CHAPTER SIX

GWEN POV

I woke up the next morning, and my private area was definitely sore. I brought my hands up to cover my face, partly in surprise and partly giggling with happiness about what I had done last night. I had lost my virginity to a complete stranger.

I know that people usually say one should wait until you get married to have sex. But let's be honest, that stopped being the rule for most people a long time ago. The other rule was that you should at least be in love or really like the person. But I decided, and I lost my virginity in the best way possible.

I got rid of my "V-card" with someone I didn't know. This way, I didn't have to feel embarrassed about being new to sex. I didn't have to worry that my lack of experience would make a boyfriend lose interest in me. Plus, the man I was with clearly knew what he was doing, and that made the whole experience much, much better. Even the soreness I felt today was softened by the lovely memory of the fun I had last night.

I looked over at my phone next to the bed. It was eight o'clock in the morning. April and I had planned to leave for the cabin around noon. That gave me enough time to shower, pack my bags, and stop quickly to see my father before we left. I had just finished putting the last of my clothes into my suitcase when I got a text message from April.

‘Sorry, Gwen. I’m stuck at Cole’s house. Is it okay if we go to the cabin separately? I’ll meet you there at the usual time.’

I let out a small groan as I sat down on the edge of my bed. It was going to feel strange to arrive at the cabin alone. No matter how many times April told me she wanted me there, I already felt like I was crashing her family's holiday.

She had told me before, "I need you there as a shield between me and my dad. He’s the best person in the world, but I don’t want to spend my holiday listening to him tell me how disappointed he is that my grades went down."

Usually, I hate being late, but in this case, I thought I would leave later than planned. I wanted April to be at the cabin already when I got there. It would feel even more awkward if I arrived before her. I had never met her father. I couldn’t imagine any parent wouldn’t think it was odd for their daughter to bring a roommate home for the holiday.

I texted her back, saying I would meet her there. Then I put on my warm clothes, grabbed my handbag, and headed to my father's house. I drove through the working-class neighborhood where I grew up.

Most families here didn’t quite make it to the middle class, but they got by. Most people lived by getting paid every week or two, which meant there wasn’t a lot of extra money for things like keeping the lawn nice or fixing up the house. Because of this, the neighborhood looked a little worn out and tired. My father’s house looked the same. The paint was peeling along the edges, and part of the rain gutter was hanging off the roof.

My father hadn’t shoveled the snow from the driveway or the walkway. I parked on the street in front of the house and walked heavily through the few inches of snow to the front door. I stomped my feet on the front mat to knock off the snow before opening the door.

“Dad?”

“Gwen?”

I stepped into the tiny entrance area and turned right into the living room.

My father was leaning back in his comfy chair with a beer in his hand, even though it was barely eleven in the morning. The TV was loud with sports commentators talking about football.

My father sat up straight, moving the chair back into place, and stood up. “I didn’t think I was going to see you for Christmas.” He walked over and gave me a big hug.

My father wasn’t old in years; he was only fifty. But he looked much older, maybe closer to eighty. He started looking old like this after my mother died. When he first started seeing his ex-girlfriend, Mira, he had tried to look better, but when she left, he stopped caring again.

I had supported his dating, knowing he was lonely and that when he was alone, he didn’t take care of himself very well. Sadly for my dad, Mira turned out to be the worst kind of partner.

I hugged him back, noticing how thin his upper back felt. “Have you been eating enough?” I asked, worried.

He pulled back slightly. “When I’m hungry. Are you planning to stay? If you are, I need to call the guys and tell them I can’t meet them later.”

I shook my head. “No, I’m still going up to the cabin with April, just like we planned. But I wanted to stop by, wish you a Merry Christmas, and see how you’re doing before I leave.”

“You don’t have to worry about me, Gwen.” His eyes showed a little bit of playful mischief.

I took off my coat and walked toward the kitchen to make him something to eat. “I can’t just stop worrying about you, Dad. It doesn’t work that way.”

He followed me into the kitchen and laughed. “I think that’s supposed to be my line, kiddo. But I’m doing perfectly fine. The last thing I want is for you to hang around here when you have your own life to live.” He smiled like the proud father he was. “My baby girl is going to get a college degree. The first one in the family. You are moving on to bigger and better things, and I don’t want to stop you from doing that.”

I rolled my eyes as I spread mayonnaise on two slices of bread. “Being with family doesn’t stop a person from moving forward.” I finished making the cold sandwich, then poured him a glass of milk and gave both to him. “Now eat something. You can’t live on beer alone, no matter how hard you try.”

He took the plate and the glass, setting them on the counter. “I did get you a little something for Christmas.”

“I thought we agreed we weren’t going to exchange presents this year.”

“It’s not much, but I still hope you like it.” He quickly walked out of the kitchen. I picked up the sandwich and his milk and carried them out to the small table next to his reclining chair.

He came back a moment later holding a plain brown paper bag with handles. He gave me a shy smile. “You know I’m terrible at wrapping. I hope this is good enough.”

I laughed softly. “It doesn’t need to be wrapped at all.” I took the bag, reached in, and pulled out a long, flat, rectangular box. I sat on the couch, put the box on the coffee table, and lifted the lid. Inside was a picture frame.

“People who get college degrees frame them and hang them on the wall. That’s for you, for when you get your degree.”

A wave of emotion hit me, and my eyes filled with tears. No matter what other presents I got this Christmas, this would be the best gift of all. This simple gift showed all of my father's love and pride in me.

I stood up and walked over to where he was sitting in his chair, leaning in to give him another hug. “Thank you, Dad. I love it. I absolutely can’t wait to put my degree in it. Maybe I’ll hang it right here.”

He patted my arm gently. “Well, I wouldn’t mind showing off and bragging about you to my friends by having your degree hanging on the wall here, but that is supposed to go in your office when you get a job. It tells everyone how important you are.”

“Well, if I’m so important, you need to eat that sandwich right now.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He grinned, picked up his sandwich, and took a big bite.

I stayed with my father for a little while, and we watched a holiday movie together. It was my father’s favorite Christmas movie. It had scared me when I was a little girl, but now I enjoyed it as much as he did. It had been a yearly Christmas tradition until my mother died. Watching it now made me wonder if this meant we needed to start making Christmas a bigger deal again.

Maybe I shouldn't go to the cabin with April for the holiday after all.

My dad’s phone rang, pulling me from my thoughts. “It’s Dominic,” he said, poking the button to answer the call. I couldn’t hear Dominic’s voice, but my father said, “Yes, we’re still on for tonight.”

I guess if we were going to start our Christmas traditions again, it would have to be next year.

Around one o’clock, I decided it was time for me to get on the road. “I’ve really got to go now. I’m sorry I’ll miss this part of the movie.” I stood up and put my coat, hat, and gloves back on.

“You be safe on the drive,” my father said as he got up to give me one last hug goodbye. “And don’t let the bogeyman get you.”

I smiled at the old joke. “I’ve packed my peewee darts, don’t worry.”

He laughed warmly as he walked me to the front door. After one last, quick hug, I walked heavily back out to my car, feeling the love of my father settle comfortably in my heart.