Smart kid.”
You chuckle and talk with her more about her break is going. You survived two weeks with Andy. You kept him alive and well.
Later on, you were snuggled up on your couch in some sweats of Harry’s, and a blanket, watching TV. Your heart skips a beat when you hear the jingle of keys and you front door unlocking. Harry said he’d text you when he landed, and he hadn’t. You stand up and shuffle around, grabbing a fry pan and getting into a batting stance.
“Baby?! I’m back!” He stops short when he sees you ready to attack and then he bursts out laughing.
“Stop it! I thought you were a burglar!”
“So you stood there frozen?!”
“You can go home if you want, I’m not longer happy to see you.” You pout and put the pan on the counter.
“Don’t be like that, I missed you so much, come here.”
Your smile slowly grows on your face, and you jump into his arms. He picks you up and you wrap your legs around him, tucking your face into his neck, getting a good whiff of his cologne.
“How was your flight?” You mumble into him as he holds you close.
“Little bit of turbulence, but it was good.” He says as he starts walking you into your bedroom. “Couldn’t wait to get home to you.”
“Aren’t you tired?”
“Slept plenty on the plane and bus.”
He gets you on the bed, and kicks his shoes off before getting on with you. You both lay on your sides facing each other. He grabs your leg and puts it over his hip so he can slot his leg between yours, and then he pulls you close so you’re chest to chest. He moves some hair behind your ear.
“Hi.” He says with a big smile.
“Hi.” You smile back. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
He leans in and slots his mouth over yours, and your eyes flutter closed. You tug at his shirt to pull him even closer as you rock against the leg that’s between yours. His tongue drags along your bottom lip and you moan softly. He licks into your mouth and you’re met with his familiar minty taste. You tug him completely on top of you as you turn onto your back. You wanted his weight to just crush you.
“Baby.” He coos as he kisses from your jaw to your neck. He sucks on your soft skin and your hips buck up again. His leg moves further between yours and you gasp.
Your fingers lace through his hair and you tug as you grind against his thigh. You were feeling incredibly needy now that he was here with you, and not just a voice through the phone. You could feel him getting hard against her hip, so you reach into his joggers and start pumping him, getting a heft groan from him.
“Need you.” You breathe.
“Need to taste you first.” He says as shifts to tug your sweatpants off.
“No, please just fuck me, we can do all that afterwards.”
“I need to prep you first or it’ll hurt.”
“Harry, I’ve been fucking you for seven months, I’m perfectly adjusted.” He raises his eyebrows at you. “Okay, maybe not perfectly, but I’m feeling impatient so please.” She pouts at him and he physically can’t say no.
He doesn’t bother with your shirt, or his, he just gets his pants off, and you get yours off. He goes to get up in search for a condom, but you grab him and shake your head.
“Wanna feel you, just pull out.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
His lips crash to yours as your legs open up for him. He lines himself up with you and rubs his tip along your clit. You were plenty wet for him. You both groan from the feeling. He slowly pushes inside you, and your head falls back from the stretch. Your mouth was hanging open trying to breathe to help yourself relax.
“Holy shit.” You say as he’s about halfway in.
“Three weeks in a long time, babe, let me take some time to just-“ He starts to pull out but your sink your nails into his ass.
“Just go for it.”
“Y/N, I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t, it’ll feel good. Just give it one good thrust.”
He bites his bottom lip and does as you say, bottoming out immediately. You choke out a gasp. It hurt a little, but it quickly turned to pleasure as you felt full for the first time in weeks. You tighten around him and he grits his teeth.
“I’ll come if you do that.”
“Sorry, go ahead, move, fuck me, Harry.”
He rocks in and out of you, and you pull him closer so his head is buried in your neck. You wrap your legs around his lower back, and get your hands up under his shirt so you can scratch and squeeze at him.
“You feel so fucking good.” He growls into your ear, and it makes your eyes roll back.
“So, so do you, fuck.”
He sits up slightly to get a better angle. He pushes one of your legs back, and lets the other lay flat, and your mouth falls open as he thrusts in and out of you.
“Oh my god, Harry!”
“Hold your leg up f’me.”
You do as he says immediately and hook your arm under your leg as he continues to fuck in and out of you. He was hitting your g-spot perfectly. You reach to rub your clit in time with his thrusts.
“Oh my fucking god, Harry, don’t stop.” You were panting already. “Fuck, fuck, please, don’t stop.”
You knew he wouldn’t dare, but you couldn’t think of what else to say. Tears were starting to form in your eyes because it just felt so fucking good.
