The Journey Ch. 06

Her face lit up. "Thank goodness!" She turned into my arms and kissed me. I almost didn't care about the look her mom was giving me when we broke apart.

~~ Burke, Virginia, October ~~

I held my follow-though as the ball crashed into the pocket, spraying the pins. When they settled, the ten-pin was wobbling a bit, but not enough to fall over.

"Damn it," I muttered. I looked up at the score before I turned back to the ball return. We'd been in third for most of the season. We were playing the team in second place tonight and were hoping to make a move, but we had to sweep all three games to jump over them in the standings. It was the last game of the night. We'd won the first two games, but the last game was close.

"You got it, Viv, easy-peasy!" Oscar yelled. I glanced over at Jane, sitting next to Manny in the plastic seats along the ball racks behind the playing area. She winked at me, holding two thumbs up and I grinned. Jane had become pretty tight with my whole team. She was a regular cheerleader for us, coming every Sunday night now.

I stepped to my mark, took a half-step to my left and focused my aim at the fourth dovetail half way down the alley. I put on way less spin, a lot more velocity on the ball. I watched with satisfaction as it barreled straight into ten for the spare.

"Nice one, baby," Jane said as Manny got up and I plopped down next to Jane in the seat he'd vacated. "You're automatic on that ten-pin."

"I need to be more automatic on the first ball. That's three frames in a row I've missed the pocket." I held out my hand with my fingers spread wide and she covered my palm with hers, lacing our fingers together. I crossed my leg over my knee and tapped my foot in the air in time with Dragonette singing Hello from the other side of the alley where there was a Rockin' Bowling party going on. The DJ had been killing it tonight. I always bowled better when there were tunes.

"You're still going to kick my butt afterwards."

"You're getting better every week, babe," I said. For the last month after I finished league night, I'd gotten us a lane and Jane and I had thrown a couple games before going home. Sundays were the nights we spent at my place. Manny had pulled me aside after the second time he'd met Jane and told me that as far as he was concerned, she was always welcome to stay over.

"My average has gone up twenty pins since you got me Louise," Jane said, leaning down and patting her ball bag under the seats.

In the spirit of Jane buying me a pair of skates to draw me into one of her hobbies, I'd had the pro shop measure Jane's hand and had ordered her a custom ball to fit her. I'd managed to find one that was swirled blue and white in Howard University colors. Jane had been delighted, and had promptly named her ball 'Louise'.

"That's 'cause the lane balls suck. Having a ball that's the right weight and fit for your hand and arm strength makes a big difference."

She wrapped her hands around my arm and leaned her head against my shoulder as we watched Manny and a guy from the other team take their turns.

"Maybe when I finish my degree next spring and I have free time again, we can find a couple other girls and join a women's league together."

"You aren't going to keep going for your bachelor's?" Jane sat up straight, looking at me in surprise.

"Um, my plan is to apply for the engineering apprenticeship in the spring. If I get in, I'm going to be studying my ass off, learning Metro equipment technical specs and maintenance. I figured that'll be all I can handle."

"Oh," she said. She sounded disappointed. "You're doing so well, maintaining a three-point five. I thought you'd want to apply to a four-year college to finish your bachelor's in engineering."

"I've been doing this to get into the program. And I've been killing myself for the last year doing school and work both full-time. I think I want to take some time off from school." I squeezed her hand. "I'd like to be able to spend more time with you, not just weekends."

"Well, I approve of that plan," she said happily.

"Viv, you're up," said Raul as he came off the lane. I looked up and saw we were tied, dead even in the fifth frame.

"Looks like we need a refill," Oscar said, holding up our empty pitcher. We used to be a Bud Light team, but I'd converted the guys to Yuengling after I saw the alley had it on tap.

"I'll get it guys," Jane said, standing up and reaching for the empty pitcher. "Y'all focus on winning." She batted her eyes at the other team, most of whom laughed. I swear there wasn't anyone in the world she couldn't charm. She gave me a quick peck on the lips. "Knock 'em down, babe." Then headed towards the bar, her hips swinging to the sounds of Juice from the other side of the alley. I tried (and failed) not to watch her ass as she walked away.

The lyrics matched my thoughts at that moment.

No, I'm not a snack at all. Look, baby, I'm the whole damn meal!

