Chapter Twenty Two
Cam’s hand slid under Aralyn’s sweater slowly as he kissed her, his fingers caressing her lace bra gently.
Aralyn pushed him back abruptly, staring at him, her eyes wide.
“I’m sorry,” he said quickly, “I didn’t meant to spook you.”
“I’m not ready for that,” she blurted out.
Cam studied her closely. “It’s all right, I’m not pressuring you.”
Aralyn ran her fingers through her blond hair, straightening her bra and sweater. “Maybe I should go,” she murmured. “We need to cool this down.”
“Please don’t run out on me.” he said gently, “Talk to me. Aralyn, we’ve been together four months now. We’ve come pretty close to sex several times, and that day at the lakehouse, I thought you were ready. The night I got sick, you said you were ready. A few weeks ago you were ready, now you’re not. This is really frustrating!”
“Are you going to break up with me if we don’t have sex?” she asked quietly.
Cam’s eyes bulged. “You really think I would do that?”
“No,” she admitted.
He relaxed slightly. “Good, because I wouldn’t. I just think we should figure out exactly we’re headed.”
“I don’t know,” she murmured. “I keep thinking about Tiffany and how she rushed things with that creep.”
“You’re not her and I’m not him,” he said sharply. “He was a predator who took advantage of a naïve young girl. We’ve been dating for four months and I’d like to think we know each other pretty well.”
Aralyn bit her lip, her thoughts racing and tumbling into somersaults.
“Are you scared of sex?” he asked gently. Finally, she looked like she was ready to really talk about it.
“Not exactly,” she said slowly, “I just—I see girls like Callie West who treat sex as something demeaning, and use it as a weapon. I wasn’t raised that way. And with Tiffany’s whole situation with Mr. Roth… You’ve seen my parents, how much in love they still are. I was raised that sex is meaningful, and should be shared by people who truly care about each other, and that it creates a bond.”
“I agree with that,” he said softly, “and you know I love you.”
Aralyn smiled sweetly at him. “I love you too. I just—I don’t know what’s going to happen after graduation.”
Cam frowned. “What do you mean? You’ve applied to schools, right? Haven’t you heard back from any of them?”
“Yes, but you know I don’t really want to go,” she said quietly. “I know you’re going to NYU and have a brilliant career ahead of you, but I don’t want to go college any time soon, if ever.”
“How does this relate to us having sex?” he asked, confused but with a sinking feeling.
“I’m not looking for a forever,” she said simply. “I’m too young to settle down. I think if we have sex, it would complicate things.”
Cam tensed. “Make it more difficult to walk away, you mean?” he said, as the pieces started to click together.
Aralyn nodded reluctantly. “You know how restless I am, Cam. Not with you,” she added quickly, “but with life in general. I’ve been talking to Tiff about taking off for a while after graduation, and just travel.”
Cam sat back, stunned and with a rock in his stomach. This was all news to him. She wanted to leave?
“I see,” he said slowly.
Aralyn shook her head. “No, you don’t. I love our relationship Cam, and you’re one of my best friends as well as my boyfriend, but I don’t want to go to school and lock myself into four more years of classrooms. I think if we had sex—at least right now . . .”
“You would feel locked down to me,” he said tightly, a surge of anger hitting him in the chest.
“I don’t like the way that sounds,” she murmurs.
“Well, that’s what I’m hearing,” he said angrily.
Aralyn sat up. “Maybe I should go. I didn’t mean to ruin the night for you.”
“You haven’t ruined it, Aralyn but you’re essentially telling me we’re going nowhere and then you’re willing to just run out the door after dropping a huge bomb like that on me!”
“That’s not what I meant!”
“Then say what you mean,” he said crossly. “I’m tired of this hot and cold thing we have happening when it comes to sex.”
“I think I had better just go. I have a game in the morning and I know I just dropped a lot on you.”
“Aralyn,” he sighed, but she was already up off the couch, slipping her shoes on.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” she grabbed her jacket and slid out the door.
Cam leaned back against the sofa and sighed heavily. He had pushed too hard this time but apparently he needed to. What was this about taking off and traveling with Tiffany? When had this started? And was she really concerned if they had sex it would make it more difficult to do so? Cam would never hold her back from her dream, she should know that. He hated the thought of her taking off for a while but if that’s what she really wanted…well, he’d wait.
Cam was a virgin and he was pretty sure she was too, given her pickiness in dating boys at school. He wanted to make love to her, and their make out sessions had been driving him crazy. Kissing her drove him crazy and yes, he wanted more. What eighteen year old boy wouldn’t?
