Darren, Male, 54

	- Narrator, retired, father of Gwen and Victoria (Vic)

	- 5'11, beige skin, 195lbs, cropped greying brown hair

Audrey, Female, 16

	- High school senior, daughter of Duncan and Theresa

	- 5'9, pale skin, 140lbs, light-green eyes, straight auburn hair over her shoulders

Gwen, Female, 16

	- High school sophomore, daughter of Darren, sister of Victoria

	- 5'6, beige skin, 135lbs, shoulder-length wavy black hair

Victoria (Vic), Female, 14

	- High school freshman, daughter of Darren, sister of Gwen

	- 5'4, beige skin, 120lbs, wavy neck-length light-brown hair

Joyce, Female, early-80s

	- Wife of Herman, grandmother of Audrey, mother of Theresa

	- 5'6, beige skin, 115lbs, bobbed salt-and-pepper hair

Herman, Male, early-80s

	- Husband of Joyce, grandfather of Audrey, father of Theresa

	- 6'0, beige-olive skin, 180lbs, thin short gray hair

Spending the night apart from Audrey was a little easier than I thought it would be, but only because it created butterflies of anticipation which fluttered lightly at the knowledge that I'd be seeing her the following evening. I was giddy the next morning after my daughters were off to school, energized, almost young again. I had Audrey in my life and that meant the world to me. I didn't want to sit around and grow old anymore, and I surely didn't want to risk appearing old to my young lover.

So, I headed out that morning and got a haircut. Mostly a trim job, but I also had the stylist color my hair back to its natural shade. Audrey had never mentioned caring about they fact that grey was my prominent color, but I wanted my hair to reflect the new me, the me who had a lovely young woman in my life who deserved someone who didn't look to be in his mid-fifties.

A quick professional shave and I was out of the salon. I stopped into a shop where they sold alternative t-shirts. Victoria's fifteenth birthday was just a few days away, and I knew she wanted a shirt with her favorite band on it. I knew nothing about that sort of music, so I got one of the part-time college students working the shop to direct me to the right section and I picked out a couple I thought Vic would like.

I also went to one of those electronics specialty stores and bought her a new iPhone. Vic's phone was getting a bit old, regardless, so her birthday was a good excuse to get her an upgrade.

Then I grabbed lunch at an Ethiopian cafe where I was the only diner until I'd almost finished my meal. My phone rang, and my stomach dropped when I saw it was Rainey. My instinct was to ignore the call, but I did the mature thing and answered anyway.

"Hello?"

"Darren... it's Rainey."

"Oh... hey."

"I, uh... I've got a couple of your things you left at my place. Shirts and pants. What, uh... what do you want done with them?"

I wasn't sure I cared, honestly. I didn't even recall which things I'd left there. "Uh... I suppose I could swing by and pick them up..."

"Nah," she replied flatly, "I'd prefer to just meet you somewhere and drop them off." Her tone was cold and I really didn't blame her.

"Uh, sure. I'm north of downtown right now, not terribly far from your place."

"McAdoo's? I could use a drink today..."

I hoped she wasn't asking me to do more than grab my clothing from her. "Uh, sure. Twenty minutes?"

"Yep." The phone died and my stomach turned over again. I'd hoped I wouldn't have to meet Rainey in person again. I still had some guilt about how things had gone, and though being with Audrey had been a salve for all of that, it didn't change the dread I felt knowing I'd have to, at minimum, see my former lover one more time.

I thought it was the responsible thing to do to send Audrey a text letting her know I was meeting my ex.

Got a call from Rainey. She has some of my things. Meeting her in a few minutes to get them. Sorry, don't want to, but I think I should. Still coming over when you get home from practice? Love you – Darren.

There was no reply while I finished my meal, but I didn't know how much access Audrey had to her phone during school days. The message showed delivered but I didn't have a way to know if she had yet read what I sent. I suppose we should have been more careful about sending each other messages in case anyone but Audrey or those who knew about it looked through her phone. I made a mental note to talk to my lover about that.

