Risqué Management

Chapter 27

I sat in shock for a moment before I reacted. “What do you mean, ‘if God will forgive you’?”

Christy shrugged.

“Tell me.”

“Only, I can’t really ask him, now can I? I can’t ask a priest, either.” She laughed bitterly. “Like they’d know anything about it.”

“About what?”

“Never mind. Forget I said anything.”

“You tried that already. It didn’t work the first time either.”

“It’s just something I have to deal with.”

I did my best to suppress any hint of uncertainty. “Are you pregnant?”

“No, of course not. Why—?” She sat up and looked at me. “What would you do if I were?”

“Find a priest,” I said immediately.

“No, I’m not pregnant,” Christy said. She relaxed and smiled. “But I’m glad you’d still marry me.”

“You know I would. Err, will.”

“Thank you.” She returned to my side and hugged me.

“But when we’re ready,” I added, and she nodded. “In the meantime, what’re you talking about?”

“Nothing. It’s… personal.”

“And getting married isn’t?”

“Of course, dear,” she said absently.

“Listen, you’re going to have to tell me eventually. And it’ll keep getting worse in my head until you do. So, if you aren’t pregnant, what the hell is going on?”

“If you must know, I talked to my mom today.”

“And…?”

“She called me.”

“Wait,” I said, “you usually call her.”

“Mmm hmm. She had to do it while my dad was at the McFaddens’. I’m sure she came up with some excuse to get him out of the house.” She sighed and added, “I hope we never get like that, where I have to send you on an errand so I can talk to our daughter.”

“We won’t. But I swear I’m going to explode if you drag this out any longer.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, genuinely contrite. “We talked about… Well, she talked. I listened. I was too shocked to say much.”

“What did she tell you?”

“That…” She took a deep breath and finished, “I have to get on the pill.”

I was too stunned to reply.

“Yeah,” Christy agreed. “That’s what I said.”

My brain finally started to process again. “Lemme see if I have this straight,” I said. “Your mother told you to get on the pill? The birth control pill.”

“I know, right?”

“Did she tell you why?”

“Why do you think?” Christy said sullenly. “She knows. About us. Duh.”

“Of course she knows,” I almost snapped. “She knew before it even happened. But this is your mother we’re talking about. She’s a good Catholic!”

“That’s what I thought. But she said times have changed. She didn’t have a choice when she was my age. They didn’t have the pill back then. She started having babies almost as soon as they were married. But she wants more for me.”

“She told you that?”

“In those exact words. She wants more for me. And it should be my choice when we have children.”

“It should,” I said. “Well, our choice.”

“But it’s against my beliefs. The pill, I mean.”

“It’s against hers too,” I pointed out. “But she feels strongly enough about it to go against the Church.”

“This is all Marianne’s fault,” Christy sulked.

“Because she was giving you advice?”

“Yeah. But then she had to get pregnant. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for her, but… Ugh!”

“The rhythm method isn’t foolproof,” I said, as tactfully as I could. “It doesn’t account for human nature.”

“It works fine for us!” Christy protested. “I’m not pregnant, am I?”

“No, but… it’s only a matter of time.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Never mind. I know.” She added plaintively, “But… I have my calendar! I count the days! We’re doing fine!”

I didn’t mention any of the times she’d wanted me to come inside her, even though it was danger week. I also didn’t mention how many times I’d almost done it, in spite of knowing better.

“What’re you going to do?” I said instead.

“I don’t know. I don’t know anything anymore.”

She knew what I wanted, but I was diplomatic enough not to point it out. Besides, I didn’t want to make her feel like we were ganging up on her. She could be a stubborn little thing, especially if she felt cornered.

“It has to be your decision,” I said. “You have to live with it. But I’ll support you, either way.”

She sighed, unconvinced.

“I mean it. I’ll never force you to do anything you don’t want to, including this.”

She didn’t answer with words, but she hugged me even tighter.

I simply held her, although a part of me felt guilty for what she was going through. I certainly wouldn’t want to face her mother’s displeasure. Stronger men had tried, and stronger men had paid for it.

* * *

I returned from my run the next morning and climbed into bed, but I knew immediately that Christy wasn’t in the mood for sex. She was preoccupied with her dilemma. I couldn’t really blame her, but the little head wasn’t happy.

This is why you aren’t in charge anymore, I told him.

That’s what you think.

He’d get us both in trouble if I stayed in bed any longer, so I kissed Christy’s temple and slid from under the covers.

“I’d better start getting ready,” I said.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. You’re preoccupied. You wouldn’t enjoy it anyway.”

She watched from the bed as I tossed my clothes in the hamper and then picked up hers as well. I did my best to hide my erection, but she saw anyway.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked.

“Positive.”

She glanced at my hard-on.

“Don’t worry about him. He’ll figure it out. In the meantime, you’d better shower.”

“You go on,” she said morosely. “I’ll shower when you’re done.”

“You probably won’t get any hot water,” I warned. “You’re welcome to join me, though. I promise I’ll behave.”

She shrugged. “Cold water’s fine. It’s my penance.”

Arguing with her wouldn’t do any good, so I headed to the bathroom, where I turned on the shower and waited for the water to heat up. It barely reached tepid, and I realized that Trip and Wren must have just finished their own shower.

“Serves you right,” I said to my flagging erection.

What’d I do? he groused. Then, She was right there, man! All you had to do was poke her a couple of times, and—

“Just for that…” I turned the water to full cold and pulled the diverter.

Hey, whoa! Be reasonable!

I opened the shower curtain.

No, don’t, please! I beg you!

The water hit me with a shock that took my breath away. The little head did his best, but it was a fight he couldn’t win.

Fine. Have it your way, he muttered.

I will, I replied, unperturbed. Well, unperturbed except for the cold water sluicing down my back and legs. I lathered my hair with shampoo and rinsed as quickly as I could. Then the bathroom door opened and closed. I heard Christy moving around. The shower curtain moved.

“Don’t—” I warned, but it was too late.

“Oh my gosh!” She retreated to the far end of the tub. “That’s freezing.”

“I tried to warn you.”

“Try harder next time.” Then she gave me a suspicious look. “What’re you doing?”

“I wanted you to have some hot water.”

“So you’re taking a cold shower?”

“Well… yeah.”

“Don’t be silly. Turn it off.”

“Just hop out,” I said. “I’ll be finished in a minute.”

“I don’t want to hop out. I want you to turn it off.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think? I came to make up with you.”

My eyebrows flew up.

“Please, turn it off.”

I reached back and turned off the water.

“Thank you.” She moved into my arms. “Oh my gosh, you’re freezing!”

The little head nudged her hopefully, although he was probably interested in her warmth more than anything else.

“Treacherous organ,” she said with a fond laugh. Then she pulled back and looked at him. “Did mean old Paul try to freeze you? He did?” She shook her head sadly. “What’re we going to do with him?”

“He has a few suggestion,” I said hopefully.

She heard the singular and laughed as she sank to her knees. “He does?”

“Yeah.” I pretended to stutter, “F-f-f-fellatio.”

She laughed again and kissed him. “Mmm, I like him when he’s like this. I can get him in my throat easier.”

* * *

Christy’s attitude improved a little after she finished me off, although she wasn’t in the mood for me to return the favor.

“Let’s just get ready,” she said.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”

I turned on the shower. The water heater had done its job, so we didn’t have to rush. Unfortunately, Christy’s good mood turned to thoughtful and then distracted as we finished getting ready.

“Hey, I’m the one who’s supposed to brood,” I teased. “Remember?”

“Yeah, sorry.”

“Eh, it’s okay. You have a lot on your mind.”

“No. Only one thing.”

“You wanna talk about it?”

“Not really.” She forced a smile. “I’ll be okay.”

We headed out and joined the flow of students walking to campus. Then a familiar voice called to us from behind.

“Hey,” Terri said as she caught up with us. “I thought that was you.”

“Yep, it’s us,” I said. “Morning.”

“Morning.” She smiled. “You look nice.”

“Thanks. You too.”

She glanced at Christy. “You— Uh… is everything all right?”

Christy shrugged.

Terri glanced at me, but I shook my head to warn her off.

I changed the subject and asked, “Where’re you headed? To campus, duh. But are you going to class or teaching one?”

“I’m done with classes,” she said. “I just have to finish my dissertation and then defend it.”

“When will you do that?”

“Sometime in the fall. I’m scheduled to graduate in December.”

“Then you’ll be Doctor Cortez?”

“You can still call me Terri.” We shared a grin. “What about you? Where’re you going?”

“Structural and Mechanical for me—”

“Sounds interesting.”

“—and the studio for the little one here.”

“Hey, watch who you’re calling little,” Terri warned playfully. “We might have to gang up on you. Then you’ll be sorry.” She grinned and nudged Christy.

“I suppose,” she said.

Terri shot me a look of concern.

“She has a lot on her mind,” I explained. “Big project and an exhibition to get ready for.”

Terri knew it was a fib but went along with it. “Oh? When is it?”

“The end of the month. You should come. Christy’ll be the star of the show.”

“I’d like that,” Terri said.

“And tomorrow’s her birthday,” I added.

“Oh, wow. Congratulations!”

Christy smiled politely.

I decided that I had to do something, so I made up a party on the spot. We hadn’t planned one, only a special dinner with Trip and Wren, but it seemed like a good idea.

“We’re having a little get-together,” I told Terri. “Nothing fancy, just a few friends. Would you like to come?”

She glanced at Christy. “Is that all right?”

“What? Oh, sure, of course.”

“Then… yeah,” Terri said. She looked at me and added warmly, “I’d love it.”

“You know where we live?” I said.

“The big old house next to the other big old house?”

“That’s the one,” I laughed. “Eight o’clock?”

“I’ll be there. What should I bring?”

“Wine, beer, whatever. We have plenty,” I added, “but bring anything special you want.”

