If someone had told Seth last year he would be sitting in a girl’s living room at nine in the morning on Thanksgiving Day, making out while her mother cooked in the kitchen, he would have said they were crazy. And, more incredible, he wouldn’t let it go too far. Impossible!
While Seth often pondered how this had happened, he ultimately decided he didn’t care as long as the feeling didn’t end. He couldn’t imagine going back to his old ways. He had, ironically, become a boyfriend.
His family, especially Derrick, and his friends got a kick out of his transformation. He took it in stride, laughing along with their jokes. He actually liked the new Seth better. He felt happier, more content, except for sex. Seth didn’t miss being with different girls, not at all. Having had sex with girls he didn’t love, he could only imagine how great it would be with Sarah. To make love, not—well—fuck.
The temptation consumed him at times, and Sarah’s willingness to take their relationship to the next level didn’t help, but he remained committed to waiting. How long? He didn’t know.
He hoped to show that commitment by giving Sarah a ring for Christmas, but first he had to do another task that would have been unthinkable for the old Seth. Ask Sarah’s parents.
He decided to ambush them at the store just before closing, hoping to catch them off guard so the playing field would be even.
They greeted him with tentative smiles.
“Hello, Seth,” Mrs. Matthews said.
“Hi. Do you have a minute to talk about Sarah’s Christmas present? I want to give Sarah a ring, but I thought I should ask you first.”
They looked at each other before Mr. Matthews spoke. “Isn’t it a little too soon to give Sarah such an extravagant present? After all, you’ve only been dating for, what…three months?”
Mrs. Matthews nodded. “Have you talked this over with your parents?”
“I have. I don’t have a school ring to give Sarah.”
Mrs. Matthews placed her hand over his. “A ring symbolizes a certain level of commitment.” She patted his hand. “Why don’t we wait and see how you feel in six months, maybe even a year.”
Even though he disagreed, Seth respected their wishes and hoped his cooperation now would warrant permission later. “Perhaps it would be best if I wait for Sarah’s birthday in March.”
“That’s a great idea,” Mrs. Matthews said.
“Okay then, thanks for taking the time to talk with me. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you soon.”
He shook Mr. Matthews’s hand and nodded to Mrs. Matthews, who said, “Seth, thank you for considering our feelings.”
“You’re welcome. Have a good evening.” He walked out of the store, even though he wanted to run.
Now he had to come up with another idea for her Christmas gift.
It will all work out.
He would make it work. Sarah was too important to him.
SARAH
Sarah and Seth had settled into a comfortable pattern of dating, school, family, and friends. The awkwardness of a new romance had diminished, and a sense of belonging had followed. These intense feelings overwhelmed them, making it hard to keep the passion under control. If not for Seth, Sarah would have succumbed.
This surprised Sarah, because Seth had more experience. He knew what he was missing, so Sarah thought it would be harder for him to do without. He seemed committed, almost obsessively so, to restricting their passion to kissing. Sarah, on the other hand, would have been happy to take their relationship to the next level, whatever that meant—she wasn’t quite sure but wanted to find out. Seth surmised her willingness resulted from his unwillingness.
“Sarah, I know for a fact if I pressured you, you’d say no. Because you know I won’t try anything…yet…you feel safe to say you want more.”
“Oh yeah, let’s put that theory to the test.”
“Work with me, please. I’m trying to be a good boyfriend, but I can’t do it alone.”
Sarah wouldn’t hear of it. “I’m not going to just hold hands with you in my parents’ parlor. This isn’t the Victorian era, for goodness’ sake.”
“Maybe I’m overreacting, but you’re important to me, and I don’t want to screw this up.”
Was this Seth’s attempt at proving everyone wrong about him? “Obviously. We certainly aren’t screwing.”
“Very funny. Honestly, I thought you’d be happy to have a boyfriend who doesn’t pressure you. Most girls want that.” He shook his head. “It’s not like you don’t know how much I want you. You can feel how much I want you, if you know what I mean.”
