I moaned softly as I woke up. The place between my thighs was sore from the encounter I’d had with Kent. I thought briefly that maybe it was a dream. I turned over, smiling, expecting to touch his chest. But all I felt was a cold sheet. I opened my eyes and looked around. The door was closed and Kent wasn’t in the room.

I wondered if his mom had come back. I wrapped the sheet around myself and ventured out into the hallway. The house was quiet. I crept downstairs and looked around carefully; I didn’t want to be caught by Kent’s mom wearing just a sheet. I saw no signs of Mike or Paul. I glanced at the clock and groaned; it was almost ten. I ran back upstairs, grabbed my clothes and got in the shower. As I was dressing, I heard the door close downstairs. I crept into the hallway carefully, hiding upstairs to eavesdrop.

I heard Kent's mom set her purse and keys on the kitchen counter, where there was space, it was still littered with empty beer bottles and half eaten bags of junk food.

I heard Kent say, "Mom, what is it?"

She was silent for a while, "What are you doing, son?"

"I'm standing in the kitchen and feeling rather full from brunch. What else would I be doing?" He was playing dumb, that was good, maybe. Probably not, his mom wasn’t going to drop it.

"No, darling boy. I meant with Elly.” My breath caught in my throat. “What are you doing? Are you going to be a no-show at the wedding? Because it would be better, as hard as it might be, to end it now instead."

"What are you talking about, mom? You came in on me and Elly sleeping in bed together lots of times."

I closed my eyes tightly, fighting back the tears as my heart slammed in my chest.

"So you aren't sleeping with her?" She sounded surprised, partially relieved.

"Mom, nothing happened."

I crept back to the bathroom.

She let out a deep sigh. “Thank god. I thought I was going to have to call everyone and tell them they shouldn't fly in for the wedding."

I closed the bathroom door loudly and went down the hallway, wiping at my eyes, refusing to cry. I knew this was probably going to happen. I had hoped it wouldn’t but deep down I knew it would.

I came downstairs and looked at Kent's mom. "Thanks for letting us use your place last night, Mrs. Lytle. I was hoping to have it cleaned up before you guys got back."

Kent's mom turned and smiled at me, pretending I hadn’t just been the topic of conversation. "That's okay, sweetheart. When I left this morning your mom told me that you two had plans for lunch? You should get going so you're not late."