by June Kramin
“Yeah, him.”
“How did you end up with him? I thought you were with Rex.”
“I was. He and Rex got in a fight.”
“No shit? Tell me you’re dating hottie now.”
“I’m dating hottie now.”
“No shit?”
Kaitlyn laughed. “I know. I’m really not sure how it happened.”
“He looked a little young.”
“Yeah, he is.”
“How young, Katie?”
“Twenty-one.”
“You cradle robber, you!” Courtney laughed. “You can’t be serious.”
“I can’t believe I am either.” She looked around to make sure Dusty wasn’t in ear shot, then whispered into the phone, “The sex is incredible.”
“O—M—G. You serious? You slept with him already?”
“Don’t give me that. You hardly wait till a second date.”
“That’s me, hon. You’re all goodness and purity and shit like that.”
“Quit it. I just wanted to let you know where I was. I kind of lost my mind for a bit.”
“Don’t worry about me. You have some fun. It’s nice you are finally letting yourself cut loose. Hey, does he have a friend?”
“Like you’re at a loss. I’ll find out for you, though. We’ve never double dated before. This could be fun.”
“I have to get running. Ronald is knocking.”
“Ronald again? I’ve never known you to stick to one guy so much.”
“Meh. Dry spell. Have fun, hon. Love you.”
“Love you back.”
Dusty walked back over after he heard her hang up. He wrapped an arm around her waist and gave her neck a kiss. “Not that I was eavesdropping, but did I hear double date?”
“I never know if she’s serious but if you know someone that might be interested, I’m sure I could drag her along.”
He swayed with her, hip to hip. “I can think of a few guys that like girls with a little meat on them.”
She stepped back. “Dustin! That’s a horrible thing to say!”
“Shit. I didn’t mean anything by it. She’s cute and all, just noticeably a little heavy. That’s all. Not enough that anyone would mind.”
Her arms were now crossed. He was well familiar with this stance. Shit. “So what you’re saying is, if I had an extra fifteen or twenty pounds, we wouldn’t be here right now?”
“No.”
“No?”
“No. Shit. I didn’t mean ‘no’ we wouldn’t be…I meant, ‘no’—of course we would be. Dammit, baby,” he said, wrapping his hands around her waist again. “You’re twisting this around. You’re more beautiful to me every day. Even after two kids you’re…I mean…you’d be that much more gorgeous to me even after you have kids.” Her head titled slightly. She seemed more confused than ever, and he couldn’t blame her. He’d really stuck his foot in his mouth now. How did he ever survive the first time around? “Can I get a do-over?” he asked.
Her arms were now crossed. “You can try.”
“My friend that was with me last night. Dean. Remember him?”
“No.”
“Well…we were checking you guys out. I know he’d be into her.”
“He the one that thinks she’s an easy lay?”
“I never said anyone said that.” Her stare told him he must have; he remembered his quick fib. “I knew a guy that knew a guy that did sleep with her and thought he hurt her, but no. Dean doesn’t know any of that.” He ran his hand down his face. “Maybe I should go lie on the bed and repeat the date over and over like Christopher Reeve. Go back in time to yesterday and start again.”
Katie’s features softened. “I’m sorry. I’m very possessive over Courtney.”
“And I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound like a pig. I really do think she’s pretty, just not as pretty as you, of course. No one is as pretty as you. You’re perfection, Katie. You know that Plato quote in that Demi Moore movie? You’re my split-apart. You’re—”
She put her fingers over his mouth. “The Butcher’s Wife and that wasn’t Plato. It was a bad Hollywood misquote. Shut up while you’re ahead.”
“Bless you.”
After putting a healthy dent in the Chinese delivery, they cuddled while they watched another movie. Katie fell asleep before the end of it. When she awoke, the scene played out as it had when she’d previously time traveled to him. She’d insisted she shouldn’t sleep with him, he’d placed his hand on her heart and said he knew she really wanted it. They made love and were lying there cuddling when there was a knock at the door.
