by Sj Hooks
"Hi Stephen," Michelle said in a strange, breathy voice.
Apparently, she took my greeting as permission to join us because she sat down next to Matt while keeping her eyes on me. I wondered what on earth she could possibly want and if she was going to pretend that she hadn’t been spying on my intimate time with my girlfriend less than an hour ago. I didn't know if she realized that she had been caught doing it, but either way she was being very rude.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your date?" she asked and looked at Julia. I sighed. I really wanted to tell Michelle to take a hike, but seeing that she was a guest of my parents', I couldn't very well do that.
"Michelle, this is Julia Wilde. My girlfriend. Sweetheart, this is Michelle Kingston. She's a friend of the family."
But not a friend of mine.
"Pleased to meet you," Michelle said. "Stephen and I go way back. We have a lot of history."
"So I've heard," Julia replied dryly, leaning a little closer to me. Michelle nodded in a knowing way and for some reason she looked smug. I had no idea why. Sleeping with her was one of the worst experiences of my life and it was hardly something for her to feel proud about.
"Have some pie, sweetheart," I murmured, placing my hand on the nape of her neck to caress her skin. She seemed so tense and I didn't want her to feel intimidated by the oversexed intruder at our table. Julia smiled at me and had a bite of her dessert.
"Good?" I asked.
"So good," she said, offering me a forkful, which I happily accepted. Then she leaned forward and kissed me.
"You had a little whipped cream there." She grinned before she pulled back, licking her lips.
"Oh God, you guys are so sweet I think I'm going to hurl," Matt complained, but the smile on his face showed that he was only half-serious.
"Oh please," Julia said, waving her hand dismissively. "Like you aren't exactly the same when you're with Meg."
"I am not!" Matt huffed.
"Girls talk, you know?" Julia laughed. "I know all about the flowers and cuddling and holding hands when you guys take a walk. Oh, and driving outside of the city to look at the stars. It's very romantic, Matt. Good for you."
My brother's face turned red and for a second I thought I might actually see steam coming out of his ears. It was awesome. Julia simply smiled and took another bite of her pie.
"There's nothing wrong with treating a girl right. Your brother taught me that," she said. "I'm glad Meg has you and you turned out to be a nice guy. Now I won't have to hurt you for breaking her heart."
"I, uh, wouldn't do that," he said, obviously uncomfortable with all this talk about feelings.
"I know," Julia said, patting his arm lightly, which made him smile.
There was a lull in the conversation while Matt and Julia finished their dessert and the three of us more or less ignored Michelle. It wasn't a very nice thing to do, but I couldn't bring myself to care. She had no business even being here at our table after the way she had treated me in the past.
"So how did you two meet?" Michelle suddenly asked.
"I picked him up at Matt's bar," Julia answered with a small laugh.
"Oh, really?" I asked. "I thought I was the one who picked you up. I did give you a ride home and saved you the long walk."
I was just kidding. I may have given her a ride, but I never would have had the courage to take it any further than that. Julia was definitely the one to thank for bringing us together.
"Nice, bro," Matt said, grinning. "Saving the damsel in distress. Works every time."
"Silly boys," Julia laughed. "I could have taken a cab if I really wanted to. I had money in my apartment, after all. I just thought it would be a lot more fun to have Stephen rescue me."
Both of us stared at her.
"I was right," she added with a wink. "That damsel in distress thing works both ways, you know."
"Well played," Matt chuckled.
"Yeah, so that's how we got together," Julia said lightly. "I guess Stephen got a taste of something he liked because he kept coming back for more."
"Did I ever," I murmured, leaning over to nuzzle her neck with my lips. "You're delicious," I whispered so that only Julia could hear it and noted with satisfaction that my words made her shiver.
"Isn't that sweet," Michelle said in a saccharine voice. There was an uncomfortable silence and I jumped when Matt's cellphone started ringing. He looked so happy for the distraction that I almost laughed.
"It's Megan!" he half-yelled with unmasked glee. "I have to take this." He practically ran from the table of awkwardness and I couldn’t blame him one bit.
"So…Matt told me that this is your first time meeting Stephen's family," Michelle said to Julia. It wasn't, but since I hadn't told my brother about our parents walking in on us having sex I could see why he would assume that.
"In a way," Julia replied vaguely.
"I just love Joanne and Richard," Michelle gushed. "They're almost like my family, too. We used to have so much fun together at these parties when we were younger. Didn't we, Stephen?"
I didn't say anything, giving her a noncommittal shrug. I had spent most of them following her around like a lapdog begging for scraps while she flirted with the older boys and ignored me. That was hardly fun in my recollection.
"And Matt also said that this is your first garden party?" Michelle continued.
Julia nodded and took a sip of her coffee. "Yes, I'm enjoying it so far.”
"There's something special about one's first, isn't there?" Michelle mused with a vicious glint in her eyes. "It's always the one you remember."
I couldn't believe it. It was painfully obvious that Michelle wasn't talking about garden parties. Was she actually trying to make it seem as though our one time together had been memorable in a good way? It had been the exact opposite and it was probably the one thing I would change about my past if I could.
