Page 17 of Make It Without You

I held my hands up in surrender. “Woah. We haven’t even made it to that point in our relationship. It’s a big step for both of us.”

“You both are virgins?” My mom coos.

“Yes…”

My dad looks like he’d rather be anywhere but here having this conversation. Well tough luck for him as he’ll have this conversation three more times.

She slaps her hand on my dad’s thigh with uncontained glee. “Okay, well we’re gonna start off with some basics. And then I’ll give you some sites to learn from.”

I cover my face in pure mortification as my mom goes on about erections and the clitoris.

Whippingthe bathroom door open I see Malcolm standing against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.

“It’s about time lover boy,” he huffs as he pushes past me into the bathroom.

I roll my eyes before walking back to my bedroom. Plopping down on my bed, I pick up my phone and see a text from Emily.

Emmy: Gloria is making spaghetti. Dinner and a movie?

Me: You’ve got yourself a date.

I decide to tackle some homework before heading to Em’s. I’m halfway through my chemistry lesson when my phone rings.

“Hey, big brother,” I greet Brandon.

A huff of laughter slips out. “Hey, shrimp. So I heard from someone that you’re planning to say three important words tonight.”

“Who did–I’m gonna kick Malcolm in the butt.”

Brandon barks out a laugh. “I would’ve done the same thing if I were him.”

I sigh into the phone. “You never said those words to a girl?”

“That would require me to have a girlfriend. So no. But I’m happy to take my cues from you.”

“I’m honored. When are you coming home next?”

Brandon is on a full-ride scholarship at Bellmore University in Tennessee. He was a walk-on for the golf team so his bread-and-butter lies in his brain.

I hear the flipping of a page on the other end of the phone. “Um, it looks like Thanksgiving in a few weeks. Do you think you can carve out some time for your favorite brother?”

“If I must,” I say off-handedly.

Brandon and I talk about small things. While my brother and I aren't close as we’re opposites in every way, he’s still one of my favorite people to talk to.

It’s only when I look outside to see the setting sun that I need to head to Emily’s. “Hey, Brandon I’m heading out to dinner. It was good talking with you.”

“Oh yeah. Those three little words are threatening to burst free. Good luck, buddy.”

I leave him with a teasing quip and throw on a clean pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt. Padding down the stairs, I let my parents know I’m eating dinner next door as the nerves of those three little words begging to be set free cause me to stumble over my feet.

I give a cursory knock on Emily’s front door before letting myself in. Kicking off my shoes, I pad my sock-covered feet into the kitchen and see two of my favorite girls chatting merrily by the stove. Quietly, well as quiet as I can, I take a seat at the island and watch their familial interaction. The relationship between Emily and Gloria is that of a grandmother and a granddaughter. They’re both so comfortable in that dynamic that I never want to interrupt these moments between them.

Emily must catch me out of the corner of her eye and an innocent smile with a soft blush covers her face. Coming around to where I’m seated, she wraps her arms around my shoulder and gives me a quick kiss. “Hi.”

“Hi, baby,” I respond with a quick kiss back to her. “It smells great Gloria.”

“Thank you, sweet boy. It’s just about done.” She announces before giving the food a couple more stirs and then shutting the burner on the stove off.

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