CHAPTER 2

Trip and I finished our workout and waited for the girls’ aerobics class to let out. They talked to some friends for a minute or two before they headed toward their duffel bags. Out of the blue Christy did a little dance step and a pirouette. I laughed aloud as Wren huffed and looked skyward in exasperation.

“She’s been like this all day,” she said as they joined us.

“You’re just in a bad mood, Miss Sourpuss.”

I glanced at Trip to see his reaction. He and Wren had had an argument on the way home from Savannah. He’d told me a little about it before our workout. The short version was that Wren had wanted to have sex with another couple after the wedding. She’d been drunk at the time, and Trip had said no. Wren being Wren, she wasn’t happy that she didn’t get her way.

She was still sulking about it, evidently. I shared Trip’s opinion that she knew she’d been wrong but didn’t want to admit it. I briefly thought about teasing her, but knew better than to poke that bear.

“So,” I asked Christy instead, “why are you in such a good mood?”

“I just am.” She beamed up at me, bright as sunshine. She skipped ahead and turned to walk backward in front of us. “I talked to Siobhan this weekend.”

“Oh?”

“Mmm hmm. She gave me a bunch of pointers.”

“About what?”

“How to teach figure drawing.” She rolled her eyes theatrically. “I showed her your sketches, an—”

“Wait. You did what?”

“I showed her your sketches. I hope you don’t mind. You left your sketchbook in your studio. I sort of borrowed it.”

“Sort of borrowed it?”

“Yeah. She said you have a good eye.” She twirled and fell in beside me again. “She also liked your building idea.”

“Hold on. You took my sketchbook. Just… took it.”

“I put it back.”

“That isn’t the point.”

“Sorry. I hope you don’t mind. You left it sitting out. And you’d already showed it to me, so…” She shrugged, unabashed. “I thought it’d be okay. I mean, it isn’t like I’m trying to steal your ideas. Besides, I thought of something you might add.”

“Wait. What? Slow down. What’re you talking about?”

“I thought of something you might add,” she repeated. “You know, to your model. Of the building. When you build it, that is. I was telling Siobhan about how you came up with the idea. I couldn’t remember all the architecture stuff like canti-whatsits and curtain halls, but—”

“Cantilever and curtain walls.”

“Right. Those. Anyway, we mostly talked about the design. I… um…” She danced ahead, spun, and walked backward. “I think it needs something else.”

I arched an eyebrow.

“Art.”

“Art?”

“Exactly! It’s supposed to be a museum, right? What does a museum have? Art! So I was thinking…” She turned without a dance step and walked beside me again. She was silent so long that Wren leaned forward to look at her.

“You were thinking…,” I finally prompted.

“Well, you’ll probably think I’m silly, but…”

“I already think you’re silly. Go ahead and tell me.”

She gave me a shy grin, and her confidence grew along with her excitement. “I was thinking… maybe I could do some art for your model. My take on Rodin for the plaza…”

“Not The Thinker.”

“Oh, please. Give me some credit. No, I was thinking—”

“The Danaïd.”

“Right! How’d you know?”

“I just know. Besides, it goes with the building.”

“Exactly! It echoes the lines and adds a human element. That’s what Siobhan says, by the way.”

“Oh? And what else does Siobhan say?”

She completely missed the wry tone. “That I should do something like Degas too.”

“His sculpture, I’m guessing. Which one?”

“One of the dancers. Duh. Here, hold this.” She handed me her duffel bag without waiting for an answer. Then she danced ahead of us. She did a series of side leaps followed by a jump with a scissor-kick.

“Ten years of ballet,” Wren said dryly.

“Till I was fourteen,” Christy agreed with a grin.

I leaned forward and looked at Wren.

She was doing her best to nurture her sour mood, but it was a losing fight, especially in the face of Christy’s exuberance.

“I told you,” Wren said, “she’s been like this all day. Dancing everywhere, bouncing around. Swear to God, she’s more annoying than the Care Bears.”

Trip utterly failed to hide a smile.

Wren slugged him in the shoulder. She simply glared at me.

I grinned.

“I mean it.”

“Don’t listen to her,” Christy said. “She’s all talk.” She danced out of Wren’s reach. “Ha ha!”

“You know I’ll catch you.”

“Nuh-uh.”

“Yes I will.”

“Only in your dreams.”

Wren lunged.

Christy shrieked and dodged.

Wren ran after her, but Christy was too light, too quick.

“God,” Trip said as they ran out of earshot, “she needs to let off some steam.”

Christy darted around a parked car.

Wren followed, but Christy circled and kept the car between them. All of a sudden she shot away toward the library.

Trip and I watched them with a mixture of amusement and disbelief.

“Been a bit tense?” I said at last.

“What do you think? She’s so stubborn.”

“Hey, you asked for it.”

“Yeah,” he mused, “I did. But I didn’t think it’d be nonstop.”

“She’s intense.”

“Tell me about it. She wants things to happen right now. And she wants to control everything.” He chuckled darkly. “For example, she can’t understand why you won’t let her fix you up.” He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. “Um… you know she’s been—?”

“Matchmaking again? Yeah.” I shrugged. “That’s okay. Christy’s cute and all, but she isn’t my type.”

“Don’t be so sure.”

It was my turn to look at him.

“You should hear some of the things Wren’s told me. Pretty hot stuff. From when they first lived together.”

“Ah, that’s right,” I said. “I forgot, they were lovers for a while.”

“More than a while. Till Wren and I got together.”

They raced toward us, shrieking like schoolgirls on the playground. Then Christy swung around a signpost to change direction. She dashed toward the library again.

“I think that’s part of what’s been bothering Wren,” Trip said as we watched them in the distance. “She misses her.”

“Christy?”

“Yeah. But… I don’t think it’s just, you know, the sex stuff.”

“Oh?”

“Uh-uh. I think it’s like… well… love, if that makes sense.”

I thought about Susan and my mother’s relationship.

“I know,” he added, “it’s crazy.”

“Not really. Love is love. Sometimes you can’t control who you have feelings for.”

“Yeah, well… I wish I could be as relaxed as you.”

I shrugged. “I’ve had more experience with it.”

Wren finally caught up with Christy and tumbled her to the ground. They landed on a patch of grass near the library doors. Christy struggled, but Wren outweighed her by twenty pounds. She straddled Christy and pinned her arms to the ground.

People stopped and stared, although it was obvious the girls were only playing.

Trip and I eventually reached them.

“Bridge and dump her,” I suggested to Christy. Much to my surprise, she actually tried. She didn’t have the neck strength, and Wren was too high on her body, but that didn’t stop her from lifting her hips and trying to throw her.

More people started to gather and point.

“Come on,” Trip said to me. “Before someone calls the cops.”

We pulled the girls to their feet. Christy came up laughing, but Wren scowled.

“I almost did it,” Christy said as she brushed twigs from her hair. Her eyes shone with adrenaline.

“You did,” I said. “But… where’d you learn to do that?”

“Seriously? Rich and Laurence were wrestlers.” Her expression clouded before she managed a smile. “They used to teach me. I was always too small, though.”

“Still are, I’m afraid.”

“Hey, I can hold my own!”

I laughed. “I don’t doubt it.”

“Maybe not against Wren the Giant,” Trip said.

“What did you call me?”

“Calm down.” He tried to put an arm around her.

She ducked out of the way and planted her hands squarely on her hips, daring him to try again.

I laughed and cupped my hands around my mouth. “In this corner we have the challenger, Superfly Christy Snuka. And in that corner, the undisputed world cham-peen, Hulk Hilliard.”

“You too?” Wren accused.

I spread my hands. “What can I say? You’re my favorite wrestler.”

“What about me?” Christy said indignantly.

“You’re my favorite pint-sized wrestler.”

“I’m bigger than pint-sized, but okay.”

Wren laughed in spite of herself.

“See?” I said. “It’s impossible to stay mad at us.”

“I wasn’t mad at you,” she said. “I was mad at these two.”

“Me?” Christy bleated. “What’d I do?”

“You tried to cheer me up.”

“A capital offense,” I declared.

Christy nodded with mock gravity. “Off with my head.”

Trip bit a knuckle and shook with suppressed laughter.

“I don’t know why I put up with you all,” Wren huffed.

“Because you love us,” I said.

“That’s okay,” Christy added, “you can’t help it. It’s ’cause we’re so adorable.”

“Maybe you,” Wren said, “but not these two.”

Trip put his arm around her. She let him do it, and he relaxed a bit. “Come on,” he said reasonably. “Let’s go home. I want a shower before dinner. After that I have forty pages to read, plus a Management quiz to study for.”

“Ugh,” I said. “School. Don’t remind me.”

“Don’t get too busy,” Wren told Trip. “I was hoping we could… you know.”

“Uh-oh, make-up sex,” I said with a laugh. “Hey, Christy, care to join me in a not-so-soundproof studio?”

“You’re just jealous,” Wren accused.

“I’d love to,” Christy said. “We can start figure drawing.”

“Awesome. It’s a date!”

✧ ✧ ✧

Christy closed her sketchbook in disgust. “This is getting ridiculous.”

The muted chords of Marvin Gaye twanged up the stairs. It was Trip’s make-out tape, for the third time.

“You wanna get out of here? Go do something?” I was more sanguine about it, but even I was growing annoyed.

“Like what?”

“I dunno. Anything.”

“Sure, I guess.”

I closed my own sketchbook. “Should I lock this up?”

“Ha ha. It’s not like it’s private, like a diary.”

I suddenly recalled her private sketchbook, the one full of penises. I chuckled.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You aren’t really gonna lock it up, are you?” she said. “I promise I won’t do it again.”

“No, it’s okay. It’s… hard to explain. It’s private, but…”

“But…?”

“This is gonna sound crazy, but you’re an exception.”

“How do you mean?”

“Well, you’re another artist. And…” I finally shrugged and shook my head. “I guess I don’t mind if you know what I’m thinking.”

Her eyes widened. They looked even brighter blue than usual.

I started to say something, but a thump from below beat me to it.

“Okay,” I said, “time to go.”

“Yes, please.”

We turned out the lights and headed downstairs. We didn’t stop until we reached the main level and the front door.