“Oh, oh! Fuck!” Your back arches as you come to your release. You squeeze impossibly tight around him.
“Shit, Y/N!” Harry pulls out of you just in time and comes on your stomach, getting a little on your shirt, but your head was so fuzzy you didn’t care.
“S-sorry, I didn’t mean to-oh!”
You look down and see Harry’s head between your legs. He really did want to taste you. He sucks on your clit and your hands go right back into his hair. You tug and squeeze with each stroke. He was moaning into you, and it was driving you crazy. You moan along with him as he gets both of your legs over his shoulders, your heels digging into his back.
“Harry.” You groan.
He was just focusing solely on your clit because he knew you’d be too sensitive for anything else, but he didn’t mind. You could tell he really just wanted to be close with you like this. The tip of his tongue makes circles on your clit and you feel like you go cross-eyed.
“That’s it, Harry, fuck, oh my god, that’s fucking it!” You cry out as you come and press his face further against you.
“Ride me.” He breathes. “Ride my face, I wanna keep going.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
You nod and wait for him to get adjusted. You rip your shirt off so you can be fully naked for him. You center yourself on him, and gasp when you feel his tongue on your again. His fingers sink into the plushy skin of your ass, and you essentially move so you’re twerking on him, which you know he loves. He loves when you really just use him, he was like your person scratching post.
He had you screaming again in no time, he was pretty proud of himself. You inch down his body, and get his shirt off so you can kiss down his chest. You suck marks into his skin, lower and lower, leaving a nasty trail of love bites behind. He was hard again, so you lick up and down his shaft before taking him into your mouth. You suckle his tip with vigor, making nasty noises that was music to his ears. One of your hands massages his balls while the other scratches up and down his stomach.
“Fuck.” He groans as you take him deep, bobbing up and down. You look up at him as best you can and he runs a caring hand through your hair. “Let me come on your tits, Y/N.”
You smirk with him still in your mouth and then you let him go with a pop. You get in a better position between his legs and pump his wet dick furiously.
“Jesus Christ! Just like that, baby. I’m gonna come, I’m gonna come!”
His come shoots in ribbons onto your chest, and you bask in the warmth it has at first. You kiss back up his body, smearing your chest onto his. You both giggle as your mouth reaches his again. He rolls you both back over so he’s on top again.
“Can’t get enough of you right now.” He says as he kisses the corner of your mouth. “Let me use one of your-“
“Harry, baby, I appreciate the enthusiasm, but let’s take a break, yeah?” You chuckle. “You’ve tuckered me out.”
“Mm, guess I’m a little tired too.” He kisses your cheek. “Could we go shower?”
“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.” You nod with a sigh.
You wobbled into the bathroom with him, and he gets the water going. Once it’s warm enough you both stand under the water, just holding each other for a bit. He kisses your neck and shoulder occasionally, and you run your hands through his hair. You take turns washing each other up before you get out and towel off.
You cuddle up in bed with your head on his chest, just listening to his heart beat for bit with his fingers lightly stroking your back.  You prop yourself up on your elbow to look at him.
“Yes?”
“You sure got excited earlier, huh?”
“Couldn’t help it, just missed you so much. Do you feel okay? I didn’t hurt you?”
“I’m sure I’ll be a little sore, but it’s alright.” You smile. “Did you have a good time with your family?”
“I did, I feel really recharged. It’s always nice being home. Maybe, um, maybe next year you’d like to try coming with me?”
“Yeah, maybe.” You grin. He sit up a little and so do you. He puts his arm around you and kisses your temple.
“So, you really won’t tell me much about your two weeks with Andy?”
“I told you everything I could. What we ate for meals, how his basketball practices went…oh! We had a snow day and he went skiing with Brandon. I even used the snow blower.”
“You did?!”
“I did.”
“Bet you looked pretty hot.”
“Oh, stop.” You swat at his chest.
“But seriously…”
“You’ll have to talk with him tomorrow when you pick him up.” You bite your bottom lip. “He held hands with the girl, Caroline.”
“Wow.” He blinks a few times. “I wonder if he still might like Brandon.”
“He’s very confused, but I think it’s important to let him sort of test the waters. He said he never really thought girls were pretty before, but he thinks she’s really pretty.”
“God, I’m gonna have to have the talk with him.” He groans. “It was awkward enough when I got him that puberty book.”
“It’s not like you have to go in depth, you just need to remind him to be respectful.”
“You don’t understand…when boys start going through all this…things can get sticky.”
“Ew, enough said.” You both laugh. “I’m so glad you’re home.”
“Me too.”
