> In the news today: At the United Nations, Russia and China joined forces to veto a resolution to ban all genetic slavery.

“Congratulations, Son, you are now a licensed driver.” Dad clapped Jason on the back while he nodded towards Stephanie. “I suppose you’d like to borrow your mother’s van, hmm? Maybe take someone on a date?” Across the deck, the ladies occupied the big umbrella-covered patio table. Stephanie waved when he caught her eye.

“Sure, Dad, just as soon as you give me some of my allowance.” For keeping up with his chores, Jason accumulated a weekly allowance. Although Dad kept the money in a separate savings account, “For college expenses.”

Occasionally, Dad threatened to pay Jason as a contractor and bill him for using the family power tools. Dad said, “I can write it off on my taxes.” One couldn’t be sure if Dad was serious. Lawyers and accountants never joked about money.

Dad dipped into his front pocket and brought out a credit chip. “I have it right here. You’ll need it to pay your share of the car insurance.”

“Robert,” Mom chided, “don’t tease your son.”

Rolling his eyes where Mom couldn’t see, Dad handed over the chip. “Don’t worry about the insurance, we’ll cover it until you find a job.”

Jason had held credit chips before, but they’d always been temporary issues. This one was his. To test it, Jason slid his thumb across the sensor, and the small holographic display lit with his name, Jason T. Thomas, and a six-digit verification number. The number changed every thirty seconds. “Thanks, Mom and Dad.” Mom stood and hugged him, Dad shook his hand, and Stephanie, with a little half frown, crossed her arms and legs. They’d been together long enough to read each other’s moods. Something bothered her.

Rather than discuss it in front of his parents, Jason thought they needed some privacy. “Hey, sweetheart, want to take a walk?” Stephanie gave him a small nod. “Mom, Dad, excuse us, please.” He offered his hand, and they took a walk.

Mom and Dad’s voices started up as he and Stephanie turned the corner towards the front of the house. One or both would grill him later.

They made it to his covered front porch and the old metal porch glider. Dad picked the glider up at a yard sale in, of all places. McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania. After a complete refurbishment, it became one of his parent’s favorite spots.

He asked, “Want to talk about it?”

Stephanie crossed her arms, “There isn’t anything to talk about.”

Uh oh, something had her upset. “Are you sure, ’cause it looks like something’s bothering you.”

“I knew this was coming. We don’t have to break up on my account.”

“Whoa, back up, and tell me why we’d need to break up.”

“You’ve got your license now. You want to go on dates. I get it, it’s normal.” He noted an extra sneer in the way she pronounced “normal.”

“Sorry, sweetheart, but I still don’t get it.”

“Ugh!” She threw up her hands. “Fine, I’ll use small words. Mom only allows me to visit you here. I can’t go anywhere else. That means no dates.”

“Oh,” Did she really think he’d break up with her? “This is because of your dad, isn’t it?”

Oops, that set her off. Stephanie huffed and slid to the far end of the glider. “How many times do I have to remind you? You have a dad. I have a jerk who impregnated my mother.”

“Sorry!” They’d discussed this before. “What do you think I’m going to do?”

“Find another girl, go on dates with her, and make me girlfriend number two.”

“The proper term is ‘Side Chick.’ But I ain’t interested in another girlfriend. I can barely handle you.” He thought this would elicit a smile or maybe even a chuckle. It didn’t.

“Why are you so stupid?”

“I don’t think loyalty is stupid.” Then, a horrible thought occurred. “Wait, is this your way to tell me you want to see other guys?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Then he got it. Stephanie was experiencing a “Woman’s Problem.” Health class hinted about them. What no one ever told him was how to handle them. Sometimes when Mom didn’t feel well, Dad offered to rub her back. Hey, he was Jason, the caring and concerned boyfriend, he’d power through this!

“Sweetheart, I understand. You don’t feel well. Can I give you a back rub?”

At first, he thought he’d pulled it off. He’d rub Steff’s back, and everything would go back to normal.

“You’re such a boy! I’m trying to help you.”

“You always say that like there’s something wrong with being a boy. What’s wrong with me wanting to help you.”

“I don’t need your help.” With those words, she stood and ran home, crying.

Two minutes later, Mom and Dad exited through the front door demanding an explanation. He tried to explain, but his parents hadn’t known about her dad’s restrictions. It got dicey then as Mom and Dad discussed if Jason should even see Stephanie.

Two days had passed since Stephanie’s blow-up. He’d sent text after text, but she hadn’t replied. At first, he thought her father came home, but there hadn’t been a sign of him either. Jason sat out back, ostensibly for the fresh air but really because he’d hoped to spot a sign of Stephanie.

“Oh, Jason!”

He instantly recognized Stephanie’s voice, but not the new lilt in her voice. One of the internet stories he wasn’t supposed to know about had used the term, “a come-hither look.” One glance at Stephanie provided a graphic definition. She stood between the gateposts, one hand twisting a lock of hair. With the other, she crooked a finger in a “come to me” gesture. This was just the start of the sensory overload. Instead of her normal skirt, the brief strip of red tartan around her hips barely covered anything. There wasn’t any way she could bend over wearing it. Just thinking about it made him sweat. To top it off, she wore a white button-down shirt knotted just below her boo…chest. He forced himself to think, “chest.”

“Oh, boy,” Jason mumbled. Speaking louder, he said, “I’ll be right there, sweetheart.” Then he remembered Alfred’s video pickups. Mom would freak if she saw Stephanie dressed like this. Fortunately, the camera currently pointed towards the back yard. He hurried.

