Fondle My Beard - Chasing Dreams

Damn, I am finding that I am not a patient man.

I hate waiting.

Chapter Four

Kylie

I practically float away from the man and down the hallway. I can still feel his lips on me. I can’t believe he just kissed me like that. Just whirled me around and kissed me. I can still feel his beard touching my chin and my chest. It was even softer than I imagined it would be. Now that I know what it would feel like on my thighs, I want more of it. I am still floating on cloud nine when I open the bathroom door. As soon as I do, I see a curvy girl with brown curly hair sitting on the floor. Her face buried in her hands. She’s crying.

“You wouldn’t happen to be Gwen, would you?” I ask, sitting down next to her.

“Yeah,” she says, sniffling. “How’d you know?”

“Your brother is looking for you,” I say.

“Are you wildflowers?” she asks, confusing me.

“Excuse me?”

“Wildflowers and hearts. He’s talked about you nonstop since he got your resume.”

“Really? He talked about me?” I ask before remembering that she’s been crying. “Forget about me for a second. My name is Kylie. Why are you crying on the floor of a dirty bathroom in the mall?”

“Some jerk faces were messing with me while I was shopping.”

“Girl jerk faces or boy jerk faces?” I ask, knowingly.

“Boy jerk faces.”

“Ah.” I nod. Fifteen-year-old boys are total dickbags.

“Why are guys so mean? I mean, I could stand to lose a few pounds, but I don’t think that’s any of their business. As it is, I haven’t eaten in days. Nothing works. I don’t know why I am telling you all this.”

“Gwen, I know you don’t know me from Adam, but I am going to be frank with you. Fuck them. Boys at this age are assholes and you don’t need them right now. It might seem like you do, but you don’t. That’s just hormones. If you can get through this bullshit, one day, you’ll meet a man who knocks you right off your feet and those dicks won’t have mattered. Trust me.” I wrap my arm around her shoulder and pull her close to me. She sniffs again and leans on me.

“You think?”

“I really do.”

“Is Mitch angry?”

“No, I think he’s just worried. Are you ready to go out there or do you need a minute?”

“I’m ready. Let me just wash my face.”

“Alright. You also shouldn’t skip meals. That’s not healthy,” I say standing. I wait for her while she cleans up.

“I know and thank you, Kylie,” she says as we walk out into the hallway. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“You’re welcome.” I smile at her.

“No one has ever talked to me so honestly. My mom tries to make everything sunny. My sister doesn’t have time for me anymore.”

“What about your dad?” I ask. I would never talk to my brother about boys so I get why Mitch wasn’t on her list, but can’t imagine not being open with my dad, to a point at least.

“Oh, God. I could never talk to my dad about this. I mean, the man calls me Pokey for God’s sake. He hasn’t caught on to the fact that I am growing up.”

“Gotcha. Well, I’m here if you need me. I was your age too long ago.”

“Thanks. You’re pretty cool.”

“Everything okay?” Mitch asks as we reach him.

“Yep. I wasn’t feeling well, but I am good now.” Gwen catches my eye and winks, making me grin.

“Oh, good. Do you have any bags?” He asks, looking around.

“No. I decided not to get anything. Here’s your credit card back.”

“Thanks,” he says, putting it back in his wallet.

“Why don’t we grab some dinner?” I say.

“All of us?” Mitch asks, confused.

“Yeah. Gwen and I are fast friends.”

“Yeah, bro. I like wildflower,” Gwen says giggling.

“Gwen, please,” he says through clenched teeth.

“Too late, Mitch. She told me already,” I say, also giggling.

“Ah. You really are fast friends.” He rolls his eyes.

“Yep. Let’s go. We’re starving,” I tell him, taking his arm. Gwen walks in front of us out of the mall.

“Are you sure about this? We can take her home,” Mitch says as we walk out into the sunlight.

“Absolutely not. She needs to eat,” I tell him.

“But it’s our first date,” he says.

“That’s okay. Trust me, Mitch. She doesn’t want to be alone right now.”

“What the hell happened in that bathroom?” he asks.

“Don’t you worry about that.”

“If you’re sure?”

“I’m sure. We can still have a great time,” I tell him.

We get into his car and head to a local restaurant. We eat an early dinner and talk a lot. Gwen and I have a lot in common and Mitch and I do too. Neither one of us drink alcohol. That’s not to say I haven’t tried it, but I don’t like the way it makes me feel the next day, so I abstain. After dinner, he drives me home. It’s crazy how much I don’t want him to leave right now.