Chapter 20

It had been a while since Tasha had shared a bed with anyone besides Nocturne. Her last few adventures in dating had generally not progressed to the point where a bed was involved. Neither of those that reached the bed stage ever progressed to the point where waking up the next morning happened. So it was very strange to feel someone pressed against her back when she woke up. It was definitely strange enough that the usual fog of sleep vanished instantly. As Tasha took stock of the situation, she realized that she could feel the familiar fuzzy warmth of Nocturne behind her knees. The form pressed against her back felt small. Sophia. And she could feel someone’s feet touching hers. Megan. Well, this is different. Good, though. Yes. Definitely good. Megan snores. I don’t remember that from college. Then again, we never shared a bed in college. I think that’s Megan snoring. Maybe it’s Sophia. Nope, I feel her breathing against my neck. Definitely Megan, then.

Tasha felt Megan’s feet move away, and the gentle rhythm of Megan’s snoring was broken as Tasha felt her shifting positions. More movement, and then Tasha felt a hand on her arm. The snoring resumed. It’s actually a kinda cute little snore. Not that I’m going to tell her that, of course. I feel like getting up would disturb everyone. And it’s Sunday. I don’t have to be anywhere. Besides, this is really nice. Tasha closed her eyes again, drifting back to sleep with Megan’s hand on her arm, Megan’s snoring in her ears, and Sophia and Nocturne pressed against her.

A while later, Tasha woke up again to find herself alone in the bed. She walked into the living room a few minutes later.

“Good morning, sleepyhead! I was just telling Sophia how you were being lazy, sleeping so late.”

“Was not!”

“Shhhhh!”

“Of course I slept late. I had to put up with your snoring half the night.”

“I do not snore!”

“It was like sharing the bed with a bear.”

“You lie!”

“It’s true. Like a huge grizzly bear, snoring next to me. Isn’t that true, Sophia?”

“Yeah! Huge!” Sophia shrieked with laughter.

“Now you’re getting my own daughter involved in your lies.”

“It’s true, Mommy. You do snore. Maybe like a baby bear, though.”

“Really? I snore?”

“Yeah. Sophia’s right. Kinda like a baby bear. Cute, fuzzy little baby bear snores.” Tasha grinned as Megan hid her blushing face in her hands. She reached out for Sophia’s hand. “Let’s go give your mom a hug. See, we’re here to support you. Even though you snore.”

“I’m so embarrassed.”

“It’s okay, Megan. You can’t help that you snore. Just like you can’t help having ice cold feet!”

“What?”

Tasha leapt back, cackling all the way, as she avoided getting swatted by Megan. “Okay, okay! Peace! I was just kidding about the ice cold feet. Mostly…”

“Ugh, and here I was going to fix you a nice, hot breakfast. I’m definitely not doing that for you now.”

“What about me?” Sophia asked.

“Of course, angel. Your breakfast is coming right up. Do you think that I should make something for your mean Aunt Tasha?”

“Yes, Mommy. Aunt Tasha would like that.”

“You’re right, munchkin. Your Aunt Tasha would really like a nice, hot breakfast. And maybe your mom could make me some coffee, too.”

“Now you’re definitely pressing your luck.”

“Fine… You win, grumpy girl. I’ll make us coffee. Let me squeeze past you. Sophia, would you like your Aunt Tasha to make you some hot chocolate?” Tasha completely missed Sophia’s answer as Megan pressed the sole of one foot against Tasha’s calf. “Oh my god, your feet are ice cold!”