//
Sunday morning, you drop Harry off at his place so he can unpack and get himself settled before going to pick Andy up. He exchanges pleasantries with Paige, and then on the road he goes.
“How come we’re taking the long way home?”
“Because we need to chat about some things.”
“What did Y/N tell you?” He rolls his eyes.
“Not much, honestly. Apparently you have a new friend, though.”
“Yeah, her name’s Caroline. She’s new to the school, her and her family just moved here from Maine. She came over to watch a movie the other day and we held hands…she even shared her cosmic brownie with me, Dad, I think we like each other, but…I feel guilty about Brandon.”
“Andy…how do you feel about Brandon, exactly?”
“I don’t know.” He mumbles. “It’s like…it’s like Brandon’s like an oo, and Caroline’s like an ah. I don’t know how else to explain it.”
“That actually makes a lot of sense.” He sighs.
“It does?”
“Yeah…so…you held hands with Caroline?”
“Yeah, it was really nice. Would it be alright if I asked her out?”
“Didn’t you already do that by asking her over for a movie?” Harry chuckles.
“No, I mean…I think I wanna date her. I wanna see if she’ll be my girlfriend.”
“Do you think you’re ready for a girlfriend? It’s a lot of responsibility.”
“It is?”
“Sure! Gotta treat whoever you date really nice, give them a lot of respect.”
“I do respect her. I asked her if it was okay while we were holding hands.”
“Thatta boy.” Harry says proudly. “Always ask before you touch, and if they say no, that means no.”
“I know, Dad.”
“Andy, that’s something I’m gonna say over and over to you for the rest of my life, so get used to it.”
“Did you date a lot of people when you were younger?”
“Um…not really. I mean, I had a couple of girlfriends in secondary school, and I dated a girl at uni in London before I came here and met Mum. So…you’d rather go for it with a girl you barely know rather than with Brandon?”
“I’m not entirely sure how I feel about Brandon, Dad…and I’m scared. Caroline doesn’t make me feel scared.”
“Well…if you’d really like to ask her out, I suppose it’s alright.”
“Really?!”
“Sure, we could go on a double date even. Ice skating, maybe?”
“Dad, you’re the coolest! I can’t wait to call her later.”
“You’re gonna ask her out over the phone? Don’t you wanna do it in person?”
“Get with it, Dad.” Andy scoffs. “Everything’s done over the phone now.”
“Well, excuse me.”
“I think you’ll like her, she’s so nice.”
“I’m sure she is.”
“She always smells like cherries too.” Andy sighs.
“You’ve got it bad for her, huh?”
“I’ve never felt this way about a girl before. I think I’m finally catching up with everyone.”
“It’s not a race, son.”
“Sometimes it feels like it is. Whatever, I just feel good about it, about her.”
“Alright.”
“I really liked staying with Y/N.”
“She said she had a great time with you.”
“Do you think you’ll ask her to move in with us?”
“Would like me to?”
“Yeah…I want her around more.”
“Me too.” Harry smiles. “I think I’ll ask her soon, maybe when the weather gets a little warmer.”
“She still needs to learn to ski. You should ask her to come with us to the cabin for February break.”
“I think Mum was hoping to do another family trip…”
“So, Y/N’s family now.”
“I’m happy you feel that way, but I don’t know how comfortable she’d feel doing something like that for an entire week.”
“You won’t know unless you ask.”
