Family Ties

” I closed the door and turned to the little blonde.

“How could you say that?”

“Oh, please. You know how Wren feels. And you can deny it all you like, but I know how you feel about her. She does too. She isn’t stupid.”

“No, but… what about Sara?”

“Sara isn’t stupid either. Besides, I trust her.”

“But what about privacy?”

Around your family? Sure. But our best friends? Why? Besides, Wren’s your girlfriend.”

“That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard. Why not?”

“I just… can’t. It doesn’t work like that.”

“Oh? That’s news to me. I should probably tell my mom. ‘Sorry, Mom, you have to choose. You can’t have a husband and a girlfriend at the same time. It doesn’t work like that.’”

“Don’t mock me,” Christy said.

I abruptly stopped when I realized she was actually upset. “You’re right,”

I said contritely. “I’m sorry.” I grabbed her desk chair and sat down. Then I gently pulled her into my lap. “I forgot about baby steps. I know this is all new to you. I shouldn’t joke about it, either.”

“No, you shouldn’t.”

“I’m sorry. Do you forgive me?”

“You know I can’t say no to you.”

at least—but you can always say it.”

“But will you listen?”

She waited for more, some kind of excuse or evasion. Her brow furrowed when it never came.

“I’m sorry I mocked you,” I said seriously. “And I’m sorry I teased you about Wren. I was in a good mood and I got carried away. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“And now I’m apologizing.”

“Just like that?” she asked suspiciously.

“Yeah. I told you, I was in a good mood, even before you and Wren popped in. I like Sara. And she likes you. She wants us to be happy.”

“Well, she’s given me some good advice about you and me.”

“Like it isn’t easy being Catholic, that they put a lot of pressure on you.

Also that I need to tell you the truth about myself, that I can’t hide my past from you.”

“And tonight… she was teasing me because I said I was wrong about you.”

“How I thought you were a stuck-up prude who’d never understand me.”

“I still don’t understand you.”

“I just need to remember that it won’t happen overnight. And I can’t tease you about it when you don’t immediately adjust. That’s why we need to take baby steps.”

“Exactly how much do I need to understand about you?” she asked warily.

“You have no idea,” I chuckled.

“No, I don’t. And you’re starting to make me nervous.”

“Do you trust me?” I repeated.

“Yes,” she said slowly.

“In the meantime, do you trust me enough to kiss me?”

I lifted her chin and pressed my lips to hers.

“I can’t stay mad at you,” she said after.

“Well, I need to work on not making you mad in the first place.”

I kissed her again and lingered over the quiet touch. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stifle a yawn. I thought she’d be upset, but she yawned too.

“I’m about to fall asleep in your lap,” she admitted. “But I thought you wanted to… you know.”

“You know how much I want to. But it’s late,” I continued. “We’ve had a long day. And we’re still taking baby steps.”

“Right. To all three.”

“So, let me kiss you a few more times, and—”

“Okay, maybe more than a few. One for Sara. One for Wren. And the rest for me.”

“That’s a lot of kissing,” she said. “I thought we were going to say goodnight.”

“We are. When we’re ready. Then I’ll take Mr. Good Thing—”

“Sometimes I just call him Mr. Big.” She grinned. “Like now.”

“Okay. Then I’ll take Mr. Big to bed. Alone,” I added quickly. “Although you know what I’ll be doing for a while before I go to sleep.” I chuckled as her cheeks glowed. “You’ll be doing the same thing.”

“But it feels so good it probably should be.”

“Ha! You’re right about that.” I kissed her again. “Take care of your

small package for me.”

“What would happen?” she asked without a trace of innocence. “If he lost control, I mean.”

I quirked an eyebrow. “You really want to know?”

“You said there’s a lot I need to understand.”

“Tell you what,” I said with a chuckle, “while you’re playing with yourself—”

“Sure you can.” I kissed her. “And remember, good things come in small packages.”

She half-sighed, half-whimpered.

I set her on her feet. Then I stood and brazenly adjusted my hard-on. Her eyes widened again.

“Goodnight,” I said softly. “Sweet dreams.”

“Of penises. Big ones.”

I kissed her and left while I still could.

Wednesday was a blur of projects and papers, and the four of us worked through the afternoon and late into the evening. Christy spent most of her time on the computer, proofreading and making corrections and printing out final versions of everyone’s work. In a few short days, she’d learned to use the thing better than I could.