“Whoa,” I said. “Better grab a jacket.”

It was the time of year when we needed the air conditioning during the day but the heat at night. Christy had changed clothes after aerobics, to shorts and a light cotton sweater.

“Be right back.” She ran upstairs.

I watched her go and found myself admiring her firm legs and tight little ass. I had to remind myself that I wasn’t looking for a girlfriend. And even if I were, I didn’t want one with religious hang-ups. Been there, done that, didn’t enjoy it.

I distracted myself by donning my own jacket, which was hanging on the rack by the door.

Christy returned wearing a light windbreaker.

I glanced at her bare legs and had to force myself to look up. That was worse. Her nipples showed through her bra and thin sweater. I kept going until I reached her eyes.

“Pretty chilly out,” I said. “You wanna put on jeans or something?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah. I’m hot-natured. Always have been.”

“Suit yourself.” I opened the front door and followed her out. “So… where you wanna go?”

She shrugged.

“How about a tour of the neighborhood? I can show you some of my favorite houses.”

“I’d like that.”

We set out at a stroll along the route I took on my morning runs. Two blocks over I showed her a big Victorian house that someone had lovingly restored to its original glory. (It was the nicest house in the neighborhood.) We stopped on the sidewalk under the streetlight, and I pointed out the things that made it such a beautiful example of the Queen Anne style.

“That’s what ours is,” Christy said. “Queen Anne, right?”

“Mmm hmm. Not quite as ornate as this one, but probably the same architect. They have the same feel.”

“Oh, cool. Are they all like this?”

“No. Further away from downtown, you get what’s called ‘Folk Victorian.’ They’re middle-class versions of these beauties. They have a lot of the same trim and decorative elements, but they’re simpler houses.”

“Simpler how?”

“Basic floor plans. No turrets. No octagonal rooms. No servants’ quarters. Stuff like that.”

“Servants’ quarters? Are you serious?”

“What do you think our little studios used to be? The housekeeper and children’s nanny probably lived in our rooms.”

“Oh my gosh!”

“Exactly.” I nodded toward downtown. “There’s another upper-class Victorian five blocks that way. It’s a different style, though. Italianate.”

“How’s it different?”

“It’s an earlier style and not very common around here. I think someone from the north must’ve moved to Knoxville. Maybe a banker or railroad executive. They probably wanted a house like they were used to in New England.”

We headed that way and reached it about ten minutes later.

“It’s a boxier style than Queen Anne,” I explained. “The windows are usually narrower and the roof pitch is flatter, with those extra wide eaves. Oh, and do you see the brackets under the cornice?”

“Neat!”

“No front-facing gables either.”

“What’re gables?”

I leaned down to match my eyeline to hers and pointed at a nearby house. “See those triangles where the roof pitch meets? Now look at this house. No triangles on the front. Remember the Queen Anne?”

She closed her eyes and imagined it. Then she opened them and beamed with interest. “That’s amazing! How do you know all this?”

I shrugged and started walking again. “I just do. I mean, how do you know how to draw people?”

It was her turn to shrug. “I just do. Always have.”

“Same here,” I said. “My mom says I looked at buildings differently, even when I was little. I started drawing them when I was six or seven, I guess. Just doodles, though.”

“I started drawing when I was little too.”

“You still are little,” I teased.

“Funny.”

“Well, you are.”

“I can’t help it. Besides, good things come in small packages.”

“So they say.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her rub her arms. I took off my jacket. “Here.”

“I’m okay.”

“Don’t be silly. Take it. I’m fine,” I lied. I draped the jacket over her windbreaker. Mine was two sizes too large, at least.

She held it closed and smiled up gratefully.

“Around the block,” I continued, “there’s a Foursquare house. It doesn’t match its neighbors at all. I figure someone built it when they tore down an older house. It needs a lot of work, but…”

It was well after eleven o’clock when we eventually returned to our own street. We stopped on the walkway in front of the house.

“You think they’re… you know… done?”

“God, let’s hope so.”

We tiptoed up the steps and cautiously opened the front door. Silence greeted us, and we both breathed a sigh of relief. We stepped into the warm house, and I closed the front door behind us. We stood looking at each other.

“I had fun tonight,” Christy said after a moment.

“Me too.”

She fidgeted. “Almost like a date.”

“Almost,” I agreed uneasily. Wren and her damn matchmaking!

Christy heard the hesitation in my voice. Her expression fell.

My internal jerk-alarm went off, but I kept talking anyway. “We’ll have to do it again sometime.”

She shrugged.

“How ’bout tomorrow? We can draw after I get home from judo.”

“Yeah, of course,” she said lightly.

The silence went from strained to awkward.

“Well, it’s late,” I said at last. “And I have to get up early.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

“We’d better go to bed. Separately, of course. Don’t wanna give you the wrong impression.” I meant it as a joke but knew it was a mistake as soon as I said it.

Christy’s eyes flared with something altogether different: temper. Her lips compressed in a thin line. After a frosty, excruciating moment, she turned and climbed the stairs in mute fury.

I stared after her and wanted to kick myself. I didn’t want to sleep with her, but that wasn’t an excuse to be rude. I silently cursed Wren and her matchmaking again, but I couldn’t really blame her. Christy and I had had a perfectly enjoyable evening until I screwed it up. Yours truly. All by myself.

✧ ✧ ✧

I heard her come home late the next afternoon. She and Wren had been at the pool. I didn’t want to ambush her as soon as she came upstairs, so I gave her time to shower and change clothes. Then I knocked on her bedroom door.

“It’s me,” I said.

“Oh. Okay. Gimme a sec.”

I grinned at the bumps and scrapes and sounds of drawers opening and closing. I imagined her hiding underwear and dirty laundry.

She finally yanked open the door. She took one look at me and frowned. “What’s so funny?”

“You. You’re like my little sister when a guy comes over.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“You know,” I added conversationally, “it’d be a lot easier if you just clean up as you go.”

“Why? ’Cause that’s the way you do it?”

I held up my hands in surrender. “Hey, I’m just saying. Personally, I think it’s cute you’re—”

“A slob?”

“I was going to say ‘mess.’” I smiled to take the edge off it. “I really do think it’s cute, though. It makes you interesting. I wouldn’t know how to treat you if you were a neat freak.”

“You mean like you?”

I shrugged. “I like things in order. It’s my logical mind.”

“And I like chaos.”

“Maybe that’s why you’re more creative than I am.”

That stopped her next comeback.

“Anyway,” I said into the silence, “I didn’t come to argue. I came to apologize.”

“For what?”

“For being an insensitive jerk. Last night.”

“You weren’t,” she lied.

“Yes, I was. And I enjoyed our date. Maybe it wasn’t romantic, but still.”

“I didn’t think it was a date.” Another fib.

“Okay, well… if it wasn’t, then maybe we can have one tonight.”

Her lips curved in a smile before she could stop it.

“You know,” I said, “you’re really bad at hiding your emotions.”

“And you’re an expert?”

“See? Like now. You’re annoyed.”

Her nostrils flared.

“But that’s okay. I annoy lots of people. Just ask the women I’ve dated.”

“It’d take a year,” she said faux sweetly. “There are so many.”

“Fair enough. No one right now, though. Maybe that’s why I’m annoying you. Have to keep in practice, I guess.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. No. Maybe. I dunno.” I shrugged. “I just know that I’d like to learn figure drawing tonight, if that’s okay. If we don’t call it a date, maybe I won’t screw it up.”

“I don’t know whether to be furious with you, or…”

“Or what?” I said at last.

“I don’t know. But something. Not good, either.”

“Then tell you what,” I said. “Let’s try tonight and see how it goes. If I’m a jerk again, I’ll help you figure out how you feel about me. We’ll start with furious and go downhill from there.”

“Are you making fun of me again?”

“Yeah, but only a little. I’m mostly making fun of myself.”

“Why?”

“It’s easier that way, when I say what you’re thinking. Then I don’t get my feelings hurt.”

“Feelings…?”

“Mmm hmm. I have ’em too. So I don’t like it when I step on other people’s.”

“I don’t have feelings. I mean, I do, but not for you.” She grimaced in annoyance. “Why can’t I ever think straight around you!”

I chuckled. “I know the feeling. So… how about tonight? Do we have a not-date?” I made a show of thinking about it. “Should that be ‘not have a date’? But if it’s a date, how can you not have it? I’m not saying it’s a date, but I’m saying we should have it. A not-date, that is.”

She looked away and tried to hide a smile.

“Don’t worry if you’re confused,” I added. “I think I confused myself. I’m not sure if we’re having a not-date or not having a date. Or both. Maybe neither?”

Her smile turned into a stifled laugh.

“Let’s try this. I’ll be upstairs after dinner. If you’re not there, it’s a date. If you’re there, it’s not a date. Will that work?”

“Get out,” she said at last. “Just… leave me alone. I can’t think when you talk nonsense.”

I grinned.

“I mean it.” She put her hand on my chest and shoved me bodily backward. She was a lot stronger than she looked.

“So it’s not a date?”

“Out! Leave! Stop talking!” She closed the door in my face.

I raised my voice and said, “Okay! I won’t see you later.” I was still smiling when I turned and caught a glimpse of Wren’s hair as she disappeared around her bedroom door. I stalked over and stuck my head in. “Don’t say a word.”

She looked smug.

“We’re just friends. That’s all. I don’t want a girlfriend.”

“Whatever you say.”

“You’re insufferable. You know that, right?”

“Especially when I get what I want.”

“You’re not going to get what you want.”

“That’s what you think.”

✧ ✧ ✧

Christy and I had our not-date. Or we didn’t have a date. Whichever.

I was reading in my studio when she poked her head around the door.

“Are you going to be serious?” she said.

“That depends. Are you going to be here?”

“Yes.”

“Then yes.”

She smiled and stepped into the room.

I set my book aside and gestured to the empty chair. “Wanna pick up where we left off last night?”

“Before or after you were a jerk?”

“Before, of course. Let’s forget about after.”

“All right.” She took a seat and opened her sketchbook.

I reached for mine.

“So,” she said, “we were talking about proportions…”

I could’ve sworn I heard Wren smile.

