Sorting things out

Scott was rehashing that last moment with Mrs. Carter as he grabbed some leftovers for a small breakfast. Mrs. Carter had always been flirty, and Mr. Carter didn’t seem to mind, but that. . . that was different. She may have been joking, but it didn’t really feel like she was in the moment.

Scott went to the basement and hopped in the shower. He had dodged a bullet with the Sandra situation, and found out he had been reading the Suzie situation all wrong. He was curious about her going to New York, he’d known Suzie for a long time, but he didn’t know what she was planning on doing with her life, he really didn’t know her current interests, she’d been fourteen when he left and he had intentionally kept distance between them.

He laughed, when he thought she wanted something serious it was just flirting between them, and now that he found out she isn’t looking for something long term he started being curious about her long-term plans. . .

“Maybe staying here wasn’t such a good idea.” He said out loud into the mirror.

“Did you say something Scott?”

It was Doug, he hadn’t heard him come in.

“Hey Doug, how did it go?”

“Get dressed and come upstairs, I’ll tell you there.”

Scott hurried up and got dressed, this sounded serious.

When he got upstairs Doug and Mr. Carter were heading out to the patio, Doug motioned for Scott to join them.

Scott walked through the kitchen, past Mrs. Carter, who looked pissed.

“You get to go? Seriously, is it only his mother who doesn’t get to find out what her son is doing?”

Scott walked past and smacked her lightly on her ass. “Don’t worry Mrs. C, I’ll take notes.”

“You better!” she yelled at him.

Outside the Carter men were dragging out chairs to sit by the fire pit. Doug taking two.

“Thanks Doug.” Scott said, taking his chair and sitting down.

“Whoa, what happened to your face Scott?”

Scott scowled, “That’s a long story.”

Doug smiled a rotten smile. “You didn’t try to fuck a cat again, did you?”

“Wow, bringing back possibly the stupidest rumor of our entire High School career Doug?”

“I mean, at least tell me it was hot.”

“Oh she was hot alright, but I was trying to avoid the fucking, not the other way around.”

Doug looked confused. “Wait, what exactly happened?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.” Mr. Carter interrupted. “Now, son, what did you want to talk about.”

Doug looked for a second longer at Scott before turning to answer his father. “Marissa.”

“Yeah, I think we assumed that, Doug.” Scott said.

“Did last night go well, son?” Mr. Carter asked.

“Yeah, really well.”

“No problems with, you know.”

“Dad.”

“I’m just saying, it’s important.”

“She’s actually really great about that.” Doug started turning red. “Like, other girls it was awkward, trying to guess what they wanted, I was always nervous and. . .”

“Oh I know Doug, I heard the stories.” Scott said, getting a little payback.

Doug scowled.

“Marissa is very, well. . . straight forward? She’ll tell me what she wants me to do and what she likes and doesn’t like.”

“She takes charge.” His dad said.

“Well,” Scott’s face turned a deeper shade of red, “she does, but not always, she’ll let me lead, she just gives feedback.”

“Not always? You two have been a couple for less than two days.”

“Yeah.” Doug’s face was red, but now it had that big dumb smile on it. Doug shook his head. “I didn’t call you guys out here to talk about that.”

“What is it son?”

“Like, is it too early to know if I’m in love?” His face was flushed and he was visibly nervous.

“Oh shit, Doug, you’re cooked.”

“What?”

“If you are asking that, the answer doesn’t much matter.”

“What do you mean?”

“If Jesus himself came down right now and told you that there was a 0% chance you and Marissa would work out, and she called you to go out tonight, would you go?”

“I. . .” Doug’s face said everything that needed said.

“Yeah, you’re cooked. Not that it’s necessarily a bad thing. I just mean that whether or not this works out, you are in it to the end.”

“So you think it could work?” Doug looked like a puppy at a pet store, looking at some kid hoping they’ll take them home, nervous they’ll walk on by.

“Son, what I think your friend is trying to say is that doesn’t matter. You really like her, and she seems serious about you, don’t worry about whether it will work out or not, because that worry isn’t going to help you one bit. Make it the best you can for as long as it lasts.”