“Perfect,” she said. Then she touched Christy’s arm. “Hey, cheer up, okay?”

“Thanks. I’ll try.”

“All right,” Terri said. “This is where I leave you.” She veered toward the Sports Bubble and called back cheerfully, “See you in class.”

“Yep. See you.” I glanced down at Christy and added, “I hope you don’t mind. That I just decided to have a party.”

She shrugged indifferently.

“Remind me to tell Wren and Trip.”

She nodded.

“Who do you want to invite?”

“No one special.”

“What about Freddie and Rosemary? The more the merrier.”

“Yeah, thanks,” she said. “And thanks for trying to cheer me up.”

I put my arm around her and hugged her. “We’ll get through this.”

“You might,” she sulked.

“You will too.”

“But will my beliefs?”

“God knows what’s in your heart,” I said.

“Then He must be really confused.”

“We all are. It’s the human condition.”

* * *

Christy was in a better mood by the time we saw Terri again for dance class. And she actually seemed to enjoy herself at ballroom practice. She and Roberto rehearsed a new routine with five other couples. They were planning to visit local dance studios, and Christy had been picked for the demonstration team.

Terri and I and several others watched from the sidelines as they whirled through a complicated Viennese. Christy glided along effortlessly, and I found myself jealous of Roberto’s confidence in the lead.

“Uh-oh,” Terri teased. “I know that look.”

“What? Oh, no,” I said, “I’m jealous of his ability. I wish I could dance like that.”

“You’ll get there.”

“Eventually.”

She looked around and then tugged me toward the back wall, away from the others.

“What’s up?” I said.

“Are you sure she’s okay?”

“Yeah. She has a lot on her mind. Well, not a lot, but…” I shrugged.

“She asked about my birth control,” Terri said. “While we were changing in the locker room. Is that it?”

“Yeah. What did you tell her?”

Her eyebrows rose. “Are you asking about my birth control?”

My cheeks heated.

“It’s okay,” she laughed. “I don’t mind telling you. I use condoms.”

“Not the pill?”

“No. They give me migraines. And I don’t like how they affect my… interest level.”

“Oh?”

She shrugged and didn’t answer, although her vagueness was a pretty good hint.

I wanted to ask but decided to play it safe instead. “So, tomorrow night…”

“Are we still talking about birth control?”

“No, the party.”

“Ah, okay.” She grinned and asked, “Should I bring a date?”

“If you want, although you don’t have to.”

“Will I be lonely? By myself?”

“I’ll keep you company.”

“You promise?” Her dark eyes sparkled.

“Of course.”

We fell silent, and some part of me enjoyed the sexual tension. I didn’t need another layer of complication in my already complicated life, but I definitely enjoyed the thrill of the chase, even if I wasn’t likely to catch her for real.

I nodded toward the others before the silence turned awkward. “We should probably get back.”

“Wouldn’t want to give them the wrong idea,” she agreed.

“Or the right one.”

* * *

I returned from my run the next morning and wondered which Christy I’d find upstairs, the mopey one or the normal one. Part of me didn’t want to badger her, but the selfish part wanted her to make a decision and get it over with, one way or the other. I wanted my happy girlfriend back.

I shouldn’t have worried. She smiled and silently pulled back the covers when I slipped into the room.

“I hope you don’t mind,” she said. “I started without you, so I’m already warmed up.”

I yanked off my T-shirt and untied my running shorts in record time. Mr. Big had already gotten the message, and he sprang up eagerly. The rest of me was eager too, so I tried to kick off my shoes and step out of my shorts at the same time.

I fell on my face instead.

Christy bolted upright. “Oh my gosh! Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” I rolled over and swung my feet around.

“Oh, Paul,” she laughed brightly, “take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”

I deliberately untied my shoes and then untwisted the fabric around my ankles.

“You should see yourself,” she said as I stood. Her eyes danced with amusement before they locked on my hard-on. “Is that for me?”

“If you want.”

“It is my birthday,” she said coyly. Then she pretended to pout. “You didn’t wrap it for me? That’s okay, I still want it.” She lay back and smiled. “Give it to me.”

“Insistent little thing.” Still, I slid into bed, and she guided me between her legs.

“Yes. And I insist that you— Ah! Oh!” She closed her eyes, and her nostrils flared as she caught her breath. “No fair,” she said when she could speak again. “You have to let me finish.”

“I knew what you were going to say.”

“So? You still have to let me finish.”

“I can pull out if you’d like.”

“No!” She grabbed my butt and held me in place. “I like you right where you are. Him too.” She waited to make sure I wasn’t going anywhere. Then she released me and smiled instead. “Thank you for being patient with me. I know I haven’t been easy to live with.”

“You’re fine. Besides, I want you to be happy.”

“I know. And thank you for not trying to push me.”

“Well, you know what I think you should do.”

She nodded.

“But you also know that I’ll respect your decision, whatever it is.”

“I know. That makes it easier.” Her smile slowly morphed into a frown. “Why do we always end up talking when you’re inside me?”

“I dunno. I like talking to you.”

“You like teasing me,” she accused.

“That too.”

She pulled me down and kissed me. “Make love to me.”

Some puckish impulse made me ask, “Once for each year? Twenty-one times?”

“Mmm, yes, please.”

“And how long do I have? A couple of days? A week?”

“No, the rest of our lives. Oh my gosh, it’s bad even when I say it.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty bad,” I admitted with a laugh.

“Maybe we should stop talking.”

“What should we do instead?”

“You know,” she said softly.

I began thrusting.

She closed her eyes, and her breathing grew heavier again. “You always know.”

* * *

I met with Professor Joska at five o’clock, and we discussed Susan’s project. He had some pointed comments about how the camp had deteriorated in the first place.

“It wasn’t Gunny’s fault,” I said. “He was a good Marine, but not a great handyman.”

“Then perhaps he should have—”

“Stop,” I said firmly. “Right there.”

Joska blinked in surprise at my tone.

“He did his best. That’s more than anyone else did.”

“Perhaps he should have realized his limitations.”

“Do you realize yours?” I shot back. “Or do you see a job that needs doing and pick up a hammer?”

Joska studied my expression and sat back. “This Gunny,” he said after a moment, “he was your friend?”

“Yes.”

“Your loyalty is admirable but—”

“I mean it,” I warned him. “You’re on dangerous ground here.”

His grizzled eyebrows rose.

“I’ll fight for my friends. I did it for Gracie, and I’ll sure as hell do it for Gunny. He did his best,” I repeated. I set my jaw and dared him to argue.

“I see,” he said instead.

“It’s the past and we can’t change it,” I added in a softer tone. “So, let’s focus on the present instead.”

He thought for a moment and then asked, “Gunny… he was the one who passed away last year? You attended his funeral, did you not?”

Emotion swelled in my throat. “I did.”

“Then I apologize,” Joska said. “I should not have spoken as I did.”

I inclined my head by way of apology.

“And you are correct—we should focus on the present instead of the past. Shall we start with the clubhouse?” he said, as if nothing had just happened. “You are thinking of engineered wood?”

“Yes. I like its aesthetic properties.”

“Mmm, I agree. And its structural ones as well.”

I pulled out my sketches, and Joska sat forward. We were student and mentor again, and he was as excited as I was.

* * *

Happy Christy greeted me when I came home after my meeting. She was upstairs in the bedroom, and she rolled to her feet as I set my backpack next to the dresser. She waited just long enough for me to straighten before she bounced up and wrapped her arms around my neck. I caught her automatically, and she kissed me.

“What’s gotten into you?” I asked. “Not that I mind, but…”

“I just got off the phone with Danny and Sabrina. They say hello, by the way. They called to wish me a happy birthday.”

“Ah, okay.”

“Talking to Danny always makes me happy. And Lynne called earlier. The kids sang to me. It was really cute. James is on cruise, but he sends his love. And I talked to my mom.”

“Everything okay?” I asked cautiously.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“You know why.”

“Everything’s fine. We had a long talk.”

“About…?”

“She wished me happy birthday.”

“Anything else?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” She waited a half-second before she kissed me again. “You can set me down now.”

I did.

“Thank you for planning my party,” she continued. “I invited someone. I’ve seen her at church a couple of times, but I only met her properly today.”

I didn’t know where the conversation was headed, but Christy was in a good mood, so I decided to tease her a little.

“Well?” she said impatiently. “Aren’t you going to ask where?”

“Where what?”

“Where I met her?”

“Met who?”

“My new friend.”

“Oh, her.”

“Don’t you even want to know her name?”

“Whose name?”

“Ugh! You’re so infuriating! Fine, I’ll tell you. You’ll meet her soon enough anyway.” She waited. “You still aren’t going to ask?”

“Ask what?”

“Her name.”

“Whose name?”

“The guy on first,” Trip said from the open door.

I frowned at the non sequitur. “Huh? Who?”

“The first baseman.”

Christy snorted a laugh.

“What’re you talking about?” I said to Trip.

“No, What’s on second.”

I shot a suspicious look at Christy, but she merely arched an eyebrow and waited for me to answer.

“Sorry,” Trip said when he realized I was lost. “I couldn’t resist.”

“That’s okay,” Christy told him. “I thought it was funny.”

“Yeah, thanks. Anyway, sorry to interrupt. Wren wants my help with dinner. So if you hear lots of banging and swearing from the kitchen, it’s just me. I’m supposed to ask y’all to stay out, though.”

“Sure, no problem,” I said.

He glanced at Christy. “Happy birthday, by the way.”

“Thank you.”

“Okay, I’ve delivered my message, so I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone.” He grinned and pulled the door closed as he left.

“What was that about?” I asked Christy.

“Dinner,” she said disingenuously.

“No, before. First base, second base… that nonsense.”

She grinned. “Who’s on First?”

“How should I know?” I said suspiciously.

