The Cookie Jar

Travis parks in the driveway with Amy fidgeting beside him. She’s been quiet the whole drive, convinced his folks will sniff out her hand-me-down clothes and working-class roots. He keeps grinning, telling her they’ll love her no matter what, and grabs her bags like it’s no big deal. His dad swings the front door open and the two men crush each other in a bear hug. Mom slides in right after, all glossy hair and perfume. Amy hangs back until Travis pulls her forward. Mrs. Greene takes her hand and leads her inside while Dad offers to carry the luggage. She shoots him a shy smile and steps through. Mr. Greene shuts the door, eyes dropping straight to her ass before the latch clicks. In the kitchen everybody’s cooking, talking, laughing. Amy watches Travis with his parents and starts to relax, picturing herself in this life. Meanwhile his father keeps sneaking looks—quiet, calculating. Later they’re eating dessert in the living room. Mrs. Greene spills every dorky story from Travis’s childhood, and the whole room’s cracking up. Amy catches Mr. Greene staring. Every time their eyes meet he doesn’t blink. Eventually he excuses himself for bed; she’s sure she blew it. Two a.m. She can’t sleep. Wanders into the kitchen and there he is in a bathrobe, dunking cookies in milk. He offers her one. She sits. He says she’s the best-looking girl Travis has brought home, then asks if she understands “standards.” He stands, unties the robe, and shows her exactly what he means. She sinks to her knees, calls him daddy, and lets him fuck her on the kitchen table. He cums deep, pulls out, and leaves her naked with his load dripping down her thigh. Morning. Travis climbs on top of her like nothing happened. She kisses him back, guilt twisting in her gut, and he finishes inside her again. While they’re still tangled up he grabs the ring box from the drawer, drops to one knee, and asks her to marry him. She says yes, eyes wet, already feeling the secret settling between them.