I drove a couple of miles down the rode and pulled into the parking lot for McAdoo's. It was an Irish sports bar, often showing soccer matches from Europe and elsewhere, though they also tuned in to baseball with so many Astros fans in the area. I wasn't interested in a drink, honestly just wanting to hurry up and get this over with.

Rainey's car wasn't parked nearby, so I stepped out and then sat on a bench out front. I check my phone, but still there was nothing from Audrey. I hated not knowing how she had reacted to my meeting with Rainey, but there was nothing to do about it.

My ex pulled up a moment later and shut off her car. She stepped out. Although Rainey looked tired and had heavy bags under her eyes, she had makeup on like I'd never seen before. Deep red lipstick, blush, dark eyeliner. Her auburn hair was teased up as if she, too, had just seen a stylist. She wore a slender black dress, the same one she'd worn on one of our dates. It was clear Rainey was trying to attract an eye or two. I desperately hoped it wasn't mine being sought.

"Darren," she said as she walked up, her tone matching the one she'd held on the phone. Rainey pushed a plastic bag with my crumpled clothing in my direction and I took it from her.

"Hey, Rainey... Thanks."

She eyed me a moment, then said, "I need a drink." Instead of going inside, she waited for me to respond.

"Uh... enjoy..."

"Can we talk?" she replied.

My stomach turned over. "Rainey..."

"I'm not trying to change your mind, Darren. Please, just one drink..."

Against my better judgement, the guilt for how things had gone with Rainey won out and I nodded in reluctant agreement. She walked ahead of me. Rainey was a very pretty woman, and though I had everything I needed in Audrey, both emotionally and sexually, I couldn't help notice that the woman's ass looked especially arousing being hugged tightly by her black dress.

We sat at the bar and Rainey ordered a beer. I asked for a scotch.

Sitting silently, I swallowed a sip of my drink and waited for the inevitable.

"What really happened, Darren? With us?"

I looked at my glass, trying to find words which held some measure of honesty without also revealing the whole truth. "It just... wasn't going anywhere..."

"Not going anywhere?" Rainey said brusquely, "how can you possibly think that? We were doing so good!"

"I just... I'm sorry, Rainey. You're great. I mean that," I added when her eyes narrowed, "but... I just didn't see anything for us moving forward..."

"But you never said anything! You never told me something was wrong!"

"I know, I know," was my reply. I sipped my scotch and added, "but... you felt for me something I didn't feel for you... I couldn't continue to keep going with that big difference. I... I guess I wanted something more casual... something with less... responsibility."

"Responsibility..."

"Yeah... I... I didn't want to... feel obligated to try to be who you needed."

"That's pretty fucking selfish, Darren," Rainey hissed. "Really fucking selfish."

"I know..."

"So you just dumped me. Over the phone, no less."

"I didn't want to hurt you, Rainey. I really hate that part of all this..."

"Didn't hate it enough to do it right. You should have done it in person, Darren. You took the coward's way out. That hurt almost as much as you dumping me..."

"I'm sorry," I repeated, finishing my scotch quickly, "I don't know what else you want me to say..."

"I want you to say you regret it, Darren," Rainey said more softly, and I absolutely hated the way she was trying to guilt me into such a dishonest admission. "I want you to realize you're wrong about us. I love you because you made me feel good about myself for the first time in a long time."

I didn't miss that she said 'love' in the present tense. Rainey clearly believed we might still get back together. I knew I could not let that illusion continue to persist. "No one should have that power over your happiness, Rainey. Not me, not anyone. The time we spent together was enjoyable, for me as well as you, but that's behind us now. This is what I'm talking about when I called it responsibility. I've had enough times in my life when I could barely keep myself happy. I just don't have enough to prop you up, as well."

The words were cold, I knew, but they needed to be said. I could not let Rainey continue to think there was still a future for us.

She stared at me a moment, then bit her lip. I thought she might cry. Instead, her face steeled up and she called to the bartender for another drink. She said evenly, "Fine, Darren. Fine."

