Kinky Confessions

“Yeah.” Christy turned thoughtful and then said, “I was over Simon long before I broke off the engagement. It still feels weird to say that, though.

‘Engagement.’ I mean, I was barely eighteen when I met him. I thought I loved him, and maybe I did, but…” She shrugged. “To thine own self be true, right?”

“Easier said than done.”

“You can say that again. No, don’t. Anyway, I was over him, duh. But Brooke was still in love. At least, she thought she was. I’m not so sure, but who knows? She’s always been weird about her feelings. Even weirder about guys. She really came out of her shell with you, though. And now I think I understand why women throw themselves at you, like that flight attendant.”

“Women don’t throw themselves at me,” I said, “but… yeah, I know what you mean. I treat them like equals. I try to, at least. I still have stupid chauvinist moments, but I’m doing better.”

“At least you realize it. Most guys don’t.”

“No. I’ve been like that since Susan set me straight. Well, Susan and several other women. I’ve been lucky.”

“Mmm hmm. But only with the major ones, the ones who weren’t just notches on your bedpost. Oh, and for the record, I noticed that little comment.

You slipped it in when we were talking to Brooke yesterday.”

“You notice everything,” I parroted, “especially where I’m concerned.”

“And don’t you forget it, mister. But some of the others,” she continued without a pause, “the ones who were just notches…? Ugh! I don’t even know about half of them, but you have some real mistakes in your past.”

“Maybe. I let the little head make too many decisions. But I’m not the only one with mistakes in my past.”

“I had one! Vaughn. The others were nice guys. Not husband material, but still nice guys.”

“So I’m ‘husband material’?” I teased.

“You know you are. All my friends say so. Even my dad agrees. Rich is still on the fence, but he’s always been stubborn. Mom and I’ll bring him around, don’t worry.”

“Speaking of which,” I said, “we need to let your mom know we’re leaving early.”

“I think she’ll be fine with it. She’s been… weird… all weekend.”

Christy blushed and lowered her eyes. “I think she knows. What we were up to, I mean.”

I barked a laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“Oh, she knows. We… um… ‘talked’ about it.”

Christy’s eyebrows hit the stratosphere.

“Not in so many words,” I added quickly, “but… we talked around it.”

“I should’ve known,” she said once she recovered. “She’s like me. Or I’m like her. Whichever. She sees everything and figures stuff out.”

“Mmm hmm. Which is why she went to early Mass yesterday and stayed late at her charity dinner. She could’ve come home earlier, I’m sure.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Christy admitted. “Still, it feels weird to know she knows.”

“Oh, I know. I flip out whenever my mom mentions things I didn’t think she knew.”

“Yeah, but your mom’s different. Ha! I can say that again!” After a moment she shook her head and mused, “Never in a million years…”

“And you’re okay with… um… ‘things’?”

“That’s still a major understatement, but yes, I am. I told you, I won’t let anyone come between us. Not Rich, not that flight attendant, not even your mother.”

We shared a smile before I looked at my watch.

“Time to go?” she said.

“Yeah. We need to tell your mom and then start packing. I know how long you take. And remember, I have to check in at the gate an hour early.”

“Oh, that’s right! I forgot. Can’t we just buy you a regular ticket? Then we can get there whenever.”

“No,” I said firmly. “Last-minute tickets cost a fortune. Remember Thanksgiving?”

“Ugh, don’t remind me.”

“Right. So come on, Little Bit, we have a plane to catch. And then two whole days…”

“Two whole days,” she echoed dreamily.

“We can do anything we want and not have to worry about getting caught.” I let that sink in before I added, “But not if we miss our flight. Our schedule’s tight enough as it is. So, chop-chop.”

“Yes, sir, captain, sir!”

We made it to Atlanta without a problem, which was nice for a change. But our flight landed a little before midnight, and I wasn’t looking forward to a three-hour drive to Knoxville. I’d done it before, but I had a better idea instead.

“Hey,” I said as we walked out to the car, “I’ve been thinking…”

“Should I be nervous?” Christy joked.

“No. Although… maybe, yeah.”

“Then I think it’s a great idea!”

“You haven’t even heard it yet.”

“Whither thou goest, I will go.”

“I was thinking of spending the night here instead of driving home.

Besides, I… um… I’m pretty sure you have a kidnap or rape fantasy in that sexy imagination of yours.”

She stopped in her tracks and simply stared at me.

“Uh-huh, thought so.” I gestured for her to keep walking. “It’s more common than you’d think.”

“Still,” she muttered, “I didn’t expect you to just… guess.”