Aralyn drove home recklessly, brushing tears from her eyes. She hadn’t wanted to hurt him. Her body wanted him, and her heart loved him, but a tiny grain of fear lingered in her head. What if he broke up with her afterwards? What if she got pregnant? What if she caught something? At that, she had to laugh. She would bet money he was still a virgin too.
“You’re just being chicken, Duke,” she muttered. Romance novels lied, she knew that. She knew sex the first couple times wasn’t sparkles and shooting stars and earth shaking orgasms. So why was she hesitating? She knew what to expect, she’d had the sex ed classes, Trixie had talked to her about sex back when she young, and again when she started her period at twelve.
She sighed. Tiffany was a big part of it. She knew her cousin regretted having sex with Mr. Roth. Tiffany still called him Tony but Aralyn couldn’t. The situations were completely different of course, she and Cam really were in love and had built a stable relationship, but Aralyn was afraid if she gave herself to him, she’d never be able to walk away, and she needed to. She needed to be able to roam, and come graduation, hit the road. How could she do that if she was so deeply tied to Cam?
Parking the car, she got out and locked it, heading to the front door and letting herself in. The kitchen light was on, which made her poke her head in the door.
Bo sat at the kitchen table, eating a piece of lemon meringue pie.
“That’s gonna cost you an extra session at the gym,” she teased.
Bo looked up and smiled at his daughter. “Just don’t tell your mama.”
Aralyn snorted. “You know you can’t keep a secret from her. She’ll have you figured out first thing in the morning.”
Bo nodded. “I know. The price of marryin’ a detective, though I guess it don’t take much when you see the pie plate in the sink. Hey, you’re home early. Somethin’ wrong?”
Aralyn shrugged, getting a fork out of the drawer.
Bo’s dark blue eyes followed her.
“Sit down, sweetheart. Did you and Cam have a fight?”
“Not exactly,” she dropped into the seat on his right, reached over and speared a piece of the gooey pie. It was her and Bo’s favorite, and both were convinced Trixie made the best in the world. Bo often remarked how her cooking skills had improved from many years before. He just didn’t comment on it Trixie’s presence.
“Well, considerin’ your hangdog expression and the fact it ain’t even midnight . . .” his voice trailed off and Aralyn smiled.
“The price of having two detectives for parents,” she said cheekily, then sobering as she took another bit of his pie. It had been awhile since they had sat up late sharing pie, and when she was a little girl, Aralyn had often gotten up at dawn with him, to eat breakfast together before she went back to bed until she had to get up for school.
“We didn’t exactly fight, but . . . I don’t know how to say it.”
“Disagree?” Bo got up and opened the fridge, pulling out the milk carton.
“Not even that.”
“Sweetheart, I’m a man and your father. You ain’t givin’ me much to go on here, so my mind will automatically think the worst.” Bo took a glass from the cabinet and filled it with milk.
“I told him I wasn’t ready to have sex,” she blurted out, reddening.
Bo didn’t bat an eye as he replaced the milk in the fridge. “Was he upset?”
“Not really,” she hedged, “but he wanted to talk about where we’re going. Our relationship I mean.”
Bo turned around, milk glass in hand, eyes narrowed. “’Did he give you the ‘we have sex or we break up’ line?”
“No,” she assured him and he relaxed. “I told him I didn’t know where we’re going, that I’m too young to settle down and I don’t know what I want to do after graduation.”
“You don’t?” Bo asked, placing the glass in front of her as he resumed his seat. “Seems to me you don’t wanna go to college.”
Aralyn froze. “You figured that out?”
Bo laughed as he cut another piece of pie for them to share.. “Well, sweetheart, when you dragged your heels on fillin’ out applications that was a clue. Wantin’ a motorcycle was another. You think I don’t notice the way you salivate after them bikes in the showroom down at Andy’s every time we drive by? Besides, you left couple maps with a marker drawn out across the states downstairs a while back. It wasn’t that hard to put together, especially when I know how restless you’ve always been. Your mama and me been waitin’ for you to say somethin’.”
“I wasn’t sure how to approach it,” she said slowly, taking a bite of pie. “I’ve been gathering information on bikes, and preparing information to talk to you guys.”
“Well, times have changed. It’s a bigger, dangerous world out there. I ain’t keen on you running all over the country. Your mama thinks it’d be fun and good experience.”
That was certainly unexpected! Of course, that was also how Trixie had met Bo. A graduation roadtrip.
