“Can I come over?”
“Sure. Mom and Dad are hanging out in my apartment, having some wine. We’d love to have you.”
“Okay, see you in ten.”
Well, shit. The parental units didn’t even slow her down. I guess we would have this conversation tonight. I quickly gave my parents the Reader’s Digest version of what was going on with Tracy and me. I explained my rebound theory and how she gave me the green light for the weekend. I told them about Alice, and then that Tami and I had finally gotten together.
My mom poured herself another glass of wine.
“You’re a bigger slut than your brother.”
My dad just buried his head in his hands.
“She’ll be here in about four minutes. Any advice?” I asked.
“Do you think that if this wasn’t a rebound, you might get serious with her?” Mom asked.
“Yes, she’s everything I’m looking for.”
“Then break up with her.”
“What?” Tracy and I said at the same time.
Tracy came in and she sat down next to me. My mom may not have the smoothest way of saying things, but she was usually right. We both looked at her and waited for her explanation.
“You’re both great kids. I can see where you’d be crazy-attracted to each other, and if what I hear coming out of that window is any indication, your sexual chemistry is great. But you’re both damaged goods. If you try to make a go of it, one of you is going to do something ridiculously stupid and possibly ruin your relationship from ever working in the long term. David says that you two could have something special. I tend to agree. But right now may not be the best time for either of you.”
She turned to Tracy.
“You’re going to keep playing this non-relationship card until you drive him away.”
She turned on me.
“You aren’t going to keep it in your pants.”
I wouldn’t touch that comment with a ten-foot pole. Tracy and I both blushed as we realized that the elephant in the room had been pointed out concerning both of us.
“You’re 15 and 16 years old. Back off the relationship and let yourselves be friends for now. When you both have healed, then get back together.” Mom said with a scowl. “But I know you, David. You aren’t going to take my advice. I just hope you two don’t mess up so bad that when you break up you can never come back together. You two have strengths in different areas. Together you’ll make each other a better version of yourselves.”
Mom grabbed my dad’s hand.
“Come on, Daddy-O. I think I’ve had enough wine to handle my brother now. You and Greg may want to go grab an ice cream. I’m about to lay down the law and reclaim our house.”
When my parents left, Tracy and I just held each other. I knew we weren’t going to follow my mom’s advice. Someday I may wish I had. I gave us until Thanksgiving. Until then I would enjoy every moment with Tracy I could get. I decided to stop asking for a relationship. I would focus on what we did well together, make myself the Big Man on Campus that she wanted, and have lots of sex. We could agree on those three things. If I had enough sex with her, the problem of my wandering would go away.
Chapter 19 – I Can’t Do This Alone
Monday September 30
I woke to find Tracy still in my arms. We didn’t talk last night. We simply held each other until we started to make out. Our lovemaking the previous evening had been gentle. It had brought us closer together, but in the backs of our minds, I think we both knew that our relationship was running on borrowed time. The problem with knowing a relationship might be ending is it puts you on guard. No one wanted to get hurt. With that in mind, I kissed Tracy awake.
“Morning, Stud. I think I like waking up this way.”
“I’d love to wake you every morning with a kiss. Of course, at some point your dad’s going to have my balls when he figures out your sleepovers are with me.”
“Tami’s right; you are a ‘stupid boy.’ Dad knows exactly where I am.”
I let that just roll over me.
“I need to tell you a few things about the weekend.”
I saw her eyebrows inch together for a fraction of a second. She was good at hiding her emotions. If I hadn’t looked for it, I would never have noticed her concern.
“I was with three girls this weekend, one of which you may not be happy about.”
Now she wasn’t hiding her concern. I could see her puzzling it out. Her eyes snapped up.
“Tami,” she guessed.
“Yes.”
“Do you love her?”
“Yes, I think I’ve always loved her. I’m not sure if it was a one-time thing, but we’re not together. If we ever get together, it’ll be way down the road. I want to be clear though, that if she should ever ask, I would sleep with her again.”
I could see a kaleidoscope of emotions cross her face. It took her several minutes to work through her feelings on this. I think she realized that if Tami asked, I was hers. The question was, would Tami ever ask? I stayed quiet to allow her to work through what I had just told her.
“David, I need to think about you and Tami. I take it that the other two were when you were at Kentucky.”
“Yes.”
“Look, I can’t complain about those. We were on a break. Hell, technically we were still on a break when you slept with Tami. But we both know Tami’s not just any other girl.”
“You’re right, she’s not. Can I suggest something?”
“If it’ll help, I’m all ears.”
“Call Tami. She’ll be honest with you and let you know where things stand.” I chuckled. “And when you find out, let me know.”
That got a smile out of her. Then she got a concerned look on her face.
“How many girls have you slept with?”
I looked her right in the eye.
“I won’t tell you who, but are you sure you want a count?”
She nodded. I went through the list in my head. Tina was my first, and then Suzanne. I wasn’t sure if Cindy counted. I think I would just count actual orgasms. Either I gave them an orgasm or they gave me one, so that left Cindy off the list. There was Tracy, Tami, and the two girls at Kentucky.
“Six, counting you,” I told her.
She was taking this in when it dawned on her that I might want to know her count; that caused her to blush.
“Do you want to know my count?”
“Actually, absolutely not,” I told her.
I glanced at the clock and saw I needed to get downstairs for my run with Peggy.
“I want us to work out. I have serious feelings for you. Right now, I need to get downstairs, because Peggy will be here in a few minutes for our run. Can we get together after school and really figure this out?”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
I TOOK A QUICK SHOWER. When I came back, Tracy was gone. I got dressed and found Peggy waiting. She decided today was a distance day. We were in a good rhythm and just ran. There was something about running where you could clear your mind. Normally Peggy was chatty, but I think she sensed my mood and left me to my own thoughts. I finally noticed that Peggy was starting to tire, and she was giving me a funny look.
“What?” I asked defensively.
“You do realize that we just passed the ten-mile mark?”
I was shocked because I didn’t even feel winded. I’d just settled into an easy pace that seemed to eat up time and distance. I actually felt refreshed after I’d allowed my mind to relax and come to some decisions.
“Shit, you’re kidding me.”
The most we’d ever done was six miles for our morning run.
“Nope. You were in such a zone I just kept us going. We don’t have a meet this week, so I was enjoying the run also.” Peggy ran cross-country.
We jogged back to my house and stretched. She came up to my apartment and I got her a Gatorade. Peggy wasn’t meeting my eyes.
“You need to find someone else to run with you.”
“What, did I do something wrong?” I asked.