Ellie walked into the living room wearing her pajamas, which consisted of a thin white cami and some short yellow cotton shorts. She had always been thin but had recently developed nice curves which were quite apparent in her current clothing. Her long, wavy chocolate brown hair fell into her face as she smiled at her father who was on his usual corner of their family couch. He looked up and returned the smile.
"Hey baby," Bruce had called his daughter that as long as she could remember.
"Hey Daddy," she responded back, immediately feeling the stress of all of her final exams melt away. She was just finishing up her senior year at a college prep high school and the exams had taken a lot out of her.
"How tired are you?" Bruce asked. She shrugged as if it could go either way. "I was thinking we could watch that new werewolf movie I bought last week! I've been dying to see it, but I know you have been too busy studying. How's that sound?" Ellie was tired but not sleepy, and her father looked so excited about the movie, she couldn't say no.
"Sure, that sounds like a nice relaxing way to spend the rest of the evening. Where's mom?" she said as she looked down the hallway towards her parents room. She didn't see a light under their doorway.
"Spending the weekend at Aunt Julia's. Again." Ellie could hear the annoyance in her father's voice. They had been fighting a lot more in the last year than she ever remembered.
"Aww I'm sorry. Well, look at it this way, you get some QT with your favorite daughter instead! And no boring cooking shows!" she poked him in the ribs to make him smile. It was the only place he was ticklish. He laughed and grabbed her hand away from his ribs.
"Why don't you do your old man a favor and make us some wine while I put the movie in?"
"Daddy, you're letting me drink wine? But mom says I'm not allowed even with your permission." Ellie rolled her eyes as she spoke about the ridiculous rule. She was 18 for Christ sakes! Old enough to vote, but not old enough to have a drink? Her dad stood up and put his finger to her lips.
"What she doesn't know won't hurt her, right?" he said as he winked at her. His finger felt very warm against her lips and for some reason, she felt a tiny tingle between her legs. She smiled a little beneath his finger, and he smiled back. "Go make us some wine, sweetheart."
Ellie was almost giddy as she poured the sweet red wine. She knew that it would take the edge off of whatever stress about exams she may still have. She made sure to fill the glasses right to the top. May as well get as much out of this opportunity as she could!