616 notes · View notes
moriaen · 3 years
Text
hello hello may i present: the lais of marie de france
to establish-- a lai (or "lay") is a type of narrative poem, varying in lengths but usually fairly short and told in octosyllabic verse; this collection consists of twelve, which are as follows (oh also these are in the order of the 13th C. manuscript Harley 978 (digitised here, via the british library) ! )
*this is focused on english translations tbf but i've also come across other languages so i've marked them all as they are, i.e EN - english; FR - french, etc ... also in advance i apologise for the mess of this all hsnjsj
the following lais can all (or mostly) be found in :
French Mediaeval Romances From the Lays of Marie de France, 1911, translated by Eugene Mason / (via gutenberg.org) [EN]
(most are in) The Lais of Marie de France: A Verse Translation, 1991-96, by Judy Shoaf / (via College of Liberal Arts and Sciences) [EN]
The Lays of Marie de France, 2013, translated by David R. Slavitt / (via Athabasca University Press) [EN]
Les Lais de Marie de France, 1983, publiés par Jean Rychner / (pdf available here) [FR]
Lais et Sonnets: Marie de France et Louise Labé, 2021, traduction et annotation des textes de Marie de France par Jean-Jacques Vincensini -- features info about the lais, as well as Prologue, Bisclavret, Lanval & Le Chèvrefeuille / (pdf available here) [FR]
but i'll also add any additional links to the specific lais where possible! now with all that out of the way:
I. Guigemar - follows the knight Guigemar who is uninterested by love, until cursed by a magical deer who says he must find love if he wants to be healed.. goes on a journey to find a woman, and he does! only she's married to an abusive lord :( (original french + modern french version via madame ritchie)
II. Equitan - a king has an affair with his seneschal's wife and together they plan to kill the seneschal but things don't exactly go to plan,,,,, (spoiler alert - they die)
III. Le Fresne ('The Ash Tree') - a mother gives away her one of her twin girls (because it was believed that the mother must have slept with two men to have two children), she grows up in an abbey and is named le fresne for the ash tree she was found under . she begins a romance with a lord but he is encouraged to marry the noblewoman la codre..... a wedding is planned, brooches are placed, things happen, and it turns out le fresne and la codre are the twins! (this one's my personal fav<3)
IV. Bisclavret ('The Werewolf') - iconic for being the one with the werewolf, this one follows the knight bisclavret and his wife, disgusted with the fact her husband turns into a werewolf, who plots to keep him stuck in his wolf form
V. Lanval - an equally iconic one! about the lonesome lanval who one day comes across a beautiful fairy lady; he returns to court alone and guinevere questions why he has no mistresses and accuses him of being gay . he gets put on trial and at the last minute, the fairy lady returns to save him *~✩ (a reading of it is available here! from medievalists.net, found by the lovely @to-many-towered-camelot) (one The Lais of Marie de France, 1978, translated by Robert W Hanning and Joan Ferrante is available from OLLI GMU) (a prose version from mythologyteacher.com) (and another from The Lais of Marie de France, 1986, translated by glyn s. burgess and keith busby, from CSUB) [<<< all EN]
VI. Les Deux Amants ('The Two Lovers') - a girl's father will not permit any to marry his daughter unless they can carry her up a mountain . the boy the girl is smitten with vows to do so and together they plan to use a strength potion..... he manages to reach the top but promptly dies, with his lover following suit (le lai des deux-amants, 1907, commentaire et adaptation de a.-l durdan via bibnum) [FR]
VII. Yonec - a wife is locked in a tower by a husband but receives visits from a knight with the ability to transform into a hawk . he is killed in a trap left by the husband but not before assuring his lover that they will have a child and that child, yonec, will grow up to kill his step-father
VIII. Laüstic - a tale of a loveless marriage, an affair, and a nightingale
IX. Milun - a famed jouster must give up his child, but decades on that child grows into a talented knight who beats his own father at jousting and they reconcile
X. Chaitivel ('The Unhappy One') - a beautiful woman maintains several suitors because she loves the attention, but her suitors decide to battle it out and all but one die, leaving her in great grief and guilt
XI. Chevrefoil ('The Honeysuckle') - a section from the tristan & isolde legend ✧ (a song performance can be found on youtube!) [FR]
XII. Eliduc - the story of a married knight who is banished and falls in love with a new woman (there's more to it but i'm tired sorry)
anyways, fortunately, her lais are quite well-known so if you would like a cheat sheet, we have: good ol' gradesaver, wikipedia, arcgis, and others so take a little look on the internet or elsewhere , hummmmmmmmmmm yeah enjoy :')
67 notes · View notes
maureenforever · 3 years
Text
Tumblr media
Part One: The Situation With George
Maureen looked at her reflection in the mirror as she put on fresh lipstick. She wasn’t sure the shade was right for her, but yesterday, when she’d worn it for the first time, George had cocked his head and stared at her before telling her she looked good. In that moment, something passed between them. An acknowledgement, if you will. A feeling perhaps, that after all these years, there was some interest. Something worth exploring. She glanced at the clock. The children were in bed. She could hear Ritchie making himself another drink. She’d insist on driving him to Friar Park.
Grabbing a tissue from the box on her dressing table, Maureen blotted her lips. She fluffed her curls, regretting, not for the first time, this awful perm. She turned and looked at her ass in the mirror. For an old mum of three, she looked pretty good in her new jeans. She grabbed her cigarettes and lighter, jammed them into her purse and snapped off the light as she left the bedroom.
