Page 94 of The Apple Tree

The shit-eating grin on my face felt so good. I couldn’t think of Eve and not feel euphoric, despite the dog. “I put my hands on the preacher’s daughter.”

“YES! I knew you would, you lucky bastard. Was it everything I imagined it would be? Shit, was she a virgin? Is she a freak in bed?”

“You dumbass. You mean,was it everythingIimagined it would be?”

“Sure, buddy. Whatever. Just answer my questions.”

I sighed, dragging a hand through my hair. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“That’s understandable,” he said. “It’s been a while. But when that thing between your legs gets hard, you put it in the hole between her legs. The front one unless she’s adventurous.”

“Shut the hell up,” I said with a laugh. “I’m acting like a horny teenager instead of a father and grown man with a job and real responsibilities. I’m on the verge of letting my world implode. It can’t last. And then what? Her family and mine will hate me. All for what? A good lay?” It was more than a good lay.

Eve got me. And I got her. The explanation was far more simplistic than the possible ramifications.

“Kyle, dude, you can’t do this again. It’s a repeat of Melinda. It’s okay to have sex, fucking amazing sex, with a woman and not marry her or impregnate her. It’s called casual sex.”

“What if she thinks it’s more than casual sex?”

“She’s eighteen. Of course, she’ll think that. But you’re the grown-up. Set boundaries.”

“This is rich coming from you.”

He laughed. “I know. But I’m not robbing the preacher’s cradle.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “You’re not helping.”

“You’re a teacher who deals with teens all the time. Be diplomatic with her. If she can’t handle it, then tell her it’s over. Do you really think she’ll rat you out to her parents?”

I didn’t say anything.

“Unless,” Adam said slowly, “it’s more than casual sex to you. Tell me it’s not. This won’t end well. Get a grip on the situation. Don’t blow up family relationships over some girl. Think of Josh. Don’t put him in the middle.”

“What if I just talk with Peter? I’m his best friend’s brother. You know, just be honest with him.”

Adam chuckled. “What are you going tell him? That you think Eve is pretty, and you want to ask her out on a date? Read the Bible together? Maybe hold hands? Or are you going to tell him you’ve had your dick in her, and now you can’t imagine not putting it in her again and again?”

“I was thinking less is more. Wait to see if he asks questions.”

“And if he asks if you’ve had sex with his daughter, what will you say?”

“I’d tell him I can’t believe he’s asking me that.”

“Kyle,” Adam laughed, “I taught you well. Fucking perfect. But no. That won’t work with him because he’s known you your whole life, and he knows you weren’t the guy any father would trust with his daughter. Did you forget he knows you have a childout of wedlock? He knows you used to drink like a fish. Sex was your favorite pastime—still is, I bet. He’s heard your foul mouth. At best, you’ve grown up since having a child and becoming a teacher, so he’s okay with you being his neighbor. He’s okay with Eve babysitting Josh, but I will give you a money-back guarantee there isnoway in hell he will ever think of you as a worthy man for his precious little girl, regardless of the ten-year age difference.”

“I didn’t take her virginity.”

“Yeah, lead with that. So if he thinks she’s a virgin, you’ll basically be letting him know his daughter sleeps around.”

“You’re an awful friend. First, you tell me to go for it with my neighbor; now you’re saying it’s pointless.”

“Pointless? Was it bad sex? If not, I’d hardly call it pointless.”

“I like her,” I said more to myself than to Adam, because something inside of me refused to let her be casual sex and nothing more.

“This isn’t good, man.”

I rubbed my jaw as the deck boards creaked beneath my wooden rocker. The dog readjusted on my lap, resting his snout on my knee.

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