I grinned at her retreating form. Hell yeah she is.

"Hey, horn-dog. Quit staring at your woman's butt and throw your ball," Manny said with a smirk.

"Make me," I said, sticking my tongue out at him.

My first ball was dead into the pocket, exploding the pins for a strike. I gave myself a little fist pump as I walked back to the return for my second frame. My purple ball rattled up into the rack and I glanced back towards the bar as I picked it up... and froze. Jane was standing at the service area in the bar, talking to someone.

It was bow-head. Or, Cindy... no, shit, Stephanie. Shit. The girl I'd had the quickie with in the alley bathroom. She wasn't wearing a bow in her hair tonight. She actually looked nicer since I'd seen her last, like she'd grown up a bit. She was talking to Jane with an angry scowl on her face. I saw her look my way, gesture at me. Jane was listening to her with a poker face.

Fuck, this isn't good.

"Viv, quit dickin' around and go," Oscar chided me.

Right. Get through the frame so you can go see what's up.

I stepped up to my mark and rushed it, of course. My ball went right through the head pin, leaving me with a four-seven-ten split. I heard Manny groan behind me. I waited impatiently for my ball, watching Jane and Stephanie. Bow-head seemed to be calming down, but was still talking animatedly. Jane was nodding. What the fuck is she telling her?

I went back to my mark. My ball plowed through the four and seven, but I didn't come close to picking up the ten.

"Be right back," I said as I walked past Manny and headed towards the bar.

Stephanie saw me coming, said one last thing to Jane and then stormed off before I reached the bar.

"Well," Jane said, watching her go with a little half-smile on her face, "she seems a little bitter."

"What did she say to you?" I asked.

Jane turned to face me. "Why don't you tell me your side of it first?"

Fuck, she's pissed. Is she pissed? I can't tell.

"Uh, she's someone I, uh, had a fling with."

"A fling?" Jane said, one eyebrow raised.

Fuck it, just be honest.

"Alright, not a fling. I hooked up with her... in the bathroom. Here." I tilted my head toward the ladies' room door. "It was a one-time thing. She came back for more and wanted to go out with me. We had dinner and I decided it wasn't going to work, so instead of telling her that, I gave her a fake phone number and ghosted her."

"Hmm."

"Really, that's all that happened."

"Oh. Sorry, I believe you baby. That's almost exactly what she said."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, except she sounded less embarrassed, more pissed off. Honestly the woman needs to get a grip. I'm glad you told me the truth, though," Jane said, as the bartender dropped off a fresh pitcher of beer. She handed him a twenty and picked up the pitcher.

"You're not mad?"

She set the pitcher back down on the counter, then turned to face me, running her hands along my forearms to grip my hands. "Baby, why would I be mad? Everyone has a past. Everyone has dating experiences they're embarrassed about. If you'd lied to me, I'd be mad. But I'm not mad at you because someone you hooked up with wanted to dish gossip to your girlfriend to get back at you."

"Oh." The relief was plain in my voice.

"Why did you decide it wouldn't work out with her?"

"At first it was because she was a rich girl working for her daddy's company, but honestly, in the end, she was just too dumb to be interesting."

Jane laughed, then covered her mouth with her hand, glancing guiltily towards the black-light lit side of the alley where Stephanie had stormed off.

"Well," Jane said, "she warned me off you. Said you were a player who'd end up hurting me. I think we both know that's a load, right?" She kissed me, then retrieved the pitcher of beer and we went back to our lane.

Right. I'm not a player. At least... not anymore. Right, Esparza? I asked myself.

"If you want to improve your ball control, you could start doing curls with me," I said later to Jane as I came back into my bedroom after brushing my teeth. Jane was in my bed with a book, wearing her cute librarian readers.

"I thought I did really well tonight," she said, looking at me over the tops of her frames.

Fuck, she's sexy when she does that.

"Oh you, did!" I said, climbing under the covers with her. "Sorry I didn't mean to say you didn't. I know that one-forty-five was your personal best. If you get a little more arm strength, though, you'll be more consistent."

"I'll lift with you if you'll try doing yoga with me again."

I sighed. "I felt so stupid that time you talked me into it. Like, totally awkward."

"How good were you the first time you went bowling?"