As she hurried down the stairs, the thought of seeing George made Maureen’s stomach do that funny thing it used to do when she was first in love with Ritchie. Now looking at him made her sad. He was miserable and she couldn’t fix it. But she was in misery, too, and if seeing George would make her happy for a few hours, we’ll, she wasn’t going to pass it up. Maureen couldn’t help smiling. After all these years she’d never given George Harrison a second thought, and for the last 24 hours he was all she could think about. Pattie was a fool! Always going on little trips here and there, leaving George alone. Maureen tossed her head as she gathered the car keys from the entry hall table. It wouldn’t be her fault if George looked elsewhere for companionship. Pattie had always chosen denial over truth and it wasn’t in Maureen’s nature to turn down an opportunity. She needed to see George. Life at Tittenhurst was becoming uninteresting. Ritchie was a stranger to her these days. She had the kids, but now that the boys were in school and the nanny watched Lee, Maureen found herself with many empty hours to fill. Even cooking, the one thing that made her feel like a good wife and mother didn’t matter anymore. Ritchie was either too drunk to eat or with George in the studio or off with friends she didn’t know. She missed those early days of hanging out with Cynthia and Pattie and Jenny while they watched Julian run around, and she and the girls cooed over first Zak and then Jason.
Pattie had gone off to the Bahamas with Ronnie Wood. Maureen was appalled that Pattie would risk all she had with George for Ronnie Wood, of all people. Of course, Pattie was easily bored and George had been focused on recording for almost a year. After releasing an album in June he was back to work on another one with plenty of time off for drinking or meditating. You just never knew with George. Tonight she figured the usual crew would be there and if the music didn’t flow then the guys would probably party all night, but winding up the long driveway, Maureen only saw George, Terry and Pattie’s cars and entering through the back, they found George and Terry Doran in the kitchen. When George and Ringo left for the studio, Maureen set about making herself some tea while Terry washed up a few cups and bowls.
The house was huge but it felt empty without Pattie. Maureen missed Pattie. She hoped she’d come home for Christmas. Maybe they could celebrate like the old days. Chris O’Dell was coming for the holidays. Chris would cheer them all up.
Terry left for parts unknown and Maureen took her tea and found George and Ritchie in the studio. George was at the control board, pushing and pulling on those knobs that changed the sounds and Ritchie was slumped in a chair staring at the wall, the usual rum and coke in his left hand.
Maureen sat in the corner listening as George fooled round with that song she was beginning to hate. Ding Dong. At first she’d liked it, but George couldn’t leave it alone. When she noticed her tea was cold, she got up and as she passed by her husband, she saw he was asleep and she took the drink from his hand and polished it off. Then she went back to the kitchen to make another cup.
Maureen sat at the kitchen table flipping through fashion magazines and smoking a cigarette. Ritchies rum and coke had only whetted her desire for more drink and she considered making herself one when she heard footsteps in the hallway.
She didn’t turn around but could feel George behind her. . “Maureen”, he said softly and then his hands were on her, massaging her shoulders, his thumbs rubbing the knots of stress. After months of coldness from Ritchie, George’s touch released the tension she’d been holding and to her horror she started to cry. And the next thing she knew George was sitting beside her holding her and stroking her back making shushing sounds as she leaned against his chest, her tears wetting his shirt front.
“Where’s Ritchie?” she asked.
“He’s passed out on the floor.” George kept rubbing her shoulders. “Turn around so I can reach you better.” Maureen hitched herself so her back was to George. He pulled her blouse off her shoulder and she heard him sigh.
“How did you get these?” George asked quietly and Maureen knew he had seen the bruises.
“Oh, Ritchie and I had a row the other night. It looks worse than it is.” She shivered as she felt George’s lips gently kiss the line of bruises that went across her shoulder and down her arm. “To be honest, I pushed him first. He was drunk. I shouldn’t argue with him when’s he drunk.”
“The bastard shouldn’t push you drunk or not,” snapped George.
“Georgie, he doesn’t even remember. The next morning he showed me is arm and asked me how he got hurt.” Maureen sighed and tried to relax. George’s nimble fingers seem to find each and every tight spot of tension that made her neck stiff or her upper back ache. “Ritchie doesn’t know how to keep busy like you do. He misses his old life. He misses John and Paul. I know you don’t give a fuck, but Ritchie does.”
George didn’t say anything but just keep gently kneading her shoulders.
“God, this feels marvelous,” Maureen made a sound half groan, half purr. It had been ages since Ritchie had shown her any attention. She bent her head down and she could feel the callouses on George’s finger tips as they moved up and down her neck.
“If you took off your clothes I could give you a much better massage,” George told her.
“Don’t be daft. I’m not going to take my clothes off. Christ, George.” Maureen laughed. Take her clothes off. Hah! Get naked in front of George. What in the world!
