the news headlines this morning. Has sex been outlawed since yesterday?”
“No, I mean I’m eighteen. You’re not. Technically I’ve just corrupted a minor.”
There’s a small trashcan beside my nightstand and I use it to discreetly dispose of the condom. Then I take the blanket that was folded at the base of my bed and gently cover her with it before climbing in beside her. “Uh, about that. Remember when I told you my birthday is in June?”
“It’s not in June?”
“It is. But I turned eighteen in June of this year. Six months ago.”
“Oh.” It’s a soft syllable, perhaps reminding her that there’s so much she doesn’t know. But then she snuggles against my chest and sighs with happiness with she feels my arms circle around her.
“Ben?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m crazy about you too.”
For a long time we stay in bed, holding each other and talking about things that don’t matter and things that do.
And today I’m very very glad to be Ben Beltran of Devil Valley.
Camden
Adela watches me fight with an unruly spool of ribbon. “Is Ben coming over tonight?”
I snip a section of ribbon and tie it around the box I’ve been wrapping with painstaking care. “Yes. Dee’s closes at six because it’s Christmas Eve. He’ll be over right after that.”
“I’m sure Bill would let you borrow the truck if you’d like to pick him up.”
“What?” My dad had been napping on the sofa with a magazine over his face but now he stirs over the mention of his name.
“It’s fine, Dad. Go back to sleep. Ben is borrowing his mom’s car. She got off work early and then went out so she let him have it.”
Adela’s voice is wistful. “He seems like a nice boy.”
I know there’s a grin on my face. “He is.”
“And you two are spending all your time together lately.”
“Yup.”
I concentrate on the gift I’m wrapping because I don’t want to look her in the eye. I might not be able to hide the blush in my cheeks as I flash back to earlier today. I said I was going Christmas shopping and instead I went to Ben’s house. His mother was working at the diner so we took advantage of the empty house to make love in his bed again and again. The day after our first time I was a little sore. I am no longer sore and I’ve quickly learned something.
I love having sex.
I really REALLY love having sex with Ben.
We can’t get enough of each other. Today I wanted to try being on top. He kept his hands on my hips and urged me to ride hard. I came three times. Nothing has ever felt so good and I can’t imagine being with anyone else.
“Cam?”
I’m still lost in my own dirty daydreams. “Hmm?”
My stepmother is casting a rather shrewd look my way. She glances at my father, who’s back to snoring on the couch. Then she lifts an eyebrow. “You are careful? You and Ben?”
I’m a little embarrassed to know that my thoughts are so plainly stamped on my face. “Of course.”
“Hey, Cam!” Frankie strolls into the room with a stack of gingerbread cookies in one hand and an envelope in the other. “Did you see this? It came with the mail today.”
“No, what is it?” I reach for the envelope and instantly recognize the familiar logo of Eagle State University.
Adela sees it too and is surprised. “ESU? You are going to apply there?”
“I already did.” I’m sure the letter will be an acceptance. ESU is a mediocre school.
“Aren’t you going to open it?”
I tear the envelope and quickly skim the letter within. “I’ve been invited to enroll. And offered a full academic scholarship.”
Frankie pushes a couple of gingerbread men into his mouth. “Cool. That’s only like an hour’s drive, right?”
“Just over an hour, yeah. Don’t eat all the cookies before tonight.”
Frankie crams another cookie into his mouth and heads down the hall toward his room.
My dad snores beneath his magazine.
Adela is quiet.
I fold the letter and return it to the envelope. The scholarship offer is great, but not unexpected.
My stepmother sinks back into the overstuffed armchair and stares at her hands. “You didn’t tell me you applied to ESU.”
She’s confused. I’ve always talked about getting far away from Devil Valley, envisioning a big city life at one of the nation’s top universities. That’s why I take the bus back and forth to Black Mountain Academy every day. She knows that I would not have needed Black Mountain credentials to attend ESU. I could