“Shay? We both know your father isn’t coming back. Missing him is one thing but letting it affect your life is another.”
“I understand all that, Mom. It’s not so much that I miss him—although I do. It’s just that I’ll never understand how someone can do that to his family.”
“I’m not excusing what he did, honey. I can only tell you that sometimes men who turn 40 start to feel like their life is slipping away. They believe their youth is gone and they may never be happy. So when a younger, very attractive woman starts giving him the attention he wants, well…”
“She’s barely older than me and that’s the part I don’t get. How could anyone be attracted to someone that much older than them? Doesn’t that seem…unusual?”
Erin Kimball smiled and told her daughter, “Honey, I’m not gonna lie. Your father hurt me terribly. I didn’t even see it coming to be honest. I knew something was wrong. He was restless and well, without going into detail, no matter what I did, he just wasn’t interested in me…like that…anymore.”
“Mom! Eeeew! I do not want to hear about that, okay?”
Erin most definitely wasn’t going to share those kinds of details with her daughter, but it had been over eight months she’d been with a man and before that, it had been two months. Her husband had no interest in her because he was getting everything he needed from her soon-to-be replacement.
Shay, of course, was never going to tell her mother that she’d lost her virginity to Jeremy that summer or that after a few clumsy attempts, she learned that making love was a most pleasant undertaking.
Shay Kimball was 18 and tomorrow was the first day of her senior year at the same school where her mom had been a guidance counselor for the last 15 years since graduating from college. Shay had a very good chance of being the class valedictorian and now that her father had traded in her 37-year old mom for another woman—no, a girl—who was barely 21, she would need to earn an academic scholarship if she wanted to go to college herself. Being 18, her father had no legal requirement to support her anymore, and since he moved out just after the holidays some seven months ago, he hadn’t sent his daughter a dime. He rarely even called and when he did, she didn’t feel much like talking to him and that was killing her because she had always been daddy’s little girl.
Shay was one of the three best looking girls in school, but unlike the other two, she wasn’t interested in cheerleading and parties. She was a bright, serious girl with a very good head on her shoulders.
“Okay. Message received. You won’t have to hear about it, Shay. Besides, we’ve got to go. I need to be in early to set up for registration. It’s gonna be crazy busy. And honey? I’m really glad you decided to hang out with me today.”
Shay smiled and said, “Well, since Jeremy and I broke up, it’s not like I’ve got anyone fun or cool to hang out with, you know.”
“Careful or I’ll put you in Mr. Craig’s chemistry class.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” she said as her eyes narrowed and her lips drew tight.
“Don’t push me,” her mom said feigning a dire warning.
They walked into the gymnasium and Erin began looking around. “Okay, let’s see where they have me sitting this year.” She saw the long row of tables set out for registration and began searching from left to right. She first notice a table for the social studies teachers. Next to them were the English teachers, then math, science, and…there it was. Guidance. Right next to chemistry.
“Shay? Look where we’re at. Your dream may come true!” she teased.
Shay saw where her mom’s place was and rolled her eyes. Mr. Craig was about a thousand years old and about as much fun as having the flu. “Oh…my…God,” she said. “Okay, well I’m definitely sitting on the other side of you. Just in case.” She shivered at the thought of old man Craig trying to engage her in conversation. He was not only older than dirt, he was…creepy.
Erin sat her things down and Shay pulled out her iPod and put in her earbuds then turned on her iPad and busied herself with looking at stuff 18-year girls look at. Several minutes later she heard her mom talking to someone in a tone of voice that told her she should look up.
“Oh, okay, so you’re Mr. Garvin. I knew we’d hired a new chemistry teacher. I’m Erin Kimball. It’s very nice to meet you.”
“My pleasure, Erin. Please call me Adam.”
“With pleasure,” Erin said with an exaggerated amount of enthusiasm.
Shay looked over next to her mom and her jaw dropped. “Oh…my…God!” she said again. “That man is gorgeous!” She elbowed her mom, waited for her to lean close then said quietly, “Who’s the male model?”
“Oh, that’s our new chemistry teacher, Mr. Garvin.”
“I don’t see a wedding ring,” Shay said as she gently rubber-necked to look his way.
“Uh, Shay? I believe he’s a little too old for you. However, I will say for the record, I have no problem with dating a younger man so I’m not going to say anything more,” her mother said as she turned back to take another look at the hot new teacher. “Or at least I think I’d enjoy it if one ever asked me out,” she said qualifying her statement.
“Mom? Geez! What’s the matter with you?” Shay said shaking head.
“Me? I’m not the one checking out a guy ten years older than her.”
Shay just grunted a loud, “Ugh!” at her mom’s comment and went back to her iPad but not before sneaking one more look his way.
A series of kids came and went at both tables. Most of those who saw her mom wanted to change classes before school started. Two of Shay’s friends begged her mom to let them move to Mr. Garvin’s class from Mr. Craig’s. “Sorry, girls. No can do. There’s no compelling reason to move you.”
One of them said, “Have you seen Mr. Garvin? Have you seen Mr. Craig? If that’s not compelling then nothing is.”
“I feel your pain,” Erin told her as she handed her back her schedule unchanged.
“Speaking of schedules, Mom. Where’s mine?” Shay asked.
“Oh, suddenly you’re interested in your class schedule? What a coincidence. Weren’t you the one who told me several times you didn’t care who your teachers were as long as you got the classes you wanted?”
Her mom started looking through a stack of schedules and said, “I was gonna give it to you before we left. I guess there’s a compelling reason why you want it now.”
“Mom!” she said again as she snatched the paper from her mother’s hand. She took a quick look at the classes: AP Calculus, AP history, AP chemistry. When she got to chemistry she closed one eye then looked next to it for the teacher’s name. If it said ‘Craig’… She saw G-a-r-v-i- and n. Yes!
“Thank you, thank you, thank you! You’re the best mom ever!” she squealed as she hugged her mother.
“I put you in there before I knew the new teacher was Dr. Dreamy.” That’s what they called the handsome doctor on a popular TV show that had been on for years.
“He is dreamy,” Shay agreed.
After an hour or so, Shay noticed another student behind the tables where no student should be. He walked over to Mr. Garvin and said, “So how’s business, Adam?”
“Not too bad, Cam. And it’s Mr. Garvin at school, okay?”
Erin and Shay were both looking at the new kid and this time it was Erin who whispered, “Oh, my God! Who is that? He’s as dreamy as Dr.—Mr. Dreamy.”
“Mom…you’re a regular perv. What’s gotten into you lately?” Shay teased.
Erin wanted to badly to say, “Nothing’s gotten into me lately and that’s the problem.” Instead, she just enjoyed the view.
Erin said, “Adam? Who’s this young man?”
“Oh, sorry. Erin, this is my younger brother, Cameron. We mostly call him Cam. Cam, this is one of our guidance counselors, Ms. Kimball, and to her left is her daughter, Shay, who’s also a senior this year.”
“Nice to meet you Ms. Kimball. He peeked around her head and looked at Shay and said, “Hi, Shay.”
