Gloria nodded and smiled. “Yes, I thought you looked familiar.”
“You were on the debate team, too,” added Justin. “You probably know my little brother, David.”
“Yes, I do.” Gloria grinned. “Now I realize you were the brother he’s been talking about. I recognize the name but not the face.”
“I hope the face doesn’t disappoint,” he teased. He was attractive enough, with black hair and blue eyes, in contrast to Alan who had sandy brown hair and brown eyes.
“Not in the slightest. Playing varsity basketball this year?”
“Yep. Along with Alan.”
“Hey, Gloria!”
Brittany, who had been standing in the back, made her way forward and gave Gloria a hug. “You’re looking much better than when the last time I saw you.”
“When was that?” asked Mina Holmes, a stunning if not natural redhead.
“Last week at the Gladstone Mall food court. She was having lunch with Mr. Larsen.”
Gloria winced at that revelation, but figured it best to get it out in the open.
“You had lunch with Nate Larsen?” Carly DeWitt, a cute, chubby brunette, pretended to swoon and Alan caught her. Giggling, she got back on her feet. “How did that happen?”
“I got the typing job Brittany turned down.”
Maybe she was paranoid or overreacting, but Gloria could’ve sworn she saw Brittany’s eyes harden at the words “turned down,” as if Gloria said it to insult rather than merely state the facts.
“Unfortunately,” Brittany began, “Gloria got sick and had to rush off to the restroom.” She looked at Gloria sympathetically. “Was it food poisoning after all, sweetie?”
Everyone leaned closer for a response, and Gloria suddenly felt claustrophobic. Fortunately, it was Brittany’s date, Trent, who took the attention away.
“Head’s up. The line’s moving.”
They all went to stand in line, which was starting to move at a good pace. Everyone was paired off nicely, whether it was on purpose or not, Gloria couldn’t tell because it didn’t look like Justin or Alan were coupled with Mina or Carly. If she had to guess, she would pair Justin with Mina and Carly with Alan.
She watched the trio of girlfriends as they headed inside the theatre as she waited next to Rory to pay for their tickets. She bet they took Paris by the short hairs: a blonde, a brunette, and a redhead, all young and beautiful with their parents’ money to spend.
At the concession stand, Rory bought him and Gloria drinks, a giant buttered popcorn, and a box of M&Ms to pour inside, much to her approval.
“Nice to know I’m not the only one who loves the combination,” he said, taking a handful and giving her a wink as he put the food in his mouth.
By the time she and Rory arrived inside the theatre, the others were seated in a boy-girl-boy-girl configuration, and Gloria’s assumption about who was paired with whom turned out to be correct. She ended up sitting with Justin on her right and Rory taking the aisle seat to her left.
The chatter among them died quickly as the trailers started.
“Now ladies,” Justin began, “I want you to know that I am here for you to grab and hold if things get too intense for you.”
“Gee, my hero,” Mina teased and pinched his leg, making him jump. Gloria didn’t fail to notice how Mina kept her hand on his thigh.
Gloria didn’t go to movies very often, and when she did, she tended to go to comedies. But after moving in with Michael and Robyn, Gloria’s movie repertoire had expanded considerably, although it had yet to reach the Paranormal Activity franchise. Others in the theatre may have seen the films many times before, but it didn’t stop the audience from getting into it, which made Gloria enjoy it even more.
She wasn’t shy in grabbing onto Rory’s arm—until he put it around her, that is. When she realized what he’d done, she looked at him.
“You don’t mind, do you?” he asked with a smile, which she returned.
So it was settled, and for the rest of the film, Rory had his arm around her and she leaned into him. When she felt him nuzzling at her ear, she couldn’t tell what made her heart race more—his being so close or the movie—or the memory of Nate doing the same thing when they curled up together on the sofa.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts, which luckily coincided with a tense moment on the screen, so when she hid her face on Rory’s chest, it appeared natural.
And when he jumped, startled, she did too.
