So… I apologize profusely for my very long absence! College and work takes a lot out of a man, ya know? It’s been a long time since I was here, so I’m a little rusty. Anyways: enjoy and comment, please.

I woke up the next morning to Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Higher Ground” coming out of my alarm clock at 7:00 am. The house was empty, my dad going into work early this week and my mom at work, meant I had the house to myself.  Rolling out of bed and doing the morning paper crossword over coffee and oatmeal, I pondered on what today held for me and what was to come. I received a call about 9:00 am from Rachel, a girl I went to high school with and who was now going to college about an hour and a half north of here. Her roommate went home to be with their family for a funeral and Rachel wanted someone she knew to stay with her until her roommate got back. Naturally, I agreed to stay with her and began my journey. My mind pondered on why Rachel would call me and me alone. Why not any of her other friends like Julia or Brittany? I dismissed the thought quickly.

A good 90 minutes later, I was at Rachel’s apartment door. Before I had a chance to knock on the door, I found myself sucked into the apartment by someone. I stumbled, fell backwards over the arm of a couch that cushioned my fall, and looked up into the most beautiful brown eyes I ever saw. “Hi, Will.” Rachel said with a smile. “Rachel.” Rachel was at least 5’4 with wavy honey blonde hair, a great slim, almost athletic and tanned figure, and orange-sized breasts. It took all I had not to drown in my own drool over seeing her and not to fuck her right then and there. Rachel said something, but I was too busy taking her in. “I said, ‘How are you, Will?’” “Hmm? Sorry. I’m fine. How about you” I said, embarrassed and with minimal stutter. “It’s alright. I’m glad you’re glad you’re here.” “You are?...I mean,” I said, recovering myself quickly and with a more composed manner. “Of course you are. Why me, just out of curiosity? I mean, why not Julia or Brittany? Julia’s only half the distance away I am.” “Because, silly, I like you. You got spunk.” “Boy, if only you knew.” I said, under my breath. “What was that?”

“Nothing. I said it sure was nice of you to invite me up here.” “Aww…that’s another thing, Will: you got charm. Here, you’ve had a long car trip. Let me reward you…” “Please, please, please…” “with a fresh home-cooked meal.” She said as she turned toward the kitchenette. “Shit. Oh well. A meal’s a meal. Maybe I can get dessert later.” I chuckled to myself at my last thought. “What’s so funny?” “Nothing. Just thinking how I beat Zano (Zane), Julia, Matt, and Adam (her ex-boyfriend) at golf back home.” “Really? All of them?” “Well, no. Just Zano. Beginner’s luck, though, I guess.”

Rachel cooked an amazing dinner for two: pasta alfredo with shrimp penne and a bottle of red wine. “Sorry, I don’t drink wine.” I said, attempting to kindly turn down her offer. She looked at me with those big brown eyes as if to say “Please?”, persuading me to change my position. “But I guess just once can’t hurt, I guess.” The pasta was divine and the wine was even better. I was feeling pretty buzzed on wine and Rachel easily persuaded me that we should curl up with the bottle of wine along with a cheesy romantic comedy. After all the wine was gone and the movie was over, we talked for a while about life and romance and stuff. “So, do you have a girlfriend yet? I know you had the hots for Julia back in the day.” “Rachel. If I had a girlfriend, would I be here with a really beautiful girl?” “Aww, you’re sweet.” She said, kissing me on the cheek. Later on, I insisted on sleeping on the couch, but Rachel would hear none of it. “You can sleep in my bed.” “With you?” “Of course, silly. You’re probably like a big, warm fuzzy teddy.” She said, touching my beard softly. “And, besides, my roommate’s not too big on letting people sleeping on the couch. Says it stinks up the couch or something.” “Well…if you insist…” “I do!”

Her bed was enormous. It was a full-sized queen bed with wine-coloured sheets and smelled distinctly of rose water and berries. Rachel, who had had a candle lit earlier, blew it out, leaving the room to smell like fresh-picked strawberries and went into her bathroom to change for bed. My jaw about hit the floor when I saw what Rachel was wearing: a white laced nightie that came down to just above her knees and you could see down it too. “Well? How do I look?” Rachel said, posing in the doorway of the bathroom. “Umm…uhh…” “I take it you like it?” I was essentially speechless. I wondered if she had planned all this out from the beginning, but with her standing in front of me, it was hard to think of anything else. Rachel turned off the lamp, climbed into bed, and laid behind me in a spooning position. “Ohh, Will…You’re so warm and fuzzy.” “You’re kinda warm yourself, Rach.” I fell asleep easily with a warm body beside me. It was very nice, along with the surprise at 2:00 am when I awoke to the feeling of a very feminine hand reaching down and groping the outside of my blue jeans. “Rach?”