Just before the camera swung towards Stephanie, Jason yanked her behind the gate. Laughing, Stephanie pulled it with her. When they stopped, the pair occupied a nice private wedge-shaped space between the fence, the gate, and the rear wall of her house. All in all, they had a snug little spot. The kind of space perfect for teenage mischief.

“Ohhhh, Jason,” Stephanie cooed. The lilt even more pronounced. “You’re so naughty, sneaking me in here with you.” She stepped close, an exaggerated sway to her hips, and stumbled on the uneven ground. Reacting quickly, Jason caught her, although he had difficulty finding safe places for his hands. Even the cloth-covered parts were dangerous.

Unfazed, Stephanie steadied herself. “What do you think?” she asked, twisting her hips and flipping up the side of her skirt.

“Mom would ground me for life, thinking what I’m thinking.”

Eyes flashing, Stephanie hissed, “You’re supposed to be thinking about me!” Then she smiled, and that come-hither lilt came back. “Does it give you any ideas?”

“Um,” it was like a multiple-choice test with only one answer. “You mean that thing we aren’t supposed to do.”

“Uh, huh.” Both of her palms pressed against his chest, then slowly slid down to his waist. “I think you should try something. You might get a surprise.”

At this moment, a surprise would be finding out she wore underwear. “Sweetheart, I’m not complaining, but are you sure about this?”

Stephanie arched her back, pressing her shoulders against the fence. “Jason,” Steph purred and licked her lips. He’d seen her do the same after Dad served up a particularly juicy hamburger.

Will power dwindling, he tried one last diversion. “Are you feeling okay? You’re all flushed.” Small beads of sweat dotted her brow.

“Oh, I’m hot.” The way she said it made him gulp. “And you’re exactly what the doctor ordered.”

His knees trembled.

She gave him another crooked finger, and like a man under a spell, Jason stepped into her arms. Their lips touched, and Stephanie pulled him close.

They skipped the small gentle kisses and jumped right into a full-on open-mouth slobber fest. Stephanie wasn’t like any other girl. Besides her impossible eye color, she was always warm to the touch. Kissing her or snuggling with her, heck, just touching her felt wonderful. Now, maybe because of their shared excitement, she felt feverish. He felt it through her clothes. Even worse, he felt her heat through his shorts. One last sliver of restraint remained.

He broke the kiss; his lips numb instead of tingly. “Ah, Steph, you know that thing we, err, you can’t do, ahh this…we should take a break.” Where was Alfred’s weather reports when they needed them?

“Don’t you want me?” she pouted for show then bent towards his neck. Instead of the expected brush of lips, teeth clamped against his shoulder. She bit far harder than any time before. Hard enough, he feared, to draw blood.

“Ow,” he hissed, twisting away. One of Stephanie's legs wrapped around the back of his thigh, trapping him. He tried a stern voice. “Steph, you’re hurting me.”

“Oh, poor baby,” she husked, then nuzzled his neck in a far less aggressive fashion. “Let Steffi kiss it better.”

Her burning hot lips pressed against his neck. A brief rasp of tongue followed. Behind him, Steff’s heel pressed the back of his thigh, pulling his groin against hers. One of her hands dipped low and squeezed. He followed suit, and a throaty gasp told him she welcomed the contact. Jason’s pulse pounded; this was it! His self-control sounded abandon ship and leaped overboard. Stephanie writhed against him, one hand pushing his shorts down. The back door to her house opened, footsteps scuffed across the porch, and a woman called out, “Stephanie! Get back inside, right this instant.” Jason tried to turn to see who spoke, but Stephanie held him pinned against her.

“Ah, but Mom…” she whined.

“But nothing, little miss.”

“Mom, just a couple more minutes, please?”

“No!” The word carried all the finality a mother could bring. “I’ll give you ten seconds to say goodbye to your boyfriend, but that’s it.” Footsteps tapped across the porch, but the back door didn’t cycle shut.

Like a leaky balloon, Stephanie sagged against him. “I gotta go,” she said.

“When can I see you again?” Jason panted. His heart pounded; it was right there!

“Another day, maybe two.” She kissed him, a far more tender kiss this time. Warm fingers traced along his jaw. “I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too.” They kissed again, although it was a sad kind of kiss, like an apology or something.

“Wait here until Mom, and I go inside.” It was the last thing she said before slipping away.

Two days later, Alfred announced, “Miss Stephanie is inbound.” Jason flew through the door and met her halfway across his yard. This time she wore a normal skirt and T-shirt. If anything appeared different, it was her downcast eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but she pressed a finger against his lips. “I’m sorry,” her voice low but clear, “I took advantage of you.”

He nodded. The schools always harped about consent. “It’s cool, I consented. What happened?”

“Wait,” she held a hand up. “I’ll tell you, but do your parents know?”

“Are you kidding? They’d skin me alive.”

“Whew,” she breathed. By mutual agreement, they sat on the edge of the hammock under the tree and away from Alfred’s microphones. “Did you ever have the flu really bad? Bad enough to say or do things you shouldn’t?”

Brows furrowed, he thought about it. “No, but I’ve heard it can happen.”

“It was like that for me. Mom grounded me, but I snuck out, and…well, you know what happened.”

“You’re better now?”

“Everything’s back to normal.” Her eyes locked on his. “Especially those things I can’t do. They’re still off-limits.”

“It’s cool.”

Her impossibly olive eyes searched his. “I think you mean it.” Then her eyes narrowed. “Why aren’t you mad? I was plenty mad when Mom interrupted us.”

