Second Inning
Second part of a nine part series! Definitely check out part one before reading on. Also, this one has some light incest play (no actual incest) so be warned if that's something that bothers you.
As always, everyone is over the age of 18. Now on with the show!
When I woke up the next morning, Sarah was already gone.
After everything we'd done together the night before, I assumed we'd at least wake up together and talk. Share some flirty looks before starting another round of rubbing off in the backseat of the car.
I shouldn't have been surprised. I'd taken enough rides on Sarah's merry-go-round by this point -- desire followed by dismay at what we'd done followed by desire again -- I was dizzy with it.
Did I expect a relationship? No. I'm not that naive. She had a boyfriend, after all. And it's not like what we'd done was exactly romantic. But we'd gotten each other off in a way that was far more intimate than some of the "serious" relationships I'd had and I guess I thought... I don't know what I thought.
Instead I got dressed and went down to the lobby.
*
I found Kelsey and Julia -- my other two car-bound companions -- sitting at a table in the hotel lounge. A small breakfast of warm yogurt and cold pastries was set up on the far side.
Julia's mahogany hair hung limp in her ever-present ponytail. Her black-rimmed, square lens glasses were slightly askew. Yet I knew her loose fitting clothes hid a tight, toned body.
And Kelsey, my best friend's little sister? The tall, lithe blonde in wrinkled clothes with her eyes still sunken from sleep? She was still somehow knock-you-dead desirable. The mild mannered, milquetoast girl I'd known in high school had transformed into something like a supermodel.
Two absolutely amazing women were sitting there, waiting for me. But I was still obsessing over the third member of our car crew.
"Where's Sarah?" I asked.
"Getting coffee," Julia said.
"Oh. OK."
"I heard you kept her up all night," Kelsey said, big blue eyes bright and teasing.
"Wait, what?"
"Snoring, dude," Julia said, "You snore."
"I do not."
"I'm pretty sure I'd know, being your roommate and all."
Just as I was about to sit down and get comfortable, Sarah swung past us, coffee cup in hand. Suitcase already slung over her shoulder. Ready for take off.
Unlike the three of us, Sarah seemed energized and it made her look even more amazing. Her immense chest bounced as she walked by, straining against her baby blue blouse. Her brown eyes flashed fire. Anger or passion I couldn't quite parse.
"We ready to go?" she asked, "Let's go."
*
When we got outside, I saw that Julia had attempted to rearrange the suitcases, but had only made things worse. That poor little VW bug looked like it had over eaten at the breakfast buffet and now was only one sharp turn away from vomiting its contents all over the highway.
Before anyone could suggest otherwise, Sarah threw open the front door and hopped into the shotgun spot.
"I like it in the back," Sarah said, "Honestly, I do. But something about those seats is really messing around with my shoulders. I need to, like, stretch out. OK?" That last OK was said right to me, two loaded letters that asked a final exam's worth of questions.
"C'mon dude, man up," Julia said, "You'll get your turn to sit up front soon enough."
"I bet it'll be fun," Kelsey said, "You and me back there."
I stared down at my shoes. Without Sarah there, being stuck in the back seat felt like punishment. I wasn't angry at Sarah, exactly but I wasn't happy either. I didn't want there to be hard feelings between us. Not when other, harder things could be between us, instead.
So I stood there, silent, unsure whether it was worth it to argue or just go along to get along. Sarah seemed to sense my distress and pulled me to the far side of the parking lot. Julia and Kelsey stayed by the car, pretending to not be paying attention.
Summer was just starting and the mornings were still cold
"It sucks, OK?" Sarah said, grasping my hands, "I know. I suck."
I cocked an eyebrow at her. She kind of cringed, then blushed.
"Well, not like that. Not that it didn't cross my... Oh dammit, see? I can't even have one simple conversation without... Y'know?"
"I get it. It's fine."
"It's obviously not. You glare at the ground any harder and it's gonna crack."
"No I get it. You keep saying it -- you have a boyfriend. I'm not expecting anything from you. I'm just... I guess the word I'm looking for is disappointed. That's a compliment to you, you know."
"I know. Does it help that I'm disappointed, too? Last night was... It was stupid and fantastic and wonderful and terrifying and it's already so hard to stop myself, but I have to stop myself. No matter how much it hurts me to do it."
"You'll be fine. I'll be fine. I'll get over it."
"That was the other thing I wanted to tell you."
I tilted my head at her, confused. Sarah continued.
"After last night, I could see you feeling like you owe me something and you don't. There's no... OK, I'm not doing a very good job of this, I can tell. Look, all I'm saying is, if the opportunity should arise for you to 'get over it,' you should do that. Like, no hard feelings or whatever. OK?"
"Ummm. OK?"
"Cool. Awesome. Thanks!" Sarah practically skipped back to the car.
I followed, more confused than I was when we started talking.
*