It was completely insincere. Worse, it was simply another chance to say what he thought of her. I toyed with the idea of giving him a good beating. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t do any good, no matter how much he deserved it. Nineteen years of indoctrination was simply too much. Damn you, Glen.
“I think it’s time for you to go,” I said instead.
“I don’t need this bullcrap anyway.” Will knew whose side I was on. He also knew I’d kick his ass to kingdom come if he started anything physical. Instead, he returned to the alcove, found his duffel bag, and began cramming things into it. It didn’t take him long. Then he stuffed his feet into his shoes and snatched up his car keys.
He ignored me and said to Lily, “I’m leaving.”
“Fine. Go. I don’t care.”
At that point he realized he was about to strand her without a ride back to school. To his credit, he stopped and said to me, “Will you make sure she gets home?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you.” He opened the front door, and I decided to follow him out. He stopped at the top of the steps and looked back at me. “I’m sorry about what I said in there.”
My eyebrows went up, but I didn’t interrupt.
“I knew I shouldn’t’ve come. This weekend. I thought she might come around, but…” He took a deep breath and let it out. “You’ll make sure she gets home?”
I nodded.
“She isn’t a bad person. She just doesn’t know any better.” His unspoken message was clear: she’s only a woman. “And… you won’t tell anyone, will you? About this weekend?”
“No.”
“Thanks.” He actually held out his hand. “It was nice meeting you. I’m sorry it ended like this. We might’ve been friends.”
I doubted it, but I shook his hand anyway. “Take care, Will.”
He bounded down the steps and climbed into his car. Then he backed out and drove down the overgrown driveway. I gazed after him and wondered if I’d been wrong about him. I decided I hadn’t, but he’d still managed to surprise me.
* * *
Lily was already ranting by the time I returned. She relived the argument and thought of all the nasty things she wished she’d said, cruel little barbs about Will’s failings in bed and as a boyfriend. She was a lot braver after the fact, but most people were. She also blamed him for everything, although that was pretty typical too. She was mostly venting, so Christy and I listened and nodded and told her she was right.
Her breasts added a few comments of their own. I did my best not to stare when lefty popped out, but I gave it up when righty joined the party. The shirt bunched between them and stayed there. She’d already begun to repeat herself at that point, so I took the opportunity to wind her down for good.
“Listen,” I said, “I agree completely. Will was a selfish jerk, bad in bed, and a bad boyfriend all around. But I really can’t take you seriously with your boobs like that.”
She glanced down and yanked the shirt free of her cleavage.
“You’re welcome to keep going,” I invited, “but take it off or put something over it.”
“It is kind of distracting,” Christy agreed.
Lily turned self-conscious when she realized how silly she looked.
“Do you feel better?” I said into the silence. “Now that you’ve had a chance to vent?”
“No. Well, kinda.”
“Things haven’t been good with Will for a while,” I said. “This weekend was the final straw. You’re over him, you broke up, and you’re ready to move on.”
“Yeah,” she agreed.
“So, let’s find something fun to do instead of brooding about the past. I don’t know about you,” I added, “but I’m sure Miss Metabolism here would love some ice cream.”
“Oh my gosh, that sounds awesome.”
“It does,” Lily said with a reluctant smile.
“Let’s go to Gatlinburg,” I suggested. “We can play billygoat golf—”
“Hillbilly Golf,” she corrected.
“Whatever. Your boobs kept popping out when you were telling us, so I wasn’t paying attention then, either. Sorry.”
“Paul’s right,” Christy added. “Let’s do something to take your mind off Will.”
“Yeah,” Lily said. Then she managed a smile. “Thanks for being here and listening and all.”
“That’s what friends are for,” I said, and Christy agreed with an emphatic nod. “Now go. Shower.”
“Yes, sir,” Lily said. She stood and made a point to adjust her shirt so it covered her. Then she gave Christy a long hug. She did the same to me and whispered, “Thank you.”
I felt very paternal at that point, although the little head tried to spoil the moment. I told him to cool it and gave Lily a platonic squeeze.
She eventually released me and went to the alcove to get her things. Christy slid under my arm and put her own around my waist. Lily emerged and stopped when she saw us together.
“Aw, you’re cute.” An idea flickered behind her smile. She sized me up and glanced at Christy.
You know what this means? the little head said. She wants it. And guy code doesn’t apply.
Seriously? That’s the first thing you think of?
I’m telling you, he insisted, she wants it.
Lily gave me one more look before she disappeared into the bathroom, and Christy laughed softly.
“What?” I said.
“She doesn’t waste any time.”
“Seriously?”
“Mmm hmm. She wants to pick up where we left off last night. Mr. Big already figured it out, didn’t he?”
“Um… maybe.”
“Should I ask him directly?”
“You’re as bad as Lily.”
“Oh, no. I’m much, much worse.”
* * *
We spent the afternoon having fun in Gatlinburg. We started with Lily’s favorite ice cream parlor, where she and I shared a banana split. Christy ordered and then ate a seven-scoop sundae by herself. It took her a while, but she eventually cleaned the bowl. After a pause to let her digest, we played a couple of rounds of Hillbilly Golf. I thought it would be basic and boring, like Putt-Putt, but the course was on the side of a mountain and had an incline railway as part of the attraction.
Afterward we browsed some of the souvenir and T-shirt shops before we rode the elevator up the Space Needle. The view of the Smokies was nice, but the rest was fairly humdrum. Lily enjoyed it, though, and that was the whole point. Finally, we ate dinner at her favorite flapjack restaurant.
“Thanks,” she said as we drove back to the cabin. “I’ve had a really good day. I haven’t thought about whatshisface once.”
“Good,” I said. “Time to move on.”
“Already done it,” she said breezily.
“So, what’s the plan for tonight?” I asked.
The girls shared a look, and I realized they’d been talking behind my back.
“The same as last night?” Lily suggested.
“Only, without the party pooper,” Christy added.
“Totally!”
“So,” I said, “drink a lot, play naughty games, and get naked?”
“We thought you’d never ask!” Lily laughed.
I turned onto the road that led to the cabin. “Why wait? Get naked now.”
Lily glanced at Christy. “I will if you will.”
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Christy said under her breath.
“Come on, it’ll be fun,” Lily said. “Haven’t you ever ridden around topless before?”
“No,” Christy lied. “I was a good girl growing up, remember?”
“I wasn’t,” Lily said. She peeled off her T-shirt and unfastened her bra. Her breasts barely sagged without it, which was an impressive feat of youth and genetics.
Christy hesitated. I started to say something to encourage her, but Lily beat me to it.
“Come on, show us,” she said to her.
“I feel so inadequate.”
“Why? Yours are nice.”
“But they’re so small.”