I nodded to indicate the conversation was over, then put a ten on the bar and stood up. "Good luck, Rainey. You don't need it, but I wish you well."

I didn't wait for her to respond and I left her to sit alone at the bar.

- - -

Putting Rainey out of my mind was as easy as finding a message waiting from Audrey. I sat in my car while I read it.

Ok...

It was a cryptic reply, and I wasn't sure what, exactly, she meant by 'Ok...' I typed back quickly.

Just leaving now. Sorry, I know this isn't ideal but should be over with now.

Her response was immediate.

What do you mean 'now'...?

Jesus.

She seemed to think there was a chance we'd get back together. I made certain she knows better now.

I waited a moment and no reply came. I worried that the jealous streak which Audrey had shown early in the first part of our relationship might be leading her thoughts in the wrong direction. I added,

I love you. Please, let's talk when you're out of practice.

I waited another couple of minutes, my heartbeat rapid, but no reply came. I didn't know if she had been between classes and put her phone away or if there was something worse going on. Regardless, there was nothing to do but worry, so I put the car in drive and left the parking lot.

- - -

To say Audrey was on my mind was an understatement. Our relationship, for all it's highs, still involved a great deal of trust that, whatever the lows, all would be well. Life was hard like that for everyone, but I recalled my high school years and tried to remember how easy it was to believe the worst, to think less of myself and be too-easily convinced that a situation was spiraling out of control. An older, perhaps wiser, me knew to slow down and reconsider the scenario, but Audrey was sixteen and to her, I felt sure, every little problem was magnified.

I wished I could go to her right then to reassure her that nothing had changed between us and that Rainey was my past for good. But one of the many issues our relationship would surely have for a while would be dealing with her being in high school, and me being an old guy with too much time on his hands.

I'd never been much of a gift-buyer for girlfriends or even my wife. I found it too convenient, too material. What I felt, when in love, couldn't be reduced to jewelry or trinkets. Sure, I bought gifts from time to time, special occasions and such, and sure, early in relationships, I was more likely to spend money to 'prove' my affection. With Audrey, I hadn't done any of that, and I wondered if, maybe, it might be nice to do such a simple thing as buy her something she might like. Not a trinket. Something real.

Not really knowing what to get her, I parked at the mall and went inside. Unlike a lot of malls around Houston, this one stayed busy, a decent mix of high end clothiers and kitchen shops and jewelers as well as discount stores, booksellers, and cheap eats. I browsed a bit for a while, nothing really catching my eye. I check my phone several times, but nothing more had come in from Audrey. She'd be getting out of classes about then and heading to practice. It would be at least three hours before she might return home.

I was in the bookstore, idly moving from shelf to shelf. Unlike most of the other stores I'd been in, this one was nearly empty. I guessed Amazon would eventually run these places into the ground. I wasn't sure how any of them stayed in business.

"Can I help you?" the saleswoman asked as she stepped in the aisle.

"I dunno," I replied, "trying to find something for... uh... a young woman. Not really sure what she might like."

"What sorts of things is she interested in?"

"Baseball. She plays on her high school team. Cooking, definitely. Learning to write software... Umm..."

"Well, we don't carry it here, but I was a ballplayer myself back in my day, and there was a really great one I read a decade or more ago called When Women Played Hardball. Surely out of print," she added, "but you might get lucky at one of the used places around here."

"Sounds interesting..."

She smiled and said, "I loved it. Brought back a lot of memories. Not that I played professionally like the women in the book, but I had a lot of fun. Baseball, too, not softball like everyone thinks girls play exclusively."

"Okay... I'll look for that, thanks."

"I can call around, if you'd like. Got nothing else to do right now."

"Sure, that'd be great. I'll, uh, find something for myself, then..."

She nodded and replied, "I'll let you know if I find a copy."

