The Other C-Word (24 page)

“About a year,” I replied.

Rick choked on his drink. My response made him choke! “That would mean you were a virgin until recently? How can that be? There had to be guys in high school that were after you.”

I smiled, shocked that my lips could even form one at this point. “I was a complete tomboy in high school.”

“Well, then you must have gone to school with a bunch of blind idiots for them not to see how hot you are no matter what you’re wearing. What about college?”

“I commuted and lived at home so it wasn’t convenient.”

“Don’t bullshit me now, Marley.”

“I’m not, Rick.”

Our food arrived, and I laughed at Rick’s dismayed glance at the jalapeño-laden burger the waitress placed in front of him. He started scraping off the spicy peppers with his knife.

“Marley, come on now. We both know if two people want to have sex, it’s easy enough to find a place to consummate the act.”

I shrugged. “I guess I just wasn’t interested for a long time.”

“And what? Then one day you were? I have to admit that surprises me the most because you’re very…sexual.”

“Can we talk about something else now? I haven’t passed on one question, and I feel like you’re taking advantage of that.”

He nodded. “Sorry. It was just a bombshell for me, and I wish I could say it clears things up, but it actually makes me more confused.”

“Is that because you thought I was more experienced?”

“Partially, but I don’t want to tell you all the reasons because I’m afraid I’m going to fuck up this date we’re on. Let’s talk about how the waitress hates me and brought me this freaking crazy burger with a million jalapeños on it.”

I laughed. “Serves you right. Guess we’ll have to order you a bread basket.”

He looked over at my food. “That’s all you’re eating?” Had he not heard me when I’d ordered? Oh no, I doubt he had. He was too busy being shocked by my admission at the time.

“Yes, I have to pay for myself, you know.”

Rick placed his hands over mine. “Don’t joke. I kind of freak out about how little you eat.”

“Seriously? I’m not anorexic. You should know that.”

“Yeah, I do, but…well, I guess we’ll just have to get dessert. I wonder if they have German Chocolate Cake here, because that’s what I’m in the mood for.”

“Sounds good to me.” I replied, picking up one of his jalapeños and popping it into my mouth. “So, where are you going to take me on our next date? Will it be somewhere fancy? Should I even trust you to make reservations?”

He smiled the dimple smile I loved so much. “I would never forget to make reservations with you.”

“I wouldn’t care if you did.”

“I know, baby. That’s why I’d never forget.”

* * * *

After our date, Rick drove me straight to the office. He pulled up next to my car and asked for my keys.

“I don’t understand. Don’t you want to go back to your place?”

Rick took my hand and kissed the inside of my wrist. “Sweetheart, this is our first date. What kind of guy would I be if I tried to sleep with you on the first date? I’m going to drop you off at your car and follow you home. First though, I’m going to give you a long, drawn out, goodnight kiss, and think about how good you smell and how beautiful you look and…if I can get lucky by our third date.”

“That’s pretty crazy seeing as we’ve already had sex, like, a multitude of times.”

“I know, but this is still our first date, and I’m a traditional kind of guy if you haven’t noticed. And you’re the kind of girl who deserves that respect.”

I shifted in my seat, feeling my heart melt with his sweet words and my angst increase because I totally wanted to jump his bones. “Are you serious?”

“I know it sounds stupid, but it’s important to me. Besides, we’re doing everything ass backwards, aren’t we?” He leaned in and tilted my face to his, pausing right before our lips touched. Then he crashed our mouths together. It was intense—he did things to my lips that made my whole body feel like convulsing. Rick bit my lower lip and sucked on it. He slipped his tongue into my mouth, brushing against mine it. When we pulled away, we were both panting as if we had run a marathon. We were completely silent, soaking in the intensity of a simple kiss. I wondered what Rick was thinking after all the revelations we’d shared at the restaurant and the passionate kiss that had left us both breathless. What deep, philosophical thoughts were going through his beautiful mind? What else could he say to me to conclude this amazing evening?

He smiled, cocking his eyebrow. “Speaking of ass.”

I let out a gut-wrenching laugh, patting his chest. “Easy boy, that’s a one-way street for me.”

“You can’t blame a guy for trying.” He grinned, pulling me in for a second kiss. It wasn’t as long, but equally passionate. “I’m going to take you somewhere really nice for our next date and then, maybe if I’m lucky, I’ll get to worship your body again and again. Goodnight, baby.”

“I thought it was the third date?”

Rick chuckled. “I’m traditional, but I’m not going to kid myself. I won’t be able to last three dates without getting inside you.”

He wasn’t alone in that thought.

Chapter Eleven

I came down in Stevie’s purple dress. It was form fitting and hugged my curves, but classy too. I paired it with my new, fierce Michael Kors black heels. My family all plied me with so many compliments that I actually felt my head enlarging. Even Stevie approved, but then again, it was her dress. I had to admit, it did make me feel pretty. It felt strange, since I never went on dates or even to the prom, so this was a foreign experience for me. When the doorbell rang though, I was instantly annoyed.