✧ ✧ ✧

Christy and I spent the next two evenings together. I made huge progress drawing people, but that wasn’t saying much, since I’d started from scratch. Still, by Thursday I could sketch a person that looked real enough, as long as I didn’t mind a generic, almost cartoonish face.

“Don’t worry, faces take forever to master,” Christy said. “And not just portraiture. Drawing them at different angles is really tough.”

“You do it.”

“Well, yes, but…”

“You even sculpt them. They look like people frozen in time.”

“That’s because I’ve done it for years.”

“You also have talent. Loads of it.” I gestured at my own feeble attempts. “I’ll never be able to do what you do.”

“You do other things. Here, look.” She turned to a blank page in her sketchbook. She drew a rectangle topped by a squat triangle. Then she added a smaller rectangle with a curlicue of smoke coming out of it. “That’s how I draw a building.”

She reached over and flipped back a couple of pages in my book. She tapped a drawing of a Palladian façade.

“I watched you do that in five minutes. Five minutes! You were just doodling. Last night. I don’t even think you realized it. I was telling you about my brothers or something. Remember?”

I nodded.

“I’ll never be able to do that. Believe me, I’ve tried.”

My eyebrows twitched up.

“Mmm hmm. Wait here.” She unfolded herself from the chair and disappeared out the door. She returned a moment later with a different sketchbook. She opened it and sat on the arm of my chair. I put my arm around her bottom out of pure habit. She glanced at me but didn’t move.

“This is from last year,” she said instead, “when you were working on that Beaux-Art building. I drew those water nymphs for you. Remember?”

I nodded again.

“Anyway, I thought your buildings were beautiful, but they didn’t look that difficult. I mean, they were just a bunch of straight lines and some shading, right?” She turned pages until she found what she was looking for. “I thought, ‘If he can do it, so can I.’ I even checked out books from the library on architectural rendering and stuff. Ha!” She showed me her drawings.

“They’re not bad,” I said. “I mean, they’re better than mine when I was a first-year.”

“But they’ll never be like yours now,” she said. “Or in the future. That’s only part of it, though. Your drawings are beautiful, but your ideas are brilliant. I can barely come up with an idea how to pose someone, but you create whole buildings out of nothing. They didn’t exist before you thought them up!

“Me?” She scoffed. “I just draw people. And sculpt them if I’m lucky. Yeah, I’m pretty good at it, but I don’t really create anything new. And no one will ever live in one of my creations. I doubt they’ll ever buy them, either. I’ll probably end up a kindergarten art teacher with chalk on my dress and runs in my stockings.”

I laughed.

“You don’t think so? You know how many artists make a living at it?”

“No, I was laughing at the idea of you with chalk on your dress and runs in your stockings. Seriously? You?” I shook my head. “I’ve seen your wardrobe. If anything, you’ll be a fashion icon.” I shot her a grin. “Still a kindergarten teacher, though. You’re right about that.”

“Go ahead and joke. I’m supposed to graduate in June. I have no idea what I’m going to do then.”

“Get an MFA.”

“What good will that do? I still won’t be able to make a living.” She threw herself into her chair and sulked.

“You can be a starving artist.”

“Ha!”

“Then again, maybe not. You’ll waste away if you don’t eat at least a bushel of carrots a day. Good thing they’re cheap.”

She huffed. “I eat like a sumo wrestler and barely break a hundred pounds.”

“Right. Starving artist is out.”

“Very funny.”

I flirted with the idea of suggesting she marry rich, but that wasn’t her style. She had a fierce independent streak, and I couldn’t imagine her marrying someone just so he’d support her.

She looked at me crossly, and for a moment I thought she’d read my mind.

“What?”

“You made me think about food.”

I laughed.

“Now I want a snack.”

“C’mon,” I said. “Let’s go make a sandwich or something.”

“Boy, you really know how to treat a girl right,” she said sarcastically. “If we keep not-dating like this, I might actually gain a pound or two.”

We headed downstairs, where we passed Trip and Wren. They were studying in the dining room. Wren saw us together and didn’t even try to hide a grin. I gave her the evil eye.

Trip was clueless. “What’s up?”

“Raiding the fridge.” I hooked a thumb over my shoulder. “Time to feed the bunny.”

We made leftover chicken sandwiches, and I put away the ingredients while she halved and cored an apple.

“Peanut butter?” I said.

“Yes, please.”

We joined the others in the dining room.

“Hey,” Trip said without preamble. “You mind going over this history stuff with me? You know I always get Romanesque and Gothic mixed up.”

“Gothic is prettier,” I said around a mouthful of sandwich. “Describe the characteristics of each.”

“You sound like Joska,” he laughed.

I shrugged and took another bite. Then I impatiently gestured for him to speak while I ate.

“Okay. Romanesque flourished in the Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries. It was a revival of the classical elements established by the Romans. It…”

We spent twenty minutes reviewing until he finally knew it cold.

“Thanks,” he said. “You mind if we go over Renaissance and Baroque tomorrow night?”

“Can’t. I’ll be in Atlanta.”

Christy looked up. “Again? Why?”

Wren looked surprised too, and a bit flummoxed.

“I told you all, remember? Kara’s wedding? I’m an usher.”

“Ah,” Trip said, “that’s right.”

“Remind me again who’s Kara,” Christy said.

“Leah’s sister,” Wren said. Then she put two and two together. She looked at me in alarm.

That’s right, I thought at her. Gina will be there.

“Oh,” Christy said. She didn’t make the connection, but she sensed Wren’s reaction. She ventured a smile. “Sounds like fun.”

“It should be,” I said, more for Wren’s benefit. Then I suppressed the instinct to tease her. I turned to Christy instead. “Our families have known each other for years. Kara’s like my big sister.” One that I’ve had sex with, I added to myself.

Wren glared. She knew what I was thinking. The gist of it, at least.

“Anyway,” I said, “I’d better get back to work. I have an Environmental Control quiz in the morning, and I haven’t even started to study for it.”

“You mind if I hang out with you?” Christy asked. “I have to do a figure study for Siobhan. I can call it ‘Man Versus Environmental Control’ or something.”

I laughed. “Sounds good.”

Wren caught my eye and nodded toward the kitchen.

“I’ll take the plates,” I told Christy. “You go on up. I’ll be right behind you.”

“All right.”

Wren followed me into the kitchen. “What’re you doing?”

“I told you,” I said, my voice pitched low, “I don’t need any help in the girlfriend department. Christy’s nice and all, but she isn’t my type.”

“And Gina is?”

“Who said anything about Gina?”

“She dumped you once. Do you really wanna go through all that again?”

“Listen, Gina and I are friends. That’s all.”

“Friends with a history. And with similar… lifestyles.”

“If you mean that I wouldn’t have to explain a million things about my life, then you’re right.” I pointed toward the top floor. “You know what my problem is with Christy? She’s smart, funny, and cute. Totally my type. But she’s a Catholic schoolgirl at heart. A goody-goody. Thanks, but no thanks!”

“What? She isn’t like that. She—”

“Save it,” I said. “I don’t need you to run my life. Okay?”

“Everything all right in there?” Trip called from the dining room.

Wren started to say something bossy but thought better of it.

I looked at her with new respect. “Good for you.”

“Thank you,” she said insincerely. Then she raised her voice, “Everything’s fine. Paul and I were just having a difference of opinion.”

He appeared in the kitchen doorway. “You mean you were trying to tell him what to do, but he wasn’t having it?”

“That about sums it up,” I said.

Wren rolled her eyes and huffed. “I’m telling you, Paul, you’re wrong about Christy.”

“Seriously, dude,” Trip agreed. “If even half the stories are true.”

“They’re all true,” Wren snapped.

“Right,” he said without missing a beat. “As I was saying… Christy’s a lot wilder than you think, man.”

“You too?”

“Hey, I’m just tellin’ ya what I think. Wren might be right. I’d trust her on this one.”

“Yeah?” I shot back. “And what if she isn’t? Which one of us has to move out?”

“What are you talking about?” Wren said.

“You’ve seen how Christy and I are when we fight.”

“I dunno,” Trip said to Wren. “He’s right about that.”

She opened her mouth to say something dismissive. And again she controlled the urge.

I chuckled and looked at Trip. “Dude, if you ever need proof that she loves you, there it is.”

“What?”

“She’ll tell you.” I stepped around her. Then I leaned back so I could see her face. “Thank you for being a friend. I know you care. But you can’t live my life for me.”

She reluctantly nodded. “Christy’s special,” she said after a moment. “She really likes you, so don’t lead her on. Okay? Promise me.”

“I promise.”

“I’ll hold you to that. Now go on. She’s waiting for you.”

✧ ✧ ✧

I skipped my last class and drove to Atlanta on Friday—drove instead of flew because I wanted more freedom once I arrived. My parents were out, but Erin greeted me in the kitchen.

“Hello, big brother. And I do mean big.”

“Is that all you ever think about?”

She grinned and opened the refrigerator. “Want a Coke?”

“No thanks. I’m kinda hungry, though. I skipped lunch. We have any apples?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Cantaloupe?”

“Nope.”

“Carrots?”

She gave me a quizzical look. “Are you on a health kick?”

“Oh my God, I’m turning into her!”

“Who?”

“Never mind.”

“Whatever. The rehearsal starts at six thirty. They said we can tour the house if we get there early. So we need to leave here by five.”

“We?”

“I’m your date. Unless you have other plans.”

“Um… I was kinda hoping…”

“To spend time with Gina? Don’t worry, I won’t cramp your style.” She turned coy. “Leah said she asked about you.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah,” she said with a laugh. “I think she’s actually a bit annoyed.”

I frowned. “Gina?”

“You’re such a dweeb sometimes. Leah.”

“What about her?”

“She’s annoyed. God, you really are slow on the uptake.” She popped the top on the Coke and took a sip. “Anyway… Mom wanted me to tell you that Susan’s flight arrives about eight. She’ll be staying in the guest bedroom.”

“Susan’s coming too?”

Erin shook her head sadly. “Let me know if your clue ever shows up.” She turned to go. “I’ll be ready at five.”

✧ ✧ ✧

I showered and shaved, and then shaved again, just to be sure. I told myself not to expect anything with Gina. We were friends now. She probably had a boyfriend, and I wasn’t looking for a girlfriend. Right?