“You aren’t very good at this. You’re supposed to say, ‘I don’t know.’”

I didn’t rise to the bait.

“You never played baseball? Never mind. You still haven’t asked my friend’s name.”

“Oh, no,” I said, “I’m not getting into that again.”

“Why not?” she wheedled. “Never mind. Come sit with me. I have lots to tell you.” She led me to the bed. “Not like that. With your back to the pillows. Mmm hmm, and your feet up. There you go. Scoot in a bit. Perfect.” She climbed onto the bed and sat astride me. “Much better. Now, where were we?”

“You were about to tell me what your mom said.”

“Oh, no! Not so fast. I’m going to start at the beginning. Well, not the beginning-beginning, but you’ll figure it out.”

“I hope so.”

“You’re really cute when I turn the tables on you.”

“Thanks, but…” I arched an eyebrow. “Your mom?”

“We’ll get there. Just be patient. We have the rest of our lives,” she added, saccharine-sweet and utterly facetious. Then she grinned and kissed me. “Oh, I love you. Now more than ever, especially since— Uh-oh, I’m getting ahead of myself. Okay, so… Where were we? Right, my new friend.

“Her name’s Lily and we go to church together. Well, not regularly, but I’ve seen her before. We weren’t really friends until we met. Earlier today, I mean. Anyway, we were both at the clinic and started talking, ’cause—”

“Hold on, ‘clinic’?”

She ignored me and kept going, “We started talking, ’cause we recognized each other. She’s really nice. And, oh my gosh, Paul, she’s totally my type! My radar started going off— That’s what Leah called it, by the way. I don’t really know what it is, but I guess I have to call it something. So, radar.”

“Radar?” I said.

She rolled her eyes. “You know, my radar. Ugh, never mind. This’s going to take a lot longer if you keep interrupting. Save your questions till the end.”

“Yes, dear,” I said wryly.

“Better. Now, where was I? Right! So, Lily. My radar started going off, but then they called me for my appointment. I—”

“Appointment? Clinic? Hold on, the Student Health Clinic? As in…?”

“Are you going to let me finish or not?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Not really.”

“Then, by all means,” I said, “continue.”

“Thank you. So they called me for my appointment. It was a lot quicker than I thought. The nurse asked me a bunch of questions, about my sex life and history and stuff. Then the doctor did an exam. That part was a little weird, especially when he saw I’m shaved. He asked if I’d had surgery. Then he asked if I’d had crabs. Can you believe it? Crabs, Paul! What kind of girl does he think I am!”

“The feisty kind,” I chuckled.

“Darn right I am!”

“Did you tell him why?”

“No! It’s none of his business. Besides, I don’t do it for him.”

“No,” I agreed.

“He was old anyway,” she added dismissively.

“What happened next?”

Her anger still hadn’t cooled, but she continued, “He asked why I was there, and I was still so annoyed after the crabs comment that I just told him. ‘The pill,’ I said, ‘and don’t try to talk me out of it!’”

“Did he?”

“No, but my mother warned me.” Her expression changed to amazement. “I wasn’t even scared or anything. You’d’ve been so proud of me!”

“I am proud of you.”

“Thank you.” She silently congratulated herself. Then she picked up where she’d left off. “He just nodded and told me how the pills work and when I could start taking them. Right away, you’ll be happy to know. Then he wrote me a prescription for three months. I have to go back and see him after that.”

“He probably wants to see how they affect you, if you have any side effects.”

“Probably.” All of a sudden she scowled. “I wish I could be as nonchalant as you. It’s weird, though. I’m excited but still kind of scared. I feel like I’m abandoning my beliefs. First sex, then our lifestyle, now the pill. How’s that being a good Catholic?

“But then I remember that God knows what He’s doing,” she added seriously. “He brought you into my life for a reason, Paul. My mom thinks so. My dad too. My whole family! Even Rich is starting to come around.”

Something made me ask, “What about Laurence?”

“He’d’ve loved you,” she said with total conviction. “And I know you think I’m crazy, but I really believe he’s watching over me. I feel him sometimes, like a guardian angel.” She thought about it and smiled. “I know he approves. Even today. He’d be fine with it. The pill, I mean.”

“But are you fine with it?” I pressed.

“I am,” she said after a moment. “It just feels… right. Scary, but right.” She thought of something and laughed softly. “Like when I decided to go all the way with you. That’s how it felt when they gave me the bag with my pills. I couldn’t wait to get home and take the first one. I had to, but— Oh, don’t look so surprised,” she said. “You know me. Once I decide something…”

“Heaven help anyone who gets in your way.”

“And don’t you forget it, mister!”

We shared a smile.

“It was weird, though,” she added. “My mom called right after, like she knew or something. That’s why I think God maybe wants me on the pill. He told her to call me. Well, He didn’t tell her, but you know what I mean. And please don’t tease me about it. You know I take this seriously.”

“I know. And thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she said automatically, although she thought about it and frowned. “I’m not really doing it for you, though, am I? That’s what my mom meant. She wants it to be my choice, like it was my choice to sleep with you.”

“Your mom’s a smart woman.”

“Smarter than I realized. No, that isn’t true. I always knew she was smart. But she’s more… I dunno. What’s a good word?”

“Worldly.”

“See? I knew you’d know. Worldly.” She tasted it. “Yeah. She’s definitely worldly, in lots of ways. Only, I never realized…”

“Nope,” I agreed.

We fell silent for a moment, and then she smiled.

“So, now you know why I’m in a good mood,” she said.

“Well, I know the majority of it. You still never told me about Lily.”

“Oh my gosh, Paul, you’re going to love her! I stayed after my appointment and waited for her. She was there for the same reason, by the way.”

“How’d you know?”

“Duh! She had a little bag with pills too. But I asked her. She and her boyfriend haven’t been using anything, and they had a little scare last month.”

I diplomatically kept my mouth shut. Christy and I would’ve had our own scare if we’d kept going with the rhythm method. And a scare would’ve been the best possible outcome. I wanted children, but not until we were ready.

“She talked to her roommate,” Christy was saying, “who told her to go to the clinic. She was worried they’d tell her parents, though. She kept putting it off, until her roommate got a pamphlet for her. They don’t tell your parents or anyone. I made sure of that myself when I made my appointment. Can you imagine if they called and my dad answered instead of my mom?” She shivered at the thought. “Oh my gosh, no. Just… no.”

“Hold on, you mean the clinic treated you like a grown up?”

“Funny, ha ha, Mr. Sarcastic. This is all so easy for you. But it’s a big deal for me! I still feel guilty. I’m going through with it, but I can’t change how I feel overnight.”

“I know, and I’m sorry.”

“You should be,” she grumbled. “I’m doing this for you.”

“No,” I reminded her, “you’re doing it for you. It’s your body. Heck, it’s your life.”

“Let’s compromise,” she said. “I’m doing it for us.”

“Fair enough.”

“Anyway, stop interrupting. I was talking about Lily. I totally have a crush on her.”

“Seriously? You just met her!”

“I had a crush on you when we first met,” she shot back. “You see how that worked out.”

“Yeah, after two years of stupidity on my part!”

“Well, let’s hope Lily isn’t as dense.”

I snorted a laugh. She had me there and she knew it.

“Oh, Paul,” she said, “I hope she comes tonight. You’ll see.”

* * *

Dinner was a disaster. In Trip’s defense, it wasn’t exactly his fault. It wasn’t really Wren’s either. She was up against a deadline for the first draft of her honors thesis, and she needed to work on it instead of cooking. But she still wanted to make something special for Christy’s birthday. Her solution was fairly clever. She’d planned a meal where everything cooked in a single pan in the oven. Then she’d asked Trip to keep an eye on the kitchen while she worked upstairs on the computer.

Wren smelled dinner burning and bolted downstairs to try to save it. Christy and I heard her go but didn’t understand why. Then we caught a whiff of smoke and made the connection. We ran downstairs, and Trip emerged from his office at the sound of the commotion. We were all too late.

Wren emerged from the kitchen, took one look at Christy, and dropped like a marionette whose strings had been cut. She sat in a heap on the floor and sobbed with rage, disappointment, and exhaustion. Trip knelt with his arm around her, while Christy sat in front of her and consoled her. They eventually calmed her down.

“Let’s take her upstairs,” Trip said.

Christy nodded, and they helped her to her feet. She looked worse than I’d ever seen. Her eyes were puffy from crying, but she had dark bags under them too. Her nose was red and runny, and her hair was a mess.

“Bath?” Christy suggested.

Trip picked Wren up. She clung to him and looked like a child in his arms.

“I’ll be right behind you,” Christy told her.

Wren snuffled and nodded miserably.

Christy turned to me once they were on the stairs. “Can you salvage dinner?”

“I’ll do what I can.”

“Clean up the mess and cook something. It doesn’t matter what. I’m going to take care of her.”

“Take a bottle of wine,” I said.

“Good idea.”

“And don’t forget the corkscrew.”

She gave me a reproachful look. “I love you, Paul, dear, but now isn’t the time.”

“Sorry.”

“We’ll laugh about it later.”

“Yes, dear.”

“Better.” She stretched up for a kiss. “And thank you.”

She could be a little dictator when she wanted to be, and all of a sudden I understood why Harold called Anne the Commander in Chief.

“Don’t look so surprised,” Christy said. “I’m my father’s daughter.”

“Your mother’s too.”

“And don’t you forget it.” She kissed me again. “I’d better get going.”

Trip came downstairs a few minutes after Christy went up.

“Shit,” he muttered. “That was all my fault.”

“What happened?”

“I thought she’d set the timer, and she thought I had. Rookie mistake! I should’ve double-checked. I knew she had her mind on her thesis.”

“No sense crying over spilled milk,” I said.

“Or burned duck?”

“Help me clean up and we’ll figure out something for dinner.”