Rick stood outside my doorway, looking adorable in his dark suit, and assessing me appreciatively. He carried a large, potted cactus. It was hard to be mad, but I was. I leaned into him, careful to avoid getting pricked by the plant. I wondered if he had brought it as a protection barrier. “I told you to text me when you were here,” I whispered.

He ignored the venomous slant of my eyes. “Marley, I’m not going to text you to come outside. I’m going to pick you up at the door like you deserve.” I seriously wondered if Rick was a reincarnation from a previous century. At least, he wasn’t joking about courting me. “I know you don’t have to be told, but I have to say it anyway, you look beautiful.”

I blushed. It was hard to be angry after a compliment like that. He handed me the cactus plant.

“You got me a cactus?”

“Um, you don’t seem like the kind of girl that would appreciate flowers. I wanted to get you a normal plant, but you don’t have the best history. They tell me this is very hard to kill.”

I laughed, surveying the funny-looking prickly plant. “I love it. Thank you.”

I was so lost in the moment that I’d forgotten all my family were standing awkwardly behind us. They gawked at us, and I realised introductions were expected. The normal cast of characters surrounded me except for Dillon, who was in the kitchen reorganising my mom’s silverware drawer.

“Everyone, this is Rick Randy. Rick, this is my mother, Emmie, my sisters, Stevie and Billie. This is Stevie’s fiancé, Adam. Are you ready to go?” I asked hastily, handing Billie the large plant.

Rick didn’t respond. Instead, he took his time, shaking hands with my whole family, while I stared nervously. They all studied him closely, as if he were a rare painting on display. I knew they were aware I’d been seeing someone since I was out every night, but I never talked about it. In fact, Rick was the first person I’d dated that they’d met. Scratch that, Rick was the first person I’d dated, period.

“Can you join us for dinner?” my mother asked. I fought the urge to bolt out of the door right then.

“Mom, we have reservations,” I replied, hoping my impatience was apparent, so they would let us leave. I should have known better with my family.

“How about you guys stay for a drink, at least?” Stevie suggested, eyeing me suspiciously.

“Sorry, we can’t stay. See you all later,” I proclaimed, taking Rick’s arm and trying to pull him towards the door. He didn’t budge.

“So, you’re really in that much of a hurry?” Billie asked, but she was smart. She looked to Rick for the answer and totally ignored my death stare.

Rick smiled, revealing his perfect teeth, and held his hands up in defeat. “I would love to join you for drinks or dinner. We can always cancel the reservation, but it’s obvious Marley has a problem with that. It seems she’s embarrassed either by me or you guys”—he turned to me with that mischievous smirk I usually loved—“which is it, Marley?”

I was so mad at him that I couldn’t even form any words. Everyone stared at me. Even Dillon came out of the kitchen to glare. Stevie tapped her foot and placed a hand on her hip. “Yeah, which is it, Marley?”

I sighed in frustration, throwing my hands in the air. “Fine! We’ll have dinner.”

I slumped at the table, shooting them all looks of resentment, but they managed to ignore me, choosing to converse amicably with each other.

My mom was a victim to Rick’s charms immediately when he held out a chair for her. Although my mom is a very hip feminist, she couldn’t resist Rick’s Casanova-like charisma. He smiled warmly at her, tilting his head towards the music flowing in from the living room. “Emmie, is this James Taylor?” Yep, she was smitten with him right then.

Adam, impressed by Rick’s car, waxed on about the beauty of cars in general. They veered off into a chat about domestic versus foreign cars. It was interesting how boys tended to do that. I knew Adam was just grateful to have a conversation that didn’t border around floral arrangements or seating charts.

Stevie drilled Rick like she worked for the flipping Homeland Security! She asked him all about where he’d grown up, places he’d worked, even his religious and political affiliations. I turned tomato red from embarrassment, but Rick answered every question, all the while resting his hand on my knee.

Billie asked him about living in
New York
. It was a dream of hers to live there, ever since she’d read
Little Women
. She wanted to be like Jo and move to
New York
to write. The answer to her questions made me the saddest, because it was obvious that despite his fondness for travelling, Rick also loved his hometown, and he would be returning to it soon.

When my mom and Stevie exited to the kitchen to get dessert and everyone else was busy in side conversations, I pulled Rick towards me and whispered into his ear, “Sorry about the inquisition, but you practically asked for it. I tried to save you from all this.”

He smiled, shaking his head. “Your family is really nice, and I assume they’re asking me so many questions because—like me—they get so few answers from you. It’s okay, Marley. I’m enjoying myself.”

How did he know me so well already? “You are?” I asked, assessing his gaze for any misgivings.

He nodded, smiling wistfully. “I haven’t had dinner with a family in a long time.”

I suddenly felt like an idiot. I took my family for granted and obsessed over the bad stuff, but Rick had lost his family, and he was appreciative of them like I should have been. My feelings shifted from embarrassment to remorse for my childish behaviour. However, all my thoughts soon turned to dread when my mom set down the dessert and Stevie announced, “Dish and dish.”

