Junior Year Box Set

The problem with slow, sensual lovemaking was that it kills the whole afternoon. I would never describe Zoe as clingy, but she did not want to let go of me once we were done.

“Brook said you’d upped your game in Japan, but wow, just wow,” Zoe said.

I kept forgetting that Halle, Brook, and Zoe talked about everything. They’d all become good friends. They claimed that the open communication kept them from clawing each other’s eyes out. While I wasn’t comfortable with them sharing what we did in bed, to maintain harmony, I was willing to let it slide. If I finally picked a girlfriend, that would have to stop. Right now, it was the whole ‘gift horse’ saying—you just accepted it.

“While we were in Japan, Brook woke me up each morning with a blowjob. Maybe while I’m home, you could come over,” I suggested.

“You couldn’t get Halle to fall for that, and she’s the gullible one. Do what my brother does: he has Rosy and her five friends help him out.”

I got the giggles because it was clear I’d corrupted Zoe. She would have died this time last year before she would have discussed the fact that her little brother masturbated. I would have to check his palms for hair at the next football practice. What was the other urban legend? Oh, yes, his eyesight needed to be tested, too.

Then I had a better idea: I’d have Phil do it. The guys were teasing him about being a virgin, to the point I was about to hire him a hooker. We Dawsons have a reputation to uphold, after all. Then again, the only hookers I knew were Flee’s ex Candy and her sister Raven. Phil wouldn’t survive either one of them. He needed to find some clueless girl, and the two of them could figure it out together. I had a bad feeling that if a girl ever did sleep with him, he’d be a goner. She would lead him around like a lovesick puppy.

◊◊◊

I took Zoe home and begged off dinner with her family because I wanted to have some quality time with the boys. Duke hadn’t gotten enough love, and Little David and Coby needed some Daddy time. Peggy took full advantage and went to hang out with Beth, Cindy, and Suzanne tonight. There was some chick flick that they wanted to go see, and then there would be coffee with talking afterward. I couldn’t figure out why they couldn’t get any boys to join them.

I’d gotten comfortable. The Cubs game was on, Duke was on one leg getting an ear rub, and Coby sat on my other knee, while Little David showed off his new mobility. Then I heard the my apartment door open. It was Tami and Tim. I’d neatly dodged them last time.

“I decided I’d go off my diet and order a pizza. You want in on it?” I asked Tim.

“Sausage and mushroom.”

“I see you’ve already got him trained. How about we get half meat-lover’s and half sausage and mushroom?” I asked.

Tami always wanted sausage and mushroom, and I knew Tim liked meat without fungus. I could eat either without a problem.

I sent Duke to watch Little David and handed Coby to Tim. Tami took pity on Tim and took my son. Coby wasn’t too sure of her, and I soon had him back after I’d called Monical’s. Little David toddled right over to her, so she didn’t feel left out.

“What was going on with you and Peggy the last time we stopped by?” Tami asked. “You didn’t come back.”

I looked at Tim.

“You’re her boyfriend. You better explain it to her,” I suggested.

“Uh … I don’t think so,” Tim said.

“Wuss,” I said under my breath.

“Bite me,” was his snappy comeback.

“Tami, if you want the scoop, you’ll have to talk to Peggy. I’m not going to say what happened,” I reminded her.

“I just thought that was over,” she said.

“Tim, what did you do with Tami this afternoon?” I asked.

Poor Tim. It wasn’t fair to him, but I wanted to press home the point to Tami to back off. I hoped to God he didn’t feel the need to tell me.

“Okay, okay, you win,” Tami said as she threw up her hands.

“Next, you’ll be giving me advice about Lisa Felton,” I teased.

“I heard your cousin caught an STI,” Tami said with a straight face.

“You slept with your cousin?” Tim asked in disbelief.

“After the deed, we figured out we weren’t related, but it’s kind of sexy sleeping with relatives,” I said in my best Tennessee accent.

“I’m not sure I am ready to hang out with you two,” Tim admitted.

“David’s just being bad. Normally he does whatever I tell him to,” Tami said, smirking at me.

“I’m not getting naked for Tim. It was bad enough you made me do it for everyone in your dorm so they’d like you,” I shot back.

“I’m not sure I want to know what that’s about,” Tim said.

He wasn’t sure about a lot, it seemed.

“You know David. He’ll take his clothes off anywhere. He invented the naked dance party and did it on video chat. It was a great icebreaker to get to know the girls in my dorm. Now that we’re dating, you’ll have to take his place in the fall.”

Tami was evil. I could tell Tim half-believed her.

“I’ll teach you some of my better moves,” I offered.

“Oh, teach him to twerk and to do that helicopter bit,” Tami said.