“Jesus!” he shouted, making her laugh. In fact, the entire theatre was laughing and hooting at the collective response.
Gloria looked up at her date, who looked down at her. She didn’t know who closed the distance first. Perhaps it was mutual, but their lips didn’t mind either way. Where they sat, most of the audience sat in front of them, so there weren’t too many people to notice or care about the teenage couple in a lip lock.
She compared Rory’s kissing skills to that of Nate’s. It was unavoidable, but frankly, she never thought she’d ever be intimate with one guy let alone two. Having something to weigh against was nice. Unfortunately, just when she realized she could do so, it was over.
A low, sexy whistle came from her right and startled her. She turned and saw a row of eyes looking over at them.
“You guys can get a room after the movie,” Alan whispered, smiling.
Rory stuck his arm out and gave the group a thumbs up while Gloria forced a friendly smile and made a show of taking a sip of her soda and focusing on the movie. When she felt Rory’s arm go around her shoulders again, she allowed herself to relax a little, but not as much as before.
“Don’t mind them,” he whispered. “They always crack whenever they see someone kiss.”
She made a nonchalant chuckle and shrugged. “Well, if it’s a show they’re wanting, we can give them one later.”
The words were out before she realized. When she glanced over at Rory, he was looking at her with what she could only describe as a combination of surprise and desire. Quickly, she stabbed the straw of her soda between her lips and took a long pull.
By the time they got out of the theatre, it was midnight, and the general consensus on where to go eat was Denny’s. Once Rory and Gloria got back inside his car, he gave her another option.
“We don’t have to go if you don’t want to, Gloria. We can ditch ’em and go someplace more private.”
“Why? Aren’t you having a good time?”
“Well...yeah.” He shrugged. “I just thought that maybe—”
A slow smile curled her lips. “Aw, that wouldn’t be very nice. Besides, I’m getting to know everybody, especially since I never got to in school.”
“Yeah, why was that?” he asked, starting up the car.
Gloria was happy to change the conversation. “We didn’t hang in the same circles.”
“Yeah, but you and Brittany know each other.”
“Ah, but we didn’t hang out.” She fastened her seat belt. When she looked up, he was looking at her, confused.
“What? You mean you and Brittany aren’t friends?”
“I didn’t say that,” she said, suddenly panicked that she may have talked her way out of being a welcomed part of the group. “We’re friends, but...close? If I were a close friend, a real close one, she would have invited me on her Paris trip with or instead of Carly and Mina.”
Rory pursed his lips together, considering her words, and then nodded.
“I hear ya.” Then he laughed. “I always thought you were a bit of a snob.”
Gloria’s eyes shot open wide in shock and Rory mirrored her reaction.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to sound rude.”
“Snob? Me? What did Brittany ever say about me to you guys?”
“I always thought it odd why we didn’t see you around much. It’s not like we didn’t ask her about you whenever there was something going on, but she always said that you preferred studying over partying.” He shrugged and manoeuvred the car out of the parking lot and
into traffic. “Then, you were away sick for a while.”
“Sick...,” she repeated.
“Yeah. What was it? A year or so ago you were out for a month or something. Brittany said you had picked up a virus like mono and had to stay in bed.”
Gloria sat, stunned. Brittany knew exactly what had caused her absence and kept the real reason secret. Not only that, but the cool kids had asked for her to go out with them?
Brittany had kept that a secret too. If Gloria had known that, it’s more than possible that she would have accepted—and possibly have more friends today—because the last thing she had wanted was to spend time at home.
She chewed on her lip. She didn’t know if she should be angry at Brittany for having had such an impact on her social life all these years or thank her for keeping her breakdown and shitty home life a secret.
If it hadn’t been for Rory asking her out, she would have never known about this evening and would have gone home to mourn the end of her relationship with Nate.
No. She needed to be here tonight, and she was going to make the most of it.