“Right,” I told the mirror. “We’re just friends.”

Even my reflection didn’t believe it.

“Yeah, well… what d’you know?” I jumped at a knock.

“Let’s go,” Erin said through the door. “Need to leave in five minutes.”

“I’m coming.”

“You’ve been in there half an hour. I swear, you take longer than a girl.”

“I’ll be right there! God, Erin. Gimme a break.”

“Whatever. I’ll be in the kitchen… waiting patiently.”

“Or not,” I muttered.

I dressed in a hurry and returned to my bedroom to change ties at the last minute. I’d brought four, along with three different dress shirts.

Erin appeared in the doorway. “You are worse than a girl. Here, let me see.” She reached for the ties and gave them a quick look. “This one. And the pink shirt.”

She held them for me while I took off the ones I was wearing. She handed me the new shirt and returned the first one to the hanger.

“You’re turning into Mom,” I told her as I buttoned my cuffs. “You know that, right?”

“Oh, gag me with a spoon!”

I laughed.

She reached up to adjust my tie. She was wearing a midnight blue dress with a radiant pattern of silver sequins on the left shoulder. I thought of Christy and all her outfits.

“You look nice,” I said.

She patted my chest. “Thanks. So do you. Now, put on your coat and let’s go already. We’re late.”

“Yes, dear.”

✧ ✧ ✧

Gina was standing with a group at the edge of the parking lot. She wore a lavender wraparound dress that made her look slimmer than I remembered. Her hair fell in soft, black waves around her shoulders. It was longer than I remembered too.

“Come on, Romeo,” Erin said.

“Is it that obvious?”

“Just try to be cool.”

Leah glanced our way. She smiled but then looked at Gina, who hadn’t seen us yet.

I felt a moment of guilt as I watched Leah’s expression. Part of me wondered if I shouldn’t be trying to win her back instead of Gina. I couldn’t do that to Mark, though. He was a good guy.

Gina turned at our approach. Her expression lit up.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hey!” She gave me a hug. “How’re you?”

“Good. You?”

“A little tired from staying up too late,” she said, “but I’ll survive.”

“Well, you look great.”

“It’s the clean living in California,” a young woman said. She had a Scottish accent and looked like a bustier version of Kara, only with curly hair.

“My cousin Tessa,” Gina said with a smile.

“Pleased to meet you.”

“And you,” she said. “Gina’s told us all about you.”

Erin went to stand by Leah. She reached down and squeezed her hand. They shared a look, and Leah smiled.

Gina missed the whole exchange. She moved to my side and introduced the rest of the small group: Tessa’s younger brother, about my age; Victor’s brother and his girlfriend; plus a Coulter cousin and girlfriend, both from Virginia.

“I thought Stacy and Jason were supposed to be here,” I said. “Sydney and Woody too.”

“They decided to skip the house tour.”

“The lads are still worn out,” Tessa said. “From the stag party.”

“Ah.” Very witty. I looked around. “So… is this all of us? Are we ready for the tour?”

“There isn’t a guide,” Leah said, “but they gave us tickets. Here. I have them.”

“Shall we go up then?” Tessa suggested.

We made small talk as we walked to the house. Then we turned into the gate, and I pulled up short.

“What is it?” Gina said.

I’d heard about the Swan House but never seen it, even though I’d grown up less than a dozen miles away.

“Are you all right?” Tessa asked.

“He’s a total nerd about architecture,” Erin said.

Leah elbowed her in the side.

“Wow,” I said at last. “It’s beautiful.”

“If you like that sort of thing,” Tessa’s brother said.

I managed not to scowl at him.

Gina smiled patiently and took my hand. “Let’s go see.”

“Philistine,” I muttered.

“Be nice,” she whispered back.

We climbed the steps of the formal garden terrace. I marveled at the house and absorbed hundreds of little details that my brain barely registered. Inside, I felt like I’d stepped into architectural nirvana.

The others? Not so much.

Tessa’s brother and the Virginia couple were bored in less than five minutes. They started talking about Atlanta nightlife.

“Just ignore them,” Gina told me quietly.

The others seemed to enjoy it more, but even they were ready to leave after a cursory tour.

“Go on down to the garden,” Gina told them. “We’ll catch up with you.”

“All right. Have fun,” Tessa said.

“Thanks. See you in a bit.”

“Cheerio.”

I thanked Gina when they’d gone.

“My pleasure. I like seeing things through your eyes. You really love it, don’t you?”

“What’s not to love? I mean, look at this floor! See how the architect’s hidden the air vents in the pattern with the dark marble? And here, this staircase is gorgeous. It’s practically floating.”

We strolled through the rooms again, and I soaked up the mansion’s ambiance. I could’ve spent hours just on the main level, but Gina eventually looked at her watch and squeezed my hand.

“Yeah, I know,” I said. “Time to go.”

“Sorry.”

“That’s okay. It’s all up here.” I tapped my temple. “I’ll draw it later, while it’s still fresh.”

“Tonight?”

“No. I… um… was hoping…”

Her dark eyebrows twitched in amusement. “Oh you were?”

“Not that,” I said quickly. “I was hoping to spend some time with you.”

“I know,” she said with a laugh. “Me too.” She hugged my arm, and I was acutely aware of the swell of her breast. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.”

“Good. But we’d better hurry. Kara will kill me if we’re late.”

✧ ✧ ✧

The Swan House actually had a person whose job was to coordinate weddings. She was a prim and immaculately dressed thirty-something woman.

Mark and I chatted while she organized the wedding party. Tessa’s brother and the Virginia cousin stood nearby. Our job as ushers was fairly simple: friends of the bride on the left, of the groom on the right. We also had to seat family in the first three rows, but that was about it.

When the coordinator guided us into place for the processional, I learned that I had a bigger role than I’d thought. Elizabeth and I officially started the ceremony. Well, she did. I was just her escort.

“Are you ready for this?” I asked as we marched down the aisle at a stately pace.

“I hope so.”

“You’ll do fine,” I said. “You’re the most important woman here. Well, after Kara.”

“You’re such a dear.” She glanced at me sidelong. “You and Gina seem to be getting on well.”

“Don’t plan our wedding just yet,” I said with a laugh.

“God, no! Let us get through this one first.”

“That’s the spirit.” We reached the first row. “This is where I leave you.”

She sat and crossed her legs.

I gave her a wink and finished my circuit around the left. My job was done.

We ran through the whole ceremony twice, from beginning to end. Afterward the coordinator made sure everyone knew where and when to arrive. (The bridal party had to arrive before noon. I only had to be there two hours early, at two o’clock.)

Gina appeared beside me. “Do you mind if I ride with you to dinner?”

“Um… sure. Lemme just find Erin.”

“Oh, she’s riding with Leah and Mark.”

“Ah. Gotcha.”

We joined the crowd heading to the cars.

“So,” I said, “how’ve you been?” I felt like an idiot, but didn’t know where else to start.

“Good. Busy with school. My classes are a lot harder now.”

“Tell me about it.”

“How about you?”

“The same. Projects. Deadlines. Studying for exams. You know how it is.”

“Yeah. I’ve already started studying for the MCAT. They say it’s brutal.”

“So you still like pre-med?”

“Definitely. I’ve been talking to Kara a lot. It’s a lot of work, but she enjoys it.” She glanced at me. “What about you? You still love architecture.”

“Gee, what was your first clue?”

“Oh, I dunno. I think it was when you gushed for an hour up in the house.”

“Sorry about that.”

“Don’t be. I told you, I like seeing things through your eyes.”

I opened the Cruiser’s door and helped her climb in. She smoothed her dress out of the way, and my eyes fell on her dark, slim ankles. She was wearing silver high heels, and I wondered if Christy had a pair like them.

Gina gave me a curious look.

“Just admiring your legs.”

Her lips pursed with a smile.

I shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side. I started the engine and shifted into gear. “So, you still like L.A.?”

“I do. The weather’s amazing. We can go to the beach almost year-round.”

“So you still have tan lines?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know!” she laughed.

“Well, I have to file a report. You could lose your nudist’s license.”

“You don’t say?”

“Mmm hmm.”

“Well then, I’d better hope they make an exception.”

“They might. You’ll have to undergo a thorough examination, though.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah. It’s policy, I’m afraid.”

“In that case I’d better get it over with.” She turned in her seat and ran a finger along the neckline of her dress. Then she moistened her lips and gave me a suggestive look. “Do we need to go somewhere private?”

“Okay, now you’re messing with me.”

She broke into laughter. “What gave it away?”

“It sounded like a porn movie.”

“Oh my God, Paul! You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve been asked to do porn.”

I blinked at the change of subject. “Seriously?”

“Yes! Sometimes it seems like everyone in L.A. is in the porn business. They’re all over the Valley. And I see flyers on campus all the time for ‘Models Wanted’ or ‘Movie Auditions.’ You can’t wear a bikini on the beach without some guy telling you how beautiful you are and saying you should do a ‘photo test.’ It’s ridiculous.”

“So you never thought about doing it?”

“Thought about it? Sure. But I never would. Too many people would find out. And it’d ruin any chance I have to become a doctor.” She looked at me. “Wait. Are you asking…?”

“No. I was just curious if you’d ever—”

“Paul, it’s one thing to take off my clothes at camp, or for a special person. But do you really think I’d do it for money?”

“Not really. I guess…”

“What?”

“I guess I was thinking about it and got a little carried away.”

“Thinking about what, exactly?”

“Not you doing porn. Mostly…” I shot her a grin. “Well, you know what I was thinking.”

Her eyebrows rose.

“Hey, you can’t blame a guy for trying.”

“No, I guess not,” she said at last.

“Sorry.”

She looked at me from under long, dark lashes. “I didn’t say I was upset.”

I almost missed the turn for the restaurant.

She laughed. “God, I’ve missed you.”

“Keep thinking that. Especially if I kill us both.”

“Don’t. Kara would never forgive me.”

“Or me.” I pulled into a parking space and turned off the engine. “Gimme a sec,” I said, and hopped out. I went around and opened Gina’s door for her.