“Luke thinks it’s great, but Honey ain’t so thrilled.”
“Tiff talked to Honey?” Aralyn asked, surprised. When was this? Tiffany had been reluctant to talk about it recently, but then, that had been when she was sneaking around with Mr. Roth. Maybe Tiff was ready now.
“She’s dropped a few hints to Luke, who mentioned it to Honey.”
Aralyn savored a bit of pie before she spoke again. “Have they said no?”
“Not exactly,” Bo answered. “Remember your mama and me ain’t would’ve met if she and Honey and Di didn’t take that road trip and end up in Hazzard. They was eighteen.”
“I thought you’d like the idea better than her,” Aralyn said, raising her milk glass for a sip.
“You and Tiff are smart girls. Besides, Luke and me wouldn’t let you go out on the road alone without any preparation.”
“Preparation?” she asked. “Like what?”
Bo smiled.
“Dan’s agreed to work with you two on self defense. I know you’ve already taken a few classes, but he’ll work with you two more often, make sure you’re ready for anythin’, improve your reflexes. Dan’s one of the best in hand to hand.”
“Why not you and Luke?” she asked.
“Because me and Luke is gonna get you two up on your target shootin’, and get you concealed weapons permits. Neither of you have picked up a gun in a couple years.”
Aralyn’s mouth dropped open. “Are you serious?”
“Completely. Of course your mama don’t know that part yet,” he grinned slyly. “She ain’t keen on you two packin’ but it’s too dangerous to let you go without it.”
Aralyn laughed. “Will she go for it?”
“You let me handle your mama,” Bo grinned, “and you start seriously looking at motorcycles. The way your grades have been goin’ I think we can swing one for graduation.”
Aralyn squealed and threw her arms around Bo happily, disagreement with Cam momentarily forgotten.
***
The next morning she was up bright and early and in her warm up suit. Hockey was one of the few sports played year round, during the winter it was inside. They were gearing up towards Regionals and Aralyn hoped they would at least make the first round. They had almost made it last year and Aralyn was determined to leave a good legacy behind on her and Tiffany’s names.
Leaving Bo to join the parents she hurried to find Tiffany and tell her about her conversation with Bo.
“Holy cow,” Tiff murmured. “Think they can get Mom to agree?”
“You know Dad can’t resist Mom,” Aralyn giggled, “and I’d be willing to bet Luke will use a little Duke charm too.”
“Wow. How awesome would it be if we could pull it off?” Tiff asked. “I’m a little nervous about the gun part.”
“Tiffany Duke, you’ve been shooting guns since you were eight years old!”
“Yeah, but always with Dad around and mostly air rifles.”
“It’ll be fine,” Aralyn assured her.
Tiffany grunted. “How was your date last night? Uh, oh,” she said, watching Aralyn’s expression change.
In a hushed voice, Aralyn told Tiff what happened.
Tiffany tied her shoes. “I don’t think he was mad about the sex part, it sounds like he was mad he didn’t know about your plans for afterwards. Cam really cares about you, cuz, haven’t you noticed that? You walk in the room and he gets this stupid goofy grin like Bo does when Trixie’s around. And Dad still makes cow eyes at Mom. You’ve been considering this since September, and he’s just now finding out about it in January.”
“I don’t know, maybe it was just my guilty conscious, for not telling him sooner,” she sighed, leaning against the lockers. “I know I should have, I just didn’t want to upset him. It’s six months off!”
“Well, try not to think about it for a couple hours, we need to get out there and warm up.” Tiffany was grateful her cousin didn’t bring up Tony and secrets. No need to open that can of worms right then.
“Yeah.” Aralyn shut her locker door and the cousin hurried up the stairs.
Right before the game started, as the girls were ditching their warm up suits, Aralyn glanced up to get her customary wave from Bo, and did a double take. Cam was sitting next to Bo, chatting with him and Luke. The three waved at the girls, who waved back, Aralyn surprised.
“He can’t be too upset,” Tiffany remarked, slapping her cousin on the shoulder.
Bo was pleased when Cam showed up. He had come to most of Aralyn’s games and always sat with them. Today he was hinting at Bo about women and finally Bo put on hand on his shoulder.
“Son, you ain’t never gonna understand women, or how they think, so give up tryin’. Especially if it’s a Duke woman, and double especially when she’s half Belden. I stopped tryin’ to understand Trixie years ago,” he told Cam. “Just go with it.”
Luke nodded. “Even Honey still confuses me, just when I think I got her figured out. It’s no wonder they kept their family on their toes all those years.”