“This isn’t a good time,” Dusty hollered, instinctively, then quietly said, “Oh shit.” He knew what was coming.
“I pay your rent. You’ll make time, young man,” a muffled voice answered back.
“Shit. It’s my dad.”
“Oh my God,” said Katie as she quickly stood, scooped up her clothes and purse, and ran for the bathroom.
Dusty knew there was no fighting what would play out next. Again Katie called Courtney and snuck away after a quick, embarrassed hello to his parents. He’d let her go without a fight this time and text her in the morning.
Dusty woke up the next morning, reaching for Katie. When he couldn’t feel her, he opened his eyes up and cursed. It hadn’t been a bad dream. He was back in his college days and back in his old cottage. Katie hadn’t slept over. Bummer.
Walking out to the living room, he stared at the four-point buck on the wall. “What are you looking at?” He’d given Katie the story about hunting with his uncle yesterday and as before, she didn’t complain about it. Later, when they moved into their first home, she asked that it stay in his office and not go in the living room. She admitted to hating it. If he’d used his brain, he would have figured it out sooner, seeing as how she was going to be a vet. “What a dumbass,” he scolded himself. After retrieving a ladder from the garage, he promptly took the deer head down. He wandered back out with it and the ladder and stuck it on a high, empty shelf. Dusty wasn’t that big into hunting, it was just something he had done as a teen. He could take or leave venison over beef. Katie always swore she wouldn’t “eat Bambi” so he didn’t have it much, anyway.
“You whipped bastard.” He laughed to himself. The garage was colder than he was dressed for. He removed a sweatshirt out of his closet when he got back in, then sent Katie a text.
Good morning, doll face. Missed you this morning. You awake?
Sort of. Still in bed. Late night gab session with Court.
Sorry about my parents last night. You OK?
Nope. Dead from embarrassment.
I’ll make it up to you. Come over?
After no reply he tried again. Take you to breakfast?
Coffee. Gimme 20.
He signed off with a heart and his initial [<3 D], feeling sappy for doing so, but he didn’t care.
She sent him the smiley with its tongue sticking out [:P], but it still made him smile.
Dusty pulled up after exactly twenty minutes. Katie was already in the lobby and ran out when she saw him. He hurried around to open the door for her. The gesture earned him a quick kiss. “Worth it,” he said as he ran around to his side.
As he sat down, Katie asked, “What was worth it?”
“Freezing my balls off to pretend I’m some kind of gentleman.”
She smiled and gave him another kiss. “It is butt cold this morning. I must like you.”
Dusty hit a button on the center console. “I just turned your ass on.”
“Yes, you did.”
“No. I mean literally. Heated seats.”
She giggled. “Oh. Thanks for bringing the good car.”
He put the car in gear but hit the brakes. “You sure Courtney doesn’t want to come along?”
“I asked her. A grunt was all I got as a response. Gee, you this nice to the roommates of all the girls you bang?”
He took her hand and gave it a kiss. “Nope. You’re special
. And I told you, the list isn’t that long. Coffee shop?”
“That’s fine. I’m really not a big breakfast person. And I know—you know.”
“I promise I wasn’t going to say anything. I’m sorry if that creeped you out. I’m just observant. Especially of gorgeous women.”
She gave him the look he had dubbed her “stink eye.”
“Stop it, Dusty.”
“Well, at least you’re finally calling me Dusty.”
“I still don’t know what this is. Let me take baby steps, okay? I really shouldn’t have given in already.”
“Twice,” he said with a grin then kissed her hand again. “Don’t try to fight it, sugar.”
“Ugh,” was the last thing she said before they reached Sunriders.
They sat together on what Dusty called “their” couch after they had their caramel lattes in hand. Dusty bought two croissant egg sandwiches as well. “You want a bite?”
“No, thanks. My metabolism doesn’t come to life until later.”
He refrained from making any “I know” comments this time. He watched as she blew on her coffee before taking a sip. That never grew old to him.
She looked up at him. “I started your book last night.”
