Once he was out of the doorway, I smiled and shook my head. I loved every bit of him. We were going to have a fun day. As I put my razor on the charger to clean and charge, Ryan appeared in the doorway again. This time he was wearing a gray undershirt that was tucked into his jeans.
“Ta-da!”
“Very nice, Ryan.” I pulled him into my arms and kissed him.
He was playful and talkative while we finished getting ready. Ryan ended up putting on this holiday Stormtrooper t-shirt and his dark gray zip-up fleece. As he waited for me to finish tying my boots, he brushed his hand along my shoulder blades. I loved it when he felt secure enough to touch me.
“Ready?” I asked when I stood.
“God, yes!” Ryan was over exaggerating his excitement, but it was hilarious to me. “I can’t wait to shop. You know how much I love shopping.”
“Let’s go grab something to eat.”
“I think you already had something to eat,” he murmured as we stepped into the hallway. “Good thing you brushed your teeth this morning. I’d hate for you to smell like my dick and cum each time you speak,” he whispered as we went down the stairs.
“Oh! Good morning!” Mom said when we appeared in the kitchen. “Julia and Patricia are on their way. Can I make you boys anything to eat?”
“Good morning, indeed. How about some coffee, and I’ll make us some oatmeal,” I suggested and went to the pantry for the oatmeal packets.
“I’ll just sit here at the table and look handsome,” Ryan said loud enough for me to hear while I was in the pantry, causing me to smile. Today would be fun.
“Yes, please make yourself at home, Ryan. Would you like to see some of the ads for the stores?” she asked him while I microwaved the oatmeal.
Mom had set the mugs of coffee down at the table and was pulling together scattered ads she had strewn all over the table. The ads were in different piles. My guess was so she would know where wehadto stop versus where she’dliketo stop. Ryan sat there sipping his coffee and let her show him the ads.
“We always stop at this store first. They give out a twenty-dollar-off coupon to the first thousand people.”
“That’s like twenty bucks free,” Ryan commented. “Then you can use it on something you want later.”
“Exactly.”
“Now, if they have something on sale, can you also use the coupon?”
“Careful, Mom. He’s full of energy this morning and will wear you out before you even start shopping,” I warned. She rolled her eyes at me and answered Ryan.
“Yes, that’s usually how we use the coupon,” my mom replied.
“What if the item I want is only fifteen dollars? Can I use the coupon to cover the tax, or can I only use the coupon for merchandise and then I have to pay the tax?” Ryan asked energetically. It sounded like he had something in his mouth, so I turned to face him. He had a cookie in his hand.
“What are you eating?” I asked him. Ryan looked up from the ads, holding his half-eaten cookie. I looked at my mom. “I’m making him breakfast, Mother.”
She swatted the air at me.
“This is also oatmeal and fruit,” Ryan replied.
“In the form of a cookie,” I reminded him.
“It does resemble a cookie, yes. But it’s the holidays, and you should loosen up some. Judging by these ads, I’d say it looks like we have a full day ahead of us. I’m going to need this cookie in my tank.” He popped the rest of the cookie into his mouth and looked down at the ads again. “Now, tell me again about the coupon, Lily,” Ryan said. I loved seeing him carefree like this.
“You can use the coupon to cover the taxes too, but if your total isn’t at least the coupon amount, you’re not utilizing all that they’re giving you.”
“So if my item is less than twenty dollars with the tax, they won’t give me change?”
“No, they keep it.”
“God forbid you leave forty cents on the table,” I said as I carried the oatmeal bowls to the table.
“It’s principle, Russell,” Mom said, slapping my arm.