I glanced at Julia and flinched. I had never seen her look so angry before. I could tell that she was trying to control herself, probably because we were in public, but I didn't know if she would be able to keep it up if Michelle continued this nonsense. Which she did.
"It seems that everything after the first one pales in comparison. They might be entertaining, but when you look back it's always that first one that comes to mind."
That's it! She is completely delusional!
I was about to set her straight when Julia smiled and nodded.
"You're absolutely right, Ms. Kingston," she said pleasantly.
WHAT? No, she most certainly is not! I can't let Julia think that losing my virginity to that awful woman is was the most memorable sex of my life!
Michelle looked just as surprised as I was that Julia was agreeing with her. I had to make her understand that even though Michelle had been my first, it was Julia who had truly awakened my sexuality and taught me how wonderful it was to make love, have sex, or fuck, as we sometimes called it. All of it was Julia's doing and she had to know that.
"Gosh, I can't even tell you how many firsts Stephen and I have shared," Julia continued, and held up her hand. "Let's count them, shall we?" She looked pensive for a second.
"Well, this is the first time that I've attended a family function with a boyfriend, so that's one."
Really? I was sure that the asshole would have had that privilege. He never even introduced her to his family? God, he sounds like such a…well, an asshole!
"Your first experience with oral sex. Isn't that right, baby?" Julia continued.
I grinned. "Yes. Um, giving and receiving," I answered. "That should count for two."
"Good point," she agreed and checked off two more fingers. "What else…oh, first home-cooked meal that a guy prepared specially for me. He makes delicious Italian food.”
"First time someone brought me hangover food," I added eagerly. "And you're the first girl to ever give me a massage."
"First guy to give me multiple orgasms. I'm really happy about that one," she said, lo
oking Michelle square in the eye.
"Really?" I whispered. Julia nodded and mouthed the word “amazing.”
Yes! I am the man! A sexual savant, even!
I had never felt more masculine pride than I did at that moment. I also felt a giant surge of love and gratitude toward the woman at my side. I knew that Julia was doing this to illustrate just how little the past meant and what really mattered were the things we had shared. And the fact that my sexual prowess was being presented in front of Michelle didn't hurt either. In fact, it felt pretty damn good to watch my beautiful girlfriend shove that piece of information in Michelle's face. I took Julia's hands in mine and gazed into her eyes.
"First 'I love you,' " I said softly.
"That's the most important one of all," she whispered. I nodded before leaning in and pressing my lips against hers. As always, she was warm and soft, and this time she tasted like apples, cream, and coffee. She sighed against my lips and I tilted her head to deepen the kiss. I was lost in her and only vaguely registered the sound of an angry huff and a chair scraping, followed by heels walking away at a fast pace. Julia pulled back and smiled.
"I guess she got the point."
"I guess so." I grinned and kissed her again. "I just don't understand her motivation at all."
"You don't?"
"No, women are a mystery to me most of the time," I admitted sheepishly.
"Even me?"
"Sometimes," I said, realizing the truth in the statement. "I just want to make you happy and I'm worried that I'll do the wrong thing. This is so new to me."
"It's new to me, too. Let's just promise each other that we won't run away if things get complicated. I want this to work out. I want you, Stephen. I want us."
I hadn't expected the conversation to become so serious, but I was so happy that Julia felt the way she did.
"I want you, too, Julia. I can't promise you that there won't be arguments and disagreements. I mean, we're different in a lot of ways, but I can promise you that I will love you and treat you right through all of it. You make me happier than I ever thought possible and I never want to lose you. You’re everything to me."
"Damn it, Stephen," she whispered, blinking rapidly. "You're going to make me cry in front of your family. You and your beautiful words."
"Sorry," I chuckled, even though I wasn't really all that sorry. I liked that I was able to affect her and say the right things to convey how much I loved and wanted her. I handed her a clean napkin and she dabbed under her eyes.
"I feel the same way," she said and looked up at me. "You make me so happy. Look at me, for fuck's sake. I'm so happy, I'm crying."
I smiled at her sweet, crass words. She wouldn't be my Julia if she didn't say “fuck” at least once every so often.
"By the way," she said after she finished wiping her eyes. "I totally have that Michelle woman pegged."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I'll bet you anything that she's never had great sex in her life. You should have seen her face when she was watching us upstairs earlier. She was so jealous. Not just because I have you, but also because she wants what we have together. It's kind of sad, actually."
"Do you really think so?"
"It makes sense. She probably made you feel shitty afterward because it wasn't the first time she didn't come and it made her feel better about herself. That's the only reason I can think of. Either that, or she's just really evil. She definitely wanted another go with you today."
"It doesn't matter," I said, taking her hand. "The past doesn't matter. I only want you."
"Agreed," she said with a brilliant smile. "Now, are you going to introduce me to some more people? I love the way you look all giddy when you say I'm your girlfriend."
I laughed and stood up. "Let's go, sweetheart."
