“Theo, I’m surprised at you.” Martin tuts down the phone. “A college professor, with a college aged daughter, who doesn’t know about various sexual preferences?”
“You may be my older brother but we both know I could kick your ass.”
Martin laughs out loud. “Yeah, yeah, Mr Universe, we know. To answer your question, no, I’m not demisexual. I mean, I wasn’t like some manwhore, but I did get around a little at college. I thought you did, too.”
I swallow hard. “I did, a little. But, I always found it hard to separate sex and emotions. I found it hard to… have those feelings for someone I didn’t know.” I squint at the window, where rain has started pattering against the pane again. “Hold up, who explained all this to you?”
“Riley,” Martin replies. “She’s doing this gender studies class and found out all sorts of things about herself, and then she bombarded us all with these tests so we’d find out where we sat on the scale.”
“Your daughter has as inquisitive a mind as you do, I see.” I laugh to myself, shaking my head. “Let me guess, she wants to be a sex therapist now.”
“How did you know?” Martin chuckles. “Seriously though, I think for us men it’s harder to admit something like that to ourselves. First off, we never talked about it growing up. Second, well, we’re meant to be sex-crazed and up for it no matter what, no matter when, no matter who, right?”
If only you knew. My cheeks burn with shame.
“I…I guess.”
“Does she know?”
I choke a little and clear my throat with a cough. “Wh-who? Know what?”
“Your lady friend,” Martin says with a drawl. “Because the way you just said that it was just casual, and now you’re talking like this, maybe you should tell her that it meant more to you?”
“No, I can’t.” I sigh heavily. “She’s… Not in a position to be in a relationship.”
“Oh, Theo.” Martin’s voice is instantly strained with concern. “She’s not married, is she?”
“No! No, nothing like that, oh my god!” I sputter, trying to come up with some good reason other than admitting the woman I just fucked all weekend til she crawled into my heart and brain was less than half my age and just happened to be my daughter’s best friend. “She’s just… She’s on her way to having an amazing new job, not near here. And I didn’t want to hold her back. She made it clear she just wanted… some fun.”
“Ah.” Martin sighs. “I’m sorry, Theo.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll be fine. Carb overload, some whiskey, and I’ll have forgotten about her before I know it.”
“Sure.” Martin doesn’t sound sure at all, and I know I damn well don’t. “Hey, uh, why don’t I come down to see you in a couple weeks? Jasper would love to spend some time with his uncle.”
“Sure, that’d be great, I’d like that.”
“Good.”
We both pause awkwardly, not knowing what else to say, and I think if I keep talking the truth will spill out of me and that’ll be bad.
“Hey, look, I better go,” I say quickly just as Martin begins to speak. “I’ve got some stuff to do before Laurie gets home.”
“Sure, of course. Tell her I said hi.”
“Will do!”
I swipe away the call like the phone is on fire and about to reveal all my secrets.
It’s fine. I’ll be fine.
I lean heavily on the countertop, my phone pinging to let me know the driver is on their way with my pizza. I open the app, the words swimming in front of me, and I look around on the counter for my glasses. They’re not there.
They must be on my desk.
I head into the office, and sure enough, there they are. I round the desk, and step on something soft with my bare foot. Ilook down, and my heart lurches when I see it’s a pair of Amber’s lacy panties. My face is on fire, and I feverishly pace the house for any more traces of her, because how in the fuck would I ever explain that to my daughter. Sure, those panties could belong to anyone, it’s not like they have a big bold sign printed on them saying,Property of the 20 year old woman your father fucked all over the house while you were away for the weekend. Oh, and she’s also your best friend.
At the end of my search, I’m left with two pairs of Amber’s panties. The pair from the office, and the pair that I made her take off at the restaurant. They were still tucked into my pocket. I stare at them before stuffing them into my night stand, to be dealt with later. I can’t very well leave those lying in Laurie’s room to be returned later.
