Chapter 14

August 25, 2018 (Saturday)

Author: Katie Weeks

All of last night’s occupants of our big bed were in the kitchen by 7:30, the last arrivers among them being Zala and Rathi. The four LA members who spent the night in the W – Kai, Kath, Katherine, and Raven – had arrived some five minutes earlier. Once everyone was present, Meka officially introduced last night’s W sleepers to the TT members.

Rathi said, “Wow. If anything, you four elevate the total attractiveness quotient of the LA!”

Beth commented, “Don’t they just. Ladies, don’t object to Rathi’s words. She’s, perhaps, The Team member most likely to speak her mind, but she’s also not wrong.” She then continued with, “I’d appreciate you four mingling with the girls you don’t know or don’t know at all well. We’d like to work on everyone getting more integrated through the day.”

My mom said, “I’ve got no problem with that, whatsoever, and I’ll start with the incredibly cute Kota. Is that short for ‘Dakota?’”

Kota’s face flushed, but calmly answered, “It is, and thanks for the compliment.”

“You know,” Mom continued, “Kai and Katherine are both beautiful, but I also really like ‘cute,’ and you may well be the epitome of that descriptor.”

I responded, “Mom, quit hitting on poor Kota. She’s LA-underage.”

Mom riposted while keeping her eyes on Kota, “That may be, but that doesn’t alter the fact that, Kota, you’re one of the very cutest girls I’ve ever met.”

Kota’s face went fire-engine red.

I believe I will take this opportunity to make an ... aside, I guess, like some Beth made in her diary. Can any person actually turn “fire-engine red?” That color seems impossible for humans to match. Okay, aside completed.

Regardless of color matching, Kota’s face blazed in embarrassment, but I watched her take a deep breath, set her jaw, and then said, “Thanks, Kath. May I ... h-hug you?”

“Yes, and let me make this clear to everyone here. I’ll accept hugs from anyone here and at virtually any time ... regardless of my clothing state. I particularly enjoy naked hugs, so I doubt I’d ever turn one of those down.”

She took two steps toward Kota and allowed Kota the next move. Somewhat tentatively, at first, but getting more certain as she moved, Kota took some five steps to Mom and tentatively wrapped her arms around her. It seemed obvious to at least some of us LA members that Kota had ... sacrificed herself ... in some sort ... to help get The Team comfortable with the four LA members they didn’t know well. I made a point in my mind to remember to hug Kota in thanks. Mom takes some getting used to, so I, particularly, appreciated her effort.

Mom hugged Kota back but seemed to allow Kota her head, so when the double-T captain continued the hug beyond the typical one-two-three of a polite hug, I could hear mumbling from some TT members. What I could discern from that mumbling was mostly surprising.

After, perhaps, a count of six or seven, Kota stepped back and said, “It’s nice to officially meet you, Kath, but I must say you’re quite different from your daughter.”

Mom cackled, then said, “Freaking cute Kota, I’m quite different from everyone in this room. I have almost no censor on my mouth, so I say what I think, and I think you’re incredibly cute, and the redness of your face does not at all detract from that cuteness.”

I figuratively shook my head when Kota, if anything, straightened further, elevated her head more, and told Mom, “I understand you like sex a lot. At least, that’s what I’ve interpreted from various things the LA’s said about you. While I’m LA-underage and haven’t had sex with anyone, I’ve told everyone that I’m ... sexually interested in all of them ... and I’ll ... state this more plainly. While I won’t be a ... slut, as...

“Let me back up. The LA don’t consider themselves sluts, despite how much sex they have with so many because they’re not having sex with whomever. Instead, they have a lot of sex with a lot of girls they love. I will be like the LA girls in that I’ll have sex with a lot of girls ... of two sexes, but I will not have one-off sex with anyone. I want what they have: A large number of lovers whom they either like very much or love. I want exactly what the LA girls have. I understand that many would think I’m too young to truly know what I want, but I know what I want, and what I want is precisely what the LA has. Some of the LA girls have told me about you and I’d be more than fine with including you in my ... relative host of lovers, because you’re quite cute, yourself. Let me give you ... a small ... taste.”

She stepped back into Mom and put a kiss on her lips of at least four pecks. I cheered in my mind, as very few people can surprise my mom, but Kota did just that.

After Kota stepped back from Mom, Kath stared into Kota’s head, then said, “Good for you, Girl! I see how it is you’re the captain of The Team despite your youth. I’m already looking forward to getting to know you very well.”

I here repeat something that’s been going around the LA for a while: Kota is fucking amazing! She’s already a dynamo. What the Hell will she become with a few more years of general experience behind her? Fuck!

Things calmed down after that, and Rhee explained about oatmeal and additions and about seating arrangements, which are laissez-faire. With 42 in our kitchen, seating was at a premium, which is why we had somewhat recently added so many tight-knit rugs: So bare butts did not have to sit directly on a relatively cold floor. Virtually all counter space, island-top space, and floor space were taken up by oatmeal eaters. Some of the TT exclaimed about the additions combo Gracey had introduced: Quartered dates and pumpkin seeds. Others talked up other combos. That sort of everyday conversation seemed to relax most of the TT, and I saw Zala and Katherine sharing a laugh over something. That duo seemed to promote a different feeling in the kitchen, as they shared an animated conversation about something I could not quite discern from across the kitchen, but nearly all of their TT neighbors seemed absorbed in it, listening carefully and, possibly, dropping shields relative to the relatively poorly known members of the LA. Of course, Katherine is something of a bon vivant; she is naturally open and friendly, one of the reasons she’s been successful in a competitive business and why we LA members all love her. While I doubt Zala now loves her, there’s little doubt from her wide, blazing-white-toothed smile that she was enjoying her conversation with Katherine.