Chapter 1
I had just finished my first semester in college, and was happy to be headed home for the holidays. I had never been away from my family this long, and the truth was, I was homesick. I would never admit it to my parents, because they had finally stopped treating me like a baby. I was the youngest of 3 children, and even though being the baby of the family had it perks, I got tired of everyone holding my hand, and reminding me to look both ways before I crossed a street in life, that was a metaphor by the way, they weren’t that bad, but sometimes it felt like I was being smothered.
I decided to take a taxi home from the airport. I gave my dad the wrong time for my flights’ arrival. He demanded that I forward him my itinerary, but I lied and said that I only had the printed version. If I was going to be treated like a grownup, I needed to act like a grown up. The ride was nice. I know I had only been gone for a few months, but it felt like forever, and it was nice to peer out of the taxi window, and know that nothing had changed while I was away.
I finally arrived at my parents, and to my dismay there were no cars in the driveway. I couldn’t believe that there was no-one here to greet me, and to be surprised by me showing up. To say I was disappointed was an understatement. I told myself to pull it together, there are things that come with being 18, and grown, and this was just one of those things. The worst part was, I had lost my keys my second day on campus, and even though my mom said she would, she never sent me the replacement key.
I was sitting on the porch steps when I noticed a black Camaro pull up in the neighbor’s driveway. I had never noticed that car before, and thought that maybe it was a relative visiting for the Holidays. The driver’s door opened, and Mr. Peterson stepped out of the car. Mr. Peterson was one of my Dad’s best friends, and had been our neighbor for as long as we’ve lived here. Pretty much all of my life. He looked different. He’d lost at least 50 pounds, and the beard that once covered his face was gone, all that remained was a sexy little goatee. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Something had definitely changed while I was away, and it was the last thing I would have ever expected.
“Hey Carmen” Mr. Peterson waved, and begin to make his way over to my parents’ porch, for some reason I suddenly became very aware of my appearance. I was sure I looked like shit, and After an 8 hour flight, and a 45 minute cab ride I probably smelled like it too. I suddenly became very self-conscious. I was tempted to give myself the “sniff test” but I was afraid that Mr. Peterson would see me, and think I was totally gross. I sucked it up, and finally spoke back. “Hey Mr. Peterson. How are you?” I said excited.
He reached the porch, and I was able to get a really good look at Mr. Peterson. I never noticed his striking grey eyes. I felt like they cut right through me. He was incredibly sexy, and even though he’d lost some weight, and a beard, I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t noticed his sex appeal before.
Mr. Peterson reached out for a hug, and I leaned into him. He hugged me so tight that he lifted me up off of my feet, nearly squeezing the life out of me. “Oh Carmen, it’s so good to see you. I can’t believe you’re all grown up, and going to college” Mr. Peterson beamed.
“Yep, finally 18.” I said, trying to drive the point home that I was of legal consenting age. I’m not sure why I felt the need to make sure he knew, but I didn’t want him thinking that I wasn’t “legal”.
“I can see that, and look at you. You’re quite the looker” He complimented me.
I blushed like the school girl I was, and said “Mr. Peterson, you’re not so bad yourself. You look great. What gives?”
He laughed “Well, I just felt like it was time for a change, I decided to get rid of the rug on my face, and started going to the gym
I had just finished my first semester in college, and was happy to be headed home for the holidays. I had never been away from my family this long, and the truth was, I was homesick. I would never admit it to my parents, because they had finally stopped treating me like a baby. I was the youngest of 3 children, and even though being the baby of the family had it perks, I got tired of everyone holding my hand, and reminding me to look both ways before I crossed a street in life, that was a metaphor by the way, they weren’t that bad, but sometimes it felt like I was being smothered.
I decided to take a taxi home from the airport. I gave my dad the wrong time for my flights’ arrival. He demanded that I forward him my itinerary, but I lied and said that I only had the printed version. If I was going to be treated like a grownup, I needed to act like a grown up. The ride was nice. I know I had only been gone for a few months, but it felt like forever, and it was nice to peer out of the taxi window, and know that nothing had changed while I was away.
I finally arrived at my parents, and to my dismay there were no cars in the driveway. I couldn’t believe that there was no-one here to greet me, and to be surprised by me showing up. To say I was disappointed was an understatement. I told myself to pull it together, there are things that come with being 18, and grown, and this was just one of those things. The worst part was, I had lost my keys my second day on campus, and even though my mom said she would, she never sent me the replacement key.
I was sitting on the porch steps when I noticed a black Camaro pull up in the neighbor’s driveway. I had never noticed that car before, and thought that maybe it was a relative visiting for the Holidays. The driver’s door opened, and Mr. Peterson stepped out of the car. Mr. Peterson was one of my Dad’s best friends, and had been our neighbor for as long as we’ve lived here. Pretty much all of my life. He looked different. He’d lost at least 50 pounds, and the beard that once covered his face was gone, all that remained was a sexy little goatee. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Something had definitely changed while I was away, and it was the last thing I would have ever expected.
“Hey Carmen” Mr. Peterson waved, and begin to make his way over to my parents’ porch, for some reason I suddenly became very aware of my appearance. I was sure I looked like shit, and After an 8 hour flight, and a 45 minute cab ride I probably smelled like it too. I suddenly became very self-conscious. I was tempted to give myself the “sniff test” but I was afraid that Mr. Peterson would see me, and think I was totally gross. I sucked it up, and finally spoke back. “Hey Mr. Peterson. How are you?” I said excited.
He reached the porch, and I was able to get a really good look at Mr. Peterson. I never noticed his striking grey eyes. I felt like they cut right through me. He was incredibly sexy, and even though he’d lost some weight, and a beard, I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t noticed his sex appeal before.
Mr. Peterson reached out for a hug, and I leaned into him. He hugged me so tight that he lifted me up off of my feet, nearly squeezing the life out of me. “Oh Carmen, it’s so good to see you. I can’t believe you’re all grown up, and going to college” Mr. Peterson beamed.
“Yep, finally 18.” I said, trying to drive the point home that I was of legal consenting age. I’m not sure why I felt the need to make sure he knew, but I didn’t want him thinking that I wasn’t “legal”.
“I can see that, and look at you. You’re quite the looker” He complimented me.
I blushed like the school girl I was, and said “Mr. Peterson, you’re not so bad yourself. You look great. What gives?”
He laughed “Well, I just felt like it was time for a change, I decided to get rid of the rug on my face, and started going to the gym
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