Kinky Confessions

“Besides, it’s my soul,” Christy added.

“It’s not your soul we’re worried about. It’s your—” Brooke glanced at

me.

“It’s okay,” I said into the silence. “I’m cool with it.”

“With what?” Christy asked from the back.

“Your relationship.”

“I know you are,” Brooke said to me, “but it feels strange to talk about it.

Besides…”

“Most guys are clueless,” I finished.

She laughed. “How’d you know I was going to say that?”

“I told you,” Christy said, “Paul gets us.”

“I’m more open-minded than most guys,” I said.

“And a lot less jealous,” Christy added.

“Must be nice,” Brooke said without the self-pity from before. She kept her eyes on the road and said, “Chris’s told me about you, but she left out a lot.”

“I did not!” the little blonde squawked from the back seat.

“Did too,” Brooke said without heat.

“That’s because we have a lot to hide,” I said.

“Hide? Huh? Like what?”

“Too soon to tell,” I said with Magic 8-Ball vagueness. “Ask again tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? Why tomorrow?”

“At the beach.”

“The beach? What about it?”

“The nude beach,” Christy said.

“It’s easier to talk without clothes,” I added.

“Easier? How? Hold on…,” Brooke said suspiciously.

“Right,” I agreed with a grin. “I just wanna get you naked before I tell you all my secrets.” I turned serious and added, “I’m a private person, but I’m sure we’ll tell you. You’re Christy’s girlfriend, after all.”

“It’s so strange to hear you say that.”

“Why? It’s true.”

“Well, yeah, but… we never talk about it.”

“I’m not going to get upset or make you feel guilty or anything.”

“I told you,” Christy said from between the seats.

“Yeah, yeah,” Brooke admitted.

“We’ll tell you eventually,” I said. “Just give me time to get to know you better. And you to get to know me.”

Brooke glanced in the mirror. “You were right…”

“He’s pretty cool,” Christy finished.

“I dunno about cool,” I said, “but I’m definitely not like other guys.”

“Right now,” Brooke said with feeling, “that’s pretty cool.” She looked at Christy again. “Yeah, yeah, I know. Don’t even bother. You told me so.”

Brooke came inside when she dropped us off at Christy’s house, but she didn’t stay long. She said hello to Anne and then hugged Christy goodbye.

She dithered when it was my turn. I nodded politely and let her off the hook.

“It was nice to meet you,” I said.

“Nice to meet you too,” she said. “What time do you want me to pick you up tomorrow?”

I glanced at Christy. “I’ll be up early, but no sense everyone doing the same. Say, ten o’clock?”

“All right,” Brooke said. “See you at ten. G’night, Mrs. C.”

Christy saw her to the door, while I helped myself at the drinks trolley.

Anne declined when I offered to pour one for her, but then I realized who was missing.

“Hold on, where’s Harold?”

“He had an inspection tour,” she said smoothly. “He’s sorry he missed you.”

“Ah, okay. Sorry I missed him too. But I’ll see him next time.”

She smiled at the confidence in my voice.

“Or the time after that,” I added.

“Of course.”

Christy returned and accepted a glass of whiskey, and we moved to the couch. Anne took that as her cue to leave. She stood and smoothed her skirt in a gesture I’d seen countless times in her daughter.

“I have a big day tomorrow,” she said, “and have to get up early for Mass. I’m glad you made it safely, Paul. Sleep well. See you in the morning.”

She looked at her daughter. “And you, young lady… Remember the rules.”

“I will,” Christy said immediately.

“I know you won’t, dear, but let me keep my illusions a little while longer.” She gave me a “you too” look. I knew better than to promise

something I couldn’t control—Christy had come to me the last time—which Anne seemed to understand. She let me off the hook with a bland,

“Goodnight, dear.”

Christy waited until her mother had gone before she leaned in and pulled my arm around her. She hugged my chest and sighed.

“I missed you.”

“I missed you too.”

“But that was a mean thing you did,” she said. “With the stewardess.”

“Flight attendant,” I said automatically. “And her name was Pam.”

“Whatever. That woman. She looked like she wanted to jump you right there in the airport.”

“She sorta did,” I laughed. “Probably back at her hotel, but still…”

“Wait… you were serious?”

“Mmm hmm.” I told her about our conversation in the plane’s galley after the rest of the crew had left.

Christy sat up and looked incredulous. “She actually invited you back to her hotel?”

“Not in so many words,” I admitted, “but she was going to.”

“How do you know?”

“I know. Trust me. But I told her I was meeting you. That was the end of it.”

“Would you have gone with her if you weren’t meeting me?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. It depends.”

“On what?” she squawked.

“On our relationship. Yours and mine, I mean.”

“How?”

“Well, like with you and Brooke,” I said calmly. “We talked about it before spring break, so I knew you wanted to fool around with her. I—”

“So? What’s that have to do with you and that woman?”

“Everything.”

“You’d better explain,” she said in a near-perfect imitation of her father.

She even scowled like he did.

I tried not to laugh, but I couldn’t stop a smile.