"Not good," I said with a chuckle, remembering my dad taking me and Diego when we were little. I started bowling in junior high because it reminded me of him.

"The point of yoga isn't to look cool, it's to find focus and harmony with your body, while increasing your flexibility and muscle tone. But, the more you practice the cooler you'll look while doing it."

I laughed and she turned her attention back to her book. I scooted down in the bed and lifted her t-shirt, exposing her belly button.

"Whatcha reading?" I asked, then lowered my head, letting my lips graze the soft skin above the waistband of her panties.

"The latest Ibram Kendi book. Thinking about assigning it for my class next semest--oh!" She gasped as my lips tugged on the tiny gold charm shaped like Africa that dangled from the hoop in her navel.

"What's it about?" I asked, then swirled my tongue in her belly button. This was one of our favorite games. She'd be reading, and I'd try and distract her, while she tried to maintain her composure and discuss what she was reading. I usually won pretty fast.

Not this time though.

"Viv, stop." She slid her bookmark into her book and set it on the side table. "I... I want to talk about tonight."

I propped my head up on my hand, regarding her.

"About bow-head?"

Jane frowned at me.

"Sorry, that's how I always thought of Stephanie to myself. The two times I saw her she was wearing a giant bow in her hair. One of her big red flags to me."

"Okay, well I can see how that might be a signifier of immaturity, but it's kind of disrespectful for you to call her that."

"You're right. Sorry," I said, chagrined. "So, you want to talk about Stephanie?"

"Viv, I don't have a problem with you being with women before me. But..." She seemed unsure what to say next.

"Just rip the band-aid off. What's bothering you?"

"You had sex with her in the bathroom at the bowling alley?

I felt myself flush. "Uh, yeah. She'd been flirting with me, and we ended up in there at the same time, and well... one thing led to another." I left out that I'd followed her in there and come on pretty strong.

"I see." Jane sat still for a long moment. "Viv... you know I'm not that kind of girl, right? The idea of having sex in public like that, much less with someone I just met... that's not something I'd ever do."

"Oh, I know that babe."

"I just... I was a little taken aback to hear that you are that kind of person."

"Well, I... I wouldn't say that's me. At least not anymore. I told you I was kind of a love 'em and leave 'em woman before I met you. That sort of thing kinda went with the territory. But that's not me now."

"I'm worried that me not being wild like that is going to disappoint you or leave you unsatisfied with our sex life."

I sat up quickly. "Babe! That'll never happen!"

"I just want all our cards on the table, because if you expect me to do something like that with you, it's not going to happen."

"Jane, that's not..." I searched for the words. "All the time I was being a slut like that--it's okay, I was kind of a slut--I think I was just looking for something I'd never thought I'd find. And I found it with you. I am one-thousand percent happy, delighted, over the moon with our sex life. I love making love to you. I wouldn't change a thing."

James dimples made an appearance. "Nothing? I know you like to use your strap-on and I have to be in the right mood for that."

"Well, yeah, I do like that, but it's not your cup of tea and that's okay."

"I don't like it rough, that's all."

"Fair enough."

"Okay. I just didn't want to leave any of that unsaid."

"Thanks for saying it then."

We gazed at each other for a long moment.

"Well?" she finally said.

"Well what?"

"I believe you were in the middle of something when I interrupted you."

A huge grin split my face. "Yes ma'am, I was!" I slid lower and swirled my tongue around her belly button again as her hand slid through my hair.

And then we made love.

That's what sex was with Jane. It wasn't fucking, which was what I'd done most of my life. This was making love. And I loved it. Every second of it. Even during the random times my brain would tell me she was certain to get tired of me, or outgrow me, or find someone who was more like her, from her world. I absolutely loved making love to her. And having her make love to me. She made me feel adored, wanted.

Sunday nights always seemed to last longer too, as if our bodies knew we wouldn't get to see each other again until Friday. Even though we had to be quieter at my place because of Manny in the next room, we'd go again and again, until we fell into an exhausted heap.

Jane was kneeling on the mattress between my legs, licking and fingering me through my second orgasm, when she raised her head to look at me.

"Put it on."

"What?" I gasped.

"Your strap-on. Put it on."

I got up on my elbows to meet her eyes. "Really?"

"Sure, let's see if we can have a meeting of the minds."

I hesitated a fraction of a second, then rolled over, reaching for the drawer in my side table.