I turned back to the books and found a couple of historical novels for myself, and I picked up a beginner's cookbook for Gwen since she'd taken an interest. For Vic, I found a book on how to practice softball at home. She'd been enjoying her time on the team so far, and her first game was coming up. She hadn't made the starting squad, but her coach assured her she'd get some opportunities to play during the season, mostly as an outfielder.

I took my books to the counter and checked my phone. Still nothing new from Audrey.

"Well, good news!" the woman told me, "Fred's Books has a copy in stock right now. I asked them to hold it for you."

"Fantastic, thank you."

She rang me up and bagged my new books, then I left and drove the three miles or so to where Fred's was located. Inside, the man behind the counter grinned when I told him what I'd come for and pulled the copy from the rack behind him.

I looked it over and thought it was perfect for Audrey, a historical account of professional women's baseball leagues in the 1940s and 50s. It described the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, the same group which served as the inspiration for the movie, A League of Their Own. I bought the book and drove home.

Neither of my daughters were home, Gwen having a long dance practice on her schedule, and Victoria was at softball practice, so I set about making dinner, trying to ignore the sour sensation in my stomach when I worried about what Audrey was thinking.

I put rice on to cook and chopped vegetables for a stir fry, marinating some flank steak to add in, as well.

The knock at the door drew me away from the kitchen. I opened it and found Audrey standing there, an expression on her face somewhere between relief and concern. "Hey!" I exclaimed, wrapping my arms around her and, for a moment, not caring if anyone outside saw. "I love you," I whispered.

Audrey hugged me back and whispered, "I love you so much." I could smell the day's exertion on her body. She still wore her practice outfit, a loose red and black jersey damp with sweat and a pair of tight black stretchy athletic pants, a heavy backpack slung over one shoulder.

I inhaled against her neck and buzzed with relief of my own to have Audrey in my arms and not visibly upset. "Come in!"

Once inside, the door closed, Audrey stepped into me and we kissed, shared moans our only sounds. My hands moved over her shoulder blades and down to her lower back, then up to her neck to run through Audrey's damp, sticky hair. Her scent was arousing. I loved the way she smelled after a heavy workout.

Without words, I drew her with my hands and lips to my bedroom. I started to pull off her jersey and she stopped me, saying, "I haven't showered..."

"I don't care," I said. Her reluctance wavered and I soon uncovered Audrey's beige bra, and it was quickly tossed aside as well.

I cupped Audrey's buttocks, caressing them, squeezing lightly. She moaned against my neck, "Ohh... Darren..."

Picking her up like I was a fit twenty-something, I turned and laid her on her back, then rolled the damp pants and underwear off Audrey's body. The scent between her legs, heavy with sweat and arousal, was blissful intoxication. The look in her eyes suggested she was worried about the odors there, but I assured her of my arousal when I put my head down and began to lick her sticky, sweaty pussy.

Audrey's head rolled back as I coated myself in her scent, licking her young flesh, rolling my cheeks and chin and nose across her vulva and sweaty fur, drawing out low moans and long sighs. She tasted salty and meaty, and I was drunk on her essence.

Hands drew me over her and I sank into Audrey, the heat inside her making me feel light, her fingers dancing through my hair, mine cupping her breasts and tenderly touching her cheeks. We kissed as we mated, me swelling inside her, Audrey's body the only real thing in my awareness.

She moaned into my mouth and I felt her shudder, bucking, tightening around me. Her legs raised higher, higher, trapping me against her as we thrust together, her wetness spreading, spreading, coating my length, her orgasm both tender and powerful, filling me with urgency. Audrey's eyes met mine and I filled her quickly, grunting with each thick throb of pleasure inside her. She never flinched, a look of pure affection on her face, adoration, her body consuming me as I emptied myself and refilled my soul with her love.

Audrey held me tight against her long after I'd grown soft and slipped out of her, our lips pressed together, her kiss full of need, and mine offering reassurance.

I heard the front door open and it broke me from the spell. Audrey's eyes watched mine, then she repeated her love for me before kissing my cheek and saying, "I'd really love a shower..."