“Christy suggested fish sticks,” he said. “She said we have a box of Mrs. Paul’s in the freezer. She took charge. Upstairs. Just like that.” He snapped his fingers. Then he added soberly, “I think maybe I underestimated her.”

“Oh?” I mocked. “Do tell.”

“Yeah, all right, I get it. No need to rub it in.”

“You’re right. Come on, let’s air out the kitchen and start cleaning up.”

He chuckled at a thought. “Nothing like a good crisis to pull us together.”

* * *

The girls came downstairs about an hour later. Wren looked more human but still wrung out. Her damp hair hung limp, although Christy had combed it. And she’d made an attempt at makeup, but it would take more than eyeliner and a little mascara to hide the dark smudges under her eyes. At least her shirt and sweatpants were clean.

“I’m so sorry,” she said.

“It’s my fault,” Trip said. “You put me in charge, and I blew it.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Christy said.

“But… the duck,” Wren said. “The skin was going to be crispy and everything.”

“It’s my birthday, and I want fish sticks.”

“They’ll be ready in a few minutes,” I said on cue.

“We both checked the timer this time,” Trip said.

“And he did the dishes,” I added.

Wren looked up in surprise.

“Yep. He scrubbed the roasting pan and cleaned the stove from where you tried to save things. He even took out the trash.”

“It smelled disgusting,” he said bashfully.

Wren gave him a look of pure devotion.

“I’m so sorry, babe,” he said. “I know you wanted everything to be perfect—”

“It is perfect,” Christy insisted. “I’m the birthday girl, and I say so.” She glanced at me. “Will you open another bottle of wine, dear?” She pulled the corkscrew from her pocket and held it up with a wry grin.

Wren laughed and blinked back tears. “Y’all’re the best.”

“Darn right we are,” Christy said.

* * *

“I feel a thousand percent better,” Wren said after we’d eaten. “I never thought I’d say this, but that was the best dinner I’ve had in a while.”

“Sometimes simple is best,” Trip said.

“The wine didn’t hurt,” Christy added.

“And the company,” I said.

“Thank God for the company!” Wren laughed. Her smile lingered for a moment before it faded.

“Uh-oh,” Trip said. “What’s wrong?”

“I just remembered… we have company coming. The house’s a mess, I’m a mess—”

“Paul and I’ll clean up down here,” he said.

“Are you sure? I know you hate—”

“I’m sure. You and Christy go upstairs and do…” He waved his hand vaguely.

“Girl stuff,” Christy said.

“Right, girl stuff. Make yourselves beautiful. More beautiful,” he amended. He stood and picked up his plate. “You coming?” he said to me.

I shot Christy a look of bemusement.

“You heard him.” She grinned. “Chop-chop.”

The doorbell rang as we pushed back from the table.

“I’ll get it,” I said. “You all go upstairs and get ready. Trip…”

“Yeah, I know,” he said with faux resignation. “Do the dishes.”

“The things we do for love,” I said.

“I dunno ’bout you,” he shot back, “but I’m doing it to get laid.”

Wren rose on tiptoes and motioned him down for a kiss. “You will.”

“See?” he said with a goofy grin. “Works every time.”

Trip began to clear the table, the girls headed upstairs, and I went to answer the door.

“Hey,” Terri said cheerfully. “I hope I’m not too early.”

“No, come on in.”

She brandished a bottle of wine as she stepped inside. “I hope you like it. I didn’t know white or red.”

“We’re color-blind here. We only see alcohol.”

“Ha! Okay.” She held up a gift and added, “I also brought this. I hope she likes them. I had to guess her size.”

“Small,” I chuckled as I swung the door closed.

“You don’t even know what they are.”

“Doesn’t matter. Everything about her is small.”

“And what’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing. I happen to like small.”

Terri’s dark eyes sparkled with amusement. Then she wrinkled her nose. “Uh…?”

“Burned duck,” I said flippantly. “Long story. Don’t ask.”

“Okay, I won’t,” she laughed.

I led her toward the kitchen. “The girls are upstairs getting ready. Trip’s cleaning up. He’s feeling guilty.”

“The duck?”

“It was a tragic loss.”

“Cremated?”

“Very funny,” Trip said as we entered the kitchen. Then, “Hey, Terri. Thanks for coming.”

“Paul said I shouldn’t ask…”

“But he told you already?” He pretended to glare.

“Can I fix you a drink?” I asked him. “As a peace offering?”

“It’ll take more than that, but a Jack and Coke’d be awesome.”

“Coming right up. You want one?” I asked Terri. “Or stick to wine?”

“Uh… whatever you’re having.”

“Sounds good. Three Jack and Cokes, coming up.”

* * *

Freddie and Rosemary arrived a little while later with a bottle of sambuca and a four-pack of wine coolers.

“Ay, paisan,” he greeted Trip. “Good to see you.”

“You too, Freddie.”

“I brought some of the old country for you to try.” He held up the bottle.

“Not too much,” Rosemary cautioned. “We have class in the morning.”

“I’ll behave,” he promised. Then he saw Terri. “Oh, ay, who’s this?”

I introduced them and added, “She’s a friend of ours from the dance team.”

“Oh, right!” he said. “Twinkletoes here was tellin’ us about that. Ballroom. Too swanky for me.”

“Anyone can learn,” Terri said smoothly.

He shrugged and changed the subject. “Say, where’s the birthday girl? We brought her somethin’. You have it, hon?”

“Right here,” Rosemary said calmly. She held up a gift bag. “We didn’t know what to get—”

“But booze is always appropriate,” Freddie finished.

“You got that right,” Trip agreed. “Come on to the kitchen. I’ll share some of my old country, Tennessee’s finest.”

“Go on,” Rosemary told Freddie. She grabbed a wine cooler and sent the rest with him. She waited till he was out of earshot before she said to me, “Thanks for inviting us. It means a lot to Freddie.”

“It means a lot that he’s my friend,” I said.

“Thank you.” She frowned and looked around. “Freddie was just being polite, but where is Christy?”

“She and Wren are upstairs,” I said. “Still getting ready. We… um… had a bit of an adventure earlier.”

“They burned a duck,” Terri added.

“Oh, okay,” Rosemary laughed. Then her forehead wrinkled. “Is that a joke or something?”

“Unfortunately not,” I laughed. “But Terri’ll have to explain. If you’ll excuse me a sec, I’m gonna check on Christy and Wren.”

“Sure,” Terri said with a smile. “We’ll be here.”

I left them making small talk and headed upstairs. The girls were in the master bathroom, where Christy was putting the finishing touches on Wren’s hair.

“Wow, total transformation,” I said to her in the mirror.

She still looked tired, but it was her attitude more than her looks. Christy had done a great job with everything else.

“You mean it?” Wren asked.

“Absolutely. You look fantastic.”

Christy thanked me with a smile and unplugged the curling iron. Then she glanced at her watch. “Is everyone here?”

“Terri, Freddie, and Rosemary,” I said.

She frowned. “I hope Lily and her boyfriend come. She said she would.”

“We’ll have fun no matter what.”

“Fun?” Wren said. “What’s that?”

“It’s a strange thing people do when they aren’t working all the time.”

“Do we know anyone like that?”

“I don’t think so,” I chuckled. “We’re all pretty busy. So let’s relax and blow off some steam tonight.”

“I wish I could,” she said.

“Lorelei Wren Hilliard,” Christy said, “I refuse to let you ruin my birthday.”

“You heard her,” I chimed in. “Besides, it’s one night.”

Wren looked at herself in the mirror and made a decision. “Yeah, I need this more than I need honors when I graduate.”

“That’s the spirit!”

“Thank you, Mr. Positive,” Christy said sincerely.

“Thank you both,” Wren said. “And Trip too. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

We shared a quiet smile before the doorbell cut it short.

“Perfect timing,” I pretend-griped.

“Oh my gosh, that’s Lily,” Christy said. “You’re going to love her.” She caught my eye and practically begged me to like her new friend.

Seriously? I asked.

Oh, Paul, she answered with a look. Wait till you meet her. You’ll see.

“All right,” I said aloud. “We’d better go down.”

“Here?” Wren teased. “Now?”

I rolled my eyes. “Later. After everyone leaves.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” she said.

“Mmm. I’m sure you will. But in the meantime, let’s get downstairs and greet our guests.”

“We finished the wine anyway,” Christy said to Wren. “And I’m ready for something stronger.”

“Amen,” Wren agreed.

“Well, the bar’s open,” I said, “and Freddie brought a bottle of sambuca.”

Wren’s eyes lit up. “Really? We have Baileys. I can make Slippery Nipples.”

“Sounds yummy,” Christy said.

“Yeah,” Wren smiled, “this is exactly what I need.”

* * *

Lily and her boyfriend were talking to the others downstairs, and I suppressed a smile when I saw her. She was definitely Christy’s type, at least in the body department.

She was dark-haired, dark-eyed, and attractive. I immediately thought of a farmer’s daughter. She didn’t have huge tracts of land, but they were big enough to keep a farm boy happy. She reminded me of Kendall. She was slimmer through the hips and not quite as tall, but her hair and chest certainly matched.

Her boyfriend was about Trip’s height and build. He was good-looking, with chiseled features and sandy hair. His name was Will, and he seemed like a nice enough guy. We made small talk with Trip and Freddie while Christy and the others went through to the kitchen.

Lily appeared after a few minutes and handed Will a drink. She smiled at him, shot me a quick smile, and returned to the kitchen. Will didn’t seem to notice his girlfriend’s look, and I wasn’t about to ask. He pointed to the front room instead.

“Is that your guitar?” he said to Trip.

“Yeah? You play?”

“Yeah. Only a church band, but…”

The conversation moved away and took Freddie with it. I decided to refill my drink, and Terri met me coming the other way.

“You having fun?” I asked.