“Let me take care of you, luv,” murmured George and he took her hand and pulled her up from her chair. “Come on. You’ll love it, “ he insisted. And Maureen let him lead her down the hall and through the living room and up the stairs to his and Pattie’s bedroom. As always when ever Maureen had been in here she marveled at how tidy it was. Unlike her and Ritchie’s bedroom, which was strewn with clothes and shoes and half read newspapers, the Harrison’s bedroom was tidy. They each had a night table. George’s was practically bare, but Pattie’s had all those things you might need while in bed. Creams and pills and books. A a small, yet gorgeous, Tiffany lamp.
George closed the door behind them. Maureen could hear the lock click. She watched George rattle around in his drawer. “I’ve got this great massage oil. Take off your top at least. I won’t look.” He made a big show of turning around.
Maureen knew she was crazy. She loved Ritchie. She loved Pattie. But it was just a massage and it was just George. George, whom she’d known since she was 15. Only George. Maureen kicked off her shoes and pulled off her blouse. She wasn’t wearing a bra and she unsnapped her jeans and took them off. She left her under pants on, though. She did have some modesty after all.
“Okay,” she said. ”I’m ready. You can turn around.” But Maureen just stood with her back to George, she couldn’t bring herself to turn around and she crossed her arms tightly across her chest.
“Well, lie down on the bed, “ suggested George. Maureen climbed up into the big four poster bed and laid down on her stomach. She could feel the mattress shift as George joined her and she didn’t mind when he straddled her legs. She kept her eyes closed, but she could hear George rubbing his hands together as he warmed the massage oil and the smell of frankincense and myrrh filled the air. “Put your arms up on the pillows ,” George directed her and when she was settled, he gently moved her hair to the side and then he started slowly massaging her back and shoulders, up her arms to her hands and then back to her shoulders, long sensual strokes, firm yet gentle. Then down to the small of her back. Using his thumbs to make circles right above the elastic of her newest pants that she bought for herself at LaPerla one day when she was feeling blue.
“Don’t get any oil on my pants. They’re new,” she told George.
“You could take them off.” His voice was very low and seductive.
“Don’t be cheeky. We shouldn’t even be doing this.” Maureen chided him.
“Oh, don’t be all up tight. What’s the big deal? What’s a massage between friends,” he laughed, and Maureen felt him slide off of her and he was beside her and his hands were stroking her legs, kneading her thigh muscles, working down her calves. Then he held her right foot and carefully rubbed and attended each toe before taking her other foot and doing the same. It felt marvelous. Maureen sighed. She hadn’t been so relaxed in ages. Relaxed and excited. Being naughty and half naked with George in his bed, his hands all over her was, she admitted to herself, pure bliss. “You could roll over and I’ll do your front,” said George so matter of factly that Maureen laughed.
“You’d like that too much,” teased Maureen. And to her surprise George laid down on top of her, his front to her back.
“I’d like it very much, Mo.” His head was next to hers and she could feel his warm breath on her neck. “Let me make love to you,” he whispered and he ran his hands up her arms until his fingers intertwined with hers. “Let me make you happy.”
“This makes me happy,” Maureen said quietly. “This is enough. For now.” God, she was suddenly sleepy. She was overcome with a feeling of contentment and all she wanted to do was drift off.
George rolled off of her and Maureen curled up on her side. She didn’t protest when George spooned into her, wrapping his arms around her . “It’s going to be alright, Maureen. I promise.” And for the first time in weeks, Maureen realized she wasn’t tense and she let herself melt into George’s embrace. George was warm and comforting and she didn’t protest when he kissed her neck, his lips soft and gentle.
“I hope so, George. I really hope so,” she mumbled and then she fell asleep.
It was daylight when she opened her eyes and to her surprise George was sitting on the edge of the bed drinking a cup of tea.
“Good morning.” Maureen stretched her arms overhead as she looked at George.
“Good morning, Mo. I brought you a cuppa.” He nodded towards the mug on the bed stand.
Maureen smiled. “Thank you.” She was relieved to see she wasn’t naked and vaguely recalled George handing her a tee shirt after her massage. She picked up her tea and took a sip. Strong with a little sugar, no milk. “So.” She really didn’t know what to say. They just drank their tea, then Maureen got dressed and went home. She was a,ready thinking about returning later .....after dark.
20 notes · View notes
Note
from the yesterday au- can we see ringo taking george’s virginity? i love your work btw
“I have to say fellas, it’s been a real pleasure having you here the last few weeks. High quality workmanship is something you don’t come across a lot these days.”
Rich can feel himself reddening slightly at the praise. He knows Harold isn’t even very high up here; he’s only a bus conducter really, filling in for one of the managers off sick, but his words are still music to Rich’s ears. It’s not often he gets praise like this.