“A couple reasons. One, I’m not ready to be a father. If I got you pregnant, Mom and Dad would kill me. Two, let’s just say I’ve slept great the last two nights.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You weren’t the only one with wandering hands. Some things are no longer mysteries.”

“You didn’t!”

Jason affected his most solemn voice. “I regret nothing.”

“You, you rat!”

“Hey, you wouldn’t believe how fast I fell asleep the last couple of nights.” He switched to a dreamy tone of voice. “I owe it all to you.”

“You are such a rat. And I can’t believe you’re telling me about…that.”

“Have I told you about my insomnia? It requires frequent treatments.”

“If you didn’t have a guilty conscience, you’d fall asleep easier.”

“If I didn’t have a smoking hot girlfriend, I’d be able to sleep on my stomach again.” This earned him a thump, and Stephanie’s cheeks were bright red. Worried he'd gone too far, Jason asked, “Did I embarrass you?”

“No, not really. Not after what happened. You’re a boy, and it’s my fault, anyway.”

Jason glanced down. “You weren’t yourself. If anything, I took advantage of you.”

“Come here,” she said. Jason turned, and Stephanie pulled his head to hers. “Someday, I’ll make all this up to you.” Her lips pressed against his, stifling any reply he might make.

Cold, merciless olive eyes flicked up from her board and stared into his. Her nostrils flared as she prepared to speak. “B-3,” said Stephanie.

“Hit,” Jason replied with a wince. This shot landed near the end of his aircraft carrier.

Say what you want about Stephanie. She was the sweetest, most affectionate, and heartbreakingly beautiful girl in the world. He’d do anything for her, and she for him. But teach her to play Battleship, and she turned into Chester Nimitz defending the Pacific Fleet.

Her eyes flicked down, and she placed a peg to mark her successful attack.

“H-8,” Jason said.

This time those cold, cold eyes accompanied a self-satisfied smile. “Miss,” she said.

“Crap!” he exploded. Time for a distraction. “Hey, remember when we talked about photographs? I’d love to have a picture of you wearing that little red skirt.”

Nimitz morphed back into Stephanie, who chuckled. “I think Mom locked it away. She was kind of mad I snuck one of her outfits.”

“Wait, a second.” This was a concept he needed to confirm. “That tiny skirt belongs to your mom? Can she still fit into it?”

“Sure, Mom and I are exactly the same size.”

“Oh, my goodness! Just like Seth said, I really 'won everything.’”

“What are you rambling about.”

“There’s an old saying, if you want to know what your girlfriend will look like when she’s older, look at her mother. If your mom still fits into that little skirt, chances are, you will too at the same age.”

Stephanie shook her head. “B-2,” Nimitz was back, and there was blood in the water.

“Hit.”

“Stephanie,” Mom called down from upstairs. “Can you stay for supper?”

“I’ll call and ask, but probably.”

“Ask your mother to come over. We’re having spaghetti, and I made a lot.”

Whispering, so his mother couldn’t hear, Jason said. “Tell your mom to wear that little red skirt.”

Stephanie’s eyes narrowed. He’d probably pay for it later.

Jason reached and handed Stephanie the family room handset.

“Hi Mom, both of us have an invite to supper. Jason’s mom made spaghetti.” Stephanie’s eyes met his. “And Jason wants you to wear that little red skirt.”

His jaw dropped. Stephanie actually asked! With his luck, her mom would wear it and blame him. Well, Dad probably wouldn’t be mad.

“Yeah, I think it made an impression.” Steph made eye contact with Jason and waggled her eyebrows.

Audacity for the win! He waggled his eyebrows in reply.

“I’ll pass that along. Thanks, Mom.”

“Mom said she might wear that dress for you someday. But not tonight, she has to work.”

“Bummer,” he said, frowning to appear dejected.

Laughing as though he’d told a grand joke, she said, “You’re lucky to have me. Mom doesn’t like men, much less boys.”

“Maybe I can change her mind?” He tried for a "butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth," look.

Stephanie pursed her lips. “You know, you might be able to. I’ve told Mom she needs a man like you.”

When everyone finished eating, Jason and Stephanie cleared the table and tidied up. His parents excused themselves upstairs to “catch up on their day.” The occasional burst of muted laughter made him think something else might be happening.

“Do they know we can hear them?” Stephanie asked.

“Nah, Dad’s too respectable. Mom though, I think she has a wild streak.” He gave her his best significant glance. “Just like you.” Much to his delight, Stephanie played along. She glanced away, then back. The look was a pure come-on, and he fell for it every time. He leaned in for a kiss.

Instead of a kiss, Stephanie pushed him back and hip-checked the dishwasher door shut. “You think I have a wild streak?”

Playing tag was his name for the latest development in their physical relationship. Neither of them had discussed rules, but neither worried over an occasional misplaced hand.

Measuring the angles to prevent her from slipping past, Jason feinted left, then right and swooped in for the win. Far faster than he expected, Stephanie ducked under his arms and ghosted past, the palm of her hand patting his butt on the way.

By the time he spun around, she’d made it into the dining room. The kitchen had another exit, this one leading into the short hallway joining the living room and foyer. Unless she doubled back, it gave him a chance to head her off. He darted into the living room as Stephanie turned the corner from the dining room. She dodged to her right. Jason lunged, wrapping his left arm around her waist, and spun to absorb her momentum. They twirled across the living room, once, twice, then his knees hit the couch, and they fell. Jason landed on his back with Stephanie on top. One arm remained around her waist, the other fell out to the side. All he needed to do was tip his head up to kiss her, and that’s exactly what he did.

“Master Jason?” Alfred’s cultured voice broke his concentration. Stephanie snickered and switched to nibbling his neck.

