His text bubble comes up, and then it disappears, which happens two more times before his text comes through.
Ryan: Some would say the same about my cock.
I flush deep red, but then I giggle out of control.
Ryan: Maybe that wasn’t that sexual.
Me: Nope, but it was funny. Dork. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!
Amelia peeks over at me, and I can’t stop laughing. “He’s such a dork.”
She nods in agreement before lying back in her seat. I’m still snorting as I look down again, his next text coming through.
Ryan: You’re killing me tonight.
Me: I’m sorry. Do you want me to tell you how hot it makes me to know your cock is steady and strong?
Ryan: Ugh, stop.
Ryan: It didn’t work.
Me: Not even kinda.
Me: But good try.
Ryan: I wanted to make you blush, get all hot, maybe get you to squeeze those thighs together the way you do.
My mouth goes dry.
Me: You notice that?
Ryan: I notice everything.
I swallow hard.
Me: See, that’s hot.
Ryan: No, you’re hot.
My lips curl as I hold back my laughter.
Me: LOLOLOL So bad.
Ryan: I know, I suck at texting.
Me: Yeah, but so do I. At least we’re great face-to-face.
Ryan: That we are.
“Can you stop giggling and moving so much? Let’s watch the movie!” Amelia complains, and I peek over at her.
“First boyfriend. Can you cut me some slack?” I ask, waving my phone at her.
She points to herself, an annoyed look on her face. “Haven’t gotten laid in, like, three months. Angry and horny.”
I point to myself. “But I haven’t gotten laid ever—”
“By choice,” she says matter-of-factly. “Can’t use that.”
I press my lips together. “Well, that’s unfair.”
“Yup,” she snaps at me, and I slowly lean back, picking my phone up so I can see it. As soon as I go to text Ryan, though, my mom calls.
I answer immediately.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Hey, honey, how are you?”
“I’m good. We’re riding to Kentucky. Our meet is tomorrow.”
“Oh, good. How are your classes?”
We chitchat about my classes and how Amelia is. I feel like something is off, but I don’t dare bring it up. One of the things I learned in the Daughters of MS club I was in back home was never to make them feel like they aren’t completely normal. It scares the shit out of me because, to me, my mom is my mom. There is nothing different about her. But the reality is that each day is a struggle for her. Because of that, I usually wait for her to tell me when something is wrong. But I feel it in my gut. “So yeah, we’ll be back tomorrow night. The ride hasn’t been awful.”
“Oh, good. Anything new?”
Oh yeah, something is wrong. She’s stalling.
I take a breath. “Actually, I met someone.”
She lets out a small gasp. “Like a boy?”
I smile to myself. “Yeah.”
“That’s surprising. I honestly didn’t think boys interested you.”
I laugh. “They’re everywhere here.”
She laughs along with me. “Well, it’s a different environment, for sure. Who is he? What’s his name?”
“Um, it’s Amelia’s brother, Ryan.”
“Oh! Well, that’s something. Is he nice?”
I can’t contain my grin. “He’s dreamy and so fun. He’s a hockey player.”
“Oh, that’s interesting. Can you send me a picture of you two?”