They walked in the open door. Amelia was returning from the bathroom.
“Amelia, I can’t sleep. That couch is too hard. Can I get into bed with you and Kerri? Please? Bander’s here. You have a king bed.”
“Actually, it’s a California King.” She hugged and groped him. “Can we start to date?”
“I still see Chris sometimes.”
“I don’t want to fight another woman for you. How serious is it with Chris?”
Bander rubbed his eyes, pushed past, and got into bed. Like a heat-seeking missile, Kerri latched onto him and hugged.
Dino said, “Not serious. We’re mostly fuck buds, and she even used that term.”
Amelia cuddled close to Dino. “Find out. You have to break up with her if you’re going to fuck me.”
“I don’t want you for a fuck bud. I want you for a real girlfriend. If all you want me for is that—”
She squeezed him close and tight and planted her mouth on his, holding his face with a hand. “I’ve wanted you for a real boyfriend since I met you. You’re not an average cop or cock. You have potential.”
He kissed back. “Thank you. I mean that. No wise-ass, but what about Kerri and Bander? We’ve just started doing it.”
“I keep Kerri. You keep Bander.”
“Deal.” Dino asked, “Can I get in bed now?”
She led him there, hugging. Even with a California King bed, it was a tight fit, but all seemed happy.
Chapter 5
Dino dressed in his fancy cowboy outfit of black jeans, pointed alligator boots, a purple button-down shirt with the metal collar corners, and his black, stylish cowboy hat.
Chris wore a fancy yellow dress and pretty jade necklace. They met and kissed in the lobby of the upscale Chinese restaurant.
“Thanks for coming, Dino. I hoped you couldn’t turn down food.”
“Or sex.”
She looked off and let herself be led by the maître de. Instead of sitting next to Dino, she sat opposite. He wondered.
They started with drinks and ordered a usual array of grub.
When the server left, Dino asked, “Chris, are you okay?”
She smiled politely. “Yes, of course.”
“Why are we sitting opposite each other?”
“We have to talk, Dino. It’s time for us to grow up.”
“Please tell me you are not pregs.”
She reached across for his hand. “Baby, I mean for both of us to act like adults.”
“Why would we want to do that? It’s more fun being sixteen forever.” She was right. “Okay, what are we talking about?”
“We’re not going anywhere, are we?”
He pushed his glass of beer aside. “No. Not really. The sex is great.”
“You’re a nice guy, fun to be with, but—”
He took her hands. “Chris, I’ve sensed it. I wanted to say something but couldn’t bring myself to think of any way to broach the subject with you, but I understand. Completely. You can’t help it.”
She let out a huge breath she held. “Oh, thank you. Wait, you’re wearing your special smirk. What are you talking about?”
He let out a full-blown grin the Cheshire cat would be jealous of. “You’re a lesbian.”
“I am not a lesbian.” She shouted it and then covered her face with her hands.
“That’s all I can think of, baby.”
“You asshole. I’m being serious, you know I’m being serious, and you go off on that bullshit.”
He got serious. “Okay, I’m not that good at these types of situations. What are you talking about?”
Their food arrived, several dishes, and neither ate.
“Dr. Sumner is gay. I finally cornered him. He has a boyfriend and everything.”
“Does that mean he won’t take you to bed?” Dino tried to be straight and serious.
“Right. But, a few weeks ago, Dr. Sullivan showed up in the ER from upstairs. He was in a lot of pain. We stabilized him, and I got him to relax. I should tell you I’ve seen him a few times. He’s the hottie from research that all the girls wet their panties over. So, we scheduled him for an emergency appendectomy. He went upstairs, and I never saw him again.”
Dino picked at his food, eating directly from the serving plates. He was getting an idea of what was coming.
“So, he came back last night to deliver flowers to the ER staff for taking such good care of him. He brought me my own special collection of flowers. It was huge. I bet he spent a lot of bucks there. So, he took me back to the doctors’ lounge, told me he’s checked me out, that I’m only casually dating a cop, and he wanted me for his own. Wheeeee!” Her happy face quickly ran away, and she picked at the food. “I said yes. He said I need to break up with you. Dino, we’ve never made commitments to each other. We both know we’re in this thing, whatever we call it that we’re doing together, until something better comes along.”
Dino nodded. What else could he do? He didn’t have the duck call anymore. “You’ll always miss the sex with me.”
“But I’ll be making love with Dr. Sullivan. I want a husband, Dino. That’s not you.”
“Well, at least you didn’t say you’re pregs.”
“I told you that a man who’s sixteen emotionally should not be a parent.”
They settled back. Not eating. Not speaking. Feeling uneasy.
“Dino, we’re breaking up.”
Dino just sat there. He didn’t know what he felt. He’d miss Chris. A lot. But he knew she was right. And there was Amelia. Could he have with her what Chris was looking for in Dr. Sullivan? Could he grow up? A little? Would he be happy? He jumped around to her side of the booth and hugged her close, kissing her cheek.
“I suppose I knew this day would come. I am truly very happy for you, Chris. There’s wonderful glow and sparkle in your eyes that I’ve never, ever, seen before in you. I truly hope it works out for you.” He kissed her on the lips. “I’ll miss what we have, but you are totally and completely right. We were, give or take, just fuck buds.” He wondered if he
