“Henry, that’s heartbreaking,” Marnie frowns.“How could she do that to you?”
“It’s what she does.She runs.”I take a few more measured breaths before standing up.“I’m going to lie down for a bit.”
“Good idea,” Marnie says.“Dot and I will keep working on your new display cases.”
I leave them for the stairs, desperate to be alone and recover from the shock of her.
But lying on my bed under the ceiling fan, breathing back to normal, I’m restless and upset.Thereisno recovery from Venus.That’sthe problem.There hasn’t been before, and there won’t be now.
Fuck, she looked beautiful though.
I close my eyes and remember her climbing into my bed when we were eighteen.She’d done that since we were twelve.The deep pressure stimulation of being held relieved her, and I was the only person she felt comfortable enough with to ask.I never minded, even when she sometimes startled me awake or nearly got me in trouble for it.
But that night was different.
She slid into my bed, and I curled up behind her, spooning her as she nestled into me.
“You okay?”I breathed against her neck in a sleepy haze.
She nodded, but I knew better.Senior year was starting, and Venus hated school.Summers were our best times.I wrapped her up, tightening my hold, and she relaxed with deep breaths.With my lips a breath away from her neck, her familiar scent of rosemary and roses, her body so close, my thoughts drifted to how good she felt in my arms.With only my boxers and her jean shorts between us, I grew hard against her.Embarrassed, I rolled onto my back suddenly, mumbling an apology.She wanted my comfort, notthat.
She twisted to face me, propping her hand under her head.“Don’t be sorry.Be reassured that your body functions properly, in this instance, at least.”
I guffawed.“Gee, thanks, Vee.”
She smirked at my sarcasm, but really, I loved that she joked about my asthma.She made me feel better about it, like it wasn’t the anxiety-ridden curse Mom made it out to be.
Now perched on her side, staring at me, she said, “Can I help?”
“What?”
She pointed to my boxers.“Let me help you with that.”
My eyes went wide with disbelief.“You want to help with my hard-on?”I clarified, though in hindsight, it shouldn’t have surprised me.Venus viewed life through a scientific prism—everything was worthy of exploration and experimentation.Sex shouldn’t have been an exception.
Even so, I never expected this.
“It’s a natural reaction to having someone of your preferred gender in your private space—a space I’m presently violating,” she reasoned.“It’s the least I can do?—“
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?We’re adults, Henry.”
“Yeah, but…” We’d only just celebrated our eighteenth birthdays this summer.With our senior year upon us, we felt like adults still trapped in kid lives.For me, the year ahead would be easy, a formality.For her, it’d be uncomfortable and miserable.
“But what?”she urged.
I sat up, groaning.“You don’t believe in love or romance.You don’t want to be my girlfriend.You don’t want to kiss or hold hands or date.But you want… this?”
“We aremorethan any label or social construct, Henry.What we have is perfect.Stop overthinking it.I want to make you feel comfortable and meet your needs.And I’m… curious.”
“Curious?”Moonlight illuminated her face just enough for me to see a sexy smirk coiling on her lips.Still, I sighed.“Take some deep breaths.Think it through.”
She did as I asked—after years of friendship, she’d gotten better at listening to me.Trusting me.
A minute later, she smiled triumphantly.“Done.”
“Still want to?”
