Page 101 of Holiday Home 3
“Just remember, she rolls and kicks,” Victoria warned her colleague, appearing unperturbed in the slightest by the sleeping arrangements being made. Next to her, Anna didn’t look all that torn up about things either.
Oh, so that’s what it was,Liam realized, withholding a smile as Avril puffed a cheek out and proclaimed that she absolutely did no such thing.
It was nearly two in the morning when the apartment shut off its final lights. As stunning as they looked in them, Tess, Anna, and Victoria were eager to swap out of their evening gowns. Fortunately, as she stood between the two women in terms of height, Avril was able to find them both something suitable for one night of usage. After everyone had changed into their nightwear, their time together quickly wound down. Anna, because of course she did, had extra toothbrushes for everyone, and the apartment’s two bathrooms were more crowded than usual while everyone prepared for bed.
Victoria pawed at one eye with the back of her hand, stifling a yawn as she took a swig of mouthwash. A combination of alcohol, the late hour, and how they’d spent the many hours before now had all worked to dull her usual sharpness, and she offered them all a sleepy goodnight once she was finished prepping for bed. Anna quickly followed in her wake, and the two women disappeared into her bedroom.
“Goodnight, Liam,” Anna said as she passed him in the hall.
“Night,” he said, smiling. With the meager amount of privacy afforded in the hallway, they exchanged a brief hug. Liam nuzzled his cheek into her hair, moving it aside enough for him to kiss her on the cheek.
Anna wore a sleepy but contented smile all the way to her room.
He took over the bathroom they’d departed, handling his business a little quicker than they had. Before this, Anna had found him an extra pillow and some blankets, which he planned to sleep under in his boxers. One advantage of his outfit was that it didn’t necessitate much to go from dressed up to dressed to nothing. After taking care of his hygiene and washing his face, hereturned to the hall before Tess or Avril finished doing the same in the latter’s bathroom.
However, the door was wide open, and he could see half of Avril’s body from where she leaned against the doorway while brushing her teeth. As he shut off his bathroom light and stepped into the hall, her attention trailed over her shoulder.
The gorgeous redhead beamed at him and then held up a finger. She disappeared into the bathroom for only a few seconds, emerging without her toothbrush or a mouth full of toothpaste when she did. Gliding toward him, she pressed a quick kiss upon his lips.
“Remember, if you get scared or anything, I’m just down the hall, sleeping with a very sexy professor.”
“Lucky you,” he said.
“Jealous?”
“A little, maybe,” he said, placing his hands on Avril’s curvaceous hips. An urge to slip his hands under the lacy top she had on almost succeeded, though the sights and sounds emerging from her bathroom kept his hands from aiming higher.
“Did you have a good time tonight?” Avril asked, emerald eyes glimmering hopefully.
“Every night I’m around you is a good night,” he whispered, skimming his lips against hers.
Avril’s smile banished all darkness, and she laid her cheek on his shoulder. “Those are nice words to hear. Say more like those from now on.”
“I will,” he promised, stroking her back.
“Anddobe slow about deciding where you’ll put all those votes for our spring break plans,” Avril advised. “I bet even Victoria will eventually try and sway you a little. Play those cards right, hmm?”
“It’s the one thing I’m good at,” he said, kissing her hair.
“You’re getting a bit better at some other things,” Avril whispered, nuzzling against him.
They managed to stay close for about a minute more. Once they heard the sound of the bathroom sink running, they knew Tess had finished brushing her teeth. Swapping to a socially acceptable distance a few seconds before Tess emerged into the hall, she smiled upon seeing them.
“Did you floss, Liam?”
“I’ve got two dentists for parents. I haven’t missed a day of flossing since my rebellious phase back in middle school.”
Avril snorted. “Thatwas your brand of rebelliousness?”
Liam shrugged. “What was yours?”
“Dyed hair.”
“Really, what color?”
“Oh, all the colors. I’m sure there are pictures somewhere. Anna was appalled the first time she saw me bouncing up with my rainbow ponytail.”
The three of them chatted a little longer in the hall, keeping their voices down for Anna and Victoria’s sakes. Eventually, stifled yawns propelled them to the end of their conversation.