While I got the straps tightened around my hips (possibly faster than I ever had before), Jane laid back on the pillows. She spread her legs and held out her arms to me.

"Hmm, can't say I usually do it this way," I said as I slid between her knees.

"We'll this is what I meant. Let's see if we can do this with a little tenderness instead of fucking like animals. Not that I won't let you fuck me like an animal someday. Maybe. Just not today."

I positioned the head of the silicone cock between her lips and eased it inside her. She sucked in a breath and winced. I stopped.

"Want me to take it out?"

"No, just go slow."

I slid out an inch or two, then back in, gently rocking it a little deeper on each thrust. Finally, as it sank completely into her, she pulled my body down on top of hers. Our breast touching, our stomachs, hips. She wrapped her legs around my waist as I looked into her eyes.

"I've really never done it like this," I said, after I kissed her.

"This is what I want from you, darling," she said breathlessly.

"Me too." I slowly started rocking my hips, thrusting in and out of her as we kissed.

Kissing Jane was the single sexiest thing I'd ever done in my life. Never before had I been with anyone who I would be happy just kissing. Our tongues intertwined, lips pressed softly together, our breath mingling. I was probably only moving the dildo maybe two or three inches on each stroke, but I was maintaining a steady rhythm as Jane's breathing sped up into my mouth. Jane was the quietest woman when she orgasmed that I'd ever been with. She usually held her breath or whispered to me as she came.

But not this time.

She started making her little noises against my tongue as she got close, but as her hips started shaking beneath me, she cried out. Once, twice. Then she bit my bottom lip, softly. I could tell she was struggling both to keep quiet and to not chew a hole in my lip. I started thrusting just a little harder at the bottom of each stroke and it sent her over the edge.

"Oh God, oh God," she whispered, then as spasms shook her body, her arms tightened around my neck and she yelled, "Oh God! Oh, sweet Lord in Heaven, Viv!" Her ankles tightened around my butt, pressing me tightly into her.

As the orgasm wracked her lovely frame, three loud thumps came from the wall that separated my room from Manny's.

"It's after midnight and I have the early shift," we heard his muffled voice.

"Sorry, dude!" I yelled back as Jane turned a shade of red I'd never seen on her before and she started giggling uncontrollably.

"That's the loudest I've ever heard you," I said, grinning down at her.

"That was really nice," she replied breathlessly.

"Hafta to say, I always thought these were only good for fucking, not making love," I said, giving the dildo a few short thrusts into her.

"Why not both?" she said, making me laugh. "Seriously though, you know I'm not... a wild kinda girl. But let's bring that thing over to my place where we can see what else we can do with it without having to worry about being too loud. As I said earlier, I'm not one for public sex, and the fact I'll never be able to look Manny in the eyes again is as close as I ever want to come to it."

~~ Lorton, Virginia, November ~~

In hindsight, things went exactly as I'd thought they would every time I'd imagined this.

It was a cold, rainy Sunday and after we'd wrapped the seemingly endless pile of tamale's for Abuela's weekly orders, I'd sent Diego on his way, telling him that I'd help her clean up then get her in her car to go to afternoon mass. I was scrubbing at the pot she used to slow cook her carnitas when I finally got up the nerve.

"Hey Abuela, I wanted to talk to you about Thanksgiving."

"¿Si, querida?"

"Can we do lunch instead of eating later in the evening like we usually do?" Our family had never been shy about adopting American traditions, especially if they involved eating. Although our menus certainly had a Mexican spin on them. No turkey and stuffing for us.

"Si, we can do when is good for you," she said while she dried another pot. "You have another plan that day?"

"I, uh, I wanted to know if I could bring Jane. You remember the woman who came to Diego's wedding with me?"

"Oh! Si, your profesora. Is so nice you are friends with a smart lady such as that."

"Yeah, we thought we might do lunch here, then we want to drive down to Richmond and have dinner with her parents."

"Ah, so nice! Her familia does not mind her bringing a friend?"

I took a deep breath. Then another, shakier breath. I felt like I was going to start hyperventilating. Just fucking rip off the band-aid, Esparza!

"Well, Abuela, she's, uh... I've been wanting to talk to you about that. She's more than a friend. A lot more than that."

"What do you mean, nieta?"