“Yes, Alfred?” Jason gasped. Stephanie’s nibbling drove him crazy.

“The National Weather Service reports a fast-moving low-pressure front will bring rain showers tomorrow.”

The nibbling reached his earlobe. Necking with Stephanie turned his brain to mush, but it had the opposite effect elsewhere. Quickly approaching his limit, Jason gasped. “Thanks, Alfred.”

“You are most welcome, Master Jason.”

Stephanie laughed and sat upright. This did two things. It took her weight off his chest and put her, er, pelvis squarely on top of his, er, manhood.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Jason grunted from the unexpected pressure and Stephanie’s eyes popped open. As if scalded, she immediately slid back. Panic set in and Jason worried if he should apologize.

Then Stephanie surprised him. “I didn’t hurt it, did I?”

“It” was still covered by the drape of her skirt. Jason shook his head. “Trust me, Sweetheart,” he chuckled, “‘hurt’ is the wrong word to use.”

She glanced down at the barely concealed lump. “Mom says all men are horndogs.”

What do you do when your smoking hot girlfriend calls you a horndog? If you’re smart, you admit she’s right. “The defendant pleads guilty and offers exhibit ‘D’ as evidence.”

Stephanie snorted then shook her head. “Sorry to raise an objection, but we’re not ready for that.”

“Oh,” he felt his heart sink. They were so close.

“Besides, Mom made me promise not to have sex yet.”

Everyone knew which kids had restrictive parents. You could often tell by the clothes they wore. Not that Stephanie wore anything like that. “Okay,” he said. “A promise is a promise. I understand.”

“You understand what?”

He shrugged, there wasn’t anything else to do. “I’m not going to ask you to break a promise.”

“Why not?” Was it his imagination, or was she irritated? Women!

“You mean too much to me. If I made you break a promise, you’d remember it forever, and I don’t want anything like that between us.”

She stared at him then scooted forward and kissed him. “Mom doesn’t think men like you are real.”

The pressure was back, and by the look in Steph’s eyes, she knew exactly what she was doing. Apparently, incidental contact was allowed. Another kiss, then a second and Steph had nearly melted against him. She felt like a girl-shaped electric blanket. He hadn’t been careful with his hands and for the last few minutes he’d alternated between rubbing her back and her butt.

Alfred interrupted with another statement about high and low pressures.

Stephanie sighed and said, “What are you doing?”

“Rubbing your back.”

“And?”

“Rubbing your butt. It’s one of my favorite things.” He felt especially brave. “Sometimes, when you walk, I think you wiggle it extra ՚cause you know I’m watching.” He’d already slid both hands up to her back.

“It’s so easy to get your attention.” It wasn’t quite an admission, but he saw the corners of her mouth quirk.

“Hey, if you’re an average guy and the prettiest girl in the world shakes her butt at you, you better notice.”

“That’s it,” Stephanie lifted on her elbows and fire lit her olive eyes. “I don’t want to hear you say how average you are. You,” a pointed index finger thudded against his chest, “are the best boyfriend in the world.”

The time was right. They’d never been closer. “Steph, I....” His voice trailed off as uncertainty gnawed at his gut. He needed to tell her how he felt.

“What?” she prodded.

With the most important confession of his life on the line, Jason lost his nerve. “I think you’re the best girlfriend in the world.”

“That’s right,” Stephanie grinned. “I’m the best girlfriend, ever, and don’t forget it.” That index finger tapped with each word.

“Right, but remember, I’m just a dumb boy who needs kisses to remember complicated stuff.”

Relaxing her arms, Stephanie settled back onto his chest. Her weight was just a little more than one might expect. He chalked it up as another item that helped make her special. Then she kissed him, and his thoughts went elsewhere.

“The low pressure over Wisconsin is expected to keep the hot, dry air over Western Pennsylvania in place for another few days.” Once again, Jason wondered which of his parents dreamed up Alfred’s weather forecast schedule.

Stephanie chuckled and rolled onto her side. Sometimes Alfred’s weather updates didn’t stop until they took a break. This forecast included the winds aloft over Lake Erie. “Thank you, Alfred,” said Stephanie. She rolled back on top and stared down into his eyes. “Remember,” she said, “you’re the perfect boy for me.”

“And you’re the perfect girl for me.”

They kissed again, pressing their lips together, then deepened the kiss, tasting each other. Stephanie’s perfume, a light, delicate scent, filled Jason’s nostrils. Five minutes later, Alfred’s next weather update forced another break.

Stephanie shifted to the side, and Jason rolled with her. Their legs entwined. He said, “Your perfume drives me crazy.”

“I don’t wear perfume.”

“Really? It’s one of the many reasons I love kissing you.” Uh oh, the “L” word slipped out. Maybe she wouldn’t notice? A part of him hoped she did.

“Maybe it’s my shampoo? What does it smell like?”

“Hmm? Let me check.” He nuzzled her neck, and Steffi gasped at the contact. The scent filled his nostrils. After taking his fill, Jason said, “It’s warm and spicy. It seriously makes me want to misbehave.”

“You’re silly. Anyway, you better not misbehave.” Her eyes belied the warning.

“I hear the words, but your eyes tell me something different.”

“My eyes don’t get a vote.”

He reached up and ran his fingers through her hair, marveling at its softness. “You set the limits, sweetheart. I won’t push until you tell me it’s okay.”

Stephanie stretched and kissed his forehead, “You really mean that too.” Her words a statement and not a question.

“Yep.”

They kissed again, going deep. Stephanie reached for his free hand and guided it to her waist, then up. He hadn’t earned an all-access pass, but every step represented more of her trust.

