Page 39 of Summer of the Boy

My please breaks through to him. So when he eases the car over to the shoulder of the road, I have to gird myself for whatever it is, because well, it’s big again. Considering the last big thing he laid on me, I have to prepare for anything to come out of his mouth about now.

“My mom, she shouldn’t have said that to you.”

“No. She shouldn’t have. But thank you for defending me.”

“Like I wouldn’t? You’re my boyfriend. She’s my mother, but you’re my boyfriend.”

“I’ll always be your boyfriend.”

“No you won’t,” he comes back with, way too fast.

Uh,no Iwon’t?He still stares straight ahead when I turn to look at him, taking his hand in my hand. “Why would you say that?”

“Because the Supreme Court voted in favor of marriage equality. When we’re done with school, I’m going to marry you. Then you’ll be my husband.”

“Oh you nut-crack.” I laugh out, even as I relax. “You scared me.” And I can see that he meant to. Note to self: Don’t underestimate the autistic guy. He’s sneaky. “Something else’s going on, I can see it on your face.”

Silence.

“Come on, Rid. There’s nothing you can’t talk about with me. I love you, remember?”

“So you’ve never had sex in a backseat, right? Because we never have?”

“Nope.” I say, honestly. Trying very hard to contain my smile. “Do you want to have sex in the backseat?”

“Yes.”

“It’ll be different than in the bed. Is that okay?” I ask.

Ridley looks down at his lap, but with one of his huge communication smiles. “I know. It’s with you, so it’ll be good. I like how you make me feel being with you. Besides, you said we could whenever I wanted.”

“I did, didn’t I? What brought this on?”

“Just lots of pent up energy. My mom knows about us now.”

That she does. “Want to now? We’re pretty secluded here.”

“Yes.”

Things do go differently this time. He’s been taking charge more, which has been good for the both of us. I let him lead. However he feels like attacking our coital positioning, fine by me. Since the backseat sits three uncomfortably, we have to change up. Rid doesn’t let it faze him and our windows fog good and cloudy.

As human beings we’re capable of experiencing a range of emotions, even those among us who can’t properly express them still feel them. Of all the emotions satisfaction wouldn’t be the most popular by far. You’re not still hungry, not stuffed to the gills, you’re satisfied. Not overly excited with the result, but not disappointed either. You’re satisfied. No it may not be the sexiest, but I’d wager it’s one of the most important. And I’d wager that because as we lay across the backseat, cramped as we are, and he holds me to his chest, stroking the purple hair by my temple I’m satisfied, and it’s a glorious emotion.

“Will you be there with me when I tell my mom about school? I’ve been going back and forth about whether or not to ask you. I think I want you there.”

“You know I will.” Yes, his smile will absolutely be the death of me. So I turn to kiss him instead of dying.

We stay in our own thoughts again for a while, mine take me where I don’t want them to go because his mother is a bitch, but it’s somewhere he needs to go. “Don’t write your mom off just yet, okay?” I ask.

“I don’t know if I can forgive her,” he says, and the sincerity in his voice almost undoes me. Which squeezes my heart in a really good way.

“I know. And I love you for being so protective of me, of us. But it’s just been you and her for so long. Remember, it couldn’t have been easy for her to raise such an awesome son. I’ve never been a parent, but I’ve heard it’s challenging.” I brush my lips tenderly over his skin, just a peck on the center of his chest.

He laughs.

“Especially by yourself. Let what you’ve told her sink in. Then we’ll decide how to go forward with her.”

“I can do that,” He answers.

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