“I know exactly what you mean.”
That made Sarah even more confused. Lying with Seth, their bodies pressed together, left little to the imagination. At first, Seth moved his hips away, but now he seemed comfortable with her knowing the full extent of his desire. He wasn’t shy about telling her either. Having to hear it and feel it wasn’t fair. Sarah wanted him to show her.
Their roles had reversed (the girl pressuring the boy), and Seth was winning. But the game wasn’t over. Time was on her side, with Seth fighting a losing battle. Perhaps the upcoming holidays with its romantic trappings would change his mind.
Sarah couldn’t contain her excitement at having a boyfriend to celebrate the holidays with, and she looked forward to the silly traditions couples partake in: mistletoe, presents, shopping together, baking cookies.
Mom and Dad didn’t share her enthusiasm. Sarah had overheard her parents while she stocked shelves in the back room just after Thanksgiving.
“They’re moving too fast,” Mom said.
Dad countered in a hushed, firm tone, “Helen, we have no reason to believe anything’s going on. We have to trust Sarah.”
“I trust Sarah. It’s Seth I worry about. You’ve heard the rumors of his delinquencies. I don’t want Sarah to get in trouble with him. I can’t stand it when she comes home smelling like a grease monkey. People talk, you know. Mrs. Myers saw them kissing on Main Street. Main Street! She couldn’t wait to tell me and who knows who else. Our children are a reflection of us…our values, and I won’t have it tarnished.”
“You’re overreacting. Sarah and Seth have followed the rules we’ve imposed. He’s always respectful of her…and us, for that matter. Yes, he’s been in a bit of trouble in the past, but maybe he’s changed.”
“It’s not only Sarah that worries me. Molly’s impressionable. She emulates Sarah.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“I caught her kissing her pillow…practicing.”
Dad laughed.
“It’s not funny, George. Molly overheard Sarah on the phone with Seth the other day. She told him she loved him. What does Sarah know about love? They’ve only been dating…what, two months? Mark my words, feelings like that are nothing but trouble. We should make them take a break from one another.”
Dad countered with, “That would make them sneak around behind our backs. The fruit’s more tempting when forbidden.”
“I hope you’re right. I don’t like our family being the subject of gossip.”
“You worry too much about what other people think. Shades of your mother.”
“And you don’t worry enough. It’s always been easy for you.”
“Is this about Sarah or our reputation?”
“Both. This business demands we maintain a good social status in the community. We’ve worked hard to establish ourselves in this town, and I won’t let a silly high school romance jeopardize our losing it.”
Mom overreacted as usual, having never recovered from the humiliation she suffered when Grandpa lost his business and had to declare bankruptcy.
The bell on the store’s door had rung, ending their conversation, though it remained fresh in Sarah’s memory, especially today while she and Seth went shopping at the mall, a place where they were bound to be seen by nosy townspeople.
Seth pushed them through the crowd. “Why are these people here?”
“It’s calle
d Christmas,” Sarah answered. “What’s the rush? We’ve got all day.”
“All day? Sarah, I can think of better things to do all day, if you know what I mean.”
“I know what you mean. Let’s get as much done as possible so we don’t have to come out again.”
“Come out again?” Seth shook his head. “Let’s compromise. I’ll shop with you until three o’clock, and then you’re mine. Deal?”
“Deal. Now I have something to look forward to.”
“Me too.”
Sarah found several items on her shopping list, and Seth managed to smile through his boredom. She did give him a break by leaving him in the electronics section in a department store to watch the football game on one of the televisions.
They agreed to meet in the sleepwear department at two o’clock. Sarah wanted to buy her mother a robe, and she had started going through the racks when Seth snuck up behind her. She jumped from his touch.
“Hey, beautiful. Come sit on Santa’s lap, and tell me what you want for Christmas.” He wore a Santa cap he had grabbed off one of the mannequins.