"Not me," I smiled, "I want to smell you on me for the rest of my life."

Audrey laughed, "Well, I don't think Gwen and Vic will much appreciate that."

"I'll put clothes on, at least."

Audrey laughed again, "Not sure that's going to help, I'm pretty stinky right now..."

"And I love, love, love it."

She kissed me one last time, adding, "You are a strange one sometimes, Darren. Don't you ever, ever change."

I slid off of her and she grabbed clothes from her bag, then disappeared into my bathroom.

I felt much, much better having gotten my own reassurance. I still wanted to talk to Audrey about everything that had happened with Rainey, but our lovemaking had given me more confidence in her mindset about things. Grudgingly, I put on clothes, including a fresh pair of boxer briefs which I hoped would trap Audrey's scent within them. I was serious about wanting her scent on me. Her natural fragrance, even after a sweaty practice, was better than any scotch I'd ever had, and that was saying something. I'd been a connoisseur of the whisky for many years and I'd sampled some of the world's best during that time. I'd pick Audrey's scent every single time over any of them.

I could hear the shower down the hall running, so at least one of my girls was in there. I didn't see the other, so I went back to making dinner, my mind filled with the sounds and scents of Audrey.

- - -

"Were you... concerned, today... about Rainey?" I asked Audrey when she joined me in the kitchen. She wore a pair of loose grey sweatpants and a loose t-shirt. To my eyes, though, Audrey looked like runway model no matter what she wore.

I held her hand as she replied, "I... I wasn't exactly happy about it..."

"Sorry... She called me and wanted to return some things I left at her place... I... I didn't particularly want to go get them."

"And how did it go?"

"Umm... Uncomfortably. She still had a notion that I might change my mind. I made sure she understood that I would not."

"Did you tell her about me?" Audrey asked, squeezing my fingers.

"No... I couldn't, you know..."

"I know. What did you tell her?"

"That she felt something for me that I didn't feel for her. That our past was the past, not our future. She told me, basically, that I had been responsible for her happiness and I let her know I didn't want that obligation. I know that stung. I... I hate doing that to her, but... it was better that she left with clarity. I'm not changing my mind."

Audrey nodded, then hugged me, "I know that sucked. Thanks, though... for choosing me."

"Always. I'll always choose you."

"Always? Even before Gwen and Vic?"

"That's not exactly what I meant..."

She smiled, "I know, I'm just joking. But thank you. I love you so much." She put her arms around my neck, hands hanging over, and looked into my eyes a moment before her gaze went higher. "You dyed your hair," Audrey said, "I noticed, but... I was a bit distracted earlier..."

"Do you like?"

She shrugged, "I dunno. I kind of liked the way it was, to be honest. What made you do it?"

Darren replied, "I suppose... I wanted to look more like I feel, you know... younger... now that I'm with you... I wanted to look my best for you..."

Audrey slid an arm around my waist and kissed me, then said, "You don't need to change anything for me, Darren. I love you. The real you."

"I just... I don't want you to think... you know... about how much older I am th—"

She put a finger to my lips and replied, "No, stop. I don't care how old you are or how young I am or any of that. Stop that now. I love you, Darren."

"I know... I suppose... I did it for me, too... I don't feel my age now. You just fill me with energy. Inside," I told her, "I don't feel my age. And, I guess I didn't want to look it, either."

"So," she purred, "what do you feel like?" Her hand had slowly moved from my back to my groin where Audrey was gently stroking me through my pants.

"Mmm... Right now, I feel... hard."

Audrey giggled.

A door down the hall opened and Audrey drew back her hand, trying to look innocent, mostly failing, as Vic walked in with a big towel wrapped around her upper chest which covered her down to her knees. "I figured you two would be at it again, I can tell, " my daughter grinned, "and in the kitchen no less!"

"Sorry," I mumbled and Audrey did the same. "Hungry?"

"Uh-huh. Starving. Whatcha making?"