Especially not from Jack, his own boss.
But Jack seems to lap it up as well. “Thanks, Harold. Anytime you need us back, just let us know. My apprentice and I always give discounts to repeat customers.”
Harold grins. “Well you’ve both really helped me out. I was thinking we’d have to decommission some vehicles if we didn’t get these parts fixed. The boss will be happy when he’s back next week. Why don’t you both come to my place for dinner this weekend? As a way for me to say thank you. The wife always cooks up a storm.”
Rich likes Harold, he really does, but he can’t think of a more boring way to spend his Saturday night. Dinner with his boss and a customer isn’t exactly his idea of a fun time.
“We’ll be there,” Jack says firmly. “Won’t we, lad?”
“Yes,” Rich says, forcing a smile. “Thank you, Mr Harrison.”
******
The Harrisons’ house is small- slightly bigger than the one Rich lives in with his parents, but still cramped for a family of what would have been six.
Harold’s wife really does cook up a storm, and as much as Rich loves his own mother’s cooking, Louise’s food is really quite amazing.
So it’s not a bad evening all in all.
Especially as he’s seated next to Harold’s youngest son.
George.
Rich considers himself a pretty confident guy; he doesn’t usually get nervous around pretty lads. But there’s something about George that makes his heart beat a little faster.
They both have a similar taste in music, as it turns out. They must spend the whole evening just talking about music, engrossed in each other. It’s bordering on flirting, but it really just feels like Rich is talking to someone he’s known for a very long time rather than just a couple of hours.
Until Jack has to ruin it.
Harold asks whether Rich is likely to be given a permanent position once his apprenticeship is over, and Jack just laughs.
“Not unless he learns how to read and do some basic maths. The boy is good with his hands but he’s as thick as two short planks.”
Rich feels his face burn with embarrassment. His lack of education is a sore point, but usually it doesn’t bother him when people poke fun at him about it. Now, though, in front of a pretty lad he’d really like to spend more time with, he feels completely rubbish.
“I was very sick as a child,” Rich says quickly in explanation. “Spent a lot of time in hospital so I missed a lot of school. I’m studying at the weekends though so I’ll have the skills when my apprenticeship finishes.”
George smiles at him kindly. “Well I never missed school and I was still rubbish at most subjects.”
Rich wants to kiss him.
It turns out to be a really nice evening, and Rich finds himself stalling as he puts on his coat, trying to work up the courage to ask George to go out with him sometime.
“I can try and give you a hand if you like,” George says softly, glancing nervously at his feet. “With your maths and reading. Like I said I wasn’t brilliant at school, but I was okay at maths. If you want someone to...practise with and stuff.”
“You sure?” Rich asks, fiddling with his scarf. “I don’t wanna cause you any trouble.”
“No trouble. Really. You can come this weekend if you like. Maybe bring some records?”
Rich has never given a more enthusiastic yes in his life.
*****
Rich wonders why George never thought about becoming a teacher.
He’s very good at it. He’s patient and explains things simply. And he doesn’t laugh at Rich for having the reading level of a ten year old.
They end up kissing on top of a pile of books on George’s bed with Elvis crooning on the record player in the background, and there’s something about it that seems so familiar to Rich, as if he’s done this a thousand times before.
He comes over to George’s house every weekend for tutoring and necking. For the first time in his life, Rich actually has something to look forward to every single week.
And then one day George cups his face and straddles his lap and whispers against Rich’s lips.
“I want you to teach me something now.”
“Yeah?” Rich grins, squeezing George’s hips. “What’s that?”
“Well.” George bites his lip shyly. “That night you came to dinner here for the first time...your boss said you were good with your hands.”
Rich’s dick twitches. He knows he’s George’s first proper boyfriend. He knows George is a virgin. And while he’s been waiting for an invitation like this, he’s never felt this way about anyone before. He wants to make this special.
“Aye,” Rich chuckles, settling his hands on the curve of George’s rear. “I’m very good with my hands. I can show you how to be good with yours too.”
They kiss, quick and hungry. Rich can feel George’s heartbeat against his, and it takes all his willpower not to buck up when the younger man starts rubbing his bum against Rich’s dick.
“Georgie,” Rich says a little breathlessly. “We haven’t got any stuff. I’ll need to get condoms and lube.”
George pouts. “We could try without?”
“Absolutely not. Lube will make it better, trust me. It’ll be a lot more fun. And I’m not risking getting you pregnant.”
George looks a little disappointed, so Rich kisses him again.