She smiled. “I am now.”

“Cool. I was just going to get another drink.”

“Here, have mine.” She pressed a full Jack and Coke into my hands.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I’m going to switch to wine.”

“You want me to get you a glass?”

“In a minute.” She looked up at the house. “Will you give me a tour first?”

“Sure. You know where the kitchen is. And this is the dining room. Duh. Trip’s office is there. The living room’s here. We call the front room the octagon room. For obvious reasons.” I looked around and shrugged. “It’s pretty much standard for an upper middle-class Victorian home.”

“And upstairs?”

“Bedrooms.”

“The third floor?”

“They used to be the servants’ rooms, but now they’re Christy’s and my studios.”

“Sounds interesting.”

“Want me to show you?”

“Sure.”

We headed upstairs, where I gave her a brief tour of the second floor before we headed to the third. She glanced at Christy’s studio and went into mine instead. She climbed onto my drafting stool and smiled. I returned it and simply admired her.

She was wearing a purple dress that complemented her olive skin and dark, lustrous hair. The neckline dipped to show her cleavage, and the skirt rose above her knees when she sat. She followed my eyes and pursed her lips with a smile. Then she held her skirt in place and kicked her feet like a kid. Her legs were strong and silky smooth.

“Very nice,” I said. “The whole package.”

“Good things come in small packages.”

“They do,” I agreed with a chuckle that I didn’t explain.

“So, this is where you work?”

“Yep. This is where the magic happens.”

Her eyes glinted. “I thought that was downstairs.”

“Huh?”

“In the bedroom?” She laughed, tinkling and musical. “You’re super-cute when you’re embarrassed.”

“It’s the alcohol,” I lied.

“I’m sure.”

“We’d better head back down.”

“Why? You don’t want to be alone with me?”

“It isn’t that,” I said lamely.

“Christy doesn’t mind, does she? That we’re alone?”

“No, of course not.”

“Okay. Just making sure. I don’t wanna step on any toes.”

“No, it’s cool.”

“She seems in a better mood. Did she solve her birth control problem?”

“What? Oh, yeah.”

“What’d she decide?” Terri asked. “Never mind. I can ask her if you’re embarrassed.”

“No, I’m fine. She started taking the pill. Today, as a matter of fact.”

“Oh, cool. But… why the change?”

“She didn’t tell you what we were doing before?”

“No. She only asked about mine. Why? What did she use?”

“Nothing.”

“Seriously? Whose dumb idea was that?” she accused.

“Whoa, not mine!”

“Yeah, sure.”

“I swear. I wanted to use the pill, condoms, a diaphragm… anything but the rhythm method. Even an IUD would’ve been better.”

“You seem to know a lot about it,” she conceded. “For a guy.”

“It’s my responsibility too. I mean, it takes two to tango…”

“I’m glad you agree.” Her expression softened. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to get on my feminist soapbox.”

“It’s all right. I’m a feminist trapped in a man’s body.”

“Lucky for me.”

I took the opportunity to change the subject. “You ready for that glass of wine?”

“And some company?”

“Of course.”

We went downstairs and found the others in the kitchen. Wren was pouring shots that looked moderately difficult—clear liquid with a neat layer of Baileys on top. She was using a straw to add several drops of grenadine to each. She ignored us and concentrated on what she was doing.

“You’re just in time,” Trip said.

“For what? Those things look toxic.”

The grenadine sank to the bottom of each glass and made them look like something I didn’t want to drink.

“Get da fuck outta here,” Freddie said. “They’re Slippery Nipples, a New York specialty.”

I kept my mouth shut and wondered who came up with layered shots anyway. The B-52s that Mark had made had been just as finicky. Didn’t anyone just shoot whiskey anymore? I chuckled at myself when I realized I sounded like Christy’s father.

Wren stood back to admire her handiwork, and everyone applauded. The shots were impressive, even if I didn’t want to drink one. Still, I knew better than to refuse, so I accepted a glass when Trip handed me one.

“To the birthday girl,” he said.

We toasted and drank, and I regretted it almost immediately. “Oh, God, what’s in that?” I gasped. “Licorice?”

“You and I,” Freddie said dramatically, “are no longer friends.”

“I’ll drink his,” Christy said.

“I just like saying the name,” Lily said. “Slippery Nipple.”

“I know, right? It feels good in your mouth.”

“Everyone loves a slippery nipple,” Trip agreed.

“I like sex on the beach,” Wren said.

“Are we still talking about cocktails?” I asked.

“You should try a slow, comfortable screw.”

Everyone laughed at my expression.

“Wren, 1. Paul, 0,” she added with a friendly grin.

“Attagirl,” Trip said. Then, “Who’s ready for some music?”

“Me. Let’s rock this place,” Will said.

“You gotta hear this guy’s stereo,” Freddie said to him. “It’s amazing.”

Christy hung back as everyone filed out of the kitchen and headed toward the octagon room.

“What do you think?” she asked.

“About Lily? She’s nice. Very cute.”

“Will’s nice too.”

“He is.”

“His father’s a preacher. Can you believe it? He’s a Baptist, but still…”

I chuckled. “Baptists are people too. Judgmental hypocrites, but still people.”

“Some of ’em don’t even think we’re Christians. Catholics, I mean.”

“Will seems all right,” I said.

“Yeah. He’s kinda cute, too.”

My eyebrows went up.

“Oh, relax,” she said softly. “I just said he’s cute. I didn’t say he makes me tingle all over.”

Terri appeared in the doorway. “Oh, sorry. Do you want me to give you a minute?”

“No. We were just talking,” I said. “What’s up?”

“I forgot my wine.”

Christy smiled. “Paul will take care of you. Won’t you, dear?”

“Absolutely.”

She stretched upward for a kiss. Then she smiled at Terri and went to join the others.

“What can I fix you?” I asked.

“Whatever you’re having.”

“I thought you wanted wine.”

“I changed my mind. What’re you drinking?”

“Probably wine,” I laughed. “It beats the alternative.”

She made a face. “I didn’t really like it either.”

“You don’t like licorice?”

“Liquor in general.”

“For real?”

“Does that surprise you?”

“Not really,” I said.

“I’m very choosy about what I put in my body.”

“You should be. It’s a nice body.”

“Thank you. Yours is pretty nice too.”

“Yeah, but I don’t have your curves.”

“Now who’s flirting?” she laughed.

“Guilty as charged. But you know what you look like.”

“Yes. And thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now, about that wine…?”

“Right. Christy said you’d take care of me.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” I opened the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle. “White okay? We have red if you want something with more body.”

“No,” she said with a grin, “more isn’t always better.”

“Especially in the body department?”

“Just like a guy,” she said playfully, “hung up on size.”

“It isn’t the size.”

“It isn’t?” she teased.

“No. Besides, I’m fine in that department. It’s how you use it.”

“Oh, please! Will you open the wine already?”

I grinned and pulled the cork. “How much do you want?”

“Are we talking about the wine, or…?”

“You tell me.”

“The wine.”

“Okay. Then… how much?”

“Do you want to walk or carry me home?”

“You’re pretty small, but let’s start with walking.” I poured half a glass. “On second thought…” I topped it off. “It might be fun to carry you.”

She pursed her lips with a coy grin. “And they say chivalry’s dead.”

* * *

Christy opened her presents a little while later. She started with the obvious ones, a bottle of Chardonnay from Lily and Will and a bottle of Crown Royal from Freddie and Rosemary.

“Whisky, my favorite,” she lied smoothly. “And I love the bag it comes in.”

She opened Terri’s gift next.

“I had to guess your size,” Terri said. “I have the receipt if you need to exchange them.”

“No, they’re perfect!” Christy gushed. “Thank you very much.” She held up the box to show us a pair of ballet slippers.

“You should practice with me sometime.”

“Oh my gosh, I’d love to.”

She opened a present from Wren and Trip next, a large set of Faber-Castell colored pencils.

“Exactly what I needed. Thank you.” She opened their second gift, several bottles of bath oil. “Ooh, I’ll definitely enjoy these too.”

“Maybe with company?” Wren suggested. She was tipsy enough that she didn’t care if anyone else picked up on her meaning.

“How’d you know?” I joked. “I love Opium.”

“That’s nice,” she said sweetly, “but I wasn’t talking about you.”

Trip grinned. “Wren, 2. Paul, 0.”

“Man, I’m getting my butt kicked.”

Everyone laughed at my expense, but Christy leaned over and said, “I’ll make it up to you.”

“That’s okay,” I told the group. “She saved the best for last.”

“And the biggest,” Lily said. She gave me a look that made me wonder what Christy had told her.

Will missed it completely. “Yeah, open the little one first,” he said.

Freddie picked up the smaller of the two boxes and handed it to Christy.

“It’s heavy.” She grinned in anticipation and tore into it. “Oh my gosh!”

“What is it?” Will asked.

“A VCR!”

“Open the other one,” I said.

Freddie scooted it across the floor, and Christy ripped the paper.

“And a TV! Oh, Paul, thank you, thank you, thank you!” She flung her arms around my neck and kissed me soundly. “Exactly what I wanted.”

“Now you can watch porn in your room,” Freddie said.

Rosemary shrieked, “Freddie!”

Everyone else roared with laughter.

“Ay, I’m just sayin’!” he said.

“Well, I wouldn’t know,” Christy said primly.

Wren and Lily both grinned.

“Uh-huh, sure,” Trip said.

“I wouldn’t,” she protested. “I’m a proper young lady.”

“With a proper sex drive,” he added under his breath.

“I wouldn’t know about that, either.”

“I would,” Wren said.

Lily grinned, and even Will noticed, although he looked shocked. I chuckled and reminded myself that he was a nineteen-year-old Baptist preacher’s son. At least Rosemary and Freddie hadn’t heard. She was busy scolding him for the comment that started everything. I glanced at the last member of our little group, Terri.