"Stir fry. Don't worry," I told Vic, "one you'll like."

Audrey asked, "Which ones don't you like?"

"The ones with mushrooms," Victoria replied, "I hate mushrooms."

"I'll remember that," Audrey said, offering the girl a hug.

Vic embraced her and said, "Your hair smells nice, like... like Dad's shampoo."

"Guilty," Audrey replied.

"How's Gwen doing," I asked Victoria, concerned about my daughter since her breakup, "barely saw her this morning before school."

"Okay, I guess. She didn't want to talk about it today."

"Well... let me know if you think she needs an extra hug or two."

"I will. I'll keep an eye on her."

Again, I heard a door open down the hall.

"And," Vic said, changing the subject as her sister came into the kitchen and stared at me with an odd expression, "don't think I didn't notice your hair, Dad. It looks nice."

"You like it?"

"Yep."

Gwen leaned against the counter and added, "Me too."

"See?" I said to Audrey, "they like it."

Audrey laughed, "Well, date them instead."

"Eww," Gwen said, wrinkling her nose.

Victoria laughed. She always had a darker sense of humor than her sister.

"Can I help with anything, Dad?" Gwen asked. She looked a bit tired, surely still heartbroken over her breakup, but maybe the long dance practice had helped take her mind off of it for the day.

"Nothing. I'll have this ready shortly. Maybe... twenty minutes or so."

The three teens sat nearby at the kitchen table and chatted while I prepped the stir fry.

"Excited for your game?" Audrey asked Victoria.

"Yeah, but I'm not starting, so I probably won't play."

"Don't worry about that. The first team I played on, I didn't start the whole year. Just keep practicing."

"Oh!" I exclaimed, "that reminds me. Audrey, could you take over a moment while I go grab something?"

"Sure."

I retrieved the books I'd bought that day and brought them into the kitchen. "I was out shopping earlier and found a book for each of you. Hope you like them."

One by one, I took them out. "Vic, I got you a book to help you practice at home."

"Nice!" my youngest daughter exclaimed, "thanks, Dad!"

"That's a good one," Audrey added, "I have a copy, too. That's what I've been referring to when I work with you, Vic."

I continued, "And for Gwen, I thought since you've been taking an interest, I got a book on learning basic cooking techniques. There's some recipes in there, too, which look tasty."

"Thanks, Dad," Gwen said, hugging me and giving me a kiss on the cheek. Her eyes narrowed just a bit, and I felt my stomach turn over when I realized she probably smelled the musky scent of Audrey's genitals on my face.

I tried to cover it by moving back to Audrey, "I hope you don't have this one yet, but it's about the real women who were the inspiration for A League of Their Own."

"Oh, I loved that movie!" She grabbed the book and turned it over, reading the back. "This sounds great! Oh, I love you!"

On instinct, I pressed my lips to hers and forgot my daughters were there until Vic giggled and said, "Get a room!"

"Haven't we told you that before," Gwen added, a mixed smile on her face, "like, seriously. And turn the music up really loud when you do."

I chuckled, my daughter repeating back to me what I'd instructed her to do when she was considering becoming intimate with her then-boyfriend, Pete. If she was able to joke about that sort of thing, maybe Gwen was doing okay. I was glad her sister would be ensuring she didn't get too down.

- - -

Dinner went over well and by the time we finished, it was closing in on eight-thirty. Audrey's curfew was ten, and I hinted with my eyes that I'd love to have another moment or two with her in private.

Stretching, I said, "I might go lay down..."

Vic stared at me with a put-on frown. "Uh-huh..."

"I'm could use a nap, too..." Audrey chimed in, stifling a giggle.

"Liars," Vic said, shaking her head.

"At least be honest about it," Gwen said, "isn't that what you told me?"

"You're right. I'm sorry," I replied to my daughters. "Audrey and I are going to go have sex in my bedroom."

"Eww!" Vic screeched, covering her ears in mock outrage.

"God, Dad!" Gwen said at the same time.