“I’ll get the stuff,” Rich promises, “and bring it next time. But there are other things we can do with our hands.”
George’s eyes widen as Rich reaches for his belt. Rich grins as he fishes George’s cock from his jeans and begins to stroke slowly. George’s eyes flutter closed and he rests his forehead against the older man’s.
Rich feels like a virgin himself when George reaches down to rub his clothed dick.
“I can’t wait to have you in me,” George whispers just before he comes.
*****
As promised, Rich brings the necessary supplies next time.
“Nervous?” he asks, caressing George’s cheek.
“A bit,” George admits shyly. “But I trust you, Ritchie. I want this.”
Rich isn’t sure if he trusts himself. He needs to protect and care for this perfect lad; he needs to keep him safe.
He undresses George as if he’s handling the most precious thing he’s ever touched. He kisses every inch of skin he uncovers, caresses every part of George he can touch.
He even lets George do the same thing to him. Rich holds his breath as the younger man caresses the scarred skin on his stomach. There’s no disgust on his face.
“From my time in hospital,” Rich explains, pushing George to lie down.
He’s beautiful. The most beautiful thing Rich has ever seen.
“Open your legs for me, Georgie. Nice and wide. Good lad.”
Rich covers his fingers generously in lube.
“I’m gonna start with one finger. It’ll probably burn a bit at first. I’ll go really slow, but if you want to stop then just tell me, yeah? It’ll get better, I promise.”
George nods, focusing on Rich’s face.
He’s tight. Really tight. Rich tries to be as gentle as possible, soothing George’s hisses by stroking his cock.
“Lovely lad. You’re doing so well. God, I’m so glad I’m the one who gets to do this to you. Couldn’t stand the thought of another lad fingering you like this.”
George lets out his first sigh of pleasure once Rich’s finger is all the way in.
“That’s it, Georgie. I know we’ve gotta be quiet, but let me know when you like something.”
He adds another finger. Strokes George’s cock a little faster. His own cock is rock hard as he watches George’s neck and chest flush, as he watches his body writhe against the sheets.
Three fingers is a bit of a stumbling point for them; the discomfort seems to stick with George a little longer, but luckily Rich knows his way around a lad’s arse well enough to fix that.
“Perfect, Georgie,” Rich praises. “Just perfect. You let me know when you’re ready, sweetheart.”
“Yes,” George sighs. “Now, Ritchie, please.”
George insists on rolling the condom on Rich, and although he’s a little clumsy, he gets there in the end with a bit of instruction. He also coats Rich’s dick in lube before spreading his legs even wider.
He looks almost whorish.
“Deep breath now,” Rich says, nudging at George’s entrance. “Here we go.”
George is so warm. So tight and warm. He feels like home.
“Nearly there, lovely,” Rich says breathlessly, pushing in slowly. “Gorgeous lad.”
George smiles, brown eyes shining, squeezing Rich’s hips with his thighs.
When Rich is in all the way, he pauses for a moment, stroking George’s hair and kissing him gently. “You alright? You want a moment?”
“I’m alright,” George says softly. “You can move.”
Rich hitches George’s leg up, pulls out, and thrusts back in.
George’s eyes flutter closed and he clings to Rich’s shoulders, fingernails digging into skin. He starts letting out little sighs in time with Rich’s thrusts, just about audible above the creak of the bed springs.
It doesn’t take long for them to finish.
Rich manages to make George come with a sigh and what sounds like Rich’s name, and a few sharp thrusts has him following.
“Wow,” George says happily as Rich kisses his sweaty throat. “That was...wow.”
“You enjoyed that then?”
“Aye, very much. Can’t wait to do it again.”
“You’re gonna wear out my dick,” Rich chuckles, pulling out slowly. “How you feeling? Bit sore?”
“Aye, a bit. But it was so worth it.”
George looks even more beautiful now, and all Rich wants to do is hold him close and kiss him.
Rich knows there’s no way out of this now. He’s falling down a hole he knows he won’t be able to climb out of. And he doesn’t really want to.
*****
Five weeks later, Rich finishes his apprenticeship and is offered a permanent position at the company.
He even gets his own workspace.
“You should be proud,” Jack says, watching Rich tape a small photograph of George to the shelf above his workbench. “You’re a good machinist and now you’re decent at maths too. Your lad is having a good influence on you.”
“Don’t I know it,” Rich grins.
“Don’t let anyone steal him away from you, son. My advice is save every penny you can and get yourself a nice little home for the pair of you.”
“That’s the plan,” Rich says, winking at the image of George smiling back at him.
29 notes · View notes