She lowered a foot to the ground. Her dress wasn’t particularly short, but I still had a tantalizing view from ankle to mid-thigh.

I took her hand and met her eyes.

She grinned. “Still wondering…?”

“About what?”

“My tan lines.”

“Sort of.”

She arched an eyebrow.

I stepped close. I could feel her body mere inches away, could smell her flowery scent. I brought my lips to her ear.

“I was thinking,” I whispered, “about how beautiful you are.”

She held very still.

“And how much I want to…”

She swallowed. “To what?”

I waited a moment and then pulled back.

Her dark eyes searched mine.

I let a slow grin spread across my face.

“You aren’t going to tell me?”

“We’d better head inside.”

She looked at me with a mixture of disbelief and surprise.

I put a hand on the small of her back and gently propelled her toward the restaurant. I walked beside her and slid my palm down.

She jumped but didn’t pull away.

I grinned to myself and patted her bottom.

✧ ✧ ✧

Dinner passed in the blink of an eye. We were supposed to get to know Victor’s family better, but Gina and I were in our own little world.

I told her about the backyard at the rancher and the other houses in Atlanta. She told me about smog and traffic and life in Los Angeles. I talked about the beautiful houses in Fort Sanders and the project for Professor Joska. She talked about her friends in the sorority and how she volunteered at a women’s clinic. We laughed about several awful dates Regan had been on. I told her about Wren’s matchmaking antics.

“You didn’t sleep with any of her friends?” Gina said, incredulous.

“Nope. Not one.” I ventured a rueful grin. “Dumbest thing I’ve ever done.”

She laughed. “I’ll say!”

“What about you? You haven’t mentioned a boyfriend…”

“I don’t have one.”

My eyebrows shot up.

“I broke up with Brock back in April.”

“April?”

“Mmm hmm. And I’ve been single ever since. Not really looking for anyone either.”

“For real?”

“For real. Although…”

“Yes…?”

“Well, I came to camp in July. I was hoping to see a certain someone…”

“Me?”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re such a goof. Who else?”

“You mean…?”

“Mmm hmm. But you missed your chance.”

“What’d you do instead?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know!”

“Just think,” I said. “Instead of spending time with you, I was digging up a septic tank. By hand.”

“Wow. You really got the better end of that deal.”

“No kidding!” I did my best Richard Dawson voice: “A hundred people surveyed, top five answers are on the board. Name something you’d rather do besides sex. Backbreaking manual labor? Ding, ding, ding!”

Her eyes sparkled with laughter. “Who said anything about sex?”

“Oh, please!”

“So what about you?” she said. “Has Wren found you a girlfriend yet?”

“No. But not for lack of trying!”

“So… you and Leah?” Her tone carried more than a simple question.

“Leah and Mark,” I said firmly.

“There isn’t…?”

“Between Leah and me? Yeah, of course there is. But it’s hard to describe. She’s…” Like you and I used to be. I couldn’t say that aloud, so I stared at my half-eaten dinner instead.

“You really care about her.”

“Of course I do. She…” I’d started to say that she reminded me of Gina, but that wasn’t true. I never thought of Gina when I was with Leah. Oh, sure, they had a lot in common, from looks to attitude to personality, but they were different people.

“I think I understand.”

But she didn’t, and I didn’t correct her.

“So,” she said at last, “what do you do? In Knoxville, I mean. If you aren’t dating anyone, and you and Leah aren’t serious…” Her dark eyes danced with mischief.

“What do you think?”

“You must go through a lot of Kleenex.”

“Boxes!”

“I knew it!” she laughed.

“I should buy stock in the company.”

“You should. You’d make a fortune.”

“Yeah, but I’d blow it all buying more Kleenex.”

“Mmm.”

“What?”

“I was just thinking about you ‘blowing.’”

I rolled my eyes. “What about you? What do you do?”

She feigned innocence. “What do you mean?”

“Well, if you don’t have a boyfriend…”

“It’s the Eighties. I’m a modern girl.”

“Which means…?”

“Let’s just say I should buy stock in Duracell.”

“Mmm hmm. That’s what I thought.”

“You can’t blame a girl for having an electronic friend.” She grinned. “Or two. And maybe a couple of non-electronic friends.”

“What about Regan? Do you…?”

“We do,” she admitted. “But it isn’t the same.”

“What isn’t?”

“You know,” she said after a moment.

“Know what?”

“What I like.”

“I do.”

Kara loomed over us and cleared her throat.

Gina and I pulled apart like we’d been caught behind the bleachers by the principal.

Seriously? Now?

“We’re headed home,” Kara said. Tessa and Victor stood behind her.

I looked around the restaurant. Almost everyone else had left.

“Don’t stay out too late.”

My hard-on had plans to do just that.

Too bad, I told it. You aren’t running the show.

It thought otherwise.

“We’ll be right behind you,” I told Kara.

She nodded a bit dubiously, but left with the others.

I glanced at Gina. “Big day tomorrow. You need a good night’s sleep. Remember?”

“I…”

“Come on,” I said. “I’ll drive you home.”

The evening had turned chilly, and Gina shivered as the restaurant door swung closed behind us. I took off my coat and put it around her shoulders.

She thanked me with a smile and laced her fingers through mine.

We walked to the car in a silence filled with unasked questions.

I opened her door and helped her into the seat, but then lingered a moment.

She looked into my eyes.

“We don’t have to go straight home,” I said softly.

“No, we probably should.”

I leaned in.

Her lips parted, and she closed her eyes.

I kissed her.

“That was nice,” she said afterward.

“It was. But… are you sure you don’t want to…?”

She hesitated. “I’m sure.”

“Want me to change your mind?”

“Yes.”

“Sorry. I promised—”

It was her turn to kiss me, with a lot more heat than the first time.

I pressed the bulge of my erection into her leg. Then I ran a hand along the silky skin of her inner thigh, until my fingers brushed damp panties.

“I’ll take them off,” she panted. “But not here.”

My brain threatened to desert my head and run things from my penis. I resisted with an almost physical effort.

Gina felt it. She made a sound of frustration and reached for my belt.

I easily fended her off.

“Don’t you want to?”

“Of course I do. Can’t you feel how much?”

“Then why…?”

I looked around at the nearly empty parking lot. “Here? Seriously? Our first time in… what? A year? More?” I shook my head.

“We could go somewhere.”

“Not tonight,” I said gently. “Tomorrow. In a real bed. With real sheets.”

She nodded.

“Maybe in a real hot tub, too.” I paused to imagine it. “Bent over a real desk. Up against a real door. On top of a real—”

She kissed me again. Her lips were full of hunger and desire.

I almost gave in.

A group of waiters saved me. They spilled out of the restaurant, talking and laughing.

“We can’t,” I said at last. “Not here.”

“You’re right.” She adjusted her dress. Then she grinned as I tried and failed to find a comfortable angle for my trapped hard-on.

“It’ll just have to suffer.”

She made a moue. “Poor thing.”

“Exactly. Now, let’s get you home before we change our minds.”

✧ ✧ ✧

The woman from the Swan House gave orders like a drill instructor. Go here. Stand there. Wait for this. Do that.

Not surprisingly, the wedding went exactly like it had in rehearsal.

Kara was radiant. Victor was nervous. Chris Coulter was unusually dignified. (I found out later that Elizabeth had threatened him with “grievous bodily harm” if he cracked a joke when he presented the bride.) The minister was a refreshing mix of serious and lighthearted. The garden and fountains were the perfect backdrop. Even the weather cooperated with a beautiful fall day. Best of all, the whole ceremony took less than thirty minutes.

Victor and Kara walked up the aisle to cheers and applause, followed in a procession by the rest of the couples in the wedding party. I caught Gina’s eye and smiled, but was already headed around the left side of the seats. Mark went around the right. Our job was to stand in the aisle and dismiss the guests by rows. We made it to our post before the coordinator had to threaten us with mess duty.

I went looking for Gina as soon as the last of the guests filed out. The reception was on the front lawn—the garden and fountains were actually the back of the house—so I edged along the stream of people climbing the terrace steps.

Gina excused herself from a group as soon as she saw me. I lifted her into the air and kissed her, which surprised us both.

“Why, Mr. Hughes,” she said, “you’ll sully my reputation.”

I laughed and set her down. “Your accent’s coming back.”

“Must be something in the water.”

“Speaking of which… you want something from the bar? Beer? Wine?”

“Are you trying to get me drunk?”

“Um… do I need to?”

She laughed. “Just some lemonade, please.”

“Right. Two lemonades, coming up.”

The caterers had set up bars on either side of the porte-cochère, with cases of alcohol ready in the center. The lines were already five deep and growing.

Fortunately, the regular drinks were on a table at the end of the ones they planned to use for the buffet. They had pitchers of iced tea and water, along with a big fountain for lemonade. I filled two glasses and returned to Gina. She drank half of hers straight away.

“Thanks. I was parched. They only had champagne in the bridesmaids’ tent.”

“Hold on… you aren’t drinking?”

She held up her half-empty glass.

“You know what I mean. Alcohol. You weren’t drinking last night either.”

“No.”

“Have you given it up altogether?”

“I dunno. I never really drank much before, but now…” She shrugged. “Go ahead and drink if you want to.”

“Nah. I’ll pass.”

“Are you sure? I don’t mind.”

“No thanks. I… kinda had fun last night. Maybe it was ’cause I was sober.”

“It didn’t have anything to do with me?” She mocked me with a playful flutter of dark eyelashes.

“You know what I mean.”

“I do. But it’s fun to tease you.”

“You’re too much like Susan. And your mom. And my mom, for that matter.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“It depends.”

“On what?”

“Whether we’re in bed or not.”

“So you think you’re going to bed with me?”

“Well, I did promise,” I said.

“Uh-huh.”

I started to say something else, but an older gentleman and his wife approached us.

Gina gave me a wry little smile and turned to greet them.

They were Victor’s grandparents on his mother’s side. We talked to them for a few minutes before they made their way to the bar. Another couple took their place almost immediately.

Gina was the sister of the bride, which meant that everyone wanted to talk to her. She was also young and pretty. She drew middle-aged men like moths to a flame. She was unfailingly polite, but I could see the amusement dancing behind her dark eyes.