Shay was dying to know who these handsome brothers were, where they were from, as well as how and why they’d ended up here. She didn’t have to wait long for the answer.
“Cam and I have mostly been on our own since our parents were killed by a drunk driver five years ago. I’m not only his brother but his legal guardian. We have a middle brother who just graduated from West Point and who’s learning to fly helicopters. So it’s really just the two of us. Mutt and Jeff, Calvin and Hobbes.”
Cam spoke and said, “What he means by guardian is he’s the warden.” Cameron smiled so everyone knew it was meant as a joke. “Naw, he’s actually a pretty decent guy. You know, for a chemistry geek. He won’t tell you this, but he earned a masters in chemistry in less time than it takes most people to get a BS. But did he use it to make any decent money? Oh, no. He went into teaching. No offense, Ms. Kimball, but teaching isn’t exactly a moneymaker.”
“Guilty as charged,” Adam said. “I do love chemistry, but I don’t much love corporations and the way they rape people and the environment. I want to do something to help people, not just make money.”
Shay craned her neck around her mom and said, “Well, I think that’s very admirable, Mr. Garvin. I love chemistry, too, and hope to do something with it to make a difference and it won’t be by working for some corporation, either.”
Erin sighed and said, “I can tell you this. If I had any other options, I wouldn’t be teaching. Okay, a guidance counselor but still, same difference. I’d take a corporate job right now if it paid six figures.”
“Here, here, Ms. K! If I can get an athletic scholarship and make money playing football someday, I won’t think twice about taking that big, fat signing bonus,” Cameron said.
Erin offered him a high five which he accepted while Adam just shook his head and looked past Erin. He caught Shay’s eye and said, “Speaking of chemistry, I see you’re in my third period class, Shay. I’ve also heard you’re a very good student.”
Before Shay could answer for herself her mother chimed in saying, “That’s an understatement. Shay has a 4.0 average and her sites set on a pre-med major next year. We’re all very proud of her.”
“We? You and your husband?” Adam asked innocently as she was still wearing her wedding ring.
Erin’s smile faded as she said, “Um…her father and I are separated but yes, he is very proud of her, too.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stir up any kind of…”
“No, it’s okay. We’re getting by just fine. Life goes on, as they say,” Erin said bravely.
“How about you, Adam? Wife, fiancé, girlfriend?” Erin asked not so innocently.
“No, no, and no,” he replied. “I was pretty serious with someone last year, but that’s definitely over. We just moved here from Pullman so we don’t really know anyone yet.”
Erin smiled and said, “Ah, a Washington State Cougar. Not many of those here in Husky territory. Well, you know us, so you know at least two people now, right? So…welcome to Washington and to Auburn High School! Hey, maybe we could all get together sometime for dinner or whatever.”
Adam looked at his little brother who shrugged before saying, “Okay, sure. Let’s do that.”
Cameron waited for his older brother to finish speaking before saying, “So Adam…I mean, Mister Garvin. Who’s this Mr. Craig? I’ve got him for chemistry.”
Cameron saw Shay put her hand over her mouth and stifle a laugh. “Was that funny?” Cameron said with a puzzled look on his face.
Just then Mr. Craig turned around as though he’d just been woken from slumber and snorted, “Who called my name?” His glasses were askew on his large nose and his thin, gray hair looked like Albert Einstein’s only there was a lot less of it.
Cameron looked back and Shay and rolled his eyes. Erin stifled a laugh and Adam just smiled. Everyone now knew who Mr. Craig was.
The laughter stopped when the sound of a male voice shouting angrily caught everyone’s attention. “I want my fucking diploma!” the voice said.
Shay leaned closer to her mom and said, “Isn’t that Terry Adler?”
Erin strained to see then told Shay, “Yes it is. Looks like Mr. Young’s got his hands full.”
James Young was a very large, very imposing man physically but as kind and gentle as they came. He was a former Marine who’d recently earned his doctorate in education and had been the school’s principal for the last two years. He also happened to African-American which was something virtually no one even noticed
“Terry, we gave you every opportunity to earn your diploma last year. Your teachers and I bent over backward giving you one chance after another to turn work in late, to make it up, or even do alternatives to traditional assignments. You chose not to do any of those things. My hands are tied.”
Adler was extremely agitated. He was wild-eyed and frothing at the mouth when he shouted back his reply, “Well you and the rest of your fucked up teachers can kiss my white ass! I can’t even get a job without my diploma and you’re the asshole who’s keeping me from getting it.”
Dr. Young didn’t raise his voice but spoke firmly. “No son, I’m not the one preventing you from getting that. You did that all by yourself. Actions have consequences and…”
“Fuck you, you fucking N****r!” he screamed. “There’s gonna be hell to pay around here for this shit.” He turned and pointed wildly at the teacher tables and said, “All of you N*****r-loving assholes are gonna pay for this.”
By this time, the campus security officer was standing next to Dr. Young. He was also African-American and he bristled when Terry Adler drop the N-word. Dr. Young held out his hand asking for restraint as former student stormed out of the gymnasium.
Dr. Young turned and calmly told everyone, “It’s okay folks. Sorry for the ruckus. Everything’s fine.” His smile and calm demeanor were very reassuring after such a disturbing event.
“Who talks like that these days?” Shay said.
“Evidently, Terry Adler,” her mom replied. She knew Shay was as shaken and upset by the incident as she was, but they both knew if Dr. Young could take that kind of abuse personally they could deal with seeing it from the sidelines.
A week or later, Erin stopped by the teacher’s lounge to check her in box and grabbed a stack of papers. When she turned around, Adam was standing behind her waiting for her to move.
“Adam! Oh, my gosh. You startled me,” she said as she spun around and came face to face with him.
“Sorry, Erin. I don’t usually have that effect on women. I guess I’m gonna have to work on that.”
Erin stepped aside and took a deep breath. No one else was in the room so she said, “Listen, I know we said we might all get together sometime. Would you and Cameron like to have dinner with us this weekend by any chance?”
Adam grabbed his paperwork and said, “I’ll have to talk to Cam, but that sounds great to me. I’ll let you know what he says today, okay?”
“Great,” Erin replied. “So how was your first week here? Any problems?”
“All of my classes are really good. My AP class in fantastic and Shay is head and shoulders above everyone else in there, by the way.”
“I’m so glad to hear that. She really does love math and science, but chemistry is by far her favorite. My only understanding of chemistry is the kind that exists between men and women.” She paused then said, “Based on the way my marriage ended, I may not even understand that too well.”
Adam laughed and said, “Well, I can tell you this. You’re a very attractive woman, Erin. Whenever you’re ready to jump back into the dating pool, you won’t have to spend a lot of time there if your goal is finding another husband.”
Erin smiled and told him, “Well, thank you, kind sir. Coming from a man as handsome as you are, that’s very encouraging. So if Cameron agrees, can we tentatively say Saturday at 7pm at my house?”
“Sure. That sounds nice. Can I bring anything? A bottle of wine maybe?”