***

“Mom, I have a weird question.”

“Okay,” amused, Natalie sat her book down. “I’ll do my best to give you a weird answer.”

“Do we emit some kind of intoxicating scent?”

Of all the questions Stephanie might have asked, this wasn’t even close to expected. “You mean like a Venus flytrap or a pitcher plant?”

Stephanie shrugged, “I guess. Jason says he’s addicted to my perfume.”

“You don’t wear perfume.”

“I know, that’s why it's weird. Jason says it makes him crazy and almost out of control.”

“Sweetie, Jason’s a sixteen-year-old boy, control isn’t one of his strong points. I think he’s exaggerating. Oh, I have bad news about the next couple of days. Yevgeny’s coming back early. Call Romeo and tell him you’re grounded.”

***

The video display on Jason’s wall pinged, and its 2D image of NASA’s Opportunity Mars Rover dimmed.

Alfred’s voice came from the speaker. “Miss Stephanie is calling.”

“Put her through.” Jason hopped up from his bed. She’d seen him in his briefs before. As the image resolved, he straightened his hair. Stephanie appeared on the screen, her hair damp and combed back. She wore an oversized black t-shirt emblazoned with red jagged letters spelling, “Slayer.”

“Hey!” he said, “is that the shirt I left on your porch?”

Stephanie grinned. “Yep, it’s my nightshirt now.”

“I hope you washed it first.” He’d last worn it while cutting grass. “It, ah, looks really good on you. Especially with your hair looking so dark. It’s kind of goth.”

“What’s goth?”

“It’s an old lifestyle, I’ll show you some pictures tomorrow.”

Stephanie's smile flattened out. “That’s why I called. Gene’s coming home early, and I’m grounded until he leaves again.”

“That sucks.”

“What will you do without me?” she asked, her voice wistful.

“Probably pine away to nothing without having you kiss me back to life.”

Stephanie giggled. “I’ll give you plenty of kisses after he leaves again.”

“Plenty of kisses sounds like heaven.” Jason sighed. “Tomorrow, I have to cut the grass. Afterward, I guess I’ll work on AI programming.”

A lock of Stephanie’s hair slipped out from behind her ear. She reached and tucked it back into place. “You’re always reading about programming. Do you think that’s what you’ll do?”

“Maybe, Mom and Dad say I have to go to college. Software Engineering is a good career. What about you? We can go to college together.”

A female voice came from somewhere out of the frame. “Tell Romeo goodnight, I need to turn the security system back on.”

“Mom says I have to go.” Stephanie frowned.

Jason grinned. “So, I’m Romeo?”

Shrugging, Stephanie said, “It’s what she calls you.”

“Well, I won’t call you Juliet, ՚cause our story won’t have a tragic ending.”

Stephanie glanced off to her right. Jason thought perhaps towards her mother, then back to him. She said, “I have to go, goodnight, Jay.”

“Goodnight, sweetheart.” The screen flickered back to that of Opportunity. The old robot who’d managed a brave, yet temporary, existence.

In the morning, Mom’s good mood threatened to outshine the summer sun. They must have done it again. Weeks earlier, he’d have wanted to hide from embarrassment. Now though, in an odd way, he felt happy for them. Maybe, if he admitted it to himself, he envied them for their relationship. Mom and Dad were always a team. He wanted the same thing for himself and his wife. Right now, he couldn’t imagine his wife being anyone other than Stephanie.

“Earth to Jason.” His mother pulled out the chair opposite him and sat. “Such deep thoughts.” Mom paused. “Want to talk about it?”

“Huh?” He looked up with pretended confusion. No way, he’d admit his mom could read him so easily.

“You’ve done nothing but stare at the window, and your waffles are cold. That spells deep thoughts. I think you’re going through a new stage of emotional development. You have a wonderful girlfriend, and your dad had one of those talks with you.” She smiled and waited.

“Am I so easy to read?” Funny, he thought he should be embarrassed, but he wasn’t. He felt strangely confident. Is this what adulting is like?

“You’re my son. I’ve watched you grow. What else would you expect? Now, do you want to talk about anything? Maybe discuss your feelings about Stephanie? If you’d prefer to talk to your father…” His mother moved back as if she intended to stand.

“No, wait!” Jason held up a hand. “It’s just…I realized, just now, that I want the same kind of relationship you and Dad have.”

“Ah, and does your current girlfriend factor into this?”

“Yeah, I’d like it to be with Stephanie, but what you and Dad have is years and years away.”

“I remember my first boyfriend, a handsome young man named Kenneth. I was certain he was the one and that nothing could come between us.” Mom smiled. Jason remembered seeing pictures of his mother when she was a teen. Mom had been hot, oh, not as hot as Stephanie but still hot. There was that one picture of her with a disembodied arm around her waist. Whoever belonged to the arm had long ago been scissored from her life. “The thing, Jason, is it takes time for relationships to develop. During your time together, you and Steph will learn and grow. You might stay together, you might not. The single best piece of advice I can give you is to always be honest with her and with yourself.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“You’re welcome.” Mom smiled. “You know, there is something unusual about your girlfriend. She’s quite direct and, as far as I can tell, knows exactly what she wants. Girls mature earlier than boys, but Stephanie is way, way ahead for her age. If anything serves to keep your relationship going, it’ll be that. You, however, have your work cut out trying to keep up with her.”

“Sometimes, I think she’s two or three steps ahead of me.”

“I think so too. I also think Stephanie’s genuinely fond of you,” Mom smiled and nodded as if somehow taking credit for everything. “And you of her.”