One randy older guy, Victor’s great-uncle, said he’d never seen so many “beautiful brown women.” He spoke in a deep southern drawl and flattered Gina shamelessly. She laughed and flirted right back. Then she dashed his hopes and introduced me as her date. Without batting an eye, he said, “What about the dusky young lady over there, the one with the enchanting accent?”

“You mean my cousin Tessa,” Gina said with a laugh. “I’ll introduce you.” She handed me her empty glass. “Would you mind getting us refills while I do?” She rose on tiptoe and kissed my cheek. “I have a surprise for you later,” she added in a soft voice.

My eyebrows shot up, but she merely grinned and took the older man’s arm. She headed toward Tessa, who was surrounded by men her own age.

Gina returned a few minutes later, still laughing. “You know, I think he might actually have a chance. He’s a silver-tongued devil.”

“He certainly is.” I handed her the lemonade. “So,” I said after we drank, “what’s this surprise?”

“Hmm?”

“You mentioned a surprise.”

“Yes, that.”

I waited.

She grinned and touched my arm. “Let’s go say hi to my Nana and Nani. I know they’d love to see you again.”

We spent a while talking to her grandparents and reminiscing about our trip to Europe. Then we circulated and talked to more friends and relatives. We chatted with my parents and Susan for a few minutes, until Elizabeth pulled them away to meet some distant relative or another.

We drifted through a half-dozen conversations after that. Each one more or less followed the same script. The men said something about the reception or how lucky I was to be with Gina. The women talked about Kara and the ceremony itself. They all asked when Gina and I were going to get married.

I nearly choked on my lemonade the first time, but Gina answered with her usual aplomb.

“Oh, we aren’t ready to settle down yet. Besides, I don’t know if I’m going to keep him.”

I turned the tables on her with the last couple.

“Definitely before the baby’s born,” I said.

Gina squawked.

“Oh… well… yes,” the woman stammered. She and her husband moved on.

“That wasn’t nice,” Gina said.

“It was funny, though. And it serves you right, especially after what you told that first couple.”

“Well, I haven’t decided if I’m going to keep you.”

“Do I need to convince you?”

Her eyes shifted to something behind me. “Hold that thought. The food just came out. I’m starving. I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

Being a member of the wedding party did have its perks, and people made space for us near the front of the line. We filled our plates and joined Mark and Leah at a table. She smiled at me and turned an acid look on Gina.

“Who wants more wine?” Mark suggested.

“I’ll join you,” I said.

We used our boutonnières as a sort of pass to skip the line at the closest bar. Mark ordered two glasses of champagne.

The bartender glanced at me.

“Nothing, thanks.”

Mark looked at me in surprise.

“Long story. Is Leah okay?”

“Yeah. It isn’t you. It’s Gina.”

“Sibling rivalry?”

“I guess. It bugs her that Gina always gets what she wants.”

“Anything I can do?”

“Not unless you find another date.”

“Little late for that.”

“That’s what I told her.” He raised the glasses of bubbly. “Don’t worry. This’ll help.”

“Not if we’re standing here and they’re over there.”

“No kidding!”

We returned to the girls, who were politely ignoring each other and talking to the people on either side.

I caught Leah’s eye when Gina was deep in conversation and Mark went for more food.

Are you okay? I mouthed.

She nodded, but looked resigned more than anything.

Sorry.

I know. Me too.

Anything I can do?

She shook her head.

“Paul can probably tell you more about it,” Gina said from my right.

Leah automatically glared at her.

Fortunately, Mark slid into place between us, both literally and figuratively.

“Sorry, wasn’t paying attention,” I said to Gina. I turned and rested my arm on the back of her chair. “More about what?”

“The Swan House,” she said. “Carl and Clara are curious about it.”

“Ah, cool. What do you want to know?”

✧ ✧ ✧

Gina and I enjoyed the rest of the reception together. It continued well into the evening. People made the usual toasts and speeches. The newlyweds cut the cake and dabbed each other with icing. The photographer immortalized it all. And people drank. Oh. My. God. They drank.

The bartenders had cases and cases of empty bottles by the time Kara and Victor changed into regular clothes and made their ceremonial rice-showered exit. The crowd thinned noticeably after that. My parents and Susan came looking for us.

“Keep an eye on Erin,” Mom said to me. “She’s been flirting with every boy here.”

“Most of them are young men,” Susan said.

“If she’s anything like I was, sh—”

“She’s probably blown half of them already.”

“Shush,” Mom told her. “You’re drunk.”

“And you aren’t?”

Gina covered a smile with her hand.

Mom ignored Susan and said to me, “We’re going home.”

“To fool around,” Susan added.

My father swayed.

“You okay?” I said. “I can drive you home if you like.”

He shook his head. “’M fine. C’n drive with m’ eyes closed.”

“C’mon, Dad. You’re slurring your speech.” I took his car keys.

He swiped them back. “’M not slurring m’ vision.”

Susan snickered.

Dad realized what he’d said. He heaved an eighty-proof sigh and extended the keys.

“Thanks.” I pocketed them.

I went looking for a pay phone, but found that the Coulters had already contracted a local taxi company to have cars on call.

“The ca’erers’ suggestion,” Chris told me. He took another drink of Scotch and raised his glass in a boozy toast. “Good t’ see you an’ Gina t’gether again. Jus’ gimme a couple’a years t’ pay off this wedding ’fore you pop th’ ques’ion.”

“Don’t worry,” I told him, “your checkbook’s safe for a while.”

“Is it? Liz’beth had it las’ I saw.”

“You’re a good guy, Chris.” I patted him on the shoulder and returned to Gina.

She and I escorted Susan and my parents across the lawn and decanted them into the back of a taxi. I gave the driver the address.

Mark, Leah, and Erin appeared almost immediately. They weren’t as drunk as my parents, but they weren’t feeling any pain either.

“Hey,” Mark said. “We’re going with a bunch of people to the Limelight. An after-after-party.”

Erin had a guy in tow. She silently dared me to say something. She looked like she could handle herself, so I simply nodded.

“Y’all wanna come?” Mark asked.

“Please, Paul,” Leah said. “You too, Gina. You’d love it.”

I looked at Gina.

She gave a slight shrug and left it up to me.

“Maybe some other time,” I told them. “Thanks, though.”

“Okay. I un’erstand,” Leah said. She flung her arms around me and gave Gina a hug too. “Love you so much. Can’t believe I was such a bitch earlier.”

“It’s okay,” Gina said. “I love you too.”

They said goodbye and climbed into the next taxi.

“A lot of people will be coming back for their cars tomorrow,” I said to no one in particular.

Gina and I returned to the reception and found a group of diehards around the bar. The bartenders had announced last call and were packing away the remaining wine and liquor. The waiters and waitresses were cleaning up too, and the house staff had half of the chairs already folded and stacked.

A small group from the wedding party—Stacy and Jason, Sydney and Woody, and Ty and Julia (the best man and his wife)—were gathering flower arrangements and setting them next to a long table piled high with wedding gifts.

“I know it isn’t very sexy,” I said to Gina, “but we should probably help.”

“Being a responsible adult is kinda sexy.”

“Oh. Well. Then I guess I’m screwed.”

Her eyes glittered with affection. “If you’re lucky.”

We joined the others and helped with the flowers and centerpieces. I thought we were done, but we still had to load all the presents into Elizabeth’s station wagon.

I took one look at the hoard and realized that it wouldn’t all fit. Not with the flowers too. I told the others I’d be right back. Then I wrapped Gina in my coat, gave her a kiss, and jogged to my car.

The guys had Elizabeth’s car halfway loaded when I returned. The girls were sitting to the side on the last four chairs in sight. They were all wearing their dates’ coats, which made them look even smaller than they already were.

I gave Gina another kiss—because I could—and opened the back of the Land Cruiser. Ty helped fold down the rear seats. Then he and I filled the car with flowers. Jason and Woody loaded Elizabeth’s to the headliner but still didn’t have enough room. I looked at the remaining pile of presents.

“We can fill the passenger seats and footwells,” I suggested. “That should do it.”

“Only one problem,” Jason said. “Stacy and I are supposed to drive the station wagon to Kara’s parents’ house.”

“She can drive it,” I suggested, “and you can drive my car.”

“How will you get home?”

I pulled out my dad’s car keys.

“Oh. Well. That’s convenient.”

We loaded the remaining presents and left enough room for the drivers, but that was about it.

“Okay,” I said at last, “are we ready to blow this popsicle stand?”

“Not quite,” Jason said. “We still have to get our stuff from the tents.”

“I don’t know about you all,” Ty said, “but I don’t feel like changing clothes. I’m fine to wear this back to the hotel.”

I looked around and realized that I was the only one not wearing a tuxedo or bridesmaid’s dress.

“Yeah, let’s just get our stuff and get out of here.”

We trooped down the stairs to the terrace lawn. I stood around while the men disappeared into the groomsmen’s tent and the ladies went into the one for the bridesmaids.

When everyone emerged, Stacy and Jason said goodbye to us and climbed the stairs to the front driveway. The rest of us walked to our cars. I carried Gina’s dress bag and a small overnight bag. I hefted it and gave her a speculative look. She looped an arm through mine and leaned against me.

“Thanks for all your help,” Ty said.

“No problem.”

“It was great to see you again,” Sydney said. She stood on tiptoe to kiss my cheek. “You’re next.” She glanced at Gina and held up her wedding ring to make sure I understood. “Oh, and enjoy the drive home.”

I furrowed my brow and shook hands with Woody as the girls said goodnight. They climbed into their car and drove away.

I stowed Gina’s things behind the seats in my dad’s Corvette. She took off my coat, folded it neatly with the boutonnière on top, and added it to the back. Then she lowered herself into the passenger seat and smiled up at me as I closed the door.

My dad was several inches taller than me (which still annoyed me sometimes), so I had to move the driver’s seat forward. I slid the key into the ignition but didn’t turn it.

“Sorry about tonight,” I said. “I know it wasn’t what you planned.”

“How do you know that?”

“I dunno. It wasn’t what I planned.”

“Oh?”

I watched her out of the corner of my eye. “I wanted to sweep you off your feet. Seduce you with my charm and wit. Tempt you into bed with me.”

