by Teegan Loy
“You win,” he said as he pulled me into a hug. We sat on the floor with our shorts around our ankles, holding tightly to each other. Jamie finally grabbed his shirt and wiped us clean.
“How long before you can go again?” I asked.
He groaned and crawled across the floor to get into bed. I joined him, snuggling close until I was rudely awoken by a wet nose.
“Agnes?”
“Dinner is ready,” Mrs. Jorgenson said.
“What the hell?” Jamie sat up, exposing his naked chest.
“Aren’t you boys cute,” Mrs. Jorgenson said. “I stopped over to tell you dinner is almost ready, but I guess you’re busy. Go back to whatever it was you were doing.”
“Sleeping,” I shouted. “We were sleeping!”
Jamie buried his face in my side, laughing his ass off. I cuffed him on the head.
“You have insane friends,” he said. “Hey, I smell barbecue.”
“Mmm, I do too,” I said, sniffing the air.
Twenty minutes later, we were sitting at the table, drinking beer, eating really good barbecue ribs, and getting grilled by Carrie and Barbie about our bedroom antics.
Perverts. Everyone was a pervert, but they were my perverts, and I loved them all.
Jamie squeezed my hand under the table and then leaned over for a quick kiss. Barbie sighed, and Carrie giggled.
“Life is best when we have no regrets,” Carrie said as she placed her hat on my head.
I whole-heartedly agreed.
“So do you have any regrets?” Jamie asked.
Carrie wiped her mouth with her napkin and took a drink. “Nope, not anymore. Julian and I have been talking and he’s going to hang around for a while. The Simpsons are heading back to the city in a few days, so I talked to them and they agreed to let Julian rent their place. I told Julian he could stay here, but he wants to be a gentleman.” She rolled her eyes.
“What about you, Barbie?” I asked.
“I’m hanging around to make sure no one does anything silly.” Barbie raised her eyebrows.
“You’re a few decades too late, dear,” Carrie said. “But I’ve been blessed with a second chance.”
“What are you boys going to do?” Barbie asked.
I glanced at Jamie.
“Oh, lordy, you haven’t talked yet.” Carrie groaned. “Go home and figure things out.”
She rose and started to clear the table even though I wasn’t quite done with my ribs. Jamie frowned and shoveled his remaining potatoes into his mouth.
“Okay, fine,” I said.
“What about the chocolate cake?” Jamie asked.
“I’ll save you a piece,” Carrie said.
Jamie grumbled, but laced his fingers through mine as we wandered across the yard. The loons called to each other and I leaned into him.
“I suppose we have some things to discuss,” Jamie said as he settled in the deck chair. I dropped on the one next to him and stared at the pink and orange clouds dotting the horizon.
“I have a few confessions,” Jamie said.
My stomach flipped around and I held my breath.
“Hey, it’s nothing terrible,” he said and squeezed my hand. “It’s just . . . do you want to live with me?”
I sat up and almost fell out of my chair.
“I found a condo close to your school and not too far from my new job.”
“But I just told you about my job.”
He smiled. “You left your phone in the cabin and it rang. The caller ID read Apple Valley High School, so I answered. The woman on the phone rattled off the time and place for your interview before I could tell her I wasn’t you. I asked her to call you back. I was hurt you didn’t tell me, but I understood. We weren’t in a good place at the moment, but I took the chance we’d work through everything.”
I inhaled sharply.
“Did I do something wrong?” he asked.
I leaped out of my chair and landed on top of him, tipping his chair over so we ended up on the ground. I kissed his neck, his cheeks, and his lips. “Thank you. I can’t believe you found us a place to live.”
“So is that a yes?”
For a second, a sudden shot of insecurity filled my head. “Will I be enough for you?”
Jamie gripped my wrists, eyes wide-open, boring deep into my soul. “You’ve always been enough. I don’t want anyone else.”
“But you’ve been with so—”
He kissed me, effectively shutting me up. “You might not believe this, but it was only sex. With you I want the whole package. I want to stay the night and be with you during the days. I want to go out for dinner or make it at home. Our home.”
“I want that too. So, yes.” I grinned and stared into his bright blue eyes before planting a kiss on his mouth. He giggled and I felt him smile.
“We should send Carrie and Barbie big bouquets of flowers for putting up with our stupidity.”
“They’d probably prefer several bottles of wine.”
“I think I’ll include a big box of condoms as well.”
I sighed. “I’m surprised Carrie hasn’t sent us a bill for all her counseling sessions. Although a lot of her advice was unsolicited.”
He laughed and lunged at me, holding me tight and kissing my neck until I was squirming and demanding more.
