Family Ties

“We’ll be there Friday, probably early afternoon. She flies out on Saturday.”

“Sounds good,” Mom said.

We talked a bit longer and then said goodbye.

“Do you need to call your parents?” I asked Christy. “To tell them you’re home safe?”

“I… um… didn’t tell them I was going.”

“Leave me alone. I didn’t know how to tell them. I still don’t,” she muttered.

“You don’t have to tell them anything. You’re an adult. You’re allowed to have a private life. I mean, you weren’t going to tell them we slept together, were you?”

“Exactly.

“I know, but I still feel guilty.”

“Well, get over it.”

—no names mentioned, but she’s small, blonde, and very sexy—woke me at three o’clock this morning. Can I interest you in a little groping on the couch and then a nap?”

“What kind of groping?” she asked with a suspicious grin.

“Second base, no more. Maybe third, but only if you ask.”

She rolled her eyes.

I stood and extended a hand. “Come on.

We were still dozing on the couch in the living room when the front door banged open. Trip and Wren blew in with a gust of rain and leaves. They were distracted by their suitcase and a couple of shopping bags, so they didn’t notice me pull my hand from under Christy’s sweater or her adjust her bra.

“Damn sky opened up as soon as I popped the trunk,” Trip said when he saw us.

Wren’s eyebrows shot up. “Don’t you two look nice and cozy.”

“Long night?” she teased.

“No, long flight.

“No kidding,” Trip said as he raked fingers through wet hair. “Took us almost five hours to get home. Bad accident near Crossville. I-40 was a parking lot.”

“You all wanna change into something dry and then come back down?” I suggested. “I have a sort of business proposal for next summer.”

“Can it wait?” Wren said. “Never mind. Christy and I can talk upstairs while you guys talk down here.”

“Is that okay?” Christy asked me.

“Sure. But if you’re going to tell her everything, don’t forget the thing with the handcuffs.

Her eyes widened with shock.

“Handcuffs?” Wren said with relish. “Orgy?”

“He’s kidding,” Christy said hastily.

“I was afraid of that. Still, I wanna know all the details. Come on, let’s go upstairs so I can get out of these wet clothes.”

Christy sat up and shot me an exasperated look. I wasn’t the least bit repentant, and she conceded defeat with an indulgent smile.