The rest of the party was wonderful. We didn't see Michelle again, but even if we had, it wouldn't have mattered. She couldn't come between Julia and me. We sat with my parents for a while and they got to know my girl a little better. My mother even invited us over for dinner the following week. I was so happy I felt as though I could fly.
Julia hit it off with my grandmother immediately and despite my light reprimands on the dangers of smoking, the two of them snuck off for a cigarette, cackling like girlfriends. Gran, who had a reputation for being very eccentric, was impressed by Julia's spunk and witty comebacks. After the two of them left me to my own devices, my parents came over, and they had nothing but nice things to say. My mother liked that my girlfriend was smart and focused despite her young age, and my stepdad seemed plain infatuated with her charm. All in all, the day was a complete success.
The night ended in fireworks. First in the sky above my parents' neighborhood…and then back home in my bedroom, where Julia and I made passionate love until the sun came up.
Chapter 11
The low hum of the needle mixed with the rock music softly playing over the speakers. Julia breathed deeply through her nose, squeezing my hand.
“Does it hurt, sweetheart?” I murmured.
She looked up, giving me a lopsided grin.
“Like a son of a bitch,” she replied, “but it’s good. A good pain.”
I smiled at her. Julia had mentioned wanting another tattoo—something to honor her grandfather—and now she was getting it. She’d told me about her other tattoo, the one below the nape of her neck, and how she’d gotten it when she turned eighteen to honor her parents. It had merely looked pretty to me, but it was actually a Celtic symbol for family, since Julia’s ancestors were Irish. Now, she wanted one to add her Pops to her skin with a small knot meaning “wisdom.” The whole experience seemed cathartic for her and I was happy she had chosen to share it with me.
“It’s like remembering and letting go, at the same time,” she said. “He’ll always be a part of me.” A single tear ran down her cheek. I reached up to wipe it away, making eye contact with the tattoo artist.
“Need a break?” she asked Julia, lifting the needle from her skin.
“No, I’m OK,” she answered, looking up at me again, smiling. “I’m more than OK.”
My heart skipped a beat as I beamed back at her. I knew what she meant. We were so much more than merely OK. The summer had been amazing. The best of my life, so far. For me, summers had long been a time for quiet contemplation and solitude. Even as a kid, I’d never had many friends, and had often been on my own. In recent years, I’d spent the break from school working on papers, preparing for the fall semester, and going out for the occasional movie on a weeknight, if I was feeling particularly adventurous.
My life had been so sad, and I hadn’t even realized it at the time. I never truly believed it would get better. But now it was. Everything was different now that Julia was my girlfriend, and throughout the summer we had been practically inseparable. She had stayed at my apartment every night without exception and the only times we were apart was when I went to the gym and lunch with my brother and Shawn, or when she met up with her girlfriends for dinner. Two weeks ago, I’d invited her to come with me to Napa for my annual wine trip. It was our first trip together as a couple, and it had been wonderful.
We stayed at a romantic B&B, walked everywhere holding hands, went to tastings, and made love under the clear blue sky. I wasn't even afraid of getting caught and finally got to live out my dream of being with her outside. Julia wore pretty dresses with flat sandals and her hair down the entire time. I must have taken about a hundred pictures of her looking radiantly beautiful in the sunlight.
Now, I found myself in Los Angeles, in a tattoo parlor, holding the hand of my beautiful girlfriend. This was her trip; she’d put us up in a fancy hotel, taken me shopping at all of her favorite stores, and she’d even convinced me to go to a concert with her. Me! At a rock show! The music had been a little too loud and it wasn't exactly my taste, but like most things we did, it was an adventure, and seeing how happy it made Julia that I was part of her world made it all worthwhile.
�
�Ah, shit,” Julia hissed, gripping my hand a little tighter when the tattooist moved to a new spot. “That stings.”
“You’re doing great,” I told her.
“Talk to me. Distract me.”
“I, uh, I was thinking maybe I should get one, too. A tattoo, I mean.”
“What?!” She broke into a grin. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, well, maybe,” I admitted. “Maybe…for my dad? I’d like to say good-bye, like you said, but still have him with me. I don’t know. Do you think it’s stupid?”
“Not at all, baby. But you should probably give it a bit more thought before you go through with it. Maybe next time we take a trip together?”
I smiled. Next time. I really liked the sound of that.
* * *
A few days later, after we returned home, we decided it was time to go public with our relationship. Julia was no longer my student, so there was no conflict of interest that made secrecy necessary. Julia changed her relationship status on Facebook, and I finally asked her why she hadn't been listed as “Single” before and had chosen the rather ambiguous “It's complicated” status, which I had obsessed over to an unhealthy degree when we first started seeing each other. It turned out that she did it to avoid being propositioned, and also because she wasn't truly single while she was seeing me, since she wasn't interested in being with anyone else. That made me feel warm on the inside and I realized that she had been mine for a lot longer than I had ever realized.
After that, I changed my status as well, and even uploaded a photo of the two of us in Napa as my profile picture. I knew that it was only a matter of time before people would figure it out on their own and that seemed better than making some big announcement. We just wanted to be together and that was all that mattered.