“Yeah, well put Mr. Carter.”

“I just don’t want to get all invested and find out she doesn’t feel the same.”

“I get that Doug, but I think Marissa is serious about you too. Mary said that Marissa’s always had a knack for knowing if she and someone were a good fit really fast, and when she was charming your mother Mary was pretty convinced she was serious about you.”

“Son, you take after your mother in a lot of ways, good ways, but one of them is worrying about stuff that doesn’t need worrying about. I understand being cautious, just don’t sabotage what you have going on because you aren’t sure if it will last or not.”

“Yeah. . . Okay.”

“The best thing you can do is talk to her about it. Seriously, communicate, tell her what you are feeling.”

Doug nodded his head. Scott hoped he was listening.

“Just make sure you bring her over to talk to your mother again soon or Anne may go crazy.”

Scott laughed. “You need to give her some kind of update on last night too, she was fuming when I walked through the kitchen.”

“Marissa said she was free today, I could see if she wants to come over for dinner, will you be around Scott?”

“I don’t know, I wanted to go see the family today, it’s Sunday and they always meet up.”

“That’ll be nice, and Doug, you don’t have to invite Marissa over today, it’s okay to have some space in a relationship.”

“I actually should get heading out, good luck Doug, I really like Marissa and I hope you two really work out.”

Doug stood up with Scott and gave him a good hug.

“See you Scott.”

“Bye Mr. Carter.”

Walking into the kitchen Mrs. Carter and Suzie were both waiting.

“Well?” Mrs. Carter demanded.

“Your son is hopelessly in love Mrs. Carter, Marissa has him hooked, it’s either going to end with a wedding or heart ache.”

“You really think so?” Mrs. Carter was smiling.

“Oh God, mom, if you start talking about grandkids Doug will never speak to you again, you know that right.”

“Hmph.”

Scott chuckled. “I’ve got to get going, I’ll see you ladies later.”

“Can I walk with you, Scott?”

“Sure Suzie.”

Suzie turned back to her mom. “Seriously mom, do not talk about babies.”

“I think I can handle talking to my own son.” She said to herself as she turned and started fussing over the dishes.

Scott went downstairs and Suzie followed.

“Scott, I’m so sorry.” Suzie began. “I was jealous and dumb and I wanted to get your attention, I put you in an awful spot and I’m so sorry.”

Scott leaned against the pool table. “Yeah, it really sucked.”

“I understand if you don’t want to be around me. . .” Suzie had her head lowered but Scott could tell she was trying not to cry.

“You fucked up, and it could have gone very bad, but it looks like it didn’t, so don’t beat yourself up too much.”

Suzie just stood there, her head down.

“Suzie, I need you to be patient. I’m trying to sort out my own stuff, and figure out what I want. I can’t tell you if I’m interested or not right now.”

“It didn’t stop you and that girl, why can’t we be like that?”

Scott moved to her and took her in his arms, a gentle hug. “Suzie we are already too connected to hook up like that, you’re my best friend’s sister, I know your mom and dad. Hell, I’m living here right now, we can’t hook up and then go our separate ways.”

She looked up at him, “I know, but I want to give us a try.”

“How would you have felt when Mary was here if we had already had sex.”

“What?”

“If I brought someone back here when you and I had already been together, how would you feel?”

“You wouldn’t. . .”

“If we were serious, no, but you’re talking about casually hooking up, and that isn’t exclusive.”

“I. . . I don’t know.”

“Look, I really have to go. I like you Suzie, but this isn’t an easy situation we are in, and I don’t want it to go bad.”

“I understand.”

He went to release her but she grabbed him, pulled him down as she stretched up and kissed him. He kissed her back. she felt perfect in his arms, on his mouth, her body pressing into his. It felt right.

“I’m sorry,” she said as they broke the kiss. “I just needed to see if there’s still something there.”

“Oh it’s there Suzie,” Scott said looking down at her. She smiled, her brown eyes sparkling and her freckles. . . “Damn it Suzie, you make everything harder.”

She smiled even bigger, winked, and brushed her hand against his suddenly tighter pants. “Hell yeah I do.