Damaged Souls (Broken Man) - By Christopher Scott Page 0,40

just handle it myself and not involve you, Delaney, and Greg. It’s bad enough that they have to relive the entire night when they talk to Mike tonight.”

“I understand,” she carefully considered what to say. “But, you can’t keep it all bottled up and let it eat you up inside. You need to talk about it, at least tell me what’s going on.”

“I don’t want to worry you,” he said as he stood up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. “Right now, I just need you to keep your eye on Delaney and Greg and let me handle this. Is that okay.”

At least we can talk about something, Amanda found some comfort as she leaned her head against his arm and enjoyed him massaging her shoulders. “It’s okay, Jack,” she gave him his space. “And don’t worry about Delaney and Greg. They are doing fine.”

“Are you sure it’s a good idea, them taking a nap together.”

“I think it’s perfect,” Amanda replied and felt a tinge of jealousy at their quiet time together. “They are just protecting one another, helping each other heal. We also have to understand they aren’t children anymore,” Amanda looked up at Jack to see if he understood.

“They still are to me. I’d rather they didn’t nap together, at least not in the same bedroom.”

“Jack, we aren’t going to be able to stop them,” Amanda reminded him of how love works and wished he would remember. “I talked to Delaney about it, and I reminded her to be careful, to wait until she is ready. She understands, and I actually think both of them are ready. I really can’t believe they waited this long.”

“Well, don’t encourage them,” Jack protested but seemed to accept the inevitable.

“I don’t think I need to,” Amanda replied as she took his hand and moved it to her breast as she closed her eyes. “It just happens.”

* * *

“Do you wish we were at the beach with all the other kids,” Delaney asked Greg as she laid her head on his chest and enjoyed the quiet peacefulness of his darkened room.

“No, I’m happy right here,” he said as he kissed her forehead and she could sense him going to sleep. “How about you.”

“This is perfect,” she replied as she put her hand on his chest. “We’ll see everyone at graduation Friday.”

“Yep,” he kept his answer short as he fell asleep.

I wish he would do something, Delaney wondered why Greg was keeping his hands to himself as she shifted her hand to his stomach and tried to give him a hint. Maybe he just isn’t feeling well, she thought as she moved her hand ever so slightly lower. What happened to the guy who couldn’t keep his hands off me last night?

That felt really good, Delaney settled for the thoughts running through her head as Greg’s breathing deepened and she knew he was asleep. I wish we would have had done it then, I was definitely ready. Maybe we would have if we had protection, she remembered one of the reasons they stopped and reminded herself to take care of that errand.

I wonder what he thought of me. I hope I didn’t do something wrong, Delaney suddenly felt insecure as she remembered Greg stopping her. He’s probably been with lots of other girls, girls who knew what they were doing. He must know I’ve never done it, that must be why he isn’t doing anything.

What did he mean when he said he’s been waiting his entire life for this? It must just be a line, but a really good one, Delaney remembered how special it made her feel. But, he has to have done it before, this couldn’t be his first time, could it?

Has he been waiting for me all this time, saving himself for this moment. That would be too good to be true, Delaney realized boys didn’t have the same self control as girls, at least some girls anyway. No, she decided, this isn’t his first time, although she didn’t really care as she closed her eyes to try to go to sleep.

It’s his first time with me, and that’s all that really matters.

* * *

She is driving me crazy, Greg tried to think about other things as his mind focused on her hand on his stomach and he pretended to sleep.

We can’t do this here, he panicked as he hoped Delaney couldn’t feel how excited he was. Not with Jack and Amanda in the other room, not without