“Are there other girls who interest me? Yes: you, Peggy, Suzanne and Tami. I’ve talked to Tami and she says she’s not interested in going beyond friends. Peggy’s more of a fantasy than a reality. I haven’t talked to Suzanne. So, I’m putting it to you: I have strong feelings for you. I’ve told the same thing to Tracy. I want to make something clear: if I decide I’m with someone, then I’m with them, no questions asked. You’re a very special girl. I realize we have an age difference, but I don’t mind going out with an older woman. I also realize you’re going away to school next year. I honestly don’t expect we’d survive a long-distance relationship. But if you’re looking for something right here, right now, for the next eight months, then I’m your guy. I’m giving you the chance to say ‘yes’ and not look back and say ‘what if?’” I asked.
“Wow. You little shit. You’re not giving me an easy out here, are you?”
I just stayed silent. I didn’t know what I was more scared of, a ‘yes’ or a ‘no.’ I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that eight months with Cindy was worth everything. Nevertheless, when she left in eight months, would I survive without her? I also knew she didn’t care about our age difference. She’d grown up enough that the whole age-difference thing didn’t bother her. Then she gave me a look and I knew it wasn’t going to be.
I smiled at her, got up, and left. I didn’t need her to say the words. It would be too hard on both of us. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her. I headed to a quiet place on the quad where I could be alone for a few minutes before I put my happy face on and faced the world. I also knew I wouldn’t talk to Suzanne. I couldn’t go through two of these in one day. I’d be thrilled if Tracy wanted to go to the next level in our relationship, but with Cindy, I didn’t want to be the one to ask, ‘what if?’ At least now, I had my answer.
I got to my hidden spot and found Tami waiting on me. How did she do that? Hell, even I didn’t know I would bare my soul to Cindy until I saw her. Tami pulled me into her arms and just held me. I’d become such a frickin’ wuss. I finally broke away from Tami and took a deep breath.
“Tell me about your day with Tracy,” I asked.
She knew what I needed and rambled on about how much fun they had. Tracy’s parents have a great cabin right on the lake. They’d spent the day teaching Tami to ski. She went on until the lunch bell rang.
AFTER DINNER, TRACY came by. She took a chance and found me in the bachelor pad. We made love. Neither one of us mentioned our status.
THE REST OF THE WEEK was routine. Everyone just assumed that Tracy and I were a couple. The first time I saw Cindy, she looked a little down, but she put on a smile for me. Before football each day, I would spend an hour with Suzanne, being tutored. The funny part was we spent the majority of the time talking to get to know each other. After football practice I would head to Beth’s for a soak in the hot tub. About half of the time, either Tracy or Tami would join me. It was nice to get reacquainted with the Andersons.
On Friday night, we played a weak team and cruised to victory. All the starters only played one half. The only bad thing was the backup quarterback tore ligaments in his thumb. It looked like his season was done. Coach Lambert told me I would try out as the backup quarterback. The JV team was doing well, and he didn’t want to bring up their quarterback just to ride the pine.
The fun thing about being the backup quarterback was you got to be the scout-team quarterback and play against the first-team defense. It was sort of like sandlot football, because you played with a new offense each week.
The other thing of interest was the Marching Band’s annual fundraiser would be a bachelor auction. Beth was on the fundraising committee, so she roped most of the cheerleaders, including Tracy, into finding guys. They ganged up on me and I talked several of the football players into helping.
Chapter 13 – The Bet
Saturday September 21
I finally made my first Pilates class at the park’s fitness center. A very fit twenty-something brunette taught the class. She was charming and happy to see me there. She and Ms. Kim were good friends. I looked around and there were some smoking-hot older women in the class. When things started, it looked like a calm and peaceful activity. Soft music played as the instructor walked me through all the machines that helped you move your body correctly. There was even a huge ball I would lie on and do movements.
It was a piece of cake. There were no heavy weights or long runs. It was just peaceful music and focused core strength and flexibility exercises. I had no idea the little brunette was Satan’s spawn. After an hour and half with her, I felt like I’d completed an Iron Man. The sad part was I paid for the privilege to attend the class. After I sat in the sauna, I paid more money to get a massage. Ms. Kim was a dead woman on Monday.
SATURDAY NIGHT I FINALLY got to go out with Tracy without her parents. Well, let me clarify, for half of the date. Mary had planned dinner. Tracy said it was the price of her going on birth control. I was a little confused because if I were her parents, as soon as I saw the losers she used to go out with I would have wrapped her in Saran Wrap and locked her in her room.
Tracy came by and picked me up. My mom and dad wanted to meet her, so I had her pick me up at the house. When the doorbell rang, Greg sprinted to the door and greeted her. He was his usual suave self and he made her giggle before she reached the kitchen. I was shocked! shocked, I tell you! when my mom acted like a normal human being.
Please note this was the same mother who loved to make me uncomfortable. She knew Tracy and I were doing the deed. Poor Greg and his first girlfriend still brought back memories that made me shudder. Mom made him bring her to dinner. During dinner, there were comments like, ‘Greg doesn’t like girls who wear too much makeup’ and, ‘Do your parents know you wear skirts that short?’
It was the most entertaining dinner I’ve ever been to, because I was out of the line of fire. If you’re not the target, some of Mom’s zingers are funny. The one we still talk about occurred when Greg thought he finally was going to escape with his date and they were headed for the door. Mom intercepted the poor girl and said, “If I never see you again, it was nice meeting you.” Mom got her wish.
When Tracy saw me, she came up and did a very girl thing: she straightened my new hairstyle. Apparently one of my curls wasn’t right.
“Thank you, that was driving me nuts,” Mom said.
“I really like his new haircut, but he has no idea how to style it right. You’d think they would take the time to show him when they did it,” Tracy complained.
“I know, and his new clothes. I’m thinking of putting tags in them that tell him what goes with what. I swear I have to send Tami up to make sure he’s dressed right.”
“Thank goodness she’s helping. Did you see him on Thursday?” Tracy asked.
“Was that plaid with stripes day?”
Okay, so Mom didn’t make my girlfriend cry. I was used to her abuse. I think Greg was disappointed. I wiggled my eyebrows at him and mouthed, ‘Angie’s next.’ He went a little pale. After the girls had agreed my makeover had been a success, we were safely out the door and on to face her parents. They now knew I had slept with their little girl. This should be fun.
“Mary, I can’t find the key to the gun case!” Tom called out when we walked in.
“That’s okay honey, I moved it.”
Mary came up and gave me a hug. It was obvious that Tom and Mary were pulling my chain. Tom came down the stairs and before I could shake his hand, he had me in a bear hug. I guess we’d be okay.