“Just do what feel right,” Bo said gently, “and remember she’s a free spirit. She needs room to roam. She’ll roam where she’s supposed to, and end up where she’s needed,” he said.
Luke nudged his cousin. “That’s pretty deep there Bo, you been readin’ that new age crap of Daisy’s again or watching Oprah in the afternoon?”
Bo smacked his cousin’s shoulder but he was smiling.
The game sped by and Aralyn’s team won easily. The opposing team had lost several members since last semester, due to bad grades and graduates, and it was almost boring to Aralyn how quickly they racked up goals.
She supposed she should be grateful it was an easy game but she liked the challenging teams that kept her focused and moving. Her mind wasn’t on the game, she was wondering about Cam.
“Pay attention!” Tiffany hissed, darting by her. “Coach is watching you!”
After the game, they had changed back into their sweats and she found Cam waiting outside the locker room.
“Can I take you home?” he asked.
Aralyn raised one eyebrow. “That’s an abrupt greeting, but ok. Let me tell Dad.”
“I already told him I was going to ask,” Cam said.
Aralyn nodded and looked over to where Bo and Luke stood, and waved. Bo nodded and then Tiffany joined him and Luke.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“We need to talk,” he said tersely, as they walked outside to his jeep.
“Cam, we talked last night. I don’t have any more clear answers for you now then I did then.”
“I’m not asking for answers,” he said quietly. “I’m telling you that I don’t like arguing with you and if we never have sex, well, ok then. I just don’t want to lose you because you want to take off this summer. That’s still almost six months away and I wouldn’t be able to bear it if we split up over something that small and I see you every day for the next six months and we’re not together.”
Aralyn leaned against the Jeep, looking up at him.
“Cam, I want—” she ran her hands through her messy hair, “when we’re kissing and all, it feels great, and I want more. I just don’t when I’ll be ready to take the final step. Every time I’ve thought I was, something intervened.”
“I know,” he said quietly, “and I’ll just have to content myself with that. If and when you’re ready, you tell me.”
Aralyn’s eyes were shining as she threw her arms around his neck. “You’re the best boyfriend a girl could have,” she said happily, smiling up at him adoringly.
“Remember that the next time you get irritated with me,” he smiled down at her.
***
“So just get it over with. Then give me the details so I can live vicariously through you,” Tiff laughed.
Aralyn rolled her eyes. They were at their favorite Starbucks, sharing pumpkin lattes and gossip.
“Easy for you to say.”
“What are you really afraid of?” Tiffany asked. “If it’s that’ll he dump you afterwards, you’re insane. Not only is he totally head over heels in love with you, but he’d have to deal with the entire contingent of Duke, Belden and Mangan men.”
Aralyn smiled. “I don’t know. There are just so many horror stories about getting pregnant, or a disease—”
“Cam’s a virgin,” Tiffany interrupted, “so you needn’t worry about disease. Use a condom—Hell, use two, and get on the Pill.”
“Somehow I don’t see me going to my folks about that.”
“Aralyn, you’re eighteen,” Tiffany sighed, wondering how her cousin could be so thick sometimes, “so you don’t need to even to tell them. Call the gyno. Or even Brian.”
“True,” Aralyn said thoughtfully. “Oh, no. I’m not calling Brian for birth control.”
“He won’t tell anyone; he can’t actually,” Tiffany answered. “Besides, he’s the quietest member of the family.”
“Good point. But I don’t think I want my uncle examining in me in that manner, even if he is our family doctor.”
“Look,” Tiffany leaned forward, “you and Cam are the real deal. There’s no hidden motive, no subterfuge. The first time hurts, but after that, it gets better. He really does love you, Ari. Don’t be scared.”
Arlayn nodded, feeling guilty over her cousin’s recent heartbreak. She shouldn’t be going on about it, she thought. Not when Tiffany’s pain was still so fresh.
“Trust me, we’ll all feel better if you two just get it done,” Tiffany said dryly.
***
Trixie was at the computer, checking the bank account and bills paid when Aralyn poked her head into the office.
“Hey, Mom?”
“What, dear?” Trixie asked absently.
“Can I talk to you?”
“Of course,” Trixie looked up, surprised. Turnign from the computer, she studied her only daughter as Aralyn took a seat at the kitchen table. “What’s on your mind?”
“I plan to spend the night Friday at Cam’s,” Aralyn blurted out.
Trixie nodded. “I see.”