“I’ll be making blackened salmon so if you’d like to bring a bottle of your favorite white, that would be great.”
“Cam has football practice right after school, but I’ll check him with tonight. Any chance I could get your number, Erin?”
She smiled devilishly and said, “Just hand me your phone.”
That Saturday evening, Shay came downstairs wearing a very nice dress and heels. “Wow! Look at you!” Erin said to her daughter. “We must be having someone over for dinner you find very…interesting.”
“Mom!” Shay said loudly. “It’s not like that. Cameron and I don’t really even know each other. I’d dress nicely for anyone coming over the first time.”
“Okay, if that’s what you say, honey,” he mom said as though she was pretending to believer her daughter.
“Well, I’m not the only one who got all dressed up. When’s the last time you wore that?” Shay said pushing back. Erin was wearing a very classy twin set and skirt along with a pair of her own heels.
“Well, I am single now…almost. And it can’t hurt to make a good impression, right?”
Shay moved close to her mom and said, “I think someone is crushing on the hot, younger, new chemistry teacher.”
Shay hadn’t seen her mother blush in…forever…but she was indeed flushed around the neck. “I know you and Dad aren’t divorced yet, but if, well, you know…you guys like each other—I’m okay with you going out. Just sayin’, okay, Mom?”
Erin stopped what she was doing and said, “You know, you are so mature for your age, honey. Thank you for saying that. It means a lot to me.”
“Mom?” Shay asked. “Have you ever dated a younger guy before? You know, before you and Dad, I mean.”
Erin tilted her head, thought for a moment then said, “Hmmm. Well…I went to my senior prom with a junior named Toby Andrews. I haven’t thought about that in years. But other than that, no, I don’t believe I ever have. Why?”
“I dunno. I was just thinking about Dad and his new…bimbo girlfriend. He’s 42 and she’s like 21 or something, right?”
Erin sighed and said, “Yeah, that’s about right, sweetheart. But as they say, the heart wants what the heart wants, right? We can’t really help who we fall in love with, you know. I mean, in a case like that, we can and should try and fight it with our head, but the heart usually wins out. I’m not justifying what your father did to us, Shay. I’m just saying I can understand.”
“So…if Mr. Garvin did ask you out…would you go out with him?”
“Well, let’s wait and see if that happens first. He’s probably got a ton of attractive women his age pursuing him already.”
“Yeah, I could see that, for sure,” Shay told her mom.
“And what about Cameron? Would you say yes if he were to ask you out?”
“Yeah, maybe. Well, I guess I would. Okay, probably,” she replied.
“You guess? Honey, I’ve been a guidance counselor for going on 15 years. In all that time I’ve seen maybe—maybe three boys as handsome as Cameron. I know we adults aren’t supposed to notice, but when they’re that cute? Come on. Even teachers are human beings after all.”
“Really?” Shay said with feigned surprise. “Teachers are human? Is that what you’re trying to tell me, Mom?”
“I know it’s hard to believe, honey, but yes, some of us are. And then there are those like Mr. Garvin who are just…yummy.”
“Mom!” Shay said playfully just as the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it!” Shay said as she nearly ran to the door. She stopped, smoothed her long, dark hair then opened it.
“Mr. Garvin, Cameron. Hi! Come in, please,” she said with the biggest smile ever.
Erin was right behind her daughter and greeted both of her visitors along with Shay. She and Adam hugged briefly and politely as he showed her the bottle of wine he’d brought with him. She took and said, “It’s still very cold. This is perfect. Thank you, Adam. Come on in. Dinner’s almost ready.”
As they got ready to eat, Erin asked Adam, “Do you mind if Cameron and Shay have a small glass of wine with dinner?”
Adam looked at his brother and said, “It’s okay with me. I certainly won’t tell anyone.”
Everyone laughed before Cameron said, “Sure, I’ll take some. Thank you, Ms. Kimball.”
She poured a small amount into his glass and said, “At home you can call me Erin, okay?”
Adam extended the same courtesy to Shay, as well.
She went to pour some in Adam’s glass and he said, “Oh, no thank you. I’m really not much of a drinker, Erin.”
“Oh, okay. I had no idea.” She turned to Shay, held the bottle up slightly and said, “Honey? Would you like a little bit?”
“Um, no thanks, Mom. I think I’ll pass, too.”
She poured herself a glass and said to Cameron, “Well, it looks you and I are the only ones drinking tonight, Cameron. Cheers?”
After dinner, the four of them were sitting in the living room with the guys on the large sofa and the girls on the smaller love seat.
Erin was sipping a second glass of wine when she said, “So Adam. You said you were also interested in music. Anything in particular?”
“I love classical music. I even play the violin a little bit.”
“You’re kidding?” Shay said. “I love classical music!”
Erin shook her head and said, “I know it’s an important part of our culture, but I’ll never understand the appeal. I guess I need some cultural refining but it pretty much all sounds the same to me.”
“Here, here!” said Cameron. “I gotta leave the house when Adam fires up Beethoven or whatever. Give me classic rock over classical any day!”
“I am so with you, Cameron!” Erin told him. “Give me The Rolling Stones or Jimmy Hendrix or Lynyrd Skynard or Van Halen any day.”
Cameron offered her a high five which she gladly accepted.
“Well, that was a bust,” Shay said. “What else matters to you, Adam?”
“Helping the poor. I volunteer at a homeless shelter at least once a week,” he said.
“I do, too!” Shay said with incredulity. “That is so amazing!”
“Cameron, do you go with Adam?” Shay asked.
“Uh, no. That’s not really my thing,” he said.
“I see. Well, what is your thing if I might ask?” Shay inquired.
“Making money.” Shay made a face which prompted Cameron to say, “Look, if I could get a pro football contract I wouldn’t think twice about accepting a huge signing bonus. Money isn’t the root of all evil and I don’t even think the love of money is a bad thing.”
This time, Erin extended the high five which Cameron slapped hard.
“I’m with you, Cam,” Erin said. “If I had any real alternative to teaching; if I could earn six figures in the corporate world, I’d be there tomorrow.”
“Ugh!” Shay snorted. “Money. Life isn’t all about money, Mom.”
“I’d like to see you try and live a month without it, honey,” she said kindly. “It’s a necessity for sure and a very nice thing to have a little extra of.”
“Well, I’m with Adam on the important issues,” she announced. She got up, stood next to him and said, “May I?” pointing to the open space next to him.
“Please,” he told her.
“Well, I tend to agree with Cameron so…” Erin got up and did the same thing and ended up sitting next to Cameron.
“There, that’s better!” Erin said matter-of-factly. “Now we’re sitting by someone with whom we at least have things in common.” Everyone laughed indicating no one was actually upset by the different like and dislikes.
After another half hour of more pleasant conversation, Adam suggested they really should probably get going. “Oh, right,” Cameron said. “You’ve got papers to grade already.”
“Erin? Can I talk to you privately for a moment?” he asked.
“Of course,” she told him as she led him back into the kitchen. “What’s going on?” she asked. “Is it something with Shay at school?”
