![Twisting Paths: Preface [Edited]](images/featured/16.jpg)
“Here, let me get that,” he murmured, pushing the door open. The girl poked her head in and wrinkled her nose.
“It’s dark.”
“That’s because there’s no light turned on. Wait a sec.” He shifted the bags more fully to his right arm and fumbled for the light. “It’s here somewhere, I know it is.”
“Well, hurry up, won’t you? I don’t like standing outside.”
“Then go inside.”
“But it’s dark.”
He sighed. “Will you hold the bags then?”
“No.”
He stared at her for a moment and then shrugged, setting the bags near the door. Blindly, he navigated the room, silently grateful that Nicole could not see him. There seemed to be no light switches anywhere, but, when he tripped on the bed, he knocked over a lamp.
“Marcus? Are you okay?” she said. He grunted.
“I think I found the lamp.”
“Ha, ha, very funny. Turn it on.”
“Wait a minute.” He grabbed the lamp and put it on the nightstand before turning the switch.
Light flooded the room.
Nicole blinked and looked around. At the very center, there was a bed with ragged sheets, and hovering over it was Marcus, who looked even more ragged. He smiled when he saw her.
“You look beautiful.”
She ignored him and stepped in. “I don’t like this place.”
Marcus shrugged. “It’s good enough. I don’t see any cockroaches yet. And the bed looks comfy enough, right? And, if that doesn’t suit our purposes, we can always do it in the shower.”
“I’m leaving.”
“No, wait, stop!” he cried, rushing to her side. “Please, I didn’t mean it that way. I respect you and everything, really.” He glanced over the room and frowned. “It’s not great, but at least nobody will bug us. And you said you wanted to do it, right?” When she hesitated, he touched her arm with his fingertips. “I love you.”
“Fine.” She walked to the bed, slipping off her high heels. “Well, what are you waiting for?”
“I’m sorry. Wait.” He took the bag and carried it on the bed. “Condoms, of course. And here’s a dildo. You won’t need that, of course.” He gave a harsh laugh.
She picked up the dildo with interest. “Where did you get this?”
“My friend Jared gave it to me for a Christmas present.”
“But why did you keep it?”
“I don’t know.” When Nicole raised her eyebrows, he added, “Mom freaked out when she saw it, but I hid it along with the condoms and she never found it. She still thinks it’s thrown out.”
“This is stupid.”
“I suppose it is.” He tossed the dildo in the trash, his face bright red. “There! It’s gone! Now, are you ready?”
“I suppose.” She set it down and sighed, lying down on the bed. “My mom would kill me if she knew what I was doing.”
“Where does she think you are?”
“My friend’s.” She smiled and leaned back. “Of course, I think she suspected something. But she didn’t say anything, so here I am.”
“Mmm.” He sat down next to her and put his hand on hers. “So, want to do it?”
“Not yet.”
It was quiet for a minute. Finally, Marcus turned to her.
“Now?”
“Oh God, you’re impatient. Fine, we can do it.” She sighed.
“Mmm.” He rolled on top of her and gnawed her neck. “You’re beautiful, you know that?” he murmured.
“Yeah.”
He smiled. “Can I take off your clothes?”
“No.”
“Should I take off my pants?”
“Now?”
“I’ll put on a condom.”
“Not yet.”
“Why not?”
“Because.”
Marcus shuddered and curled up into her arms. “This is going to be wonderful.”
At that moment, something skittered across the bed. Nicole flew up, defying every law of physics and before Marcus could blink, she was across the room, cursing as she wedged on her heels. “There’s--something--ahh!”
She ran out of the room.
Marcus blinked.
A mouse stared back at him, sitting on its hind legs, its little whiskers quivering as it sniffed the air. Then, after twittering some, it skittered off the bed.
The door slammed shut.
Marcus ran after her. “Nicole? Nicole! Come back, it wasn’t anything bad, just a mouse. Nicole? Hey! Hey! Hey!”