She was watching me. She arched an eyebrow and sipped her wine to cover a smile.

“Is that it for the presents?” Trip asked. “I have some new music for us. It’s called Alternative.”

“Alternative to what?” Will scoffed.

“Second Invasion, synth-pop, traditional rock,” Trip said. He leaned toward the stereo and hit play on the cassette deck. “These guys are from your back yard, Paul. You’ve heard ’em before.”

“If you say so.”

“They’re called R.E.M.—”

“Oh, yeah. Right.”

“—and they’re about to be huge. Listen.”

* * *

The party lasted until about midnight, when Rosemary gently separated Freddie from his drink and said they needed to go. He didn’t argue, and I followed as she guided him toward the front door.

“You want help?” I asked her. “Getting him home?”

“No, I can manage.”

“She knows how t’ han’l me,” he slurred.

“You’re a lucky guy, Freddie.”

“You better believe it.” He leaned close and breathed licorice fumes. “She can do better’n me, but I wanna marry her.”

I shot her a glance. She blushed and looked pleased, so I shifted my attention back to him. “Have you asked her yet?”

“Uh-uh. Too scared. But shh, don’ tell her.”

“Oh, I think she knows.”

He looked up hopefully. “Do ya think she’ll say yes?”

“If you ask her.”

Rosemary agreed with a smile. “Thanks again for inviting us,” she said aloud.

Freddie jumped in surprise but leaned in to whisper, “Will you be my bes’ man?”

“Freddie,” I said earnestly, “nothing would make me happier.”

“You really mean it?”

“Absolutely. But in the meantime, you need to go home and get some sleep.”

“An’ sober up,” he agreed. “Class t’morrow.” He burped. “Fuggedaboutit.”

“You sure?” I asked Rosemary again. “I can call a taxi.”

“No, but thanks. My place isn’t far. Besides, it’ll do him good to walk.”

“Clear his head,” I agreed.

“Clear m’ head,” he echoed. He allowed Rosemary to duck under his arm and help him down the stairs to the sidewalk.

“You’re a good friend,” Terri said from behind me.

She’d drunk even less than I had, so we were the only sober people in the house now that Rosemary had gone.

“I like Freddie,” I said.

“I can tell. You’re going to make a great architect someday. People respect you.”

“What about you?” I asked. “Do you still respect me? Now that you’ve seen me outside of class?”

“Of course. And I think I understand you better.”

“Well, you haven’t run away.”

“No,” she agreed with a laugh.

“Although… you look like you’re ready to leave.”

“I think so. Walk me home?”

“Sure you don’t want me to carry you?”

She grinned. “I’m fine to walk.”

“Okay. Lemme tell Christy where I’m going.”

The girls were giggling together on the couch in the octagon room. Will was only semi-coherent, and Trip wasn’t much better. They’d finished a nearly full bottle of Jack Daniel’s by themselves.

“Hey,” I got the girls’ attention. “I’m gonna walk Terri home.”

“Okay,” Christy said. “Make sure she’s safe.”

“Don’t be long,” Wren said. “You made a promise, remember?”

“Ooh, what kind of promise?” Lily wondered.

Wren smirked. “The going down kind.”

“He’s a hard licker,” Christy agreed.

They collapsed in a fit of giggles.

“Okay,” I said to no one in particular. “I’ll be back in a little while.”

“What was that about?” Terri asked when I rejoined her.

My cheeks heated. “What did you hear?”

“Something about a promise. Do you need to stay?”

“No. We’re good.”

She nodded and slipped her arm through mine as we walked down the steps. The night air was cool and refreshing, but Terri hadn’t worn a jacket.

“Hold on.” I ran back to the house and grabbed mine from the rack by the door. I jogged back and draped it around her shoulders. It practically swallowed her.

“Thanks.” She pulled it tight. “Mmm, it smells like you. What cologne is that?”

“Lagerfeld.”

“It’s very masculine.”

“Thanks.”

She slipped her arm through mine, and we set out toward her apartment.

“Thanks for inviting me tonight,” she said. “I had fun.”

“I’m glad. I did too. But I was kinda worried.”

“About what?”

“You didn’t drink very much.”

She shook her head. “I don’t like to be out of control.”

“Makes sense.”

“What about you? You didn’t drink much either.”

“I do sometimes. I guess I wasn’t in the mood tonight.”

“I hope I didn’t stop you.”

“No.” I thought about it and shrugged. “I’m a bit of a control freak too.”

“I didn’t say I was a control freak,” she laughed. “I said I don’t like to be out of control.”

“Is there a difference?”

“Of course there is. A control freak has to be in control. I… don’t mind if someone else is in control. As long as I trust them.”

“Ah. Okay. Do you trust me?”

“Of course,” she said. Then she grinned. “I’ll show you a shortcut.”

We walked between two houses and down a gravel alley. We came out beside her building, and I walked her up the stairs. She turned with the keys in her hand. Then she moistened her lips. She leaned toward me and tilted her face up. I reacted automatically, and we kissed.

“I’ve been thinking about that all night,” she said when it ended. “Would you like to come in?”

“I don’t—” I said. “I mean, I’m not— I didn’t—”

“Don’t worry, I have them.”

“Huh? Have what?”

“Condoms.”

“No, it isn’t that. Wait, what?” I was irritated at myself, but she misread me.

“Did I misunderstand…?”

“No, not at all! I— Hold on, what’re you talking about?”

“I thought… Tonight… Christy said you have an open relationship.”

That threw me for a loop. “She what?”

“Said you have an open relationship.”

“When?”

“Is this some kind of joke? It isn’t very funny.”

“No, it isn’t a joke. And you’re right, it isn’t funny. Can we talk inside?”

“I’m not sure,” she said warily.

“Listen, I…” A dozen thoughts flashed through my mind. All of them made me sound like a jerk, so I told her the truth instead. “Listen, I screwed up. Big time. I wasn’t expecting… this, an invitation. That’s why I reacted the way I did.”

Her expression didn’t soften, but she relaxed slightly.

“I can probably explain, but I don’t want to wait till tomorrow. The short answer is that I like you. And I want to sleep with you—I mean, if I didn’t misunderstand—but not unless you know what’s going on.”

“You’d better come in.” She unlocked the door, and I followed her into the apartment.

It was two hotel rooms that had been knocked together to create a one-bedroom apartment. It hadn’t been a classy hotel to begin with, and the conversion hadn’t improved it much. On the upside, Terri had done wonders with furniture and decorations. The place looked cozy and comfortable.

She laughed in disbelief. “You’re looking at the apartment, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, sorry. It’s a habit.”

“I meant what I said. Earlier. You’re going to make a great architect someday.”

“Thanks. And I must be doing something right if you still think that.”

“Honesty helps.” She took off my jacket and handed it back. Then she turned on a light. “Would you like something to drink? Beer? Wine? Soda?”

“Whatever you’re having.”

“Wine, probably.”

“Want me to open it?”

She laughed. “It isn’t that kind.” She opened the refrigerator and pulled out a green jug. “You can get the glasses, though.”

They were hanging in a rack above the front window. I had to stretch over the small kitchen table to grab them.

“How do you get these?” I said.

“I stand on a chair.”

“Okay.”

“I’ve had to adapt. I’ve been this size since I was thirteen.”

I tried to lighten the mood. “I bet some things are bigger.”

“What? Oh, them.” She glanced down at her breasts. “No, they came later.” She arched an eyebrow and dared me to make another comment.

“Right, got it,” I said. “Terri, 1. Paul, -1.”

She glanced down and tried to hide a smile.

“I like your place,” I said, a neutral subject.

“Thanks. I’ll be sorry to leave it.”

We sat on the couch, and she filled two glasses with pink wine. She took one and sat back against the armrest. She wasn’t being defensive, but she definitely didn’t want me close to her. I took the hint and turned to face her instead.

“Have you decided what to tell me?” she asked. “How to dig yourself out?”

“Start with the truth.”

“That’s a new one.” She sipped her wine and studied me over the top of the glass.

“Christy and I do have an open relationship,” I said after a moment. “Sort of. But it’s more complicated than that. We sleep with other people, but we usually talk about it first.” Our relationship wasn’t open, per se, but it was easier to explain than the actual truth.

Terri processed for a moment before she said, “So, you don’t mind if she sleeps with other guys?”

“No, but it’s only girls.” That came as a surprise.

Terri started to recover before the penny dropped for real. “Now I get it,” she said. “Tonight. With Wren. She was serious about the bath thing?”

“Yeah. They’re girlfriends.”

“And not the way most people mean it.”

“You aren’t shocked?”

“Maybe a little.” She shrugged. “But I’ve been around dancers all my life. Some of them are… that way.”

“So you understand?”

“Of course. I don’t care if people are like that. And you’re clearly okay with it.” She snorted derisively. “Why wouldn’t you be?”

“Now, hold on, Miss Feminist. Why shouldn’t women be able to choose who they sleep with? Men or women, how often, and under what circumstances.”

“You don’t live in the real world,” she accused.

“I live in the same world you do. But I choose to play by different rules.”

“You can. You’re a guy.”

“Women can play by the same rules. Christy does. Wren too.”

“What do your rules say about you and me? About… that?” She glanced toward the bedroom.

“Not unless Christy knows about it.”

“But… she practically threw you at me. Said you have an open relationship. That I’d enjoy it. She even described your…” She waved vaguely at my crotch. “Equipment!”

“Yeah, but she didn’t tell me any of that.”

“Seriously?”

“Nope.”

“Then why’d she do it?”

“I’m not entirely sure,” I admitted. “But part of it— Well, she likes you.”

“I like her too. But— Uh, you don’t mean like friends, do you? You mean… the other way.”

I nodded slowly.

“But I like men.” She gulped her wine. “Men only.”

