“What if you told her you wouldn’t pay for her to go?” Brook asked.
The poor girl had no idea who she was dealing with.
“Why don’t you try that with your parents?”
She pressed her lips tight together as she realized that was never happening.
“Come here,” I said.
Brook crawled up on the bed and put her head on my shoulder. I put my arm around her.
“When was the last time you took a family vacation?” I asked.
“Three years ago.”
“Did you have fun?”
“Yeah, but that’s not the point. I wanted you and me to have fun,” Brook admitted.
That made me chuckle, and she lifted her head off my shoulder so she could look me in the eyes.
“I’m serious,” she whined.
“When have you and I not had fun?” I asked.
“I meant sexy fun.”
“Brook, they can’t watch us 24/7. Even if they do, I plan to spend a lot of time with you doing fun things. I seriously need a vacation where I’m not working. Since my freshman year, I’ve been away for Christmas and spring break, working. Even at school, I get up early to run, classes all day, practice baseball, sixty minutes of hell, and then I go to the dojo with Cassidy. I eat a late dinner and then study until time for bed.
“Now I’ve taken on a school play because I wasn’t smart enough to keep my mouth shut. The sad part is I don’t see it getting any better come summer or next year. If anything, I’ll have even more on my plate, with recruiting heating up.
“I guess what I’m saying is that I chose you to go on probably the last vacation I’ll have for a long time,” I said.
“You really think we can have fun, even without ‘sexy time’?”
“All things being equal, I would enjoy ‘sexy time’ with you. I hope that’s not the only reason you want to go on vacation with me.”
“You know that’s not the case, David. I guess I was feeling sorry for myself. I think my parents could use a vacation as well. Do you think our parents will get along?”
“Yeah, I don’t see any problems with that.”
We became quiet and got lost in our own thoughts.
“David?”
“Hm?”
“Could we have ‘sexy time’ now?”
I bounced up on all fours and covered her like a kid who found a Playboy Bunny under his Christmas tree. Brook got the giggles as I tried to get her clothes off. She squealed when I licked her neck. Yeah, we would have ‘sexy time’ on our vacation.
◊◊◊
Chapter 13 – Code Black Saturday February 20
I got up early, ran, and then used the hotel gym to work out. I came back to find Brook had gone back to her room. Last night had been fun. Brook was in a goofy mood and had me laughing and feeling playful. I’d started to feel relaxed around Brook. When we first had gotten together, I’d worried a little about measuring up. She’d admitted that she usually went out with guys who were in college. Ken, who she invited to her house and who turned out to be engaged, had been five years older.
Because of that, I probably went overboard with Brook and tried to make her climax harder than she’d ever experienced. Last night had changed our relationship. I think that because I hadn’t tried a bunch of sexual gymnastics, we had a better time together. No, we didn’t get off as hard or as many times, but there was more of a comfortable connection.
It was also the first time we’d fallen asleep together. I enjoyed waking up and finding Brook next to me. For some reason, it just felt right.
If you’d asked me before last night to rate how close I felt to the women in my life, Brook would’ve come in last. Even though I’d had more sex with Brook, both Halle and Zoe meant more to me on an emotional level. Of course, Pam would always be special to me. After Valentine’s weekend, it had crystallized for me that we were not going to be more than close friends. Pam just wasn’t made to handle the attention she’d get if she were with me.
I reflected on all the girls I’d dated and thought about who I might want to make my girlfriend, then stopped myself for a moment. Was I really considering this? It had been six months since Tami made it clear that we weren’t going to be together. Had it really been long enough for me to think about being in a relationship and everything that would entail? Was I ready to commit to one person and try to make it work?
I got a little sidetracked when I thought about LA and how much fun I’d had. The lifestyle of an actor was different from that of a high school kid in the Midwest. Yes, I didn’t have anything to complain about, really. It just felt like I was missing something important. I’d seen how my uncle acted now that he was married. He seemed content. Even Greg and Angie had settled in and were happy. With a baby on the way, did I also want to find someone to love?
I returned to my mental list. As much as I liked the Wesleyan girls, Harper had been the only one who I would have considered taking a relationship to the next level with. I could look back now and see that her infatuation with a guy from her past was all about her insecurities. That didn’t mean that I was ready to take up with her again.
I thought about Kara. Now she was someone I could see being with. We had the same job, more or less, and we had a great connection both in and out of bed. The problem was we had the same job. I was well aware of what she had to do to be full-time in the modeling business. No way could I ever take her away from her dream. And I planned to go to college. I just couldn’t see how we could make it work in the short- to medium-term. After college, it was anyone’s guess.
If I were thinking pipe dreams, there was always Cindy. I still had very fond memories of how she and Suzanne, as seniors, had taken this poor freshman boy, recently out of dweeb-hood, and seen to my sexual education. All boys should have tutors like those two.
Cindy would be serious arm candy. I realize that Halle was probably better looking, but not by much. My only problem was I wasn’t sure if she and I were compatible. If she would have sex with her boyfriend and me, would she want that with me and someone else? I’m sure I wouldn’t handle it very well. She was also bi. While I thought she’d be fun, I wouldn’t try to force anything with her.
Then there were Beth and Suzanne. Beth was one girl I loved without any hesitation. I’d known her the longest, even longer than Tami. She’d always accepted me for who I was. Our families would be ecstatic if we ended up together. Suzanne was my ‘Ice Princess.’ I’d long had a special place in my heart for both of them.
If I did end up with either of them, I’d want to go to college at the same place. While Purdue and Northwestern were solid schools, their football programs were questionable. I might get them to follow me wherever I ended up. That would be something we would need to work out.
Two girls who were right in front of me, but I’d never seriously considered, were Tracy and Cassidy. I always liked Tracy, but I didn’t believe we’d work anytime soon. I would want to make sure she matured and got control of her issues before I’d ever think of us as more than friends. It seriously surprised me I would consider Tracy, but our friendship had been growing over the last two years.
Cassidy. Now she was someone I could see myself with. While I couldn’t stand her brother, I respected her father enough to not take our friendship to where I believe both Cassidy and I would be happy. I knew she cared about me, and I cared about her. It was a case of becoming good friends before there was romance.
I shook my head. Was I really ready for the next step? No, not yet, but I could see there would be a time when I would be. I had a lot of soul-searching to do before that day came.
◊◊◊
I took the elevator down for breakfast, and the senator wasn’t there yet. He’d reserved a table for six. Ian, Ava, and Brook soon joined me at the table. The server brought me hot water and lemon slices for tea. She also brought coffee and juices in carafes so we could serve ourselves. The senator and his daughter arrived right on time.