It didn’t take long for everyone to meet up again. In less than fifteen minutes they had regrouped and were waiting to be seated. The restaurant was busy with night owls but not packed.
“It’s always this crowded on a Friday night,” Rory apologized. “Are you sure you want to stay?”
Gloria wasn’t sure if Rory was really unimpressed with hanging out at Denny’s or simply eager to get her alone. Considering the look he’d given her after their kiss, she had to admit that the latter held possibilities, but she didn’t want to appear rude to what was now her new circle of friends, especially now that they were all present.
“Don’t worry,” she said, giving his hand a squeeze. “You’ll get me alone soon enough.”
When she slid her gaze up at him in the sultry way she used to do with Nate, she observed it had the same effect. Rory swallowed, and then a slow grin built with anticipation of what was to come.
The waitress sat them in the back of the restaurant at a giant booth table that took up the entire width of the wall. It fit all eight of them comfortably. Again it was mostly a boy-girl seating arrangement, but Rory had Gloria sit next to Carly and again took the seat on the outside.
Once everyone’s order was placed, conversations broke out in clumps amongst the group. It didn’t take too long until the attention turned onto the newest member of the group.
“So,” Brittany began. “How is it working with Mr. Larsen?”
“Ooh, Mr. Larsen,” gushed Carly. “Mmm, what I wouldn’t give for five minutes alone with him. And to think, Brittany, you gave up a chance to work with him all summer just to go to Paris.”
“Paris is once in a lifetime,” Brittany said.
“Bullshit,” Carly argued, the word itself sullied her cherubic looks. “Paris has been and will be around for centuries. But Nate Larsen? Oooh....”
“Mr. Larsen is hot,” Brittany admitted, “but he’s old.”
An electric spark shot up Gloria’s spine, and she scolded herself for feeling insulted on Nate’s behalf. After all, he liked Brittany too and possibly would have had sex—
Gloria cut off her trail of thought and shook her head.
“I wouldn’t call him old,” she said in response to Brittany, and partly to cover her own reaction.
“Old enough to be my dad.” Brittany laughed.
Gloria shrugged, again trying to shrug off Brittany’s slur against Nate’s attractiveness while pretending to be indifferent.
“It wouldn’t matter to me,” Carly said, then took a sip of her drink. “Older men are sexy.” She looked at Gloria with huge, expressive brown eyes. “Tell me. Is he that funny all the time or just in class? What’s he like to work with...alone?”
Carly put emphasis on the word and Gloria knew what was being implied. She decided to go into debate mode and deal with the topic as diplomatically as she could.
“Yes, and terrific.” She gave Carly a sly smile and they laughed. Gloria had to admit she was warming up to the group as a whole. Even being out with Brittany in a true social setting wasn’t that bad.
“You two looked pretty cosy when I saw you at the mall.”
Gloria tensed. Maybe she’d spoken too soon.
“What do you mean by ‘cosy?’”
“I dunno.” Brittany gave a little shrug. “Friendly.”
“Why wouldn’t we be friendly?”
“No reason. God, Gloria, I’m not accusing you of anything.” Brittany laughed, putting her hands up in surrender. “Considering the hard time you had in his class, you both looked chummy with each other. He even bought your lunch. He told me. So, you two were able to get past the grade issue?”
Gloria played with the wrapper her straw came in, not appreciating the casual way Brittany made the academic struggles and Nate’s generosity common knowledge.
“Yes...that’s old news now.”
“Oooh, he bought you lunch, Gloria?” Again Carly nailed her with big eyes full of awe, envy, and admiration.
“Hey, Gloria,” Mina said. “I heard a rumor that Mr. Larsen and Ms. Oliver were a couple.”
In an amazing show of inner strength, Gloria didn’t break out laughing. Instead, she gave a measured response.
“A couple of what?” she said with a smirk and Mina giggled.
“You know...a couple. Is it true?”
Gloria shook her head. “I can safely say that they are not a couple. He likes her—as a friend,” she added quickly, “but in truth, Jill Oliver is a twatbubble.”
