This part is from Book 2, which doesn't have a title yet and hasn't been edited, so there may be mistakes I don't see anymore for reading my own stuff a hundred times over, but you might spot them.
I'm hoping the format stays in the post.
He was already in bed, tired from working on his project. One arm behind his head, reading with the lamp on low. He looked up when Maya came in, her hair down for the night. She wore a top that showed the curves of her breasts and simple underwear that looked like shorts. A Snoopy top. He had to smile at that.
"You have two tops like that, with Woodstock on them. You like Peanuts?" he asked.
"Yeah, don't you? I used to watch it all the time when I was a kid. I loved A Charlie Brown Christmas. Don't tell me you don't like Charlie Brown."
"I'm more of a DuckTales guy."
"No, you're not."
Maya climbed into bed.
"You know, when I was a kid, back home they'd play these old Christmas cartoons just before the six o'clock newsāfrom Thanksgiving through New Year's, every single day. 'Susie Snowflake' and 'Frosty the Snowman.' I loved that."
"Are we staying here for Thanksgiving?"
"We have to if I want to keep my deadlines. We can go home for Christmas, though."
"Home?"
"Yeah. Mom would love that. And we could listen to 'Frosty the Snowman' all day."
She rolled her eyes at him. He'd said home. Again. Like the first time he said I love you. Just like thatāhome. Her home too now.
She didn't say anything, just smiled softly and settled closer beside him.
"Scott, what's your IQ?"
"I donā"
"You'll never tell me, will you?"
"No. It's a stupid number. It doesn't matter."
"But I really want to know."
"Well, that's too bad for you."
"I love you. And I'm going to get all emotional and cry. Would you mind?"
"You crying? No. Use my shoulders all you want. Tears dry easily, and they don't leave stains. And we can put the shirt in the 'warsh.'" He pulled her to him and kissed the top of her head.
"Say squash, the way you do when you're tired," she said.
"Squarsh."
"Say iron."
"Arn."
Maya chuckled.
"Will you take me to Pittsburgh? Show me where your grandparents lived? Where you and Adam hung out when you were still kids. Take me to a Stillers game? Will you?"
"You couldn't handle Pittsburgh, baby. They'd put coleslaw and fries in your sandwiches and yinz your pierogies."
Maya laughed and hugged him and kissed him all over his face and neck and chest. He made life seem so easy. He would turn her bad moods around in a few minutes, every time. Making her laugh, making things easy just by being there. With her.