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A New Boyfriend
I was thankful to have gotten over the whole Edge and Barbie thing relatively fast. My friends were amazing. They did everything, without even trying, to get mind mind off of that.
My anger was also a huge help. The fact that I had quickly become mad over it after feeling so sad, so crushed, was a good and very healthy thing. It had abated pretty quickly to the point where I no longer cared.
The other major factor in helping me was Jeffrey Nero Hardy - my new boyfriend. We had gone out on that second date and eventually a few more.
Jeff was amazing... He was probably the most artistic, sensitive man I'd ever known. After about a month of dating, he revealed another talent he had.
He'd presented me with a wonderful, beautiful, heartfelt poem. It had been so touching, it had nearly brought tears to my eyes. I thought it was an incredible sign that, like me, he was also a writer.
There was only one small flaw in my new relationship. And I wasn't quite sure of what to make of it, but it bothered me. I decided to bring it up to my friends at breakfast.
"Jeff won't sleep with me," I blurted. It actually embarrassed me to admit it to the girls.
"What? Oh, honey, you've been together over a month... Dump him!" Lisa Marie stated.
Candice arched an eyebrow.
"He must be hiding something," she surmised.
"Maybe he's gay," Lisa put in.
"He's not gay!" I insisted.
Trish faced me and said, "Amy, he's probably just waiting... Like Randy and I did." She smiled confidently.
"Hmm... Maybe his dick curves toward the right and he's embarrassed by it?"
I smirked at Lisa Marie's new possible explanation.
"So what? I'd move to my left to accommodate him."
"You know, I think Trish is probably right," Candice said. "He probably just wants to wait until you're really serious so it'll be something special."
"Exactly," the blonde agreed with a smile and a nod. "Jeff is a sensitive type of guy... Amy, he wrote you poetry - poetry! I would melt if a guy did that for me!"
"Oh, honey, it's not his words on paper that matter," Lisa said, "it's what he says in the bedroom!"
Candice cast her a dirty look.
"Can we please not go there?" she snapped.
"Candi, that was not a dig at you!"
Trish and I exchanged glances and burst out laughing. Even though it was a sore spot for Candice, we couldn't help it.
"I'm surprised," I told her. "I figured you were over that by now."
"I am," the brunette insisted, "but it's still mortifying to be reminded of that whole chapter in my life."
About four years earlier, pre-AJ, Candice had briefly dated a guy named Jordan. He'd been so very hot and sexy, so attentive and successful - the whole nine yards. However, he'd had a bit of a fetish that involved talking dirty in the bedroom. It had thrown my friend off something awful... But the worst part had been that Jordan had insisted Candice respond with some dirty talking of her own. She'd frozen like a deer trapped in headlights. Lisa Marie had tried to help by coaching her, but to no avail. When it had come time for another romp with Jordan, Candice had fumbled over the things she'd been told to say. It had embarrassed her enough to have ended it with him.
"I guess I just have to face the facts," I said, returning to my current problem. "Jeff is simply not attracted to me, and we're just friends."
"But you guys kiss and make out, don't you?"
"Yes, but-" I cut myself off and buried my face in my hands. Why were new relationships so difficult and frustrating?
"Why don't you just talk to him?" Lisa Marie suggested. "Find out what's going on."
"No, Amy, don't," Trish said, pulling me back the other way. "You don't want to make any big, sudden moves and make him uncomfortable."
"Why don't you just wait it out awhile?" Candice offered. "And talk to him later."
Absorbing all of their suggestions made me even more frustrated. Emitting a soft groan, I again buried my face in my hands. I was seeing Jeff that night, so in any case, I didn't have a whole lot of time to decide what to do, if I did anything at all.
*
We were heading back to my place after dinner and a movie. And Jeff had held my hand throughout the latter. Seemed very boyfriend-like to me.
"It's still early... How about a good old-fashioned game of Scrabble?" he asked, gently nudging my upper arm.
I bit my lip. Okay, that was so very much what a friend would say and do. He was really confusing me.
"I don't play Scrabble."
He smirked at me.
"Liar - I saw the game sitting up on your shelf."
"Yeah, I have it, but I'm missing an M, the Q and three Es," I said.
"Ouch, you're missing the Q? Can't play without that one!" he remarked good naturedly. "How about I buy you a new set?" He grinned and put his arms around me.
"That would be nice," I replied, a small smile touching my lips.
Jeff leaned in and kissed me, first just brushing my mouth with his own. But in mere moments, his lips were hot and full of passion as his tongue darted into my mouth. The kiss set my body on fire with the extent of feeling present in it... And I was once again even more perplexed.
A moment later, he pulled away and spoke again.
"Well, if we can't play Scrabble, I'm just gonna head home. Goodnight." He started to step away, but I wouldn't let him as I grabbed his arm.
"Wait! You can't... I don't understand you." I eyed him dutifully. "Why don't you want to sleep with me?" I asked. I really hadn't meant to, but it slipped out.
"Amy..." He looked a bit surprised. "... We've only been dating a month."
"I know, but... What is it?"
Jeff gave me the most tender look and took gentle hold of my hand. He brought it to his lips as he spoke.
"I don't wanna mess this up," he said. "I'm crazy about you."
I cocked my head as I regarded him.
"Really?"
"Really," he said, and he smiled. "The truth is, I want to wait until we know we're really serious."
Well, damn... It turned out that Trish had been right. I smiled bashfully, then, "Oh... Wow. That's so great."
"And so, then..." Jeff kissed my hand. "... I bid you goodnight."
"Goodnight," I whispered.
He left then, and I marveled at the exchange we'd had. Somehow, I'd managed to find myself a truly special man.