“What are you making?”

“Strawberry-rhubarb cobbler.”

“Yum. I almost had a taste of it shortly after I met Oliver.”

Jackie glances at me. “Almost?”

“Yeah, I hadn’t had dinner and he offered me the leftovers you sent home with him, except the cobbler. He ate that in front of me, but let me lick the bowl.”

“What? Where were his manners?”

“If you’re going to tell the story without me, then don’t leave out the important details,” Oliver says, walking up behind me. “I offered her the last bite but she said no then practically gnawed my hand off after I stuck the spoon in my mouth.”

I elbow him in the stomach. “I did not gnaw your hand off.”

Jackie laughs and when I look up I see a sparkle in her eyes as she watches us and our playful banter. Oliver wraps his arms around me and nuzzles my neck as I continue to chop the veggies.

“Did you get everything handled in the car?” Jackie asks.

Oliver tenses his hold on me. “What?”

“Vivian said you had to handle something.”

“She did, did she?” He pinches my sides eliciting a jump. “Yes, I handled it.”

I bite my lips together fighting the grin that’s dying to take over my face.

“Think you’re pretty funny, huh? Just wait until I handle you later,” he whispers in my ear. “I’ll be out back,” he says to us both.

“Okay, sweetheart.” Jackie winks at him.

We both watch him walk out back. “You’re good for him.” Jackie puts the cobbler in the oven.”

“You think so?”

“I know so. When he moved back to Boston I was worried about him. The boy I once knew who was full of life, always cracking jokes, and driven to be a successful lawyer seemed to have vanished. He’s coming back. I can see it a little more every day and I know it’s because of you.”

I blush. Oliver’s been the one who has given me a life over the past month. I’m not sure I’ve done much for him, so Jackie’s words touch something deep inside my heart and at the same time I feel sad for Oliver. “I know something significant happened while he was in Portland. That much of the puzzle has been pretty easy to put together. I haven’t asked him about any of it and I don’t plan to. I want him to tell me if and when he’s ready. However, I know when it’s on his mind. I see a different side of him, it’s a mix of anger, insecurity, and … I don’t know, maybe grief?”

Jackie nods but doesn’t respond. She just looks at me and her conflict is visible in the wrinkling of her forehead and the small creases along the corners of her eyes.

“Anyway, he asked me to move in with him, so that’s a good sign, right?”

The conflict on her face explodes into all out shock. “He did?”

I nod and grimace. “It’s too late now, but maybe I should have let him tell you.”

Jackie shakes her head or maybe she’s trying to bring herself out of shock. “No, you’re fine. I won’t say anything until he brings it up.” She smiles but it’s forced and I’m starting to feel uncomfortable.

“Here, everything’s chopped. I’m going to use the bathroom before dinner. Do you need any more help?”

“Thank you, I think everything else is good.”

* * *

Oliver

“Where’s Vivian?”

She’s in the bathroom, but she’s been in there for a while. Maybe you should check on her,” my mom says while walking past me, carrying out plates and silverware.

“Yeah, I will.”

I stop at the door and listen, but I can’t hear anything. “Vivian?” I knock.

“Yes?”

“Are you okay in there?”

“Yes. I’ll be right out.”

“Are you feeling sick or something?”

“No.”

“Female issues?”

The door swings open. “No, I’m not having female issues, or the shits, or anything like that.”

“Are you wishing you wore underwear?”

She rolls her eyes. “No!”

Damn! Why did I go there again? I’m already hard again.

She sighs. “I told your mom you asked me to move in. Then I thought that wasn’t really my news to share with her. Are you mad?”

Men suffer from both types of ADD—Attention Deficit Disorder and Acute Dick Dementia. The latter being the inability to remember anything that’s said around us for at least five minutes after a sexual thought enters our brain, and if a new thought creeps in within that five minutes the clock starts over.

“Oliver? Did you hear me?”

“What? Yes … no. You have to start wearing underwear, every day. Okay?” I adjust myself and her eyes follow my movement.

“What about your mom?”

“I’m quite certain she wears them. I don’t think she’s the type—”

“Oli! I’m talking about her knowing that I’m moving in with you.”

“Oh.” I pull her into my chest and kiss the top of her head. “I was going to tell everyone at dinner anyway, so it’s no big deal. Why? What did my mom say?”