“What was that?” Jamie sat up. “I think I heard the door slam.”
“Carrie wouldn’t—”
“Hello? Kellen? Jamie?” My mom’s voice echoed through the house as we scrambled to right our disheveled clothes.
“Mom?” My voice cracked.
Jamie grabbed for a nearby towel to cover his groin. I snagged a magazine I’d been reading and placed it on my lap just as my mom stepped outside onto the deck.
“Hi, Mom,” I said.
“Hello? Where is everyone?” my dad yelled.
“They’re out here, Rob,” she said.
“Uh, welcome back.” I shifted uncomfortably and felt the heat of embarrassment flood my face.
My mom sat down and stared at us. “I see you finally pulled your head out, Kellen.”
I buried my face in my hands and groaned. Jamie rubbed my back and answered all my mom’s questions, while I wished for a tidal wave to crash over my head.
“Where’s Grandma’s pictures of the poppies?” my mom asked.
“We had a little accident and the frame broke,” I said.
My mom and dad burst out laughing and I was forced to look at them.
“It’s not a big deal,” I said. “I’ll buy new frames.”
“Don’t worry about it, Kellen.” She had another laughing fit. “Your father and I broke them too. I think this is the fourth or fifth frame.”
Before I could sensor my mouth. “What do you mean, fourth or fifth frame?”
“Must I explain everything?” My mom winked. “The bed is right up against the wall.”
The horror of realization flooded my body as thoughts of my parents having wall-banging sex filled my brain.
“My own mother embarrassed the crap out of me when she found the broken frame. She even made me clean it up while she talked about safe sex,” my mom said.
I gaped. “Grandma busted you and dad?”
She laughed again. “You think a lecture on safe sex was bad? Imagine my surprise when I showed up for a weekend with your father and walked inside, only to be greeted by thumping and glass breaking. Grandma lectured me for not calling and letting her know we were coming out. I was seven months pregnant with you. The shock and embarrassment almost sent me into early labor.”
I covered my ears while Jamie laughed.
“Please stop,” I begged. “I don’t want to hear any more sex stories about my family members.”
“You’re sure? I have more. Your auntie Shannon—”
“Mom,” I said sternly.
She scooted the chair closer to me. “Tell me about your summer. Carrie sent me a few updates but I’d like more details.”
/> Jamie put his arm around my shoulders.
“What do you mean, Carrie sent you updates?”
My dad nudged my mom. “Might as well tell them.”
“Carrie and my mom, your grandmother, set the same thing up for your dad and me when we were leaving school. They knew we belonged together. We just needed a little push. So after we graduated from college, we spent the summer at the lake. Six months later, we got married. We thought you needed a little help as well.”
“You set me and Jamie up?” I asked.
“Carrie worried we’d failed. It took almost the entire summer, but in the end, we were right.” She crossed her arms over her chest and grinned at me.
I didn’t know whether to be angry at my mom for meddling or pleased with her for helping me pull my head out of my ass.
My dad yawned loudly. “Cheryl, let’s leave Kellen and Jamie alone. I’m tired and suffering from jet lag, and I think Kellen’s going into shock. You can grill them tomorrow.”
“Yes, of course.” She kissed me on the cheek and did the same to Jamie. “I’m so happy for you both.”
We watched my parents, and I listened for the close of their door before I exhaled.
“What just happened?” I asked.
Jamie patted my knee and stood. “Let’s go down to the dock.”
The sun had disappeared and left behind a darkened sky filled with twinkling stars. A breeze blew and I shivered. The summer was winding down and the chill of autumn was in the air. Soon we’d be back in the city, and I’d be in a classroom, surrounded by a group of kids who expected me to teach them math.
“It’s been an interesting summer,” Jamie said as he stared across the water.
I searched out his hand and laced my fingers through his. “I didn’t conspire with them.”
He chuckled. “I know.”
I tugged him closer and nuzzled his neck.
“You do know we have an audience again,” Jamie whispered.
We both turned and spotted Carrie and Barbie, who immediately raised their wine glasses. Jamie waved and I took the opportunity to grab the collar of his shirt and kiss him hard.
The ladies cheered and Agnes barked, and I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face.
“I love you,” I mumbled.
Too bad my sweet romantic moment was interrupted by an overly excited dog who jumped at us and knocked us into the lake.
About the Author
When she’s not writing, Teegan Loy can be found driving around the country, watching her daughter compete at tennis tournaments.
She’s a huge hockey fan, loves having coffee with friends, and enjoys creating junk journals and scrapbooks. Occasionally, Teegan attends concerts of her favorite bands.
Always on the go, Teegan is able to gather countless ideas for new stories. Life is best lived through experiences.
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