back to the real world again.
When my dad picked me up at the airport, I could sense something was amiss. I wondered if he was mad about me going away with Aaron for the weekend. Because I had never had a boyfriend before, he and I had never had an occasion to actually talk about all the things that go with having a serious relationship. I knew the conversation would have to take place at some point, though, because I was planning on visiting our family physician over break so I could go on birth control pills.
Finally, when we got in the car and began the long drive to the suburbs, dad said, “I don’t want you do be mad…”
Oh, no, I thought. It’s never a good sign when someone says, “I don’t want you to be mad.”
“What is it, Dad?” I could hear the hesitation in my voice.
“I want you to know that your mother was the love of my life. No one could even replace her.”
I breathed a small sigh of relief. The conversation was not going to be about me and Aaron. Dad was going to start dating again.
“It’s okay, Dad. I know you’re still young. I figured at some point you would start dating again.”
Now he breathed a sigh of relief. “You don’t think it’s too soon?”
Mom had been gone eight months. In some ways, it felt like just yesterday that I was taking care of her and in other ways, it seemed like she’d been gone a long time.
“I don’t think it’s too soon,” I said and I meant it.
Twelve
The Back Nine
I thought about Aaron a lot over Christmas Break. I was a bit upset that he hadn’t phoned more than a few times. I wanted to hear his voice every day. But I knew he was busy. A nagging part of me, however, thought about him being in Aspen and Keira being there with him. I still had some lingering doubts thanks to Evan and his big mouth.
When my dad dropped me off at the dorms after break, Aaron was waiting right on the curb with a small bouquet of sunflowers. My dad shook Aaron’s hand.
“Rainy told me she had a great time in Florida,” my dad said. “That was quite an extravagant gift.”
“Your daughter is worth it. I was just lucky that she agreed to go with me.”
“Don’t ever take Rainy for granted,” my dad warned.
Aaron gulped. “I won’t, Mr. Dey.”
My dad nodded. “I’d better get back on the road before it gets dark.”
My dad gave me a hug and kissed my check. “Call me if you need anything.”
“I will, Dad.”
***
Aaron grabbed my bag, and my hand, and we headed toward my dorm. He stopped at the front entrance and placed my bag on the ground. He took me into his arms and hugged me. Then he kissed me.
His kiss was soft at first but became more urgent and needy.
“I’ve missed you so much,” he said breathlessly.
“Me, too,” I replied.
“Is your roommate back yet?”
I shook my head. “She’s not coming back until tomorrow.”
He got a playful glimmer in his eyes. “Does that mean I get to spend all night with you?”
I grinned. “I was hoping you would ask.”
We practically raced into my room and seemed to have our clothes off within seconds. Aaron’s hands were everywhere and I felt like he was trying to reacquaint himself with every inch of my body. His mouth was even needier. It was as if he couldn’t press hard enough or thrust his tongue far enough into my mouth. We were both hungry, starving, for each other.
He thrust his fingers between my legs and I gasped. “You’re so wet,” he whispered into my ear.
“I visited my doctor over break,” I whispered into his ear. “I’m on the pill now.”
He grinned. “I’ve never been with anyone without a condom.”
“Never?”
He shook his head. He had a twinkle in his eye. He grabbed me and with a quick movement, laid me on the bed and moved between my legs.
I gasped when he thrust himself into me and he let out a moan. “Oh, Sunshine. You feel so good.”
Him being inside me without the barrier between us felt so much more intimate and natural. He continued to thrust hard and quick, as if his life depended on it. It didn’t take long for both of us to burst with intense pleasure in each other arms.
After our climax, neither one of us wanted to move. We didn’t want to break the connection