“And?”
“I’m amazed how much I’m enjoying it.”
“And why is that? You think I’d want you to read it if I thought it was crap?”
“I told you. I’m not a sci-fi fan. Your Captain Skinnard is a great character. He reminds me of you.”
She’d said this a dozen times before, but he played dumb. “Me?”
“He’s pretty full of himself, too.”
“Are we back to that?”
Katie smiled and sipped her coffee. “I had another friend that wrote short stories. She was always afraid they were horrible. Her notebook was titled the ‘The You Suck Archives.’” That made Dusty nearly spit out his food, laughing. “Sorry. But that’s part of my point. You seemed pretty sure I’d like it.”
“I had already gotten a wonderful review. I was pretty sure you’d like it.”
“Why, though? You don’t even know me. I like a good book, but reading isn’t my passion or anything. I’m too busy right now. Did you think I’d see how wonderfully you wrote and melt into your arms?”
“Is it working?”
“You’re certifiable.” She leaned over and took a bite of his sandwich.
“Is it a novella?”
He brushed a crumb away from the corner of her mouth. “It’ll be a full length novel. It’s only about half done.”
“Then again, why have me read it? You leave me off at a cliffhanger and I’ll kick your ass.”
“You’d better stop then. It’s a while…I mean, it’ll be a while before I perfect it.”
“You suck, Andrews. I’m already hooked.”
“Maybe it’s my ploy to make sure you stick around to the end.”
“You are full of all kinds of tricks, aren’t you?”
He smirked. “Yup.”
After finishing his sandwiches, he picked up one of her feet. He removed her shoe and began to massage it. Most fights ended with one of his foot- or backrubs. It was also the start of sex many a time. Either way, it was a win-win maneuver for him. The only thing she liked better, he couldn’t do at the coffee shop.
She moaned as he worked his magic. “You are sure trying hard here.”
“Don’t talk about what’s hard.”
She tried to pull her foot away but he held it firm. “I told you, no point in playing tough now. A few more minutes of this and you’ll take me before we make it back to my place.”
“Keep talkin’, law boy.” He grinned at her protests.
Chapter Eight
An hour later, Dusty and Katie were parked in a small nook off an alley, three blocks away from the coffee shop. The windows were fogged up and Katie was straddling Dusty, breathing heavily. Her pants sat without her on the passenger seat, but her coat was long and had her well covered.
“You make me a shameless hussy with no self-control. What the hell is wrong with me?” she asked rhetorically into his neck.
“Not a damn thing.”
“How the hell do you keep doing this to me?”
“It’s a gift.”
“I mean it, Dusty. I’m coming off like a bad Debbie Does Dusty porno. I’ve never behaved this way.”
“I just know how to sweep you off your feet, baby. That and I’m sure the heated seats helped.”
She slid back to her side of the car. “I really should get back. I don’t see Court a lot. We try to spend Sundays together when we can. I told you I didn’t have a lot of free time, Dustin.”
“Dusty.”
She smiled at him then gave him a gentle kiss. “I don’t know why I don’t call you that. It does kinda fit you better with that baby face.”
“Keep it up, sugar bear, and I’ll grow a beard.”
“No!” She stroked her hand down his cheek. “Although I am fond of the day-old scruffy look.”
Dusty pulled up to her dorm and they shared another lingering kiss. “I’m going to miss you in the morning. I wish you’d stay with me.”
She placed her hand on his crotch. “You mean this is going to miss me in the morning.”
Dusty removed her hand. He was already getting aroused again by the kiss and didn’t want her to think that was all he wanted. “No. I’m going to miss you. You sure I can’t get you to stay over? I promise I’ll bring you back early so you can get to class.”
“I told you. I really want to spend time with Courtney. Besides, I thought we were going to try to slow this down.”
“I agreed to no such thing. I don’t want to, but I’ll let you take the lead here. I don’t want to scare you away. Can I take you and Courtney to dinner tomorrow night at least? We’ll go to Chez Pauls. I’ll take you on a proper dinner date.”
