Waking up with Tori wrapped around me always made my day start off a hundred times better than it usually would.
I lifted my head and looked at the alarm clock provided with the motel room and nudged Tori awake.
"Vega, it's seven, we gotta get back on the road."
Tori only grumbled and rolled away from me, pulling the sheet with her.
"Okay, Fine. I'll go shower alone," I said with a hurt tone and pushed myself off the bed before heading to the bathroom and starting up the small shower.
Another noise floated from Tori, followed by a huff and sleepy stompy footsteps.
Tori's arms snaked around my waist from behind, making me smile as I felt her nuzzle my back, so I turned in her embrace and lifted her chin, kissing her forehead.
"Come on, let's shower so we can go get breakfast," I murmured as she nuzzled my neck, hugging me tighter.
"So early," Tori whined softly.
"I know, but we need to drive half the day to get to middle-of-nowhere fuckin-whoop-whoop wherever your family live," I said, and detached Tori from me, pushing my sleep shorts off and my shirt too before I stepped into the shower.
Parking the car, I looked up at the house and was surprised at how big it was. Tori mentioned the whole family slept at the house, but I didn't quite calculate how big the house would be.
She was talking about how many people would be coming, but I was so focused on driving and listening to the GPS, that I didn't quite understand until now just how big the house would be.
"You okay?" Tori asked.
"Yeah, just… big house."
"Yours is bigger," she said, frowning a little as she rubbed my thigh.
"Mm, yeah, but huge house means that there's going to be a lot of people I'll need to meet."
"That's true, if at anytime you don't feel like talking anymore, we can always go someplace quiet. There's a river on the property, we can go swimming? The waters amazing, always clear."
"Shit, I think I forgot to pack swimwear," I muttered, as we got out of the car and made our way to the boot to get our bags out.
"It's okay, I packed a few, you can wear mine."
"Toriiiii!"
I turned to see a little girl, that looked no older than Riley running towards us- Tori dropped her suitcase and caught the girl, both had big smiles and held tightly to each other.
"Hey Mini," Tori said, kissing the girls cheek.
"Missed you, Tori."
"Missed you too, kiddo. This is Jade, my girlfriend."
"Hi," the little girl said shyly and his her face against Tori's neck.
"Jade, this is Mini, her real name is Tori also though. Everyone calls her mini."
Tori led me to the room we'd be staying in, and I put our bags on the bed before following her back downstairs to meet her family, Mini still tucked comfortably into Tori's arms.
"Hey, Jade," Her dad greeted me and clapped me lightly on the shoulder before holding out a beer towards me.
"No thanks, I don't drink beer," I said, waving him off.
"What do you drink?"
"Rum, whiskey, even port every now and then," I said, taking a seat beside him.
"Port? Old soul, I like it. Holly and I are doing a town run tomorrow to get some more alcohol, do you want to come with us?"
"No, thank you. I got my mother to pick me up some drinks before I dropped Riley off. I'm surprised you're allowing it."
"You're with family, it's not like you're out getting in trouble."
My heart lurched at him calling me family. I licked my lips and smiled with a nod. "Same rules my mum lives by."
"She sounds like a smart woman."
"I think she is."
Tori settled into the seat on the other side of me, mini Tori now out of her arms and off playing with the other little kids running around.
Tori rested her hand on my thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Want me to go get you a drink? I put your alcohol in the beer fridge. Should be cold by now."
"Where's the beer fridge, I can get it," I said softly and she only shook her head and stood.
"Who wants a beer?" Tori asked and a few people rose their hands, she did a quick count before walking off and returning a minute later with a six pack of beer and one of my drinks for me.
I used the bottle opener I keep on my keys to open my drink as she handed it to me before she opened the six pack and started handing them out.
"Rule of thumb," Tori said as she sat back beside me once more. "Every time you go get a drink, always ask if someone else wants a beer."
"That's just politeness."
"That's the rule here. I forgot one time and people were pissed."
"Pissed at Sweet Sally Peaches?" I teased in the voice Tori hates.
Tori only laughed and slapped my thigh lightly before leaning against me - my arm slipped around her waist, and I pulled her tighter into my side.
"Who's this, Tori?"
"My girlfriend, Jade," Tori said, standing to give the man a kiss on the cheek.
"Girlfriend? How longs this been a thing?"
"Three months-ish."
"Well, must be serious if you've brought them to meet the family," he said as Tori sat back beside me.
"This is Alex, my cousin," Tori said.
"A few of us are about to go down to the river, you coming?" Alex asked.
"Yeah, we'll come down in a bit, I brought some of the good good," Tori said, and Alex's eyes lit up.
"Me too," Alex said with a laugh.
"I'll bring it down to the river with us, we'll go change," Tori said and I glanced at her father who seemed to be in conversation with an uncle I was introduced to earlier but couldn't remember the name of right now.
I followed Tori through the path of grass and we heard whoops and hollering as some of her cousins climbed up rocks and did flips and dives down into the water.
"Your family are dare devils," I said, letting go of her hand as we laid our towels down on the riverbank.
"Sadly it skipped me, it would have been nicer to get that when I did the stunt jump."
"You did fine… once I pushed you."
Laughing, Tori nudged me before opening the tin she had rolled the joints into and lit one up before putting the tin down and made her way to the water.
"Tori, starting the party early, hey?"
"Always, boys. Who wants a hit? This is a good batch."
She took another hit before handing the joint off to me.
I hesitantly took a draw and felt it almost instantly as I exhaled and handed it off to one of the cousins that came over for some.
"Nervous?" He asked.
"About what?"
"Meeting the whole family."
"There's more people coming?"
"Yeah, a few more cousins with their own kids, and an aunt who's a teacher that couldn't get away till today, so she will be here later."
I swallowed nervously before I looked towards Tori who was coming back out of the water.
"Hey Jez, how's everything going?" She asked as she wrapped her arm around my waist.
"Good, was just askin your girl if she was nervous."
"Jade's rarely nervous. But having to meet this many people can be nerve wracking."
"Vega, I can talk for myself," I said, and she nodded quickly, resting a hand on my arm.
"Sorry, I didn't mean that you couldn't, Jade. I'm sorry."
She looked like a kicked puppy, and I felt bad for half snapping at her.
"It's alright, just- maybe let me speak for myself at times?"
"Of course, Jade. I'm sorry."
We sat out by the water for a while before the weather turned horrible and Tori and I made our way back to the house to change into warmer clothes.
I sat on the bed after changing and checked my phone while Tori had a quick rinse off in the shower.
"Everything okay?"
I nodded as I looked up at Tori, setting my phone aside.
"Just checking messages, you good?"
"Yes, and I'm sorry for earlier."
"No, I'm sorry for snapping. I'm just crampy and sore."
"Rainy day?" Tori asked as she rubbed my stomach.
I nodded, wrapping my arms around her waist, pulling her closer to me.
"Have you got enough supplies?"
"I think I should go for a drive and pick up some more, just in case, and some other things."
"Chocolate?"
"Yes, and ice cream, and a heat bag. I forgot mine."
"Alright, I'll go down and see if anyone else needs anything while you get ready."
As always, please leave comments ... It makes me think this story is worth continuing.