“I know I don’t really have a curfew anymore, but I didn’t want you to worry. Things didn’t really work out at Christmas and um…”
“You mean you want me to keep your father from having a fit when he realizes you’ve spent the night with your boyfriend,” Trixie smiled.
Aralyn laughed nervously. “Yeah, uh, that too.”
“You sure you’re ready for this?” Trixie asked her.
Aralyn nodded. “I know all about protection and safety, Mom. And I love him.”
Trixie smiled. Her little girl, who wanted nothing but chocolate pudding when she was little, was all grown up. Trixie half wished chocolate pudding would be enough to satisfy Aralyn now.
“I trust you,” she said firmly. “And I’ll make sure your father doesn’t even realize you’re not home.”
Aralyn groaned. “Mom, I did not need to hear that!”
***
“Why’d you bring your backpack?” Cam asked, as the walked up the stairs to his garage apartment.
“You’ll see,” she smiled.
Shaking his head in amusement, he unlocked the door and let them in. After a quiet dinner, Aralyn had suggested a movie at his place instead, to his surprise.
Aralyn set her backpack near the sofa as Cam hung their jackets. Drawing her close, he kissed her tenderly, loving the way her cheeks were flushed with happiness.
"What do you want to watch?” he asked, laying his cheek against hers, so he could inhale her.
“Mmm, something romantic,” she giggled.
She could just see him rolling his eyes.
“I’m a guy. What makes you think I have romantic movies?”
“Because I know what a softie you really are,” she smiled, tilting her head up at him.
Cam rolled his eyes. “I’ll see what I can find.”
Aralyn hid her smile when he chose “Dirty Dancing”. How appropriate, she thought.
Partway through the movie, with her heart pounding, she moved her head up from where it rested on his chest and kissed his neck gently. Instantly his body tensed, and he looked down at her warily.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he asked, amused.
“’splorin’,” she giggled.
Cam felt his heart speed up as her slender hand began to unbutton his shirt. Her soft lips touched his chest and pushed her back slightly.
“Not fair, Goddess,” he rasped, wishing she wasn’t so damn alluring.
“I’ll play fair,” she giggled, deep blue eyes gleaming as she moved closer to him, brushing her lips against his.
“You’re killing me,” he groaned, “Do you have any idea how many cold showers I have to take?”
“Not tonight,” she said softly, throwing one leg over his lap and straddling him as his mouth fell open.
“What?” he managed to ask.
“No cold shower tonight, Kent,” she said softly, cupping his chin as she kissed him gently.
“You mean that?” he asked, his hands sliding up her back under her peach sweater.
“Absolutely.”
Cam kissed her lightly, then harder, and ran his hands over her, wondering if she would stop him when he started to unbutton her sweater. When she didn’t, he glanced up at her and she kissed him. Trying to stand without dumping her on the ground, they giggled their way to their feet, holding onto each other.
Taking her by the hand, Cam led her the hand to his room. Removing his shirt, he tossed it on the floor, pulling her close to him. Unbuttoning her sweater, he slid it down her arms and off, he was amused to see her lacy bra matched her sweater.
“You’re trembling,” he whispered.
“Nervous,” she whispered.
“Don’t be,” he kissed her, “You’re beautiful. Exquisite. And I love you.”
“I love you,” she whispered.
***
Cam crawled into bed and she snuggled against him.
“How do you feel?” he asked.
Aralyn giggled. “Really good other than a little sore. You?”
“Really good,” he laughed. “Do you hurt?”
“A bit. But it should go away in a day or two.”
“I hope so,” he hugged her tightly.
“I love you,” she said softly.
Cam turned on his side a bit so he could see her better. “I love you too. When do you need to leave?”
“I don’t. I told Mom I was spending the night.”
“And she was okay with it?”
Aralyn nodded.
“And—your dad was okay with it?”
Aralyn giggled. “Mom promised to take care of Dad.”
Cam laughed. “I owe your Mom one.”
“Well, I am eighteen,” she reminded him, her hand running over his broad chest. He had just the right amount of hair, she thought, and it ran in a thin line below his waist line. “As long as I don’t stay over during the week, and every weekend night, I think they’re okay with it.”
Cam just grinned. “Good. Because you know, now that I’ve had you, I’m going to need you a lot.”
Aralyn giggled. “You better.”
Cam kissed her gently then pulled her close.
***
“Thank God,” Tiffany laughed.
Aralyn blushed as she sipped her latte.
“So what was it like?”