“No, nothing like that,” he said. “It’s just that Cam and I were talking and he/I/we kinda thought it would nice if he invited Shay to Homecoming and I wanted to give them some privacy. That’s all. Of course, now that they know they’re on opposite sides of the political fence…”
Erin laughed. “Oh, my goodness! That’s wonderful. The Homecoming part, that is. ßI hope she says yes. Shay really needs to spend some time doing things other than studying. And like you, Cameron is a very handsome young man and if I dare say, he has a very good head on his shoulders, too.”
Adam smiled and Erin said, “Adam? I was wondering if, well, maybe you might like to, you know, go out sometime, too. I mean, it’s up to you of course. I was just thinking it might be…”
“Erin?” he said cutting her off. “I’d love to. In fact, I’m chaperoning Homecoming. Would it be too cheesy to ask you to go with me? Assuming Shay says yes, of course.”
“Cheesy or not, I’d love to! You’ve got yourself a date, Adam!” she said cheerfully.
As they walked back into the living room, Cameron was sitting next to Shay and they were both smiling.
“So…?” Adam said.
“She said yes,” he told his older brother.
“Awesome!” Adam said. “Now, don’t get all crazy, okay? You know I’m chaperoning Homecoming, right?” Cameron nodded and Shay, who just learned that fact, nodded, too. “Well, Erin suggested we do something together too, so I just asked her to go with me so…is that okay?” Adam’s eyebrows were raised and his voice went up at the end of the sentence.
The two younger people looked at one another and smiled. Shay said, “Well…as long as both of you stay on the old people’s side of the room, I guess that’ll be fine.” Everyone laughed and said goodnight which included hugs for both couples and small kiss on the cheek from Adam to Erin.
The next day, Adam caught Shay as she was leaving the classroom and said, “Shay? I just wanted to say thanks for having my brother and me over this weekend. It was really nice.”
“Oh, you’re very welcome. We enjoyed it, too,” she told him.
“Will you tell your mom how much we appreciated for me?”
“Sure. Of course.”
She started to walk away when he said, “Oh, one more thing. Do you know what color dress your mom will be wearing by any chance? I just want to get the right corsage, you know.”
“Not yet but I’ll try and find out and let you know. Mine will be midnight blue, by the way,” she said with some hesitation. “You know, in case Cameron asks.”
“He’s pretty clueless on that kind of stuff but I’ll make sure he knows. No worries, okay?”
“Okay. So…see you later, Mr. Garvin?”
He didn’t say anything for a moment then said, “I just wanted to let you know that was a really beautiful dress you wore Saturday. I meant to tell you that at the house, but…well, I don’t know. Anyway, you looked great.”
Shay noticed her heart was beating faster and she suddenly felt very shy. She couldn’t think of anything else to say so she just blurted out, “Oh, okay,” then turned and walked out. Halfway down the hall she shook her head and said to herself, “Oh, okay? Geez, Shay. What is wrong with you? Okay???”
Both of the ladies were thrilled with the corsages even though Adam had picked out both of them. For most of the evening the ‘old’ people did mange to keep to themselves while the younger kids hung out with their peers on the side of the gym floor.
“I think Shay really likes Cameron,” Erin said to Adam as they watched them slow dancing.
“Yeah, looks that way, doesn’t it,” he told her over the music. “You wanna dance, too?”
“I’d love to!” she told him. “This’ll give us a chance to check up on them without making it look like we’re checking up on them.”
Adam let Erin around the floor until the just ‘happened’ to almost bump into Cam and Shay. “Well, hello there!” Erin said.
“Ugh! Mom, I told you to stay over there where you belong,” she said only partially joking.
“Sorry, honey. I can’t help it. Adam was leading and next thing I know, here we are,” she said innocently. “How’s everything going?”
“Great,” she said flatly.
Adam and Erin looked at one another and decided to let it go. Adam moved Erin a little further away and said, “Did that sound ‘okay’ to you?”
“Not so much. I’m not sure she’ll tell me anything, but I’m dying to find out what’s going on.” She was looking over Adam’s shoulder to try and see if she could tell anything by their body language. “Adam? Do you think you could get her to talk to you? I mean, if you asked her to dance she might open up and then you could let me know. I just don’t think she’ll say anything to me and oh, I don’t know. Am I being a worry wort here?”
Adam laughed and said, “Not at all. You’re being a good mom. I’ll ask her to dance but only if you dance with Cam. Otherwise it’ll look…you know.”
“Inappropriate? Yes, I definitely do know. No problem. I’ll be glad to.”
When the song ended the DJ said, “We’re gonna slow it down ever more folks. Grab your best guy or gal and get ready for some more smooth sounds!”
A popular song came on that Erin had heard but didn’t know. It sounded sad and tortured, but it was definitely the kind of song that provided a good excuse to hold that special someone a little closer than normal. She and Adam walked over to the ‘kids’ and said, “Let’s switch it up, okay?” She looked at Shay and pointed to Adam while she extended her hand to Cameron. “Oh, come on. I’m not that old, am I?” she said to him as she pulled him out onto the floor just as Adam escorted Shay along beside them.
“I’m not really much of a dancer, Ms. Kimball,” Cameron said as she took his hand.
“That’s okay. We can just turn around in a circle like everyone else,” she assured him. After a few seconds she said, “You’re not that bad at all. Have you been practicing?”
“Yeah, a little. I wouldn’t dance with Adam if my life depended on it, but he showed me what to do and I kind of copied him.”
“Well, you’re doing great, Cameron. So how are things going? You know, with you and Shay?”
Cameron looked down and didn’t answer. “Cameron? Is everything okay?”
“I guess,” he said. “Well, not really. Maybe. I don’t know.”
“Wanna talk?” she said.
“It’s kind of embarrassing,” he told her.
“I’m a good listener and no judgment here, I promise. So what’s going on?”
“I uh…I was dancing with Shay, but I guess I was staring at someone else and she mentioned it to me.”
“So…were you staring at someone else?” she asked.
“I think you know the answer to that, Erin.”
“I beg your pardon?” she said indignantly. “How would I know that?”
“Because you were staring back.”
Flustered, Erin told him, “I was doing no such thing! Okay, I may have periodically glanced your way, but that’s only because I wanted to make sure Shay was having a good time. That’s all.”
He pulled her closer and in spite of her asking him what he thought he was doing, she didn’t stop him. He said, “You’re far more beautiful than Sarah Palin ever will be Erin, but if you lie to me I’ll begin to see you as Hillary and she’s neither physically nor politically attractive.”
The comparison stung. It was like telling a liberal they reminded someone of Dick Cheney. It was the ultimate slam. Even so, she wasn’t about to surrender her dignity without a fight.
“You can think whatever you like, Cameron, but I’m telling you the truth.” She hated lying but the truth was too painful to admit.
“Okay, then what’s your excuse for when we were at your home having dinner? You barely took your eyes off me the entire evening—Hillary.”
Erin made a noise indicating her strong disapproval. “Okay, that was totally uncalled for. That was just mean,” she said.
