Page 60 of Stay With Me
Ipacebackandforth as I wait for Am to text me back, confirming she’s still good to watch Jess this afternoon. We talked about it earlier in the week, and she eagerly jumped at the chance.
Happiness fills my chest when I think about how much our friends love Jess and fight over who gets to spend time with her.
My phone dings, and I pick it up from the counter, smiling when I see her response.
Am: Duh! If you didn’t let me spend time with her soon, I was going to ask to do it, anyway.Does she have any homework that she needs to work on?
Me: You’re the best.She does, but not a lot. Honestly, if you give her one of her packets, she’ll just sit and do that until you tell her it’s time for a break.
Am: A girl after my own heart. I used to be the same way as long as it was anything but math. I’ll pick her up before lunch if that’s okay? That way we can have a lunch date at the diner beforehand.
Me: I’ll put some money in her backpack for lunch.
I slip my phone into the side pocket of my leggings, pull out some cash from my purse, and put it in the front zipper of the backpack she’s been using.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see my book, and I blush, thinking about what happened when Noah came home.
With a shake of my head, I try to focus on everything in Jess’s backpack to make sure she has what she needs.
I wish I was more experienced, like the women in the books we read. Or like Pam, Abs, and Amelia.
I know exactly what’s supposed to happen today, but is it going to just happen when he walks into the house?
Will we eat first?
Do I just sit on the bed naked and wait for him to get home?
I look at my watch and see that he should be back right after Jess leaves. He had a training he had to do this morning in the next town over.
My hands get sweaty, and I wipe them on my shirt when I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pull it out and see that it’s my group text with the girls.
Am: Our girl is getting some today while I watch Jess at the farm.
Pam: Do we need to have the safe sex talk?Did you ever have that?
Abby: Talking about safe sex should be more normalized.
Am: Totally agree. I didn’t even think about that.
Me: I’m not on birth control because I don’t have insurance or any identification.
Is that something you talk about before it happens?
Should we have talked about this in the shower the other night?
Abs: Okay, let’s not overwhelm her.
Luna, are you on any form of birth control?
Me: No, in The Family we were taught that was the work of the devil, and it was never an issue since I left.And my periods are pretty light, and I don’t have bad cramps.Which, according to what I looked up when I was able to get on a computer, is one reason why it’s prescribed.
Pam: My parents always taught us?.?.?. no glove?.?.?. no love. A rule I stand by to this day. So you need to make sure he wears a condom.If he says no, then no sexy time happens unless you want to take that risk.
Am: Don’t let him pressure you. If you’re uncomfortable, say no.
Abs: No means no. Full stop
Am: And if you say yes today, you can say no to the same thing tomorrow, and that’s okay.