“She figured that out,” I said. Which explains Lily, I added to myself.

Terri followed the trail of logic. “Ah, now I understand. She wanted to get to me through you. And when that didn’t work, she moved on. But she’d already called the tune.”

“Exactly.”

She huffed in frustration. “You didn’t realize I was serious? Tonight. I thought you did. You were flirting too.”

“I was. I was having fun. I thought you were coming on a little strong, but—”

“I was! I’m not… like that. Not normally. But I thought…”

“I’m so sorry,” I said. “I didn’t realize. That’s why I reacted the way I did. Like a jerk.”

“I feel like such a fool.”

“It isn’t your fault. If anything, it’s mine.”

“At least you didn’t go through with it. Most guys would’ve.”

“That wouldn’t be fair. To you, to me, to her.” I paused and then added, “I still want to, though.”

She snorted again, but softer.

“I wasn’t toying with you. I meant it.”

“So did I,” she said, so low that I almost didn’t hear.

“I wish we could, but… not tonight.”

“Not ever.”

I let her words hang in the air until she felt guilty. Then I said, “If you really mean that, I’ll go now.” I even started to get up.

“No, don’t.” She thought about it and deflated. “I can’t believe I just said that.”

“I’m glad you did.”

“For all the good it does.”

“Tonight isn’t forever.”

She understood what I meant.

“So,” I said after a suitable pause, “what do we do now?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’d like to be friends.”

“Friends. Great,” she said sarcastically.

“It’s a start. And I enjoy dancing. Especially with you.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“I’d like to be lovers, but on even terms. And not till you trust me again.”

She looked at me with such desire that I almost reached out to her. She caught herself and blinked back tears. “It’s probably a good thing,” she said at last. “That we didn’t sleep together. I’m technically a professor. And you’re my student. The University frowns on that sort of thing.”

“I didn’t even think of that.”

“I did,” she said. “But I was willing to ignore it. I thought— Well, you know what I thought.” She closed her eyes and sighed heavily. Then she drained her wineglass.

“You want more?”

She shook her head without opening her eyes. Then she sniffed and wiped away tears. “Sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to cry.”

“It’s okay. You’ve had an emotional evening.” I set my glass on the coffee table. Then I took her empty one and straightened in my seat. “Come here.”

“I don’t know if I should.”

“Do you trust me?”

She didn’t answer with words. Instead, she uncrossed her legs and scooted toward me. I put my arm around her and rested my cheek on top of her head as she hugged me.

“This feels so good,” she whispered.

“It does.” Then I chuckled softly. “We can’t have sex, but—”

“No,” she said, immediate and firm.

“Yeah, you’re right. That was the little head talking.”

“That isn’t an option tonight. Not anymore.”

“Fair enough.”

“But this is.”

* * *

I returned home and expected to find everyone right where I’d left them. Christy and her metabolism could drink all night, and Wren had clearly decided to blow off class in the morning. Lily seemed to be a party girl, not really serious about anything but a good time. Trip and Will had already been out of it by the time I’d left, but the girls were having enough fun by themselves.

I was a little surprised to find a quiet house instead. The downstairs was dark and deserted. No one had cleaned up, but we hadn’t really made a mess except in the kitchen and front room. I went upstairs and halfway expected to find Lily and Will passed out in Christy’s old bedroom, but it was empty. I wondered how they’d gotten home, but not enough to go looking for them.

I wasn’t entirely surprised to find Wren in our bedroom. I was surprised that she and Christy were simply talking. They were nude and lying under the covers, but Wren had her head propped on her hand, while Christy faced her from her own pillow. The bedside light was even on. Christy saw me first, and her expression lit with a smile.

“Mmm, you’re home.”

Wren looked over her shoulder. “What took you so long?”

“Nothing.” I lied easily. “Terri and I were talking and lost track of time.” I peevishly wondered what would’ve happened if we’d actually had sex. Would Christy have missed me? I knew better than to mention it, though. It wasn’t the time or place. So I faked a smile and said, “Why? Were you waiting on me?”

“Not really,” Wren said. “We were just talking. Although… you promised. To go down on me.”

My eyebrows shot up. “Are you serious?”

“Why do you think I’m here?”

“Honestly? Because you’re drunk and horny and wanna fool around with Christy?”

“You’re such a romantic.”

“And for the record,” Christy added, “we aren’t drunk.”

“Speak for yourself,” Wren said. “I’m pretty wasted. But it feels good.” She let out a heavy sigh. “God, I’m so sick of school. I don’t care anymore.”

“Shh, don’t talk about it,” Christy said. “Not tonight. You’ll ruin my birthday.”

“I’d never do that, my love.”

I cleared my throat softly. “Want me to leave you alone?”

“No!” “Of course not.”

“We want you to join us,” Wren added.

“I want my birthday penis,” Christy said. “I saved the best for last.”

But he wasn’t the last present. I had one more, although I couldn’t give it to her until later. She read my expression and started to ask, but I warned her off.

Why not? she asked with a slight frown. Then she glanced at Wren and figured it out. Oh. Okay. Never mind. “Wanna help me unwrap him?” she asked her instead.

“Sure.” Wren kicked off the covers and stood.

I hadn’t seen her nude in several months, so I admired her body. I was used to Christy’s small, firm breasts, which made Wren’s normal ones seem large. The rest of her was larger and softer as well, especially compared to Christy’s almost boyish figure. My eyes traveled lower, to her pubic hair. It was still shaved in a neat triangle above her slit. She looked down at herself.

“Business up top, party down below.” She ran her fingers through the tuft of hair. “Trip likes it, and that’s all that really matters.”

“I like it too,” Christy said as she climbed out of bed. “Does that count?”

“Of course.”

“Good.” She looked at me, and her eyes shone with eagerness. “Are we ready to unwrap him? I’ll get his pants—”

“Duh.”

“—you do his shirt.”

“I’ll do more than that,” Wren said with a grin.

“Does Trip know you’re here?” I asked idly.

“Not exactly.”

“Then… um…”

“I’ll tell him,” she said. “Besides, he knows about us.” She cut off discussion and began unbuttoning my shirt. Then she reached the bottom and said, “I just realized… We haven’t had sex in almost a year. And we haven’t done anything since New Year’s.”

“We’ve been busy.”

“And you were holding off ’cause of me,” Christy said. She lowered the waistband of my boxers. My pride and joy flopped out. “Mmm, penis.”

Wren rolled her eyes. “She’s goofy about dicks. Especially yours. That’s all she talks about sometimes.”

“So sue me,” Christy said. “Besides, you never complained. I thought you liked hearing about him.”

“That’s because I don’t have a choice. I’m usually recovering.” She chuckled and said to me, “Have you ever noticed how she starts talking the moment she gets you off? I mean, not even a half-second later. She just picks up right where she left off.”

“I’m not listening to you,” Christy said in a singsong. She lifted my foot and pulled off my pants.

“She chatters when she’s excited,” I said.

“I thought it was only when she’s nervous,” Wren said.

I shook my head and lifted the other foot. “When she’s excited too.”

“See, Miss Meanie?” Christy said. “Besides, I can’t help it if I have a lot to say.”

“I also have a secret weapon to keep her quiet,” I said.

Wren arched an eyebrow. Then she figured it out. “Seriously? God, sometimes I wish I had a dick.”

“Mmm, I have one,” Christy said. She drew me closer and began sucking.

“Goofy,” Wren said again, but fondly. Then she raised her lips for a kiss.

“Are you sure?” I asked quietly. “About Trip? I don’t wanna cause problems.”

“I’m sure. Now kiss me. Please.”

I did.

“I’ve missed that,” she said after. “I’ve missed you. And not just ’cause I’m horny. I can have sex any time.”

“Oh? Then what’s this?”

“Can we stop the game?” she asked plaintively. “It’s fun sometimes, but not all the time. Right now I just wanna have uncomplicated sex with my two best friends.” She glared before I could tease her with my usual reply. “Please don’t. Just kiss me.”

I did, and we lingered over it.

“Mmm,” she said at last. “Now, take me to bed and make love to me.”

“Hey!” Christy squawked. “I’m the birthday girl.”

“I don’t know why I put up with her,” Wren said.

“Because you love me, that’s why.” Christy stood, and Wren kissed her. She held on to my cock and stroked it gently as the kiss heated up.

I felt a bit like a third wheel, but I wasn’t about to complain.

“Mmm, birthday threesome,” Christy said at last. Then she hummed quietly, almost to herself. “Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me…” She climbed onto the bed and flopped to her back. She wasn’t demure or subtle, either. She spread her legs and gestured for us to join her.

I climbed onto the bed and scooted forward. Then I rubbed the head of my cock through Christy’s folds. Wren settled beside us, in the exact position she’d been in when I’d joined them. I slapped Christy’s smooth mons with my shaft, just to tease her. Wren took the hint and began sucking her nipples. We tormented her until she couldn’t stand it.

“Please,” she begged, “put it in.”

I grinned and told Wren, “Sit on her face.”

“Yes, sir,” she said with a touch of sarcasm and none of Christy’s submissiveness.

I silently reminded myself why she was Trip’s girlfriend and Christy was mine. Still, I’d already blown one chance to get laid. I wasn’t about to open my mouth and blow a second. Instead, I set my cock at Christy’s opening and slid into her. Wren smirked at me and then closed her eyes as Christy started licking her. I leaned forward and captured one of Wren’s nipples.

Christy’s pussy heated up as I fucked her slowly and she licked Wren’s pussy. Wren wasn’t as drunk as she’d said, but she was still buzzed enough that I knew she wouldn’t come quickly. That was fine by me, especially since I wanted Christy to come first. She was the birthday girl, after all. So we continued like that for several minutes, until I pulled out and patted Christy’s thigh.

“Scoot down,” I told her. “Switch places with me, Wren.”