Jason felt his cheeks warm, but he needed to tell someone. “Since yesterday, I realized, I more than like her.”

Mom pursed her lips. “Hmmm…more than like? As your mother, I appreciate specifics. But be careful explaining it to Stephanie. Use phrases like ‘I like you a lot.’”

Jason spent the morning mowing and trimming. Once on Stephanie’s property, hopeful for a glimpse of his girlfriend, he sometimes snuck a glance towards a window. On one circuit of their yard, he found an older looking man (Stephanie’s father?) standing at the foot of the back porch. Until now, Jason hadn’t seen him up close. The man was wiry, with thinning unkempt hair and pale watery eyes. If this was Mr. Timms, he looked nothing like his daughter. As Jason came into view, the man held up a hand. Jason killed the turbine.

“So, you’re the boy, my…Natalie hired to cut the grass.”

The man’s accent and phrasing made Jason pause. Still, he knew to be polite. “Yes, my name’s—”

Mr. Timms cut him off with a dismissive wave. “Has she paid you?”

Until now, he hadn’t considered pay; spending time with Stephanie seemed a fair trade. Still, this man needed a different answer. “No, not yet.”

Gesturing towards Jason’s own yard, Timms said, “How much do you get for mowing your own yard?”

His weekly allowance came to fifty dollars, not that he ever saw the money. His father kept track, calling it the textbook fund. “I get fifty a week.”

“Fifty?” The amount seemed to amuse the man. “Fifty dollars to cut grass?” He said it as if it were the punch line to a joke. “Nah, that’s too much.” He reached into his front pocket and removed a thick wad of folded bills. After flipping through the stack, he stopped. “I’ll give you twenty.’ He removed a single twenty-dollar bill, then five more. “This for today and the last five weeks.” Mr. Timms held out the money.

Jason reached out to take the bills, but Timms held tight. “How old are you, boy?”

“Sixteen, sir,” he hadn't intended to add “sir.” It just slipped out.

The man nodded. “You know, I have daughter, the same age as you. Boy, if I catch you sniffing around her, I’ll…” Mr. Timms didn’t finish his statement, but he let go of the money.

Jason slipped back a step. He looked into the man’s eyes and saw nothing. No humor, no anger, nothing. Wow, talk about crazy fathers.

Mr. Timms stepped back onto his porch. He waved Jason back to his task. “You just keep cutting the grass and minding your own business. I’ll keep paying you, and we’ll get along fine.”

Jason kept his eyes down while finishing the lawn.

***

After Jason went to bed, his parents opened a bottle of wine and settled onto their sectional couch. Robert said, “I didn’t see Stephanie today. I hope everything is well with Elizabeth and Darcy.”

Shirley chuckled, then began to cough. Robert thumped her on the back and waited. She took another sip and set her glass on the side table. “Why Elizabeth and Darcy? I’d think Odysseus and Penelope are a better analogy.”

“You’re right, except for that long break in their relationship. If Odysseus and Penelope teach anything, it’s how true love is worth waiting for.”

***

“No Stephanie today?” Mom asked while she worked on a dried flower arrangement.

“Her dad’s still home.” Jason poked at his tablet; this AI hacking tutorial fascinated him. Much of it went over his head, but bits and pieces made sense.

Mom stepped over and glanced through the kitchen window. “Oh, I guess Steph must miss her father. He’s on the road so much.”

Engrossed with his research, Jason didn’t think before he replied. “She doesn’t like him. She even gets mad if I call him her dad. From what she’s said, he treats her and her mother like property.”

“When did Stephanie tell you this?”

Unaware of his mother’s heightened interest, Jason continued. “We talk about it once in a while. He yells and bosses them around a lot. Stephanie stays in her room as much as she can.”

Mom put down the flowers. “Are Stephanie or her mother abused?”

Jason realized the danger in his offhanded comments. Hadn’t Stephanie told him not to say anything? If his mother called the police, he might never see his girlfriend again. Back peddling, Jason said, “Stephanie never said her father hit her or touched her mother. All she said was that he bossed them around.”

“Hmmm, I won’t get involved, but tell Stephanie I’ll help if she or her mother need anything.” As his mother turned away, he heard her mutter. “I wonder if I should call Natalie?”

Later in the afternoon, Alfred announced the arrival of a message. “Master Jason, Miss Stephanie has sent you a text. She says you better be miserable without her.”

“Thanks, Alfred. Please tell her that I am a sad, depressed, wretch without her company.”

On the morning of his third day without Stephanie, Jason sat at the kitchen table, sipping unsweetened grapefruit juice. Five minutes earlier, his mother passed by on her way out. She’d invited him to join her on a day-long clothes shopping expedition. He’d declined, even after Mom upped the ante by offering lunch at the local Chinese restaurant. Not wanting to miss her shopping day, Mom kissed his head and set off in her little electric minivan.

Jason took another sip of the incredibly tart juice and shivered. How could Stephanie like this stuff? She even preferred it over apple or orange juice. Still, drinking it somehow made him feel closer to her.

Three tentative taps at his back door drew his attention. Through the glass, a familiar girl with a headful of red hair waited. Jason threw open the door, and Stephanie darted inside and into his arms.

After their third kiss, Stephanie said, “I would have come sooner, but Gene did something to the security system, and it took Mom hours to fix it.”

“What do you mean?”

“You can’t say anything about this, but Gene spies on us. Mom’s really smart and hacks the security system so I can sneak out the back door.”

“Your mom’s a hacker?”

“Yeah, she’s super smart. That’s why I can call sometimes.”

“Wow, so when do I get to meet her?”