That got them all laughing, hard. Even Brittany’s date, the Ice Prince Trent Purcell who had barely said five words to Gloria all evening was busting a gut. Perhaps Jill wasn’t as popular as she—and Gloria—had assumed for all these years.
“Wow, Gloria!” Rory put his fork down. “I never thought you knew such a word.”
“I was on the debate team. I know a lot of words.”
That got another laugh from the group and she picked up her glass and took a drink nonchalantly, for once not minding being the center of the conversation.
It was just past two o’clock when they all left the restaurant. Gloria was enjoying herself. Besides, it was still early. Usually by this time on a Friday night, she and Nate would be—
“Something wrong?” Rory asked.
“Ahh...no.”
“You just had this look on your face.”
“I just remembered something, that’s all. It’s...not important.”
They got in his car and soon they were driving down the road.
“Well,” Rory sighed. “Alone at last.”
“Mmm,” came her evasive response.
“Tired?”
“No. Not really.” Gloria gazed out of the window pretending not to notice or care that he wasn’t driving in the direction of her home. And when they turned down a dark side road not far from the city park, part of her wanted to panic.
She really wasn’t interested in getting involved with Rory or anyone else. Not now—if ever again. He didn’t come on strong, but then again, she hadn’t refused him much either.
Rory was a football player and bigger and stronger than her. It would be an uneven match, but she wasn’t scared to fight dirty if she had to.
The car stopped next to a tree and a clump of bushes. There was a dim streetlamp far enough away to do no good at all.
“Shall we make ourselves more comfortable?”
The sound of Rory’s voice startled her. She tried to play it off with a laugh. “Comfortable? In the back seat? Seriously?”
“I have a blanket in the trunk for emergencies.”
“Oh? You have a lot of emergency make-out sessions, do you?”
“Smart ass.” He chuckled and opened the door.
They walked over to the tree. It was perfectly situated. The bushes gave them some cover and they could still see the car.
“Come to this spot often?” sh
e asked.
“Once or twice.”
She nodded. At least he was honest, and if he spoke the truth, he had more experience making out with other people than she had, so maybe she shouldn’t complain. Rory sat down with his back against the tree and reached up to her to join him.
If it wasn’t for the dim glow of the streetlamp peeking just above the shrubs several yards away, they would be in complete darkness, but it provided enough light for them to see just enough of each other. Crickets chirped and there was the faint smell of damp earth. Not because of any rain, but from the park’s sprinkler system. The blanket, although thick, didn’t prevent her feeling part of the tree’s roots coming from the ground.
The touch of a warm hand on her knee made her jump.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you,” he whispered, his voice huskier than Gloria ever heard it before.
“I’m not scared. It’s just dark.”
“You afraid of the dark?”
She could almost make out the white of his toothy grin. Her kiss took him off guard.
“You tell me,” she murmured against his lips.
Rory’s hand snaked around her neck and into the depths of her hair, pressing her closer and making their kiss deeper. Moments later, Gloria was on her back and he was on top of her. He slid his hand from between her legs and his fingers started unfastening her jeans. She let him.
Even when his fingers got beneath her panties and started making their way into more intimate areas, Gloria kept her eyes squeezed shut, trying to pretend she was kissing Nate while also trying not to think about him. But there was something about it that was all wrong—just like it was back in the theatre.
Whether it was the feel of his lips, the way his tongue moved, or the way he tasted, Gloria couldn’t build any enthusiasm inside her. Not even after she initiated their kissing not once, but twice! When Rory slipped his index finger insider her, she started to sit up. He moved away faster than a person bit by a snake and helped her upright.
“Gloria?” He sounded so worried that she touched his cheek reassuringly.
“I’m sorry, Rory. It’s not you. I just...can’t.”
“Virgin?” He looked at her with a mix of apprehension and pity.
The Summer of Consent Page 16