“Well, Santa, I want to find a robe for my mother.”
“Boring! So, tell me, have you been naughty or nice?”
“I’ve been very nice,” she answered, deciding it would be easier to play along with his charade. He did look cute in the Santa cap.
“Too bad. I hoped you’d be naughty…with me.” He pulled the robe out of her hand and held it up in the air.
Sarah jumped for it. “Give me that.”
Seth’s eyes danced. “I like the way you bounce when you jump up and down. Now that’s naughty.”
Sarah stopped jumping. “You’ve gone too far, Seth Mathis. Give me that robe.”
“Say please.”
“Please.” She groaned while trying to hide a smile.
Seth dropped the robe on the floor, and Sarah bent down to get it. “Very nice. Santa thinks you have a nice ass.”
“Now look who’s being naughty.”
“You want to see naughty?” He pulled her to him and kissed her.
A familiar voice rang out. “Seth Mathis.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Seth removed the Santa cap and turned around. “Hello, Mrs. Holcomb.”
“Hello.”
Sarah offered a friendly smile. “Hello, Mrs. Holcomb. Seth was helping me pick out a robe for my mother.”
“I see.” Mrs. Holcomb turned to the man standing beside her. “Henry, these are two of my students, Sarah Matthews and Seth Mathis. Sarah and Seth, I’d like you to meet my husband, Henry.”
Before they had a chance to respond, Mr. Holcomb exclaimed, “So this is the infamous Seth Mathis!”
Seth chuckled and shook Mr. Holcomb’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, sir.”
“Don’t be fooled, Henry.” Mrs. Holcomb took the cap from Seth’s hand and placed it on her head. “Seth’s a naughty boy. Right, Sarah?”
“Oh, yes, especially in Home Ec class.”
A crooked grin flashed across Seth’s face. “Oh, I’ve already got my present. I have Sarah.”
Mrs. Holcomb laughed. “You are a charmer.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Seth pointed to the numerous bags weighing both Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb down. “I see you’ve been shopping.”
“Yes, we have, and now we’re going home. I’ll see you on Monday.” Mrs. Holcomb rolled her eyes in anticipation of Monday’s Home Ec class and handed the Santa cap back to Seth.
Seth took it but held it at his side. “Enjoy the rest of your weekend.”
“Goodbye, and it was nice to meet you, Mr. Holcomb,” Sarah called after them as they headed toward the exit.
Seth returned the Santa cap to his head. “Now, where were we?” He grinned and bent down to kiss her.
“You like to push your luck, don’t you?”
“When it comes to you, yes. Maybe we should check out the lingerie department. You can pick something out and model it for me.”
“It would just be a waste of time. All dressed up and no one to undress me.”
“Oh, Sarah, you have no idea how much I want to undress you.”
“Tell me.”
“Why don’t I show you? Wait here.” Seth disappeared and came back with a broad smile on his face. “Come with me.”
He led her to a fitting room with a “closed” sign in front of it, picked her up in his arms, stepped over the sign, and carried her into one of the fitting rooms. He put her down and kissed her, backing her against the wall. It happened so fast Sarah had little time to react. Fear took hold. What if they got caught? How would she explain this to her parents?
“Now, this is how I like to shop.” Seth moaned and pulled her to him in a tight embrace.
“What if someone catches us?”
“If we’re quiet, no one will know we’re here.” He took the shopping bags out of her hands and placed them on the floor. “Now, where was I?” He kissed her on the neck again. “Oh, now I remember.”
Sarah fought to breathe, or maybe she hyperventilated.
“Sarah, you have no idea what you do to me.”
“Oh, I feel what I’m doing to you right now.”
Caught up in the moment, Sarah’s body answered his. Her back arched to get even closer to him. She fought the urge to moan, but failed. Her passionate response elicited one from Seth. He fumbled with the top button of her shirt, unbuttoned it, and caressed the top of her breast, just above her bra.
