thrilled with her husband’s inaction. “Jerry, you could
take some pointers from your son.”
“We’re
already married,” he remarked.
I
tried to stifle my laugh and smile.
“Some
days I wonder why,” she said.
Again,
I felt like I was in a sitcom or movie. Somebody could probably follow his mom
around and get the best material.
The
food was amazing, and I probably ate more than I should. It was fun to talk
about my home. They were all interested, well maybe not Scott so much since he
had been there, but they all wanted to know what it was like to grow up on the
beach. It was fabulous, of course. But then the conversation took an awkward,
out-of-the-way turn, at least for me. Maybe it was because I only had one
brother and our parents were pretty prim-and-proper sort of people, at least
when it came to certain subjects, but we never discussed sex at the dinner
table before. That was for private conversations in my house growing up.
“Maybe
I should hit the beach during spring break next year, I hear there are lots of
girls willing to…” Nick just threw it out there like it was no big deal.
His
Mother gave him such a look, and I admit, I was a little shocked too.
“Nicky,
we have company, and a lady at that. What’s wrong with you, talking like that?”
“Ma,
you’re so old fashioned. Everyone talks about sex now, no one waits anymore.”
She
smacked the back of his head. “Nicky, there are plenty of good girls out there;
you just need to be a good boy.”
It
only got more uncomfortable from there.
Nick
looked my way. “Tell my ma, Ava, that no one waits, even good girls like you.”
All
eyes were on me, except Scott’s. His were aimed at his brother. “Nick what’s
wrong with you talking to Ava like that?”
His
mom smacked him again.
Scott
sincerely looked back at me. “Sorry, Ava.”
“It’s
ok,” I said sweetly to Scott, but I turned my attention back to his brother. “And
just for your information, Nick,” I said defiantly. “I did wait until I was
married, and I will wait until I’m married again.”
I
immediately looked over to Scott, expecting to see a look of horror or
disappointment. I had seen it before from other men. Surprisingly, not from Peter,
but plenty before him. Scott’s look confused me. I couldn’t tell how he felt
about this revelation, but I would have to find out later because the table
erupted. Myrna was overjoyed; I had just become her favorite person. Nick was
in shock, and Jerry was trying to change the subject.
I
just sat there and ate more bread, wondering if that was a deal breaker with
Scott and wondering if anyone would notice if I crawled under the table and
died. I mean, I wasn’t embarrassed about my views on sex and marriage, but I
never publicly announced them. I wasn’t even sure why I had, but I hated when
guys thought all girls were “easy.” And I guess I had seen enough as a nurse to
steer me away from casual sex. Then there was the whole matter that my husband
had a baby with someone other than me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of
sex, but just inside of marriage.
Once
things calmed down, Jerry and Myrna profusely apologized, and they made Nick do
the same, but now Nick was looking at me like I was some kind of freak show.
Scott comfortingly took my hand under the table and held it. I think he was
embarrassed too.
I
was grateful when the conversation turned to football. I knew football, and it
had nothing to do with sex, at least I hoped so at the Langston house. When
dinner was done, Scott offered to do the dishes, and I offered to help him. His
mom tried to refuse, but we were persistent.
As
soon as we were alone in the kitchen, Scott apologized again. “Ava, I’m really
sorry, my brother has no filter.”
“Really,
it’s ok. I should have just ignored him. But now that you know, are you ready
to run away screaming?” I asked hesitantly.
He
started laughing as he drew closer to me near the sink. He put his arms
take some pointers from your son.”
“We’re
already married,” he remarked.
I
tried to stifle my laugh and smile.
“Some
days I wonder why,” she said.
Again,
I felt like I was in a sitcom or movie. Somebody could probably follow his mom
around and get the best material.
The
food was amazing, and I probably ate more than I should. It was fun to talk
about my home. They were all interested, well maybe not Scott so much since he
had been there, but they all wanted to know what it was like to grow up on the
beach. It was fabulous, of course. But then the conversation took an awkward,
out-of-the-way turn, at least for me. Maybe it was because I only had one
brother and our parents were pretty prim-and-proper sort of people, at least
when it came to certain subjects, but we never discussed sex at the dinner
table before. That was for private conversations in my house growing up.
“Maybe
I should hit the beach during spring break next year, I hear there are lots of
girls willing to…” Nick just threw it out there like it was no big deal.
His
Mother gave him such a look, and I admit, I was a little shocked too.
“Nicky,
we have company, and a lady at that. What’s wrong with you, talking like that?”
“Ma,
you’re so old fashioned. Everyone talks about sex now, no one waits anymore.”
She
smacked the back of his head. “Nicky, there are plenty of good girls out there;
you just need to be a good boy.”
It
only got more uncomfortable from there.
Nick
looked my way. “Tell my ma, Ava, that no one waits, even good girls like you.”
All
eyes were on me, except Scott’s. His were aimed at his brother. “Nick what’s
wrong with you talking to Ava like that?”
His
mom smacked him again.
Scott
sincerely looked back at me. “Sorry, Ava.”
“It’s
ok,” I said sweetly to Scott, but I turned my attention back to his brother. “And
just for your information, Nick,” I said defiantly. “I did wait until I was
married, and I will wait until I’m married again.”
I
immediately looked over to Scott, expecting to see a look of horror or
disappointment. I had seen it before from other men. Surprisingly, not from Peter,
but plenty before him. Scott’s look confused me. I couldn’t tell how he felt
about this revelation, but I would have to find out later because the table
erupted. Myrna was overjoyed; I had just become her favorite person. Nick was
in shock, and Jerry was trying to change the subject.
I
just sat there and ate more bread, wondering if that was a deal breaker with
Scott and wondering if anyone would notice if I crawled under the table and
died. I mean, I wasn’t embarrassed about my views on sex and marriage, but I
never publicly announced them. I wasn’t even sure why I had, but I hated when
guys thought all girls were “easy.” And I guess I had seen enough as a nurse to
steer me away from casual sex. Then there was the whole matter that my husband
had a baby with someone other than me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of
sex, but just inside of marriage.
Once
things calmed down, Jerry and Myrna profusely apologized, and they made Nick do
the same, but now Nick was looking at me like I was some kind of freak show.
Scott comfortingly took my hand under the table and held it. I think he was
embarrassed too.
I
was grateful when the conversation turned to football. I knew football, and it
had nothing to do with sex, at least I hoped so at the Langston house. When
dinner was done, Scott offered to do the dishes, and I offered to help him. His
mom tried to refuse, but we were persistent.
As
soon as we were alone in the kitchen, Scott apologized again. “Ava, I’m really
sorry, my brother has no filter.”
“Really,
it’s ok. I should have just ignored him. But now that you know, are you ready
to run away screaming?” I asked hesitantly.
He
started laughing as he drew closer to me near the sink. He put his arms
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