“Nothing really, but she looked shocked. I mean, before that she said I was good for you, but then I told her that you asked me to move in and her whole demeanor changed.”

“I’m sure she’s fine.”

Vivian looks up at me. “Are you? It felt spur of the moment and we haven’t known each other that long. I’d understand if you wanted to change your mind.”

Hell yes I want to change my mind. Who wouldn’t after a temporary lapse of sanity? The practical part of my brain wants to tell her to run and never look back.

“I’m not going to change my mind.” I kiss her and the irrational part of me that asked her to move in returns and triggers my ADD response.

“We’d better go,” she mumbles against my lips. “They’re waiting for us.”

“Let them wait.” I suck her tongue and grab her breast with one hand while my other lifts her dress in the front.

“Oli, stop.”

I slip my finger into her slick channel. “Are you sure?”

Her head falls against my chest while her hands grip my shoulders. “Yes … I mean no. I mean … oh … God.”

“Is that a yes?”

“No … yes … oh … God.” Her fingernails claim the top layers of my skin even through my shirt.

I add a second finger and rub her little nub with my thumb. It’s sadistic of me, both to her and myself, but I can’t stop.

“You two coming?” Chance yells from the back door.

“Oh God!” Vivian yells as I pinch her nipple through her dress and tug on it—hard. Releasing it, I cup my hand over her mouth.

“What’s that?” Chance’s voice echoes.

“In a minute,” I yell back. “Are you close?” I whisper in her ear.

She fists my shirt and swallows while nodding her head, eyelids heavy.

“Good. I’ll meet you at the dinner table.” I pull out my fingers, kiss her cheek, then walk away.

“Oliver!” she grits between her teeth, but I don’t look back.

Payback’s a bitch.

* * *

Chance is waiting for me at the deck door. “I think you should ask Vivian to give the blessing before dinner,” he says with a hushed voice.

“What?”

He rests his arm over my shoulders as we walk toward the table. “She just seems pretty religious.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I heard her calling to our Lord.”

I shove him away. “Are you drunk?”

“Not yet, but oh … God I could be.” His voice raises a couple of octaves.

I glare at him. “Not one word to her. You don’t need to embarrass her.”

He holds up his hands and shakes his head. “Oh … God, no that’s your job.”

“What are you boys talking about?” Mom sits down at the table next to Dad.

“Nothing.”

“Is Vivian coming?”

Chance chuckles and snorts like a perverted teenager.

“Yes she’s com—on her way.” I shake my head at Chance.

“There she is,” Dad says.

She smiles at my parents and even gives Chance an endearing look. Me? I get nothing, not one glance. Standing, I pull out her chair. “Are you mad?” I whisper in her ear.

“I don’t get mad, I get even,” she says between gritted teeth.

If we didn’t have an audience I would argue that what I did was getting even with her and that now we are in fact, even. End. Done. Final.

“How was Cape Cod? Thought you weren’t coming back until Sunday.” Chance knows all my buttons to push tonight.

“Vivian wasn’t feeling well. I think she’s still struggling with it tonight—shit!” I slap my hand against the table causing the glasses and silverware to rattle.

“Oliver, what are you doing?” My mom gives me a stern glare.

“Actually,” Vivian interrupts with a fake grin while clenching my junk so tight under the table I doubt it’s still in one piece, “Oli has trouble, well … I’m just going to say it since you’re his family and I know this is a nonjudgmental, safe environment. He can’t sustain an erection,” she whispers, “when there are other people in the house. So our romantic getaway wasn’t feeling so romantic. That’s why we came home early. I think he gets nervous or something. What do you think, Dr. Konrad?”

She did NOT just tell my family that I have ED, did she? My dad looks at me and I clench my teeth while prying her death grip off my crotch.

My dad grins and I’m not sure if Chance is even breathing he’s laughing so hard. “Maybe you should come in for a physical, Son. ED can be a symptom of a more serious condition.”

“Vivian’s not wearing underwear.” The words are out and I can’t take them back.

Her eyes go wide as she gasps. Then they shrink into a menacing scowl. “Oli cut his head after he tripped while chasing me around his place naked because he was trying to spank me.”