She climbed off and moved between Christy’s legs. “Mmm, nice and juicy and pink,” she said. “Just like I like it.”

“Don’t listen to her,” Christy said as she rolled toward my cock. “She makes these awful food jokes.” She closed her eyes and moaned softly. “But then she does that. Oh my gosh, Wren, if I didn’t love you before…”

She closed her eyes again and concentrated on what Wren was doing. After a moment she opened them and swirled her tongue around my cock. She moaned when she tasted her own juices. Then she swallowed me halfway and began sucking in earnest.

I pinched and tugged and rolled her nipples while Wren worked her magic on her clit. She came fairly quickly. I was a bit surprised until I realized that she’d been worked up from all the teasing and innuendo at the party.

Wren and I shared a grin. We were a good team, even if we sometimes clashed. She must have been thinking the same thing. She glanced at my hard-on.

“You ready?” I said. “Hold on, stay there.” I moved down, straddled her thighs, and reflexively slapped her ass.

“Ow!”

“Sorry,” I said, a little sheepishly. Note to self: Keep your women straight. Christy likes pain. Wren doesn’t. Duh.

Christy must have read my mind. She laughed and immediately clapped a hand over her mouth.

“What’s so funny?” Wren said.

I parted her thighs and teased her pussy.

“Never mind. Forget— Oh! That’s nice.”

I grinned to myself and probed deeper. I added a second finger and fucked her gently to coat them. Then I used her juices to lubricate the tip of my shaft. I scooted forward, set my glans at her opening, and gently pushed into her. She raised her hips, and I sank into her until my balls rested against her thighs.

“God, you’re hot.” I breathed hard through my nose, until I could concentrate again. Then I braced my arms and began fucking her with short strokes.

Christy raised her head and silently scolded me. You almost got us both in trouble.

Yeah, sorry.

Her eyes softened. It’s okay. But save the spankings for me.

Will do. Now, I should probably pay attention to Wren.

Yes, please. And thank you.

My pleasure. We shared an affectionate smile. Then I said to Wren, “Is this what you wanted? A slow, comfortable screw?”

She groaned incoherently.

I started to tease her, but Christy cleared her throat.

What? I complained, as innocently as I could.

You know. Be nice.

You’re entirely too good at reading my thoughts, I glared.

In the irony of ironies, she didn’t understand.

Never mind. I’ll be good.

Thank you. She held my eyes for a moment to make sure I was going to stick to my promise. Then she smiled and ran her fingers through Wren’s hair.

Wren took the hint and began licking her pussy again.

I did my best not to smile. Christy was a master at getting people to do what she wanted without actually asking. She wasn’t as good as her mother—yet—but she was definitely headed that direction.

I gradually stopped worrying about it as Wren’s pussy grew hotter and wetter. She was getting close, and I was too. I didn’t want to come inside her, although I wasn’t sure why. I didn’t want to pull out and come on her back, either. I stopped thrusting, and she hissed as I slowly withdrew my cock.

“Roll over.” I patted her ass—gently—and swung my leg over hers.

She flipped to her back and automatically spread her legs. I climbed between them, scooted forward, and aimed my stiff prick at her opening. She closed her eyes and arched her back as I slid into her.

“Play with her nipples,” I told Christy.

“Yes, sir,” she said, the exact opposite of how Wren had said it earlier.

I began fucking her with long strokes at first, but she grabbed my hips and urged me to go faster. Soon I was pounding into her, and the pressure built until I couldn’t take it any more.

“Get down here,” I said to Christy.

She didn’t move quickly enough. Semen threatened to boil out of my balls, so I pulled out. My cock swelled, and a jet of come arced over Wren’s stomach. I leapt over her leg and stroked myself. The second spurt hit her in the face and surprised her.

“Sorry.” I adjusted my aim and thrust my hips toward her. The rest of my come splattered her breasts. I squeezed my cock and coated her nipple with the final gushes.

She still hadn’t come yet, so I moved between her legs and settled on my stomach. She gasped when I thrust two fingers into her sodden pussy. Then she cried out as I went to work on her clit with my mouth. She came with a muffled cry a few minutes later.

I gave her a moment to recover before I slowly withdrew my fingers. Then I looked up her body. Her chest rose and fell with her breathing. Christy had spread my come over her breasts, and they were still shiny with it. Christy herself grinned when she caught my eye.

“Me next.”

“You’re insatiable,” I chuckled. I pushed myself up and sat between Wren’s legs.

“What’s wrong with that?” Wren said between breaths.

“Nothing. But I need a little time to recover.”

She chuckled and lay back. Her head rested on Christy’s thigh. “I wouldn’t know. I don’t have that problem.”

“You don’t have a penis, either.”

“So? I don’t need one.”

“I do,” Christy said. Then she smiled down at Wren. “I need you both.”

“Can’t argue with that,” I said to Wren.

“No.”

* * *

“I’d better go,” Wren said through a yawn, “before I fall asleep.”

I felt the same, but Christy had found her second wind. Her metabolism was a wonder to behold, even if it wore me out sometimes.

“Besides, I’m getting my nighttime chills,” Wren added. “I have a nice warm boyfriend across the hall.” She looked down at her bare breasts and searched for traces of semen. “Did we get it all?”

“I better check again,” Christy volunteered.

Wren smiled fondly. “What would I do without you?”

“You’d find someone. Probably some bimbo with big boobs who doesn’t like half the things I do.”

I snorted a laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Wren said. “She’s probably right.”

“She said the same thing to me once.”

“He’s right. I did. We were talking about sex. It was before we starting having it. Well, not according to him. He was telling me that oral sex is still sex. Even jerking off is sex. It’s solo sex, but it’s still sex.”

“Hold on,” I said. “I think that’s exactly what I said.”

Christy frowned. “Of course it is. Why would I—?”

Wren yawned again and then shivered. “You two can fight it out. I’d better go.” She kissed Christy. “Happy birthday, my love. I hope we spend the next forty together.”

“Oh my gosh, no! Then we’ll be old.”

“That’s the point,” Wren said. “Never mind. You explain it to her, Paul.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“And thank you,” she added. “I’m sorry we haven’t gotten together much in the past couple of months. But I’m really looking forward to this summer. I owe you a good blowjob or two, especially after you let me monopolize Christy all night.”

“She’s your girlfriend too.”

“Okay, so I owe you a dozen blowjobs.”

“Maybe two dozen,” Christy chimed in.

“I’d better get out of here,” Wren said, “before it turns into a ‘million-billion.’” She snorted a laugh. “I think you were absent the day they taught math at school.”

“I can do math,” Christy protested. “One plus two equals happy me.”

“She has you there,” I told Wren.

“God, she does.” She kissed Christy again and lingered over it. “I love you. Now, let me get out of here before you say something else adorable. Okay?”

“Okay,” Christy said softly. “And I love you too.”

Wren gathered her clothes and slipped out of the room.

Christy waited almost a millisecond before she rolled to face me. Her eyes blazed with curiosity. “What did you get me?”

“A TV and VCR.”

“Oh my gosh! I can’t wait to watch our movies. But what else did you get me?”

“A threesome with your girlfriend.”

“Paul, please,” she begged, “tell me. You know I can’t stand it when you do this.”

“Okay,” I relented, “look under the bed.”

She immediately rolled away from me and thrust her entire upper body over the side. Her ass and pussy were too tempting to pass up.

“Oh! No fair!” she cried. “Stop!” She pushed herself upright but then gasped as I began fucking her with my thumb. “No, please, Paul. Stop. I’ll do anything you want.”

“Anything?”

“Anything,” she panted.

I decided to let her off easy. “Love me forever?”

“Seriously? Of course.”

I withdrew my thumb and caressed her tight little bottom. Then I gave it a firm slap.

Her butt tightened, and her whole body went rigid.

“Are you okay?”

She started breathing again and nodded. “One of my— little orgasms.”

“Seriously? Just from spanking you?”

“I don’t think— you understand,” she panted. “What it does to me.”

“I’m starting to.” I gave her a moment to catch her breath.

“Better,” she said at last. “Thank you. Okay. Where were we? Right. Under the bed. What’m I looking for?”

“A plain brown suitcase.”

“Huh?”

“A plain brown suitcase,” I repeated.

“But… that’s my suitcase. You can’t give me a gift that’s already mine.” She pushed herself up and glared at me over her shoulder. “No fair!”

“It’s what’s in the suitcase,” I said calmly.

“Oh. Why didn’t you say so?”

“I just did.”

“Ugh! You’re infuriating sometimes.” Still, she went over the side again and tugged the suitcase from under the bed. The contents thumped and rolled around as she swung it up and set it between us. Then she popped the latches. Her eyes widened with anticipation, and I almost laughed when she opened the lid and her excitement turned to confusion.

“But… it’s our toys.”

“Mmm hmm.”

“Is that my gift? You put them in a suitcase?”

“No,” I said patiently. “They’re all mixed up now. Look for one with a red bow.”

She dug through the jumble. “Oh my gosh! Where’d you find it?”

“There’s an equestrian shop out toward Farragut.”

“Where’s that? Never mind. You mean you just… bought it? What did you tell them?”

“That I needed a riding crop for my girlfriend.”

Her eyes flew wide. “Oh my gosh! Please tell me you aren’t serious.”

“I didn’t tell them why I needed it,” I chuckled. “I’m sure they assumed it was a gift.”

“Ugh! It really bugs me how easy this is for you.”

“Yes, but I make it easy for you too.”

“Don’t use logic against me,” she play-grumped. Then her eyes slowly lit with enthusiasm. She held up the riding crop and said, “Use this against me!”

“My pleasure. Get the handcuffs.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good girl.”

All of a sudden she grinned. “Uh-uh. I’m a bad girl.”

“Oh?”

“I have sex and use birth control and everything.”

“That makes you a good girl.”

“But only for you.”