“And…?”

“Well, let’s see…” I counted things off: “We had crazy relatives, a crowd of drunks, flower clean-up, a truckload of gifts, and then a long walk to the car.” I sighed. “On top of all that, pretty much everyone tonight assumed we’d be getting married next. Like we don’t have any say in the matter.”

She unbuckled her shoes and tucked them under the seat.

“I mean, sure, we’ve known each other since we were kids, but we haven’t seen each other since Christmas. We’ve been apart longer than that. It takes some time to get to know someone again. Worse, I just assumed you’d be coming home with me. I know we’ve been flirting all night, but I didn’t even ask if that’s what you wanted.”

“I was wondering if you’d realize that.” She studied my face. “You’ve grown up a lot since we broke up.”

“Had to happen eventually,” I muttered.

She nodded.

“So,” I said at last, “take you home?” I moved to start the car, but she stopped me with a gesture. “What? Did we forget something?”

She sat on the center console and held my face in her hands. “You’re sexier now than I’ve ever known,” she said softly. “Tonight was wonderful.” She closed her eyes and kissed me, softly at first, but with growing desire.

I slid my hand up her thigh. Then I cupped her breast and gently squeezed. She moaned, so I helped her climb over the console and straddle my lap. She took a break long enough to unfasten my belt and trousers. Then she reached inside and pulled out my penis. It was as surprised as I was, but it quickly stiffened as she stroked it.

She rose on her knees.

“What’re you doing?”

“What do you think?” She steadied my erection between her legs.

“But…”

“I took off my panties when I went into the tent to get my bags.”

“So that’s what Sydney meant! When she said enjoy the drive home.”

“Mmm hmm.”

The tip of my cock slid into her warm channel.

Gina sat back and impaled herself with a groan. “Oh, God! I’d forgotten how thick you are.”

“And how tight you are.”

“Maybe we should do this more often.”

“Fine by me.”

She began moving her hips. “Lemme know when you’re ready. I wanna taste you.”

“I’m ready,” I gasped.

Her eyes popped open. “Are you serious?”

“Close enough. If you keep moving I am.” I held her in place. “Better.” I reached behind her and found the tab of her zipper. It made a soft hiss as I lowered it.

She pulled the dress over her head and tossed it into the passenger seat. She was wearing a light pink bustier.

“Nice,” I said.

“You like it? The panties match, but you’ll have to take my word for it.”

I laughed. “So you were planning to come home with me.”

“You’re such a goof,” she said fondly. “But it’s nice to know you didn’t take it for granted.” She reached behind herself and made a show of unfastening the hooks. She paused before she took it off. “Any final guesses?”

“About what?”

“Tan lines, silly.”

I pretended to think about it. “Um… yes.”

“Ding, ding, ding!” She peeled away the bustier and threw it aside. Pale triangles covered her breasts. They joined at the bottom and came to a point below where the bustier had covered. They made her nipples look very dark.

My eyes traveled lower, down the curve of her stomach. “Did you…?”

“Mmm hmm. Told you I had a surprise for you. Ms. Gillette and I had a little chat in the shower this morning. A very intimate discussion.” She had trimmed her pubic hair to a dark triangle that left her labia bare.

“Very nice.” I surprised her with a hungry kiss.

She moaned into my mouth and began moving her hips.

I wanted to stop her but didn’t have the willpower.

She sensed that I was close and tried to climb off me. The steering wheel got in her way, and she bumped her head on the roof. Still, she managed to twist herself back over the center console.

She made a beeline for my cock and reached it just in time. Then she groaned as white, salty come gushed over her tongue. I held her head in place and flexed my butt to pump more of the precious liquid into her mouth.

When I finally stopped shooting, Gina made a soft sound of contentment and continued sucking. My shaft didn’t soften a bit.

I played with her nipples until I felt a second orgasm building. Then I reached between her legs and pulled her toward me for a better angle. I ran a finger over her shaved labia. She was practically dripping as I spread her open and teased the stiff little bead of her clit. She moaned, and the vibration sent shivers up my spine.

She began bobbing faster. I obliged her by shooting a second load down her throat. My fingers vibrated on her clit, and she thrust her hips toward me. Her pleasure mounted until she stiffened and cried out.

She breathed hard through her nose and slowly closed her legs. I kept my right hand where it was and used my left to caress her face and brush back a strand of dark hair. She opened her eyes and gave me a heavy-lidded, happy smile.

“You like?” I said.

“What’s not to like? First taste I’ve had in months.”

I chuckled. “Good. Now, would you still like to come home with me?”

“Love to. But in a minute.” She closed her eyes and kissed the tip of my slowly shrinking cock. Then she took it in her mouth and nursed until she coaxed out the remaining semen.

The parking brake handle finally convinced her to move. Even though it was lowered, it was still digging into her side. She groaned as I helped her sit up. Then she pulled her clothes from beneath her. She tossed the bustier in the back and fluffed through the dress until she found the right opening. She wriggled into it.

I started the car and rumbled out of the parking lot. The main roads of suburban Atlanta were never really empty, even late at night. Gina did her best to distract me, though. She put her feet on the dash and played with her pussy. By some minor miracle we made it to my parents’ house without an accident.

“If I didn’t know better,” I said as we turned into the driveway, “I’d swear you were trying to get us killed.”

“I can’t help it. You make me so horny.”

“Can you wait till we get inside?”

“Maybe.”

I pulled the Corvette into the garage and shook my head with amusement. “A little while ago I didn’t think I was gonna get lucky at all.”

“You were always gonna get lucky.” She climbed across the console to kiss me.

We started making out again.

The rational part of my brain reminded me that we were sixty feet from a bed and all the comforts of home.

“Let’s go inside,” I finally managed.

“Okay. You’re right.” She climbed back to the passenger side and swung the door open.

We gathered our things and headed in. Halfway through the kitchen she came to an abrupt halt.

“What is it?”

“Look.”

My parents and Susan were in the hot tub. The porch lights were off, but they were silhouetted by the light in the tub itself. One of the women sat on the side with her legs spread. The other was licking her pussy while my dad fucked her from behind.

Gina tensed with excitement. “Let’s watch.”

I set her bags in a kitchen chair and followed her into the living room. We watched through the blinds in the patio door.

“You remember doing this at camp?” she said.

“Mmm hmm.” I lifted her dress over her head. “Have to talk to whoever made this. It keeps coming off.”

“It’s had help.”

“Whatever.” I unzipped my pants and pulled out my rapidly stiffening manhood. Then I dragged my balls through the fly and let them hang free too.

Gina bent forward and braced herself on the doorframe. I stroked my cock and aimed it at the pale triangle of her ass. She moaned as I entered her and slid home.

“You remember doing this at camp?”

“God, yes.”

I held her waist and started thrusting.

My dad was doing the same outside.

I grinned to myself and matched his tempo.

He didn’t last long before he pulled out. The woman he was fucking turned and sank to her knees in front of him. The other woman slipped into the water and joined her. They took turns sucking his balls as he stroked his cock.

Gina moaned.

Outside, Dad threw back his head. The first woman captured his dick and swallowed. Then she passed it to the other woman, who finished him off. He stood panting as the ladies shared his come in a kiss.

I reached between Gina’s legs and played with her clit.

“Oh, God,” she gasped. “I’m gonna come.”

“I know.”

“That’s right. I don’t… have to tell… you.”

“Did you have to tell Brock?”

She groaned and didn’t answer.

“Did you?”

“Yes,” she hissed. A moment later she let out a wordless cry.

I slammed into her and held still as her pussy convulsed around my cock. My fingers went into overdrive on her clit. She cried out again as her pleasure peaked.

Her orgasm eventually subsided, and I ran my hands up her body and cupped her breasts. I kneaded them gently as she slowly recovered her breath.

“I don’t remember you making me come that quickly,” she said. “Or that hard.”

“I’ve had a little practice since then.”

“I’ll say.”

Out in the hot tub, my dad sank to a seat and watched the women kiss. One of them started sucking the other’s nipples.

“Wanna join them?” Gina asked.

“I don’t think so.”

She looked over her shoulder at me.

“I want you to myself tonight.”

“And what, exactly, do you want to do to me?”

“All sorts of perverted things.”

She grinned.

“But first, I wanna get out of this suit and these shoes. My feet are killing me.”

“Oh, very perverted,” she teased. Then she gasped as I withdrew my cock. She turned and started to drop to her knees, but I caught her first.

“Hold that thought,” I said. “I’m serious about getting comfortable.”

“Oh. Okay.” She looked down at my hard-on.

“It can wait.”

Her eyebrows rose in surprise. “You have grown up.”

“Lots.”

I returned to the kitchen and retrieved her things. My erection led the way like a thick pink divining rod. Gina followed me through the darkened house to my bedroom. I turned on the lights and closed the door.

“It looks different than I remember,” she said.

“Yeah. Like your elementary school when you go back as a teenager.”

She laughed. “Sort of.”

I untied my shoes and kicked them off. Then I scrunched my toes in the carpeting. “God, that feels good.”

Gina watched with growing amusement.

“What?” I said at last.

“You. Your dick. You look so sexy with it sticking out like that. You sure you don’t want me to…?”

I wanted to get undressed first. But then I heard Susan’s voice in my head, A relationship is about compromise. I chuckled to myself when I realized the absurdity of the situation: a beautiful woman wanted to suck my dick, and the “compromise” was to let her.

I motioned her toward me and drew her into my arms. My hard-on bent against her stomach. She smiled and tilted her head up for a kiss. Our lips met, and she reached between us. Her hands found my shaft and began stroking. My hands found her nipples and began teasing.

We made out for a couple of minutes before she pulled back. Her eyes shone with excitement as she sank to her knees. She tasted pre-come and moaned deep in her throat.

I undressed while she sucked me. She bobbed away, unconcerned, until I finally stopped her so I could take off my boxers. I pulled them over my jutting erection and kicked them off. She recaptured my cock as soon as I righted myself.

She wanted that third load, all right. But I wanted to fuck her before I came again.

Time to compromise.

“Look,” I said, a bit flippantly, “a real bed with real sheets.”

She ignored me.