Stephanie glanced away, then back. Her hands rose to comb through his hair. “I don’t know. Probably not for a while, but I hope not too long.”

Sometimes Stephanie said odd things like that. It didn’t matter, she was here now. He grinned and opened his arms as if to attack her.

Stephanie grinned back and opened her arms in a counterattack. Her eyes widened when he darted forward and lifted her up as high as he could.

“Jason! Ack! Put me d—”

Stephanie’s full weight surprised him. Like her unexpected strength when they wrestled. Given her slenderness, he figured she must have incredible muscle density. Carefully, he stepped forward, ignoring her protests, and set her on the edge of the kitchen counter. Their disparity in height reversed, Jason stepped in close and looked up into Stephanie’s narrowed eyes.

He’d never seen Stephanie this annoyed before. “Jason! That wasn’t smart. I’m wearing a stretch skirt, and they creep up, you know.”

“Yeah? I better get a good look then.” Jason leaned to the side while Stephanie glowered. “Nope, everything’s still covered. You do look good, is this a new skirt?”

“It belongs to Mom. She let me wear it to look nice for you.” Her tone implied he’d ruined everything.

“I’m just putting you on a pedestal, sweetheart.”

“Very funny.

“Do you have a bathing suit?” Jason interrupted their shared reading of a classic science fiction novel, The Dragons of Dorcastle, by Jack Campbell. They accomplished this feat with Stephanie sitting on his lap, their heads close together. Jason flicked to the next page when Stephanie indicated.

“A bathing suit? No, why?” Stephanie’s voice carried a note of irritation, she disliked interruptions when they read together.

“Dad bought an above ground pool. It’ll be installed tomorrow.”

“A pool? Jason, I don’t even know how to swim.”

“No problem, I can teach you, and you’ll look so hot in a bikini.” Jason closed his eyes to imagine the sight.

Dad didn’t screw around. The pool he purchased took up a large, sun-filled corner of the back yard. The installation crew assembled it in hours. Later in the afternoon, a water delivery truck filled it with fresh-pumped well water. It took days for the frigid water to warm enough for swimming.

As it turned out, Stephanie’s mom had an old bathing suit saved from years past. Stephanie teased him with fake descriptions. One day she claimed it covered everything from her knees to her neck, the next day saying it resembled three small adhesive bandages. Now, Jason and Stephanie stood on the raised wooden platform. He wore trunks, and she wore her denim skirt and a strappy shirt.

“I’m ready,” he said.

Stephanie stepped to the edge and dipped a toe into the water. She performed an exaggerated shiver and stepped back. “You’ll stay next to me the whole time?”

“I promise!” he said and drew and drew a finger over his chest in the shape of an X. “Cross my heart.”

“You first,” she said, pointing at the water.

“When am I going to see your swimming suit?” Suspicion tinged his voice.

“After you get in and are ready to catch me.”

Grinning, Jason stepped to the edge, turned around, and fell back into the water. As he sank below the surface, he watched a spray of water arc up towards his startled girlfriend. It took a moment to find his footing, then he stood and faced his dripping wet and unhappy girlfriend.

“You rat! You did that on purpose.”

The urge to laugh was strong, but Jason’s self-preservation was stronger. “I’m sorry, Sweetheart, I should have been more careful.”

He endured thirty-seconds of suspicious glare before she relented. “All right, no more splashing!” Then she peeled the shirt up and over her head, revealing a dark green string bikini top. Then, with the most interesting wiggle, she dropped her skirt. It was so enticing, he almost asked her to do it again. Stephanie’s string bikini bottom matched the top. It rode low on her hips and, along with the top, exposed a lot of skin.

“Holy heck

“Wow!” he said. Reality exceeded his imagination. Besides exposing most of his girlfriend, the suit clung to every square centimeter it covered.

Smiling, Steffi turned in place, stopping when she faced Jason again. “Satisfied?”

Jason shook his head. “Nah, the water’s too cold for anything like that to happen. But you are smoking hot.”

Stephanie affected an open-mouthed, hands-on-hips, look of outrage. Jason laughed and held his arms open. Instead of jumping in, she sat on the edge of the wooden deck and slipped into the water.

Stephanie’s first swimming lesson didn’t go well. Even though the water was only a little cool, her lips turned blue within minutes. Jason gallantly hung back and helped her climb the ladder. Then he felt like a cad for watching how snug her suit fit. He followed and wrapped her in one of the huge towels Mom had set out for them.

After toweling each other dry, they spread their towels on the grass beside the pool. Jason lay on his stomach while Stephanie rubbed sunblock on his back.

She said, “I’ll tell Mom you liked her bikini.”

“What I liked was seeing you wear it.” Once wet, the already tight-fitting bikini had clung to Stephanie’s body. The result had to qualify as one of the world’s natural wonders.

The warm sun and Stephanie’s soothing hands took their toll, and he dozed off.

“Roll over on your back.” Stephanie wiped her sunscreen covered hands on a corner of Jason’s towel.

“Umm, I'm good like this.”

“What do you mean? You'll burn without sunscreen.”

Speaking low so his voice wouldn’t carry. “Steph, I can't roll over right now. Give me a few minutes, ’kay?”

It didn’t take a rocket scientist to understand his problem. Stephanie figured it out within seconds. “Really? All I did was rub your back.”

“Look, I’m a guy, it doesn’t take much.”

Then she surprised the hell out of him. “What if I want to see it?”

“I didn’t think we were ready for that.”

“Jay, we're not gonna do that. But we might do something else.”

“Oh? What?”