“No denial this time. That’s a great first step! As they say, the truth shall set you free.”
“I’m just concerned about Shay, Cameron. She did come here with you, you know.”
“No worries,” he told her.
“How can you be so cavalier about her feelings?” Erin asked with real concern.
“Because she’s been staring at my brother all night herself. And if you look over there, I think the way they’re acting will answer your question.”
Erin looked over and noticed Shay and Adam were both smiling and laughing. Could it be that… No, that wasn’t possible—was it?
Erin was so deeply confused she was surprised when she realized how much she was enjoying the dance. The song was coming to an end when he said, “I was looking at you because you are so beautiful to me it takes my breath away, Erin.” Before he let her go, he moved very close to her and said, “I know you like it when I look at you and I intend to keep looking.” He then moved his face even closer and gently kissed Erin on the neck which would have appeared to anyone casually looking as a polite kiss on the cheek. That briefest of kisses sent shock waves through her body. She was so stunned that when he let go of her hand she just stood there and watched him walk away.
When they got home around 2am, Erin said, “Shay, honey? Is there anything we need to talk about?” She’d been in such a good mood since she and Adam danced together she was hoping the ‘incident’ with Cameron was over, but she needed to make sure.
“No, I don’t think so. Why? Did Cameron say something to you?”
“He might have mentioned a misunderstanding of some kind.”
“I didn’t think he would say anything,” Shay replied quietly. She waited for a moment then told her mother, “You know, Adam helped put things in perspective for me and after that, it was fine. Oh, and I did meant to say thanks for suggesting that we, you know, switch partners. It was really helpful, Mom. And…kind of nice.”
Erin was still so shaken from the kiss she wasn’t sure what else, if anything, she should say. She finally told Shay, “Well, I’m glad to hear that, honey. I was just concerned whatever happened with you and Cameron might have ruined Homecoming for you. And between you and me, I think you should have been Homecoming Queen.”
“Hah! Fat chance with Little Miss I’m-So-Perfect, Lindsay Grimes in the mix,” she said with sarcasm dripping from her words.
“You know what, honey? For Lindsay, tonight is the high point of her life. She doesn’t have your smarts or your common sense. So let her have her day. You’ll have a lifetime of happiness and success, but Lindsay’s best days are behind her. Her only real hope of success is to marry a rich doctor or maybe a senator.”
Shay laughed and said, “I love you, Mom. You always know just what to say.” She started to head upstairs then stopped and said over her shoulder, “You know, I really can’t blame Cameron—for staring. I mean, you really are the most beautiful woman I know.”
Shay’s comment took her so aback she could only say, “Staring? Oh, yes. Right. Um, well, thank you, sweetheart. That was…very kind of you to say.”
As she went to get ready for bed herself her mind was a jumble of feelings and emotions. She was too exhausted to think about it anymore until she had a few good hours of much-needed sleep, but she knew there was something very real about what had happened that wasn’t going to go away on its own.
On Monday morning, Cameron was sitting in Mr. Craig’s 3rd-period chemistry class just across the hall from his brother’s room when he saw an opportunity. The class clown, Josh Hammond said, “Earth to Mr. Craig. Earth to Mr. Craig!”
Their teacher had been staring at the board for nearly three minutes. After the first minute, kids started pointing and snickering. After two, some started mocking. When he heard his name, Mr. Craig spun around and said, “What’s with all the goofing off?”
Everyone burst out laughing and when Josh told him what had happened Craig said, “Nonsense! I was just deciding what to do next. Which is…oh, yes! Convent bonding. Who knows what that means?”
Josh blurted out, “That’s when the nuns and priests get it on, right?” Everyone roared again.
Cameron said politely, “I think you mean ‘covalent’ bonding, Mr. Craig. He turned toward Cameron and said gruffly, “That’s what I said, young man.” Then under his breath he said, “These kids get dumber every year.”
This was the last day to add or drop classes and as the bell started ringing, Cameron realized this gave him the perfect excuse to talk to Erin at school. He bolted out of the door and sprinted up to guidance. When he arrived at Erin’s office, he took a deep breath, knocked, and stuck his head in. “Hey, Ms. Kimball. Do you have a minute?”
She looked up and said, “Oh, Cameron. Hi there. Um, sure. I don’t normally see students without an appointment, but I can make an exception. Come in and have a seat, please.”
He closed the door and sat down in front of her. “So what’s going on?” she asked him.
“It’s Mr. Craig. I gotta get out of that class,” he told her as he put his schedule on her desk.
“Cameron, you have no idea how many other students ask me to do this every year. I just can’t. It’s not…”
“Yes…you can. And you will because it’s for me.” He smiled at her and she felt her stomach flip flop. Cameron then shared the most recent episodes with her and she tried not to laugh.
“I really do understand, Cameron. Trust me. I do. But I can’t do this for you just because I think you’re…” Erin stopped mid-sentence and shuffled some papers around on her desk and said, “Now where did I put that pen?” Both she and Cameron knew she wasn’t looking for a pen or anything else for that matter.
“Erin?” he said forcing her to stop moving things around.
“Cameron, calling me by my first name is a privilege reserved for times when we’re alone,” she said trying to regain control.
“Erin, we are alone. And I didn’t come here just because I want to switch classes. That was only an excuse. I do want you to move me, but that’s not the main reason I stopped by.” He stood up and moved to the side of the desk, just a foot or so away from her. “I do want you to sign my request to change classes, but you and I both know there’s something going on between us.”
Erin started lifting up papers again and said, “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Cameron. There’s nothing going on. I don’t where this is coming from, but I can assure you it’s all in your head. Now where is that pen?”
He sat on the edge of her desk and reached out and took her hand. “It won’t do any good to pretend it isn’t real, Erin. I see the way you look at me. At your house, at Homecoming, when we danced—and especially after I told you I’d been staring at you. And you can pretend it didn’t happen or tell yourself it meant something else, but that won’t make it go away.”
He was gently running his thumb over the back of her small hand and no matter how hard she tried not to, she wasn’t able to stop herself from tightening her hand around his.
“So, you’re going to sign this for me and then I’m going to kiss you. After that, I’ll leave.”
Erin’s hands began to tremble and she couldn’t bring herself to look at this boy who was making her feel things she hated herself for feeling. “There’s Shay and Adam to think about, too,” she said quietly.
“Shay and I talked. So did my brother and I. They’ve discovered a similar connection and they’ll be fine. I promise.”
Erin knew where the pen she was ‘searching’ for was all along. She picked it up with her free hand and scribbled her name at the bottom. “It’s signed. You can leave now,” she said still without looking up.
“No, I can’t,” he said.
They were both running their fingers through the others’ when she said, “Please don’t. Not here. Please? If you really do care for me, then can we please not do this here…in my office at school?”
“I do care for you, Erin. You’re all I’ve thought of since I first saw you. But I never break a promise. I said I was going to kiss you and I’m not leaving until I do.”
“Cameron, please. I’m begging you. Don’t…”
He leaned across the desk and put his head next to hers. “I know you want to kiss me, too.”