“Amazing,” Aralyn admitted. “After the initial you, know. Clumsiness. He was amazing. He admitted he’d read all sorts of books and articles on how to please a woman and wow, did it pay off.”
“Don’t you wish you’d done it sooner?” Tiffany teased.
Aralyn snorted. “Maybe. His body is just amazing.”
Tiffany laughed. “I could have told you that. He hides in those preppy clothes of his.”
“You’ve been a bit warmer towards Dean, I’ve noticed,” Aralyn said slyly.
Tiffany shrugged. “He kind of grows on you. But we’re not dating. I don’t want anything to do with men right now. I think Dean just feels he needs to keep an eye on me to make sure I’m not going to throw myself off a cliff.”
“That kiss he laid on you at New Years looked pretty intense.”
“Too much spiked eggnog,” Tiffany laughed but Aralyn noticed the faint blush to her cousin’s cheeks. “We’re friends and he knows I’m not interested. He’s actually been pretty quiet as far the flirting and asking me out goes.”
Aralyn glanced at her cousin and casually said, “Hey, you wanna go by Victoria’s Secret?”
***
“That one,” Aralyn said anxiously.
Bo squinted at the computer, sighed, and reached for his glasses. Aralyn hid her smile. Bo hated the fact his nearsightedness had gotten worse in the last year. His distance was still good, and his aim precise, but she knew it was a blow to his ego to have to wear glasses to read anything.
“It’s a beaut,” he said admiringly.
Aralyn hid her grin. Trixie had reluctantly agreed to her and Tiffany’s plan of going cross country. They would go through Canada, and hit every provenance before beginning a tour of the United States. They had one year, and were to come home for Christmas, and in early fall to pick up their SUV. Winter would be too cold to be on the bikes. After the year was up, the girls agreed to enter college or begin a career of some sort. Aralyn was sure Honey and Luke would have them followed.
Now, she presented her information to her parents. She and Tiffany had done their research and agreed on this model.
“…1,832 cc fuel-injected, liquid-cooled two-valve per cylinder, SOHC flat-six (six-cylinder boxer). Class-leading dyno results with 96 hp at 5,600 rpm and 103 ft-lbs of torque at 4,200 rpm. The flat-six motor handily out-muscles its twin-cylinder competition, and it does it with a creamy feel - it’s like the bastard offspring of a Porsche and an electric motor, with tons of grunt everywhere and an exhaust note that begs to be uncorked. It has instant thrust and is sublimely smooth. Five-speed overdrive tranny gearing is perfectly matched to the motor and provides easy, classic Japanese-quality shifting. Very light clutch pull with good feel…” Bo read out loud, more to himself than Trixie.
“And that means what?” Trixie asked impatiently.
“Means she picked a honey of a bike,” Bo said with a grin.
Trixie rolled her eyes. Bo would never outgrow his love for fast cars and bikes.
“Honda Gold Wing Audio Comfort Navi XM ABS,” he murmured. “The girl has good taste.”
Trixie just grunted as she stood behind her husband, her hands resting on his shoulders.
“It’s got ABS, an aluminum frame, neutral steering, GPS with real time weather updates, roomy hardbags, best mirror view, and wind and weather protection. All good features, sweetheart,” Bo said, looking at Trixie.
“They make it a load of colors too,” Aralyn said. “I was thinking that pretty blue, and Tiff wants hers in green.”
Bo nodded. “The specs are on it are pretty good. It definitely ain’t a cheap piece of tin.”
“And there’s a motorcycle training class that starts next week. We can buy jackets and helmets to match,” Aralyn said anxiously, eyes moving between parents. Now that Bo had seen the bike she wanted, he was finding it hard to resist the idea. Now that they were studying bikes, Trixie seemed to be more hesitant.
Trixie sighed. Why couldn’t her daughter be like a normal teenager and just want a sports car or a cruise for graduation? She knew that look in her husband’s eye. Bo was sold on the idea.
“We’ll discuss it,” she finally said, looking forward to the methods her husband would use to ‘persuade’ her into agreeing.
Meet the cast in full & see the family tree!
***
Author’s Notes
- a huge yeee-haa to Ronda, my lovely editor who help keep me on track!
- Aralyn’s midnight snacking with her dad is something I used to do as a kid. I’d get up at 4:30 to eat with him and then go back to bed. Since their relationship is based on mine and my dad’s, I added that.
- I’ve always loved motorcycles and researching this was loads of fun! It’s a Tourer class, good for long drives. More info can be found here http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/2009-luxury-touring-shootout-87761.html
- Word Count, 5,062
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