“Come on, my lovely limpet.” I pushed her away and lifted her to her feet.

“But…”

“Bed,” I said firmly. “Now.” I threw back the covers. “All right, in you go. On your back.”

I climbed in after her and kissed my way up her body. I lingered over her breasts. They were about the same size as Leah’s, maybe a little bigger, but her nipples were more like a grown woman’s. I licked and sucked until she couldn’t take it anymore.

“I need to feel you inside me.” She spread her legs wider, the perfect invitation.

The tip of my shaft entered her without help.

I chuckled. “It knows the way on its own.”

“Mmm.”

“It likes the warmth.”

She gripped the sheets and hissed as I slid all the way into her.

“Okay?”

She nodded.

I began thrusting, and our repartee dwindled to sighs and soft moans. I wanted to take my time and enjoy getting reacquainted with her body, but my dick had other ideas.

Hold on, I told it.

What about compromise?

I don’t have to. We aren’t in a relationship.

Sure we are.

No, we aren’t. I own you. I control you. You’re just a tool. I chuckled at my own wit.

My dick didn’t have a good comeback, so we ditched the compromise thing and did it my way. I stopped thrusting and held very still. Gina opened her eyes when I didn’t immediately start again.

“What’s the matter?”

“I’m going to come if I keep going.”

“Go ahead. I’m still on the pill.”

“That isn’t it. Although it’s good to know.” I glanced at where my body joined hers. “Really good to know.”

“Then… what?”

“You feel so good I wanna take my time.”

She smiled. “Is that all?”

“That’s a lot!”

“You’re a better lover than I remember too.” She caressed my face. “But we have all night. And all day. I told my parents I wouldn’t be home until tomorrow afternoon.”

“I hate to break it to you, but it’s been tomorrow for about an hour.”

“Then hurry up. I have places to go, things to do.”

We erupted in laughter, which I quickly put a stop to.

“What?”

“You tighten up when you laugh. It was all I could do not to come.”

She pulled me down for a kiss. Then she touched her cheek to mine.

A weird part of me was glad I’d shaved twice. I thought of the strangest things sometimes.

“Come inside me,” she whispered.

That grabbed my attention.

She wrapped her arms around me and moved her hips.

I began thrusting again. Ten seconds later I closed my eyes and let out a low, continuous groan as a geyser of semen erupted from deep within me. I clench my muscles so hard that I thought I might hurt myself before I finally stopped shooting.

When I sort of regained control of my body again, I relaxed against her and breathed hard through my nose.

“I definitely remember that,” she said with satisfaction.

✧ ✧ ✧

We slept for a couple of hours, until someone knocked on the door. I opened my eyes. The room slowly came into focus. The lights were still on, and everything was where we’d left it.

“Come in,” I said without thinking.

Mom opened the door. She must have sobered up quite a bit, because she immediately looked away and cleared her throat.

My sleepy brain took a moment to realize why.

I was lying on my back, with my dick stretched out on my thigh. Gina lay with her head on my chest and one leg over mine. And if I had to guess, her shaved pussy lips were in full view. We must’ve been quite a sight.

“Sorry ’bout that.” I pulled the sheet over us.

“It’s okay,” Mom said. “I should’ve expected— Never mind. Where’s Erin?”

I looked at the clock. It was almost four in the morning.

“She isn’t in her bedroom.”

“Relax,” I said, and belatedly remembered that I was talking to my mother. “Sorry. I mean, she’s probably okay. She was with Mark and Leah.”

“That makes me feel a little better, but she still isn’t home.”

I struggled to sit up without disturbing Gina. I finally gave up and rolled her away from me as gently as I could.

“Wha’ time izzit?”

I suppressed a grin. Leah said it the same way. “It’s still early,” I said softly. “Go back to sleep.”

I cast about for something to wear and found my trousers. I pulled them on. “I know where they were going,” I told Mom. “I’ll go look for her.” I jammed my bare feet into my dress shoes and didn’t bother tying them.

Gina sat up and rubbed sleep from her eyes. Her tan lines drew my eyes to her breasts, and I reminded myself that I had more important things to do than enjoy the scenery.

“Is everything okay?” she asked.

“Erin isn’t home yet.”

“She was with Leah,” she said in alarm.

“They’re probably fine.” I shrugged into my shirt and snatched the car keys from the desk.

Gina climbed out of bed and put on my suit coat. It still had the boutonnière pinned to the lapel. I almost laughed at the absurdity of it.

We were halfway across the living room when the front door opened. Erin came in. She thanked someone we couldn’t see and closed the door. Then she locked it and leaned forward. Her forehead made a soft thump when it touched the wood.

Mom cleared her throat.

Erin jumped and dropped her keys. She picked them up and came into the living room.

We looked at her.

She looked back.

“Well…?” Mom said at last.

“Well what?”

The silence drew out.

“Do we have to do this now?” Erin limped toward the bathroom, and I realized she was walking on one shoe. She was carrying the other one. Its heel was missing.

Mom tailed her into the bathroom.

Gina and I looked at each other and followed.

Erin lifted the toilet lid, unceremoniously hiked up her dress, and sat. She breathed a deep sigh and let loose a stream of pee.

I glanced at Mom to see if she’d noticed that Erin wasn’t wearing panties. Either way, she didn’t say anything.

“Sorry I’m late,” Erin said. She laughed and wiped her smeared mascara.

“What happened?” Mom said with more composure than I’d have given her credit for.

“What’s it look like?” Erin said testily. She knew it was the wrong tone. “Sorry. It’s been a long night.” She took a deep breath and wearily crossed her arms over her bare legs. “After the reception we went to a club. The Limelight.”

“I know it,” Mom said neutrally.

“We had fun and didn’t do anything stupid. When it was time to leave, we couldn’t get a taxi. There was this… guy,” she added, clearly a polite alternative to what she was thinking.

“The guy from the reception?” I said in alarm.

“No. Another one. We met him there. He followed us when we left, wouldn’t take no for an answer. He was groping me. Mark told him to knock it off. They got in a fight, and—”

“Wait,” I said. “Mark got in a fight?”

“Yeah. We needed you, though. You’d’ve taken this guy apart. Mark…” Her shoulders shook with a humorless laugh. “Well, he can’t fight for shit.”

I didn’t know what to say.

“I know,” she continued, “you were with Gina. I get it. Nice to see you, by the way,” she said to her. “Sorry we didn’t have much chance to talk at the reception.”

“It’s okay,” Gina said. “Is Leah all right?”

“I’m getting to that,” Erin snapped. “Just hold your horses.”

Gina looked at me and raised an eyebrow.

I’d never seen Erin like that either.

“Anyway,” she went on, “the bouncers broke up the fight. Someone inside must’ve called the cops, though. They showed up and threatened to arrest us all. Underage drinking, drunk and disorderly, disturbing the peace. Fucking morons,” she muttered darkly.

All three of us blinked in shock. Erin wasn’t a choirgirl, but she usually didn’t swear like a sailor.

“How’d you get out of it?” I said.

“The bouncers backed up our story. The… guy… was some kind of drug dealer. So they said. I’m pretty sure the cops planted the drugs, though. Assholes. They arrested him. Not for what he did to me, but for some trumped-up bullshit charge. ‘Just Say No,’” she mocked. “Fucking police care more about drugs than sexual assault. We should file a complaint with the mayor or something.”

“We’ll look into it,” Mom said dryly.

“I mean it, Mom! Don’t fucking patronize me!”

“Whoa,” I said. “Take a chill pill, Erin. We were worried about you.”

“Then where were you when we needed you!” She sobbed, and I realized she was scared more than angry.

“I’m really sorry, Er.”

“We should’ve gone with you,” Gina said.

Erin savagely tore off some toilet paper and used it to wipe her eyes.

“How’d you get home?” Mom asked.

“The cops brought us. Well, the other cops did. The assholes who arrested the guy were just going to leave us. But more cops showed up, and they knew Mark’s stepfather. They dropped Leah and him off first. At your parents’ house,” she said to Gina. “Then they brought me home. They were actually pretty cool. They walked me to the door and everything. Made sure I was safe.”

“That was very nice of them,” Mom said. She turned to us. “Why don’t you two go back to bed.” She knelt in front of Erin and brushed her hair out of her face. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

“Oh, Mom,” she sobbed, and flung her arms around her, “I didn’t know what to do! I was so scared!”

“I know, sweetheart. It’s all right. I’ve got you.”

Gina put a hand on my arm. I nodded, and we retreated to the hall. I pulled the bathroom door closed behind us.

“Is everything all right?” Susan asked. “I heard voices.”

“Erin had a bit of a scare. She’s okay now.”

“Does she need any help?”

I looked over my shoulder and thought about it. “Probably not. It’s… hard to explain.”

“I think they need some mother-daughter time,” Gina said.

“Oh.”

“We should probably go back to bed,” I added.

We said goodnight, and Gina and I returned to my bedroom. I closed the door and let out a long sigh.

“I dunno ’bout you,” I said, “but I’m wide awake.”

“No kidding.” She looked at me for a moment. “You handled that very well. They’d’ve started arguing if you hadn’t been there.”

“Mom and Erin have a… rocky… relationship. It isn’t really either of their faults.”

“It’s the same with my mom and Leah.”

I nodded. Then I thought of something. “How come you never had problems like that?”

“Oh, I did. But never like Leah. She’s always been difficult. Kara and I used to think she was switched at birth or dropped on her head.”

I chuckled.

“Seriously. I don’t understand what her problem is. Mom just wants the best for us.”

“Yeah, but Leah wants something different.”

“Don’t tell me you agree with her.”

“Not saying I do,” I lied. “I just know Leah doesn’t want to be a doctor.” I knew a lot more than that, but I didn’t want to start an argument. “It doesn’t really matter, does it? I mean, she isn’t standing in my bedroom half-naked.” I reached inside the coat and tweaked her nipple.

“How can you think about sex? At a time like this?”

“What else am I s’posed to think about? Besides, look at you. You’d make the Pope stand up and take notice. A certain part of him, at least.”

She laughed. “You’re incorrigible.”

“Yeah, but you love it.”

“You’re right,” she said at last. “I do.”

✧ ✧ ✧