She realized her willpower was gone. She was completely helpless and unable to fight it any longer. She slowly turned her head toward his and then her eyes were unable to avoid his. “Oh, my God,” she whispered as he leaned in and kissed her softly full on the lips. As he went to pull away she couldn’t allow it and pushed back letting him know she needed more. He kissed her for another two or three seconds before she somehow managed to will herself to break away. Afterward, she couldn’t look at him. If she did, she wouldn’t be able to stop him from doing anything he wanted to her. She looked away and hoped against hope he would leave.
“Thank you, Ms. Kimball. I appreciate the way you’ve taken such an interest in me. I hope to show you how grateful I am very soon.” His hand slipped out of hers as he picked up the add/drop slip and left her office.
Erin slept fitfully that night as she found herself unable to stop mentally replaying the events in her office. Even worse, she was unable to keep herself from repeatedly imagining him not leaving after the kiss as her hand made it’s way to a place that was warm and so very wet. A place where she imagined his…
The next day, Shay was sitting in Mr. Garvin’s AP chemistry class when she heard what sounded like a voice in a tunnel calling her name. “Shay? Shay! Can you answer the question?”
Shay was momentarily lost. She wasn’t even sure where she was. She was suddenly aware every eye in the room was staring at her and that’s when she realized that was exactly what she’d been doing. Staring. Only she wasn’t staring at another student or out into space. She had no idea how long she’d been zoning, but it was almost time for the bell to ring so it must have been at least half an hour.
She finally came to herself and managed to say, “I’m sorry. What was the question?”
There was some mild laughter before Mr. Garvin said, “What is carboxyl group? That was the question.”
“Oh, a carboxyl group. Well, it’s a group that has a carbonyl group and a hydroxyl group attached…”
Just then the bell rang saving Shay from any further embarrassment.
“Shay? Would you mind staying for just a minute again?” Adam asked her as the other kids filed out. Fourth period was his planning time so he knew he’d have a few minutes to find out what was going on with her.
Moments before, Erin had called for Cameron to come back to her office. She still wasn’t sure what she was going to say, but she had to say something. Regardless of what had happened; regardless of how she felt, she had to find a way to reassert herself as the adult and she had a plan in mind she hoped would work. Then again, there was a part of her that secretly hoped it would fail. It was a classic case of Id versus Super Ego and her only hope was that the Ego, her intelligence, could win out over both. She’d waited until just before the end of class to have him sent up putting him in her office at the same time Adam was talking with Shay.
In guidance, Erin asked Cameron to come in and have a seat. “Cameron, about yesterday…”
In Mr. Garvin’s room, Adam closed the door. He stood just inches in front of Shay and asked with genuine concern, “What’s going on, Shay? This isn’t like you. You’re my best student. Is there anything you want to talk about with regard to what happened in class just now?”
Shay didn’t look at him as she spoke. “I can’t stop thinking about what you said to me at Homecoming, Adam.” He didn’t correct her so she continued speaking, “I feel the same way about you and I don’t know what to do. I can’t think about anyone or anything but…you…and I’m so confused.”
At that moment all four of them heard a series of loud popping sounds. From guidance, they sounded distinct yet far away. From Mr. Garvin’s room, they sounded loud, sharp, and very close. Shay was so startled she shrieked and threw her arms around her teacher. As she held him tightly she said, “What was that?”
“It sounded like firecrackers. My money’s on Josh Hammond,” he said as he tried to look outside the window. He went to take a look but Shay wouldn’t turn loose of him.
“No, those weren’t firecrackers. Please don’t leave me, Adam. I’m scared.” She looked into his eyes which had been looking toward the door when the popping sounds rang out. When his eyes met hers she pulled him toward her and passionately kissed him. “Shay, we can’t do…” She kissed him harder and he began kissing her back when the klaxon alarm sounded. That alarm was reserved only for emergencies like a tornado or God forbid…an armed attack.
Every room and open area on campus heard Dr. Young’s voice. “This is a lockdown situation. This is not a drill. I repeat, this is a lockdown situation.”
Adam broke their embrace, quickly locked the door, pulled the shade down and grabbed Shay’s hand. “Back there! By the eyewash station. Let’s go!” He pulled her to the back of the room, opened the tiny closet door and pushed her inside then stepped in next to her. There was barely room for the two of them, but they did fit. Shay went to turn on the light when Adam said, “No! If anyone comes in it needs to be dark—and silent in here.”
Shay was shaking as she asked, “What’s going on? What’s happening?” Just then, they both heard more popping sounds. These were farther away but still very distinct.
In guidance, Erin also locked her door and told Cameron to move to the back corner of the office which couldn’t be seen from the window in her door. She tried to put him in the corner and stand guard, but he wasn’t having any of it. “There’s no way I’m letting you do that.” She began to protest but Cameron simply picked her up and physically stood her in the corner. He then backed up so that his body was in front of hers and she instinctively put her arms around him.
“Oh, my God. I’m so scared!” she said. That’s when they heard the next set of pops. Unlike the first ones, these were very loud and very close. Guidance was just three doors down from administration where Dr. Young, the assistant principal, and the school secretary had their offices.
Erin and Cameron heard the pops followed by a brief silence followed by the words, “I told you there’d be hell to pay you fucking piece of shit! Get on your fucking knees, n*****!”
Erin couldn’t stop herself from letting out a squeal. Cameron turned and put his hands on her shoulders and said, “Shhhh! Erin, it’s okay. I’m gonna protect you. Please don’t be afraid, okay?”
Her eyes were wide open with fear and she was shaking. Cameron took off his coat and threw it around her and wrapped his arms around her. “It’s gonna be okay, Erin. I promise.” He waited for her to look into his eyes before saying, “Do you believe me?”
She was more afraid than she’d even been in her life. All she could do was nod her head. Her teeth were chattering so hard she could hardly talk. She fought off the urge to cry hysterically as her body shook. She clenched her teeth and said, “I don’t want to die. Please don’t let me die, Cam!”
He put his hands on her face and said, “I won’t. I promise I’ll protect you, Erin. I’ll die before I let anything happen to you. I swear.”
In the tiny closet, Shay was also shaking uncontrollably. “Someone has a gun,” she said. “Someone’s shooting in the school!” She turned toward Adam and said, “I’m so scared, Adam. I’m so afraid.”
He held her close and told her, “So am I, Shay. So am I. But we’re going to get through this—together. Okay?”
Through her tears she nodded rapidly and told him, “Please just hold me, Adam. Please?”
In guidance, Erin and Cameron both heard a calm, firm voice say, “You can kill me, but you still won’t have you what you want, Terry and that’s because it isn’t the diploma eating at you like a cancer. You need help, son. And you’ll spend the rest of your life in prison. Be smart and hand me the gun. You don’t wanna do…”
In Mr. Garvin’s room, Adam held her as they heard two more faint pops. Shay flinched both times while Adam stroked her hair and held her tight.