“Come on.” Stephanie stood and offered her hand. He rolled over, and Steph, eyes pointedly aimed below his waist, pulled him to his feet. Together, they walked to the blind spot behind the old tree in the far corner of the yard.

With his back to the tree and out of view from the house, Stephanie gave him a kiss. “Listen for your kitchen door opening. If anyone comes, we'll pretend we’re kissing.”

Jason nodded. He didn’t trust his voice.

“Show it to me,” she said.

He pushed the front of his trunks down, and it popped into view.

Stephanie’s eyes widened a bit. “Whoa, it’s bigger than I expected,” she tilted her head to the side, “and it’s kind of cute.” Her eyes glanced up to his. “Can I?” She reached out as if to touch it.

“Y-yes.”

His response earned him one of Steffi’s dazzling smiles, then her exquisitely warm hand wrapped around him.

Blood thundered in his ears, all he could do was groan, “Ahhh…”

A hand grabbed his arm, shaking him awake. “Huh?”

“Roll over. Hurry, your mom’s coming.”

Unsure why Steph wanted him to do it, he rolled onto his stomach. Once turned over, the reason became painfully clear when his erect member pressed into his abdomen.

Mom brought iced tea. Sweetened for him and unsweetened for Stephanie. Jason hoped the distraction would help to relieve his “swelling.” After mom disappeared back into the house, embarrassment made Jason wish he could sink into the ground.

Stephanie lay on her stomach next to him and chuckled. “I’ve been aware of that thing for weeks now, but I had no idea it got hard like that on its own.”

“It does it at the worst times.”

“Maybe you had a nice dream?”

“Oh, yeah, you were in it.” It had been a nice dream; one he’d revisit tonight.

“What did your horndog imagination have us doing?”

“A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.”

“It doesn’t count if it was with me.”

“All right.” He described the dream, in detail.

Steffi whistled. “You have a vivid imagination. Just don’t get any real-world ideas.”

“Might as well tell me not to breathe.”

“You’re such a boy.”

Jason looked over at Stephanie’s shoulder, then down along her back to her string bikini-clad buttocks. “Yeah, I’m a boy with a very pretty girlfriend, who drives him crazy.” He laid his head down, facing Stephanie. “What about you?” he asked, “Don’t you get ideas?”

“Probably the same ones. You drive me crazy too.”

“Good!”

“Good? Is that all you can say? Just for that, you owe me a kiss.”

Jason rolled onto his right side, and with one arm, pulled Stephanie close. Fully aware of the nearby kitchen window, he kept their kiss brief. When finished, they remained on their sides, legs touching. Jason’s little problem masked by Stephanie’s hip.

“Steph, would it bug you if I said that I’m in love with you?”

Anyone else would have missed her hesitation before she replied. Jason noticed it but attributed it to his surprise question.

“No, not unless you’re trying to get somewhere with that.” Her hip bumped him.

“That thing may make my life difficult, but it doesn’t rule me. I think I love you because ‘like’ doesn’t cover how I feel.”

He noticed another brief hesitation, then she said, “So, you don’t want to have sex with me?”

Now it was his turn to play it cool. “Nope, not at all. It’s the furthest thing from my mind.”

“The furthest thing from your mind is currently poking my hip.”

“Sorry.” Jason disentangled his legs from hers and rolled back onto his stomach. He grumbled, “I shouldn’t have said anything,” He’d screwed everything up and didn’t know how to fix it.

A warm finger drew nonsense patterns on his back, and the sensations drew him back from his funk. Stephanie said, “Jason, love isn’t something my family knows about.”

“What does that mean? Your parents—”

“My parents aren’t like yours. They’re not married, and they don’t love each other.”

“But…” his words trailed off when he realized he didn’t know what to say. “Why does your mom—”

“It’s complicated. Look, you can’t tell anyone this stuff. It’s a secret.” Jason nodded, too surprised for words. “Gene is Mom’s second…boyfriend. She didn’t love her first, either. Because I'm her daughter, it’s altogether possible I can’t love someone romantically.”

All this serious talk made his little problem a non-issue. Jason rolled over and sat cross-legged. “I don’t understand. Love is the same as like, just bigger and more intense. Don't you love your mother?”

“Of course, but it’s not the same.”

“No, it isn’t, but it proves you can love.”

“Maybe, but I don’t think Mom and I are wired like you.”

“Love between a parent and their child begins with pheromones and brain chemistry. Romantic love has similar beginnings. It just works on different parts of the brain.”

“For normal brains, sure, but Mom and I are different. Don’t ask me to explain how or why. We just are.”

Jason lay back down, he’d made his confession, and while she accepted it, she told him, in no uncertain terms, she didn’t—and wouldn’t—feel the same. In his rush to tell Stephanie what he learned about his feelings and because he wanted to share his happiness, he’d screwed everything up.

***

When her back door clicked shut, Natalie glanced up to watch her daughter shuffle inside. “What’s the matter, sweetie? Are you and Romeo on the outs?”

On her way to a chair, Stephanie forced a smile. “Nothing like that, Jason said he loves me.”

“Oh, this is good news. I’ll make tea, and you can tell me all the gory details.”

Minutes later, mom and daughter sipped their tea in silence. Natalie kept her eyes on Stephanie. She’d talk when she was ready.

“This afternoon, while we took a break from swimming, he told me he loved me.”

“Something so romantic should come with trumpets and a white horse. All you got was a damp towel.”

“Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be in love?”

“Me? That’s never been an option.”

“What about me?”

Recognizing her daughter’s concern, Natalie set her cup down. “Sweetie, I don’t know. There isn’t anything about love in my design documents.”