"See what honesty gets me?" I grinned.

I kissed my daughters on their cheeks then took Audrey's hand and led her to my bedroom.

This time, the rich, heavy scents between Audrey's legs were replaced with clean, light-rose from the soap as well as the lavender fragrance from my shampoo. I licked her less urgently this time, pausing for long periods to do nothing more than kiss her and hold her and roll slowly back and forth with one of her legs cocked along my hip.

I caressed and sucked on her young, supple breasts, tasting the warm flesh of her lovely light-pink nipples while Audrey cradled my head. We rocked together as she stroked my penis, then she took me between her lips, her movements gentle, full of loving concentration. I nearly filled her mouth but both of us needed to mate once more, so I rolled to my back and Audrey slid over me, taking me into her wet, slippery vagina.

She rode me slowly at first, kissing me, touching my chest and stomach. Audrey shuddered as my fingers slid across her clit and brought her to orgasm, then she turned around and remounted me, her beautiful, athletic ass rising and falling over me, her body milking me with each rise and fall of her hips. Audrey's little pink anus was barely visible as the teen's buttocks squeezed and parted.

"Oh, Audrey... Oh... Oh... I'm cumming..." I breathed. Her body rose and fell, rose and fell, her tight young cunt wrapped around me.

"Cum in me," Audrey purred, "Oh... Cum in me..."

My cock twitching, balls drawing up, I moaned as I filled her, flooded her, spurting, spurting, groaning in pleasure, my hands squeezing her ass, Audrey slowing and resting on me, my dick throbbing, throbbing, cum running out of her body and onto my groin and balls, my penis throbbing one last time, then leaking, leaking the last of my liquid love into Audrey's wonderful vagina.

Audrey lay back, my penis slipping free, and she turned her head, kissing me, my hands cupping her breasts, then I breathed against her neck, smelling her scent. Mmm, that scent. It was her scent. No matter the source, her neck, her arms, her pussy, that scent was all her. I could have lost myself in it easily, and I did so for many moments as we kissed and touched each other gently, our genitals sore and satisfied, wet and sticky and raw and wishing we had more time to do it all over again.

"God, I hate to leave tonight..."

"I know... but tomorrow's Thursday... and then comes Friday... and then you can stay with me all night..."

"Mmm... I can't wait to wake up next to you again, Darren. I want that so much..."

"You will, I promise."

We kissed again, Audrey on her back and me resting on my elbow. I gently caressed her breasts. Audrey looked down at them. "Be honest, Darren... do you like my tits?"

Even if it wasn't true, which it was, there was only one right answer, "I love your breasts." Audrey's boobs had been a bit puffy when I'd first seen them the year before. Since then, they'd grown rounder and looked more like a young woman's than a blossoming girl's. Audrey was athletic and that made them more firm than one might expect, but they remained pert, slightly upturned, and just a hint of the puffiness remained in her light-pink areolae, such a beautiful mix of budding teen and maturing adult.

"I used to want to have big ones, you know... so boys would notice."

"And now?"

She shrugged, "I don't care any more. I have you."

The soft, gentle tone of her voice was so lovely I literally said, "Awww, Sweetie..." We kissed again, and I told her, "I don't care what they look like. They're yours. They're beautiful, simply perfect. They'll still be beautiful when you're eighty and they hang down to your knees."

Audrey doubled over onto her side, laughing, "Nice image, Darren!"

"Not that I'll be around any longer to see them when you're eighty, but they'll st—"

Audrey turned back quickly and pressed her finger to my lips. "None of that. Please. I don't want to think about that... not ever..."

I said nothing more even though it was a thought I'd already had many times, and I knew it would constantly draw me back to consider how little of the rest of Audrey's life I'd be around to enjoy.

But it wasn't a moment to dwell on the inevitable. Audrey was in my arms that evening, even if for just a few minutes more, so I kissed her and touched her and laughed with her and didn't spoil the rest of our time together that night talking about me being dead or her eventual sagging breasts.