Tacos with Mchottie

                                    

                                          
Something large and heavy landing on my bed jerked me out of my dreams. They'd been such good dreams too. Like most dreams, they were already fading far too quickly, but I did remember piercing blue eyes and hot kisses. 
                          
"I hate you," I muttered as I sat up, my eyes still closed. Chase knew I was a grumpy morning person. He knew not to wake me up so abruptly, the little brat. Man, I need coffee stat. 
                          
"I forgot how much of a grump you are in the morning." The deep rumble had my eyes flying open. 
                          
"Johnny!" I squealed, wide awake now as threw myself at my big brother. Johnny was in his senior year at USC and I missed him when he was gone. 
                          
"Hey Sparky," he laughed as he caught me. Someday I'd figure out why he called me that.
                          
"What are doing here? And where is my coffee?" I shoved hair out of my face. Johnny reached for the white nightstand by my bed. I followed his movement with my eyes and found the steaming mug sitting there. My hand flashed out and snatched it up before Johnny could. I took a sip, my whole body relaxing as the blessed caffeine coursed through my system. 
                          
"Semester break. I'm home for the rest of the month." Johnny got up and wandered aimlessly around my room as I sipped coffee and tried to wake up. "You been giving the old man hell? He looks a little worn around the edges." 
                          
Johnny wasn't kidding. Dad had been looking more tired than usual and it concerned me, but there was only so much a seventeen year old girl could do. 
                          
"I try. Can't get him to a doctor. You know how he is."  
                          
Silence fell. It was comfortable and familiar, the sort of silence that falls when people have known each forever. I drained my coffee and hand the cup off to Johnny, who was already waiting for it. He ruffled my hair and walked out, leaving me to get dressed. I threw on a pair of leggings, one of my gauzy skirts, and a long sleeved shirt then headed out to the living room. 
                          
I found dad stretched out in his armchair, one hand lazily stroking Joe, our shih tzu, who was also curled in the chair. Our pit bull, Capone, was curled on the floor next to the chair. I grinned as I leaned down and kissed them all good morning. Dad grunted a morning back at me without taking his eyes off the TV. It was only ten in the morning, but Dad was obviously set for a day of sports television. I'd been sure he'd be out fishing or hunting today but I guess he'd known Johnny was coming home. 
                          
Johnny came out of the kitchen, a pair of mugs in hand. Steam billowed off them and curled in the air, the smell of coffee permeating the air. He settled on the sofa after handing one mug to dad. I wandered into the kitchen to get more coffee. 
                          
I would love to say I was really close to my dad and brother, but as a teenage girl that just wouldn't be true. I had great relationships with them both, though and we were close enough. They were all I had after all. Being raised by two guys who pretty much defined manly-man hadn't been easy on a young girl. It was worse for a teenage girl. My dad was huge, well over 6 foot and built like The Rock. He wore a perpetual scowl and liked to growl a lot. If he wasn't enough to scare off a potential date, Johnny was nearly as big and a football player on top of it. Guys didn't stick around long. 
                          
And unless I wanted to be subjected to beer drinking, television yelling, and the general maleness that came with watching sports, I wouldn't stick around either. Besides, I really wanted tacos and Bob's wasn't that far away. I'd be going alone though, thanks to Chase giving a couple guitar lessons today. 
                          
I drained coffee gone cold while I was lost in my head again. After rinsing the mug, I headed back to the living room to find the men in my life already in full on sports fan mode. I grabbed my purse as I rolled my eyes at them.