I can’t stop laughing. Happy tears are sliding down my cheeks, and I can say without any hesitation, I’ve never been happier. And I do love him. I just hope I don’t fuck it up.
When I’ve calmed down, I wipe my face and look up at him. He’s smiling down at me like I’m the best thing he’s ever seen. “I’ve never laughed in bed with a girlfriend before.”
“Oh, we’re going there? Talking about your exes. Now?”
“No.” He reaches down and pinches my side. Not hard. “I meant that you’re the first girlfriend I’ve ever had who was the entire package—smart, beautiful, sexy, funny, interesting, quirky, and a blast in bed. How could I not love you?”
“I’m still not ready for a baby. If this is real”—I point to him then at myself—“we need a year to see how this goes. I’m notorious for screwing up good things in my life. I’m going to do the same with us.”
“Not if I don’t let you.”
I reach out and stroke his still hard dick. Unbelievable. “If you say so.” I wrap my hand around him and slide it up and down. He’s got a perfect penis. Not a surprise since it’s attached to Billy Mathers. “Wrap this up. I’m ready for you to fuck me.”
“Fuck,” he moans. “JoJo, you’re so fucking sexy.”
“I know.” I sigh then giggle. “Now, chop-chop.”
“Yes, ma’am.” And he does. He wraps it up and shows me how much he loves me. Twice.
Chapter Seventeen
Sitting down at my parents’kitchen table is stressful on a normal day. Today is ten times worse because I’ve got to tell them about Gisele and the quilt. I’ve already seen the damage in the basement. I think Mom, or maybe it was Dad, threw away the worst of it. What remained was several boxes of clothing, jewelry, books, and knickknacks that Gisele decided to shred. What she couldn’t cut, she just broke or tore apart. Mom thought I could probably glue some of the knickknacks back together. She’s delusional. But I’ll take the boxes with me and go through them at Billy’s place. No need to go through all that here.
“So, something happened with Gisele in the city.”
“Oh?” my mom asks as she stands up from the table. “Let me get more tea.”
“Mom?” I look up at her. “Please sit.”
Without a word, she does as I ask.
“She did several things, actually. The first happened when Billy and I were out at a restaurant. She approached the table, called me several names that I won’t repeat here, and then she slapped me.” I point to my cheek. “Billy had to take me to a clinic because she’d reopened the scratches.”
“Oh, well, you look fine.” Mom is taping her long nails on the table now. She’s not going to stick around for much more of this.
“Then, when we got back to Billy’s place—”
“Billy’s place?” Mom snaps. “I thought you were staying at Julie’s.”
“Not yet. I’m supposed to go over to her place tonight.”
“Oh.” Mom nods.
“Anyway, when we got back…” I can’t say it. It’s difficult to think about. “She had broken into Billy’s place and….”
Billy places his hand around my shoulder. “She destroyed JoJo’s quilt. It was in shreds.”
At the same time, Mom and Dad both speak. They say different things. “My mother’s quilt?” asks Dad while Mom asks, “That old thing?”
I stare at my mom in disbelief. “It was my most prized possession.” And she knows it. Everyone knows it. It’s why Gisele did it.
“It was a blanket.” I swear she rolls her eyes. My mom rolls her eyes at me and my quilt.
“Pam.” My dad stands up from the table. His eyes look red and a little wet. “My mother made that for her. It was the last quilt she made before she died, and I know she put her heart and soul into that blanket for Jo. So, please don’t sit there and pretend you don’t know that.”
“Stephen, I know you miss your mother, but—”
“No ‘buts’ Pam. Gisele has gone too far. First she hurts Jo physically; then she destroys her belongings. We just decided to ignore that. But, this—”
