"Go, go, go, g…no!" Sydney fell back into the cushions of the couch, her hands over her eyes. "They had that," she whined, her voice now muffled.
Nathan pulled her into his arms, laughing. "Only the first quarter, Syd." She lowered her hands and he kissed her forehead. They were enjoying the Sunday Sydney had described months ago. Both were dressed as comfortably as possible, a pizza in front of them, and the game on the television.
They made love twice more finally falling asleep and ending Nathan's birthday the previous night and today was designated as one of utter relaxation. A heavy wind was blowing outside, causing the colors of fall to fly around the windows of the family room and adding to the perfection of…everything.
Nathan heard the beep of the alarm as the front door opened. "Susie Q!" he shouted, his voice carrying upstairs easily. "Come down here, sweetheart!"
"Are you both dressed?" she called from the top of the stairs.
Sydney giggled, her face reddening as Nathan answered, "Yeah…you know, for now." He shifted as Susan bounded down the stairs.
"Pizza, I'm starving," she said with a smile.
"Just got here a few minutes ago," Sydney answered before taking a bite of her own slice. "Still really hot." She chewed and swallowed. "How was your night?"
Susan shrugged. "Ro and I saw a local band, but it was kinda lame." She took a huge bite of pizza and all but groaned into it. "So good," she said with her mouth full.
"Take it you haven't eaten?" Nathan asked, an eyebrow raised.
"Like, seven o'clock last night so…this is heaven." She looked at the couple on the couch and rolled her eyes. "I'm going to ask how your dinner was – and dinner only."
"Amazing," Nathan answered quickly. "I think that we'll have to go back…maybe to celebrate someone's graduation in a few months?"
Susan smiled widely. "And the giftie?"
"I'm assuming you knew?"
"Of course I did."
"I made him cry," Sydney interrupted.
"Just a little," Nathan added.
"I told you he would," Susan answered, sounding happier than she already had.
Sydney got up from her seat, leaving her crust on her paper plate. "I'm not done with that," she said, looking at Nathan. "We forgot drinks." She went upstairs and Nathan looked back to Susan, his eyes changing.
"Couple of weeks," he whispered.
Susan understood immediately, her eyes filling with tears. "Why wait, Dad?"
"Because I know how both of our first times weren't what we…" He heard Sydney's footsteps and winked at his daughter, who quickly wiped her eyes.
Sydney had a two-liter bottle of Cherry Coke in one hand and three stacked cups in the other. She looked around the room before fully stepping into it and felt the most comforting warmth spread through her entire body. She didn't even realize the words were leaving her mouth as she walked back to the couch. "Life can't possibly get better…"