In guidance, those two pops were loud, but there was no ringing sound that followed like before. There were only screams from a female voice followed by a lot of hollering and demands to drop the weapon followed by two more loud pops. There was momentary silence followed by the sounds of police officers throwing open doors then calling out, “Clear!” as they searched each room for other shooters.
When the door opened to Erin’s room, she screamed, “Please don’t kill me!”
The police officer pointed his weapon at Cameron and said, “Is this boy a student?”
“Yes, yes! He’s a student. Don’t hurt him!” she screamed.
The police officer lowered his weapon, turned, exited, and shouted, “Clear!”
As he did, Erin’s knees buckled and she began to fall. Cameron caught her and picked her up with both arms. She put hers around his neck and said, “I was SO scared! Oh, my God, Cameron. I have never been so afraid in my entire life.”
As she fought for control she looked up at him and said, “Thank you! Thank you so much! You said you’d protect me and you did. Please don’t let go of me. Please!” As they looked into one another’s eyes, Cameron lowered his head to kiss her. This time, she didn’t worry about being seen. She kissed him back—passionately and longingly. When she felt his tongue in her mouth, she gave hers to him.
After no less than 30 seconds of this first real kiss, he pulled back and said, “I can’t help the way I feel about you, Erin. I know you see me as a boy…as just a student…but if you only knew how I feel about you…”
Erin had managed to stop crying, but she was still shaking as he continued to hold her. “You are not a boy in my eyes, Cameron Garvin. You’re the bravest man I’ve ever known.” She wiped away tears and said, “I called you up here to tell you this can’t happen and now…this is the only thing that makes any sense. I was so afraid of dying and now I’m so afraid of losing you.”
“You’re not gonna lose me, Erin. We made it through this together and we’ll find a way to make this work. I don’t know how yet, but I swear to you we will.” He kissed her again and told her, “And I’ll never betray you. No one else will ever know about us. I promise.”
“You promise?” she said her body still shaking. He nodded and this time she kissed him. “My beautiful, handsome hero,” she said to him after the kiss.
“Can you walk on your own yet?” he asked her.
“I think so,” she said as he gently stood her up. She squeezed his hand as he led her toward the door which had been left wide open. She stopped him and said, “I’m afraid to see what’s out there.”
He squeezed back and said, “You don’t have to face it alone.”
Together, holding hands, they stepped out into the hallway and saw two white sheets draped over bodies in front of the principal’s office. A police officer was unfolding an American flag then draped it over one of the lifeless forms.
In the chemistry room, Shay was also shaking so hard she thought she was in a freezer rather than a classroom. After they were sure it was the police, Adam opened the closet door and told Shay to stay put. He saw the uniform and opened his room door. An armed officer stepped in and Adam let him know there was student in the back of the room. Once he verified who she was, he left and shouted, “Clear!”
Shay slowly walked out and stood next to Adam. “You okay?” he asked.
“No. I’m not okay. I’m scared to death and I feel sick. I just want to go home.” That’s when the thought hit her. “My mom! Oh, my God! My mom!”
Adam ran behind her as she tore down the hall and upstairs to the guidance office. She saw police, people from the Coroner’s office, and then the two lifeless forms under the sheets with one draped with a flag.
And then, she saw her. “Mom!!” Shay ran to her and didn’t notice she was holding Cameron’s hand. “Oh, mom! I was so scared. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, honey. How are you?” she said as they hugged one another hard and long.
“Okay…I guess. Adam protected me the whole time,” she said as tears began to fall once she felt safe enough to let the emotional tension drain out of her.
“I had someone here to protect me, too,” Erin said as she reached for Cameron’s hand again.
Adam took Shay in his arms and held her as Cameron did the same to Erin. Others were holding someone. Many were crying. Some sat in stunned disbelief. The brothers held the women they loved for a very long time until they felt safe enough to move.
“Let’s go home,” Erin said to Shay. She looked at the two brothers and said, “I think we all have a lot to talk about. This may not be the best time, but we’re going to have to talk.”
The other three all nodded in agreement. Adam was still holding Shay who said, “Do you think it would okay to kiss me again?”
“Considering what just happened, I believe that’s the least of anyone’s concerns.” He gently brushed her hair back and kissed her softly. “Let me know how you’re doing later on, okay?” he said to her.
“I will,” she told him.
Erin and Cameron were still holding hands. “Normally, I’d be too afraid also, but as Adam said, after this, a public kiss seems so trivial.” Cameron moved closer as she closed her eyes and let him kiss her for all the world to see even though no one paid any attention. Right then, nothing else mattered to anyone. Not even Shay objected when she saw this boy her own age kiss her mother just a few feet from where she stood. Everyone just needed comfort. There would be time to sort it all out later. For now, there were lives to be mourned, bodies to be buried, and emotional scars to heal. Love was the first step in that long, arduous process or recovery.
There was no school the next day. On the following morning, there was a memorial service for Dr. Young and grief counselors were available for anyone who needed to discuss what had happened.
Erin suggested the four of them go to her office to talk and the other three agreed. She closed the door as everyone sat down. She sat with them rather than at her desk.
“First of all, I wanted to say I recognize we all went through something horrific two days ago. Each of us had a different experience and will have a different perspective. Cameron and I haven’t had a chance to talk and neither have Adam and Shay. I don’t know exactly what happened between you two, but something very real happened right here in this room.” She looked at Cameron who smiled back at her.
“Just 48 hours ago, I would have never even thought, let alone said, what I’m about to say right now and while I’m aware of how it sounds, I just don’t care anymore.” She asked Cameron if he’d sit next to her. He stood up and sat beside her on the leather couch.
She took his hand and told him, “I don’t fully understand what we shared here in this room, but I do know this. For me, it was very real and well, unless you feel differently, I don’t want us to lose that.”
He put his arm around her and said, “I want to be with you now even more than I did before.”
“Shay? Is this too weird for you, honey?” she asked.
She looked at Adam who reached over and took her hand. “No more weird than this might be to you,” she said as they held one another’s hands. “Okay, you two might be a little more weird than us.” Everyone smiled and laughed quietly.
“While I no longer really care what anything else thinks, I do feel like we should be very discreet with whatever relationships we develop with one another. What happened here changed me forever. I am so grateful to be alive and I want to live every day from now on and I want to love whom I want to love.” Cameron pulled her close and kissed her on the cheek.
“I think we feel exactly the same way, Erin,” Adam said.
“I have an idea,” Shay announced. “What if…what if Cameron and I, you know, hung out at school and maybe held hands and stuff or went to various school events together? That might keep down any suspicions until we’re able to be seen together in public.”
“I told you she was brilliant,” Adam said to Erin.
“I think that’s a perfect idea. Cameron?”
“If it lets me see the woman I love, then I’m up for it.” Erin turned to him and said, “I love you, too.” As she kissed him, Adam and Shay did the same thing.
They sat there holding each other for a while longer before Erin said, “So…I guess it’s time to put ‘Operation Deception’ into effect.”
Everyone smiled, kissed their new lover goodbye for now, then Cameron held out his hand to Shay and said, “Shall we, girlfriend?”