“Sarah, I want you.”
Sarah ran her fingers through his hair, encouraging him. His lips tickled her, his tongue teased her, and she wanted more. Her hands left him to undo her bra. She had just released the first snap when Seth grabbed her hands and pulled them to his waist.
“Oh, no you don’t. Not here, not now.” He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them. “This isn’t the right place or the right time.”
“Seth, it’s unfair to bring me to such a point then stop.”
“I’m sorry.” He buttoned her shirt and pulled her to him again. “I didn’t mean to let things get so out of control. I just want you so bad.”
Sarah caressed his face and kissed him gently. “I’ll try harder too. Let’s get out of here before we change our minds.”
They straightened their clothes and left the fitting room; no one would be the wiser that they’d trespassed.
Seth sulked to the car.
“You know what helps when you feel this way?” Sarah asked.
“Yeah, sex.” He laughed. “Tell me what helps cure the ‘I want to have sex but can’t’ blues?”
“A double chocolate sundae at the DQ.”
“I’m willing to try anything at this point.”
“It’s my treat.”
They drove to the DQ in silence, as they often did after a close call. Sarah wondered how many times this would happen before they succumbed.
Lying in bed that night, Sarah hoped to dream of Seth when she fell asleep. If she couldn’t have him in this world, she at least would like to have him in her dreams.
She did have him, and not in the fitting room at the mall or in his truck, but by the lake, on a blanket, with the sun warming their bodies and blessing their union.
THE L WORD
SETH
Seth fiddled with two tickets for the Snowflake Ball. Sarah hadn’t mentioned the dance; she probably thought he wouldn’t want to go, but the idea of taking Sarah intrigued him. Him, Seth Mathis! It still amazed him how much he would…no wanted to…do for and with Sarah. From watching her soccer games, to eating dinner at her parents’ house, to playing games with her sister, and who could forget an entire day of Christmas shopping—although their make-out
session in the fitting room had made that worthwhile—Seth had found himself living a life he would have been the first to criticize.
Christmas came and went in a whirl of shuffling from one family to the next. After Sarah’s parents had nixed his request to giv
e her a ring, Seth had bought her a locket embedded with her birthstone. Sarah had bought him an antique western-style belt buckle and a new leather strap.
Now he was about to make another first: attending the Snowflake Ball. He decided to drop the tickets in Sarah’s locker, wrapped in notepaper with a poem. A poem he had written.
Sarah,
The Snowflake Ball is on the way…
Three weeks from Saturday.
And I, Seth Mathis, would be so obliged
to have you at my side.
Seth
Sarah walked toward him. “Isn’t this a nice surprise.”
“I hope so.”
When she opened her locker to gather her books, Seth peered in and didn’t see the envelope. Had he put it in the wrong locker? Fear set in as an image of someone else reading his stupid poem popped in his head. He pushed Sarah aside and searched the locker.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing’s wrong.”
“What’s this?” She pulled out the note, which had gotten stuck in the locker’s slot, opened it, and started reading it…out loud. He grabbed her in his arms and stopped her with a kiss.
“Mr. Mathis.”
Seth turned to face none other than Mrs. Holcomb.
“May I ask what you’re doing?”
“I’m checking to make sure Sarah has everything she needs to take home.”
“And does that include checking out Sarah’s lips?”
“You have to ask?”
“No, I just wondered what excuse you’d come up with this time.”
“Well, if you must know…and I can’t believe you don’t already…Sarah has a crush on me. And I, being a gentleman, cannot refuse her.”
“Is that so, Sarah?”
Sarah smiled. “It’s true. I have a huge crush on Seth, but that’s not what’s going on here. I have a sneaking suspicion Seth doesn’t want me to read this note I found in my locker in front of you.” She handed the note to Mrs. Holcomb and then grinned at Seth. “Paybacks, baby, paybacks.”
Then & Now Page 7
