He's all mixed up.

Bernie leaned on the open driver's window. "I'm guessing you read my note huh?" she said with a sad sounding tone in her voice. "I hope you're not mad at me."

Gary turned and met her eyes. "Mad? Well, sh..., I mean, I kinda feel like it's not fair," he said. He took a deep breath. "I mean, I've been trying to be good for you, and it's hard sometimes. And now I find you have another guy, I mean, even if he's your cousin and all, it's still that you're getting it on with another guy I and think we're, like, y'know, boyfriend and girlfriend." He swallowed. "I know that you and your family," he paused, thinking of Bernie's mom Joyce, who had just coaxed him into masturbating with her for the second time, "well, you're more sexually open. But I want to know what the rules are. I mean, if I wanted to make it with another girl too, is that fair?"

Bernie swallowed and nodded. "I wouldn't blame you," she said, looking Gary in the eye. "But it couldn't be just anyone." She paused. "She'd have to be my girlfriend too," she said firmly.

Gary raised his eyebrows and looked back at Bernie. "Oh," he said. "I gotta think about this for a bit. Why don't you go on ahead."

"Okay," Bernie said. "I'll go check on Lil." She walked toward Gary's front door.

Gary sat behind the wheel of the Super Surf Van, staring off into the distance. His head reeled. Could he deal with Bernie having sex with her cousin Ben? Maybe. But at least he'd need to hear the whole story in order to really feel OK with it. And still doing it? Only if he got some privileges too. As to "doing it" together with Bernie and Ben, it might be fun playing around with a guy too, but by itself, didn't seem a good reason to stick together.

Gary decided he needed to lay it out in front of the woman he thought could give him the best perspective. He picked up his cellphone and dialed.