“We’re really deep, aren’t we, Erin?” Adam said pensively as the younger ‘couple’ left the room.
“Indeed. But after what happened, there’s no place I’d rather be. Life is so fragile and so short,” she said. “I don’t want to waste another day pretending and if I lose my job for loving someone, then I’ll find a new one.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” he told her. He smiled and said, “Who knows? I might even be willing to go to work for a company like Mansanto if it meant taking care of Shay. Well, maybe.”
“Take good care of my daughter, okay?” she asked as Adam got ready to leave.
“You know I will. And you do the same with my little brother.”
Erin smiled and said, “He may be your younger brother, Adam, but to me he is the bravest, most amazing man on earth. I’m hoping he’ll be the one caring for me.”
That night, Cameron was taking care of his older, beautiful lover in every way. Shay told her mother she would be spending the night at Adam’s. Erin told he she understood and her only advice was to be careful. Shay promised her she would and asked her mother to do the same.
Shortly after Shay left with her new boyfriend, Cameron arrived and let himself in. Erin met him at the door and asked him, “So, do we need to talk?”
He took her in his arms and kissed her and said, “There are more important things to attend to than talking.”
She took his hand and said, “Then come with me. The bedroom is this way.”
END OF PG-13 VERSION.
______________________________________________________________________
X-RATED VERSION.
Erin closed the door and said, “Is it okay if I’m a little bit nervous?”
Cam took her hands and said, “As long as you’re honest with me, anything is okay. Are you nervous because of my age or because I’m a student?”
Erin smiled and said, “Yes.”
Cameron smiled, too, then said, “I know I’ve told you how beautiful I think you are, but I want you hear it from me again. You are so beautiful, Erin.”
“I love hearing you saying it, Cam. Listen, I’m going to try not to mention my age too often or how insecure I feel about being…this old, but it will always be a part of this.”
“It will only matter to you, Erin. I don’t see age or a number. I see you and you are breathtakingly gorgeous to me. Okay?”
She smiled, took a deep breath and said, “Okay. And this goes without saying but you are so attractive to me it takes my breath away. But it’s not just your looks. It’s your maturity and the way you protected me and the way you make me feel and…”
Cameron kissed her until she kissed him back then said, “I love to hear you share your feelings, but sometimes nothing more needs to be said and this is one of those times.”
Erin nodded shyly and said, “I don’t want to be the grown up when I’m with you, Cam. I want to be the little girl who’s loved and cared for by the handsome man she loves. So unless you want me to be aggressive, I’d love it if you’d…”
Cameron reached up and as he kissed her again, he ripped the buttons off her blouse and helped her shed it completely. Erin flinched but never stopped kissing him. “Just like that, Cam. I love that,” she murmured as they kissed.
Erin unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it off. She looked down at his young, hard body and moaned as she ran her hands across his hard, bare chest. “Oh, my. I can’t believe this is all mine.” She looked up at him and asked, “Is it? Is your body all mine?”
“It’s yours and only yours, Erin.” He unhooked her bra and let it fall to the floor. “But only if your beautiful, sexy body is all mine.”
“Mmmm. It is, sweetheart. No one but you is allowed to see it or touch it.”
Cam squeezed her tits gently causing Erin to gasp. He leaned down and took her hard nipple in his mouth and rolled his tongue over it several times. Erin moaned softly as the pleasure gradually filtered through her entire body.
He unzipped her skirt and let it fall, too. As it did, he kissed her while he ran his hand down her body until it found the warm, wet area he wanted. He ran his middle finger through the large, soft lips still framed by her moistened panties.
“Yes!” Erin said softly. “Oh…please don’t stop.”
Cameron pulled her panties down then pulled her legs apart as she stood in front of him. “You look so perfect,” he said as he kissed then licked her wet pussy.
“Ohhhh…” she groaned. “Just like that…please.”
Cameron slid two fingers inside her as he played with her clit using his tongue. “Oh, God!” Erin moaned. “Yes!”
He removed his fingers, stood, and sat on the edge of the bed as he pushed her shoulders down. “Mmmm. I like when you take control of me,” she told him.
She took his hard, young cock in her hand and stroked it as she smiled at him. “I knew you’d be big. And…I’m so glad you are. I can’t wait to have your gorgeous cock inside me.”
Erin took him into her mouth and without taking her eyes off of his, swallowed him as far as she could. He was a good two inches longer than her husband and although she prided herself on her ability to deep throat a man, there was no way she could take this much cock into her mouth. She took him as deeply as she could and held it there as she gently massaged his balls with her other hand.
“Fuck!” he grunted. “That’s amazing. Ssshit! Oh, fuck!”
Erin sucked and licked until she could tell he couldn’t take any more. Just before she stopped, he grabbed her hair and pulled her off. “Get up here, baby,” he told her.
Erin gladly climbed up onto the bed waiting to be told what to do next. “Spread your legs wide for me and show me your beautiful pussy.”
Erin spread her legs as wide as she could and pulled back the lips of her vagina to show him what he wanted to see. “It’s beautiful. I love it,” he told her. He lowered himself over her and kissed and said, “And I love you, too, Erin.”
Erin moaned and said, “I love you, too, Cam. I want you inside me. Please fuck me. Please?”
Cameron lowered his hips and when the tip of his dick found wetness, he pushed. Erin was very tight but she was so wet he slid in without effort. “Oh, God…” Erin moaned. “Easy, honey. You’re so big and I haven’t sex in a very long time.”
Cameron pulled back, then took her a bit deeper. He repeated that several times until her slight winces became moans of pure pleasure. “How’s that?” he asked her as he was all the way inside her.
“That…is…wonderful,” she purred. “It feels like you’re all the way inside my stomach. My God, you’re big!”
Cameron began rhythmically pounding her pussy as she held him close and ran her fingernails along his back. “Yes…yes! Oh, God…yes!” she cried. “That feels SO amazing, sweetheart. Fuck me hard!”
Cameron obliged her as he increased the tempo and the intensity until his balls were slapping so hard it was almost creating an echo in the room. He felt Erin body’s tense and when it did, he release a mountain of hot cum into her wet pussy.
“Oh, fuck!” she screamed. “Yes! Yes! Yessss!!”
When he was spent he held himself up with his elbows and looked into her eyes. “Did I do okay?” he asked. He was smiling because he knew the answer.
“Okay? Uh-uh. That was fan-fucking-tastic!” she said with a sweet laugh. She pulled him close to kiss him again and said, “As I recall, men your age can do this again very soon. Is that true?”
She felt him growing hard inside her and said, “Oh! I guess it is. Mmmm. Lucky me!”
An hour later, Shay lay in her lover’s arms after taking a very large load of her own into her own warm, wet pussy. “That was so amazing,” she told Adam.
“You are amazing, Shay,” he told her as he kissed her again. “Did you know I love you?”
“I’m glad because I love you, too, Mr. Garvin.”
They both laughed as he mounted her again and made love to her until they were both satisfied a second time.