Katie leaned in for a kiss. “I’m in. I’ll text you if Courtney is available so you can call that Dean friend of yours.”
“I’ll take you both out, even if he isn’t available. I’d like to get to know this girl that you care so much for. I have a feeling I’m going to need her approval.”
Katie gave him another quick kiss before opening the door. “You’re not much for first impressions, but your recovery is nice. See you tomorrow. Six?”
“Sounds good, honey buns.” Dusty heard her groan after she closed the door. He chuckled and headed to Dean’s. Dean had a two-bed dorm room, but he didn’t currently have a roommate. His last one took off for Barbados with his tuition money and hadn’t been heard from since. A sock hung on the doorknob, but Dusty ignored it and walked in. Dean was sound asleep and alone. Dusty flew onto his bed.
“You asshole!” Dean shouted as he punched Dusty hard in the arm. “Didn’t you see the sock?”
“Yeah. But as I suspected, there’s no chick. I knew you weren’t getting laid.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Because you’re in the middle of a dry spell.”
“And I can’t break that, why?”
“’Cause I was busy getting some and you had no wing man.”
“No shit? You get back into Stacey’s pants?”
“Stacey?” Dusty hadn’t thought of her in years. “No. Remember the chick you said was out of my league?”
“No fucking way.”
“Fucking way. Spent the morning with her, too.”
“Gonna make her harder to dump if you let her get attached.”
“I’m not going to dump her. This is it.”
“You? In love? Get the hell out.” Dean pulled the blanket over his head.
Dusty promptly pulled it back down. “I want to take her out to dinner tomorrow night.”
“I’m not lending you money.”
“I don’t need money. I’ll use the card.”
“Dude, your dad will beat your ass.”
“He won’t even notice.”
“So, what
did you wake my ass up for? What do you want from me?”
“A date.”
“You’re a pretty-boy and all, but I already told you I won’t date you.”
Dusty gave him a shove. “Come on. She has a cute friend. I want you to come along.”
“What the hell for?”
“I’m going to need to win her roommate over if I’m going to make this stick. We kind of jumped right in the sack. I need to go back a few steps and do this right. I want to keep this one, Dean-O.”
Dean groaned. “Is her friend really cute, or should I bring milk bones?”
“She’s cute. You remember the brunette she was with?”
“The chubby girl?”
“She wasn’t that bad.”
“I wasn’t complaining. I like ’em a little chubby, anyway. More cushion for the pushin’ and bigger tits.”
Dusty sat on his chest and held the pillow over his face. “You scrodknocker.” He let Dean flail for a minute then removed the pillow. “She’s a nice girl. You treat her like crap and it’s over for me.” From what Katie had said, if Dean was half-way human he’d probably get lucky, but he didn’t want to use that as part of the bribe. He was hoping they’d hit it off for more than a one night stand. He had to keep Courtney interested long enough for that Ronald to move on.
“Fine. You’re buying.”
“Deal.”
“And we’re taking the Beemer, not that piece of shit you call a car.”
“Already using it. I don’t want Katie to have to go without heat.”
“But you have no problem tooling me around in it.”
“You’re ugly. I don’t care.”
“Get off me, you homo.”
Dusty climbed off him then pelted him with a pillow from the other bed. “Get a haircut tomorrow and be ready at five thirty. Dress nice. We’re going to Chez Pauls.”
Dean finally sat up. “Holy shit. You do mean business.”
“I’m not screwing around.”
“I’ll be your wingman, douche.”
“It’s Goose.” Dusty laughed.
“I know. Get out.”
“See you tomorrow at five thirty sharp.”
Dusty had forgotten how much he missed Dean. They hadn’t kept in touch as well as Katie and Courtney did over the years. Dean accepted a job with a huge law firm in Minneapolis after graduation and was busy more often than not. They shared beers over a summer barbecue here and there, but that was about the extent of it. After all this time, Dean was still single and always had an excuse to avoid a “couples” get together.