This was bad. It was one thing to spend the evening diagnosing Rick—he was normal—but when my family started airing their own stuff, it was liable to be disastrous.

I immediately stood. “No dish tonight.”

Stevie eyed me in that challenging way of hers. “Yes, we dish every night, Marley.”

“We have company.”

My mom looked at Rick with a smile. “Rick doesn’t have to share if he doesn’t want to.”

“Yes, please don’t let me intrude on your family traditions,” Rick said pleasantly. I wanted to punch him.

“Fine, but I’m warning all of you—nothing personal.” I trained my warning look towards Stevie, in particular, because I knew she would be the most likely to argue with me.

“Marley, dish is personal, or it would be called dish and nothing very important.”

“That’s it! Nothing personal, I’m warning you.” I glared at Stevie, who glared right back at me.

“What are you going to do about it?” she retorted, narrowing her eyes.

Just then, Van Morrison decided to scratch my ankle as he always did when I was threatening Stevie. I freaking hated that cat. I picked up the stupid fur ball and held him in front of me. “Nothing personal or the pussy gets it.” I didn’t intend to hurt the oversized rodent, but I desperately hoped the ludicrous threat might work.

Stevie held one hand to her heart like she was about to faint in what I assumed was a Scarlet O’Hara impersonation. She clutched Adam’s arm with her other hand. “Oh, Adam, don’t let her hurt my pussy. You love that pussy as much as I do.” Her voice rang out with a southern twang too. No wonder she always got the lead in the school play.

Adam, the attentive fiancé he was, stood up, holding his butter knife towards me. “Marley, if you so much as hurt a hair on my future wife’s pussy, I’ll kill you.”

Suddenly, I didn’t think we were talking about a cat anymore. I dropped Van Morrison straight to the ground and looked around for a napkin to wipe my hands. Everyone chuckled, except for me.

Adam sat back down next to Stevie, putting an arm around her and staring into her eyes lovingly. “I love that pussy. I would do anything for it.”

Yep, we were definitely not talking about a cat and the crazy in my family was out of the box. It didn’t matter though because everyone was cracking up, including Rick.

“Marley”—my mom choked between giggles—“we love animals in this house and would never harm them, especially innocent little pussies.”

“It’s not that innocent,” Billie muttered under her breath. Everyone broke out in another gaggle of laughter, and I slumped back in my chair feeling defeated.

Rick leaned his arm across my chair and grazed my shoulder with his fingertips in a figure eight pattern. Strangely, it calmed me.

My mother cleared her throat. “Who’s going to start?”

Adam started. “Dish… Stevie and I have been looking at houses.”

Stevie cut him a look of horror that shut him up right away. She turned to me. “We’re just checking online, but we’re not moving out.” It occurred to me that this, of all moments, felt the most uncomfortable of the meal.

Stevie’s look at Adam was not the casual, fake, angry grimaces they shared. She was pissed off at him…and why was she addressing me with her explanation?

Billie cleared her throat. “Dish…I got into
Columbia
.” Everyone started throwing around congratulations and well wishes. I didn’t because I was staring at Billie, who wore a melancholy expression. Billie faced Stevie when the merriment died down. “I’m not going though. I’m going to stay home and commute.” It didn’t make any sense. That had always been Billie’s dream. She’d spent the whole evening asking Rick a million questions about
New York
, and now she didn’t want to go?

Suddenly, I had a revelation so clear and sharp that it pierced my heart in a million pieces. They both wanted to leave, but they couldn’t. They felt they had to stay…because of me.

My mother sensed all the underlying meanings immediately. She cleared her throat, bringing our attention back to her. “We’ll talk about it later, but I have some very pressing dish. I need to get my hair done, and I need serious advice.”

“Well, Mom, I think you—” Stevie started, but stopped when my mom held up her hand.

“Stevie, you might be the fashion plate around here, but Dillon’s definitely got the hair flair.” She sat down, taking Dillon’s hand. “If you love me, you’ll help me through my crisis.”

Well, if Rick didn’t think I was fucked up before, he definitely would now. It was probably for the best, because I was a total ticking time bomb anyway.

I walked him out to his car afterwards. “Sorry, my family’s insane. I tried to warn you.”

He pulled me close. “Marley, I thought they were great and that really makes me happy.”

It sounded peculiar, so I had to ask, “Why?”

“I’m glad you have so many people that care about you.”

It was a relief he wasn’t running for the hills, but it made me sad for him. I stood on my tiptoes against his car and drew him in for a kiss. When we broke apart, he asked me, “Do you think they liked me?”

I laughed, pleasantly surprised that he’d even want to impress them. “You won my mom over by having two helpings of vegan meatloaf—which contained no meat and wasn’t even loaf shaped. Adam’s just happy to have another guy at the table. You’ve already won Dillon by being so damn cute. You managed to pass Stevie’s verbal inquest and Billie’s just grateful to know someone from
New York
. So yeah, you impressed the hell out of them.”