Christy climbed into the passenger seat and watched him go with a sigh.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m glad you got to meet him. I just wish he could’ve stayed longer.”
I backed out of the parking space and turned toward the gate. The airman waved us through. I pulled onto the highway back to campus. Then I glanced at Christy.
“Dating, huh?”
Her shoulders fell. “I was wondering how long before you said something.”
“You told your family we were dating?”
“Are you upset?”
“No.” I laughed. “A little surprised, but not upset.”
“That’s a relief.”
“I’m curious, though. If we aren’t dating, are we not-dating?”
“Oh, boy.”
“What exactly does that imply? Will there be any not-kissing?”
“Here we go.”
“And we should talk about not-sex.”
“You aren’t going to let me live this down, are you?”
“Well, I have lots of questions. Like, do you want to not-meet my family?
Will I not-meet the rest of yours?”
“What can I do to make you stop? Please! Anything.”
“Okay, I’ll give you a break, but just this once.”
“Thank you!”
We drove in companionable silence until I felt her mood change. I glanced at her. She was staring out the window.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
“How long has it been since May?”
“Six months.” I glanced at her again. “Thinking about Laurence?”
“Yeah. It’s been two and a half years, and I miss him like it was yesterday.”
“Come over here,” I said.
She unbuckled her seatbelt and slid across the seat toward me.
I put my arm around her and felt her sob. I held her until she cried herself out.
She wiped her eyes and sniffled. “I must look a mess.” She laughed feebly. “You won’t not-dump me, will you?”
“Never.”
“Does that mean ‘never’ or ‘not-never’?”
“Double negatives,” I said with disapproval. “Dangerous territory.
Especially this early in our not-relationship.”
She hugged my chest. “Thanks for coming tonight.”
“Thanks for dragooning me.”
“You and your beautiful words,” she said with a teary laugh.
I slowed and turned into the driveway. We sat in silence as she composed herself.
“I think I’m ready,” she said at last.
I nodded.
“Would you believe I’m hungry again?”
“Maybe Wren left dinner in the oven.”
“I hope so.”
She hadn’t, but she’d left us a note on the kitchen table.
“You want me to?” I asked.
“Yes, please. I’ll be right back.”
I slid a foil-covered plate into the oven. Christy returned after ten minutes or so. She’d washed her face, pinned her hair up, and put on her flannel pajamas.
“These were Laurence’s,” she explained. “I know they’re big and goofy and make me look like a little kid, but I like wearing them.”
“Makes sense. What about the bunny slippers? His too?”
“No, but he gave them to me. He used to…”
She reminisced about him and her other brothers until the timer dinged.
“Hold that thought.” I retrieved her second dinner from the oven.
“Aren’t you having anything?”
“Maybe a slice of pound cake. A small one. I’m pretty full from dinner.”
“I wish I was.”
“And I wish I had your metabolism.”
“No, you don’t. It’s a major pain. Sometimes I think I spend more time eating than sleeping.” She dug in.
I cut a slice of cake and ate about half of it.
Christy finished her dinner and then my dessert.
“You ready for bed?” I said at last.
“I think so.”
We put the plates in the sink, turned out the lights, and went upstairs. We lingered at her bedroom door.
“Thanks for all your help this afternoon,” I said.
“My pleasure.”
“I couldn’t’ve done it without you.”
“I like watching you work.”
“And I like having you there.”
“Thank you.”
“It was nice to meet Danny too.”
“I knew he’d like you.”
I grinned. “Did you really tell your family we’re dating?”
“Maybe by accident.”
“Maybe on purpose?” I chuckled. “That’s okay. I’m not upset. I… kinda like the idea.”
“You do?”
“Why so surprised?”
“I dunno… I just… I mean…”
“Shhh.” I held a finger to her lips.
She closed her eyes and breathed a sigh.
I left my finger where it was.
Her face slowly transformed with desire. Then, as though in a trance, she pursed her lips and kissed the pad of my finger. I felt her breath on my skin as she planted another languid kiss, and another. My pulse raced as my penis filled with blood when her kisses slowly turned into suckling. She pulled my finger deeper and held it gently between her teeth. Her tongue circled the tip.
I let her suck a moment longer before I slowly pulled my finger free. She swayed toward me, her lips still parted. I bent and kissed her, and she returned it hungrily. Then she moaned when I pulled her against me and our bodies curved together.
