Chapter 1: Mid-terms

Thomas opened the back door and entered the kitchen. Before he closed the door, he leaned against the door jam and pulled his sweatshirt over his head. He shook it vigorously to clean it of the dirt, leaves, and twigs that had clung to him as he raked the yard.

“You’re drenched in sweat,” said Denise as she lifted the cover of a pot on the stove and gave the contents a stir.

“Yeah, even though the temps are in the 30s, I got quite the workout. At least my Saturday morning to-do list is over and the backyard is leaf-free. The trees have almost no leaves left, so we should be good for the winter.”

Denise re-covered the pot. “Dinner won’t be ready for at least an hour, so you have plenty of time to shower.”

Thomas nodded and shucked off his old sneakers, scattering additional detritus near the backdoor.

“I’ll clean that up later,” he said as he headed to the shower.

Thomas and Denise now lived in the house his mom owned when he went through high school on his first trip through the 80s. Three years ago, when he restarted his life in the past, he lived here with his mom and sister. With his help, his mom, Sandy, got a job at a computer store and eventually married Eddy, the owner of Bits-and-Bytes. Now they lived at the property Eddy inherited from his parents. Thomas’s sister, Tammy, lived in a newly remodeled apartment over the free-standing garage with Sandy and Eddy.

Thomas turned the shower on full hot, then stripped, dropped his clothes in the hamper, and waited for the water to get warm. At the first sign of steam, he stepped into the water and groaned as the water helped relax his aching muscles. Before he could reach for the shampoo, he felt a gust of cool air as the curtain was pulled back and Denise stepped into the misty enclosure.

“We may now be married, but it doesn’t mean that I can’t surprise you in the shower.”

Thomas grinned and stepped closer to his wife. He leaned down to kiss Denise as she reached for the soap.

Ten months ago, over the Christmas holiday, Thomas asked Denise to marry him. They told their family and friends, but they were vague about when they were going to get married. The driving factor, which of course they had to keep to themselves, was the looming decision Thomas was going to have to make on Thanksgiving Day regarding which timeline he would choose. They assumed they would marry sometime over the summer but left the date open at first.

As the Fourth of July neared, Thomas had an idea. He suggested to Denise that they get married over the holiday and make it a destination wedding. She readily agreed and plans were quickly put in place to get married in Las Vegas by Elvis with only their immediate family and closest friends in attendance. When they returned, they hosted a huge reception at their house and invited one-and-all.

Denise rubbed the soap across Thomas’s chest, then had him turn and continued to wash his back. She re-soaped her hands before reaching around his waist and running her hands through his pubic hair. She could feel his rock-hard member bobbing up and down. Instead of touching his dick, she cupped her hand and massaged his balls while brushing her boobs across his back. Thomas sighed in pleasure.

Thomas turned to face Denise and kissed her deeply. She finally took him in her hand started to slowly stroke. He cupped a breast and tweaked a nipple slippery with soap suds. She purred in reply.

Denise turned slightly to let the water cascade between them and rinse the soap suds. She then put her foot on the ledge of the shower. Thomas bent his knees and targeted Denise’s shaved womanhood. As he stood, he easily slid into her opening and they both gasped. He paused, enjoying the warmth that engulfed him. When he felt Denise flexing her muscles on his member he began to slowly move up and down. However, Denise did not want slow. She began to buck her hips against Thomas and forced him to fuck her hard and fast. With the new tempo, they were both quickly sated.

With a final thrust and hold, Thomas emptied his load. Denise had already cum. They stayed coupled for a moment, then Thomas let his wilting member slide out of Denise. She could feel his cum sliding down her thigh.

Thomas reached for the soap. “Guess you need a bit of a clean-up.” He kissed her as he began to massage soapy hands across her chest.

“I don’t think that is where a clean-up is needed.”

“Just being thorough,” he said as he kissed her again.

They spent another twenty minutes in the shower cleaning each other from head-to-toe.

Thomas was so engrossed with what was on his monitor that he did not notice Denise slip into the office and stand behind his chair.

“That’s not C!” she exclaimed when she could see what he was reading. She expected to see him reviewing programming algorithms for his C-class mid-term.

“No, I finished studying a while ago and wanted to look at the stocks again.”

Denise grunted. “Really? I bet you didn’t study at all and you’ve been staring at stock prices for the past three hours since we finished dinner.”

Thomas did not deny her allegation.

“Though it probably doesn’t matter. You have been acing your classes this semester like every previous semester,” Denise concluded.

Denise spun Thomas around in his chair. He could not hold back his grin as he got a look at Denise standing before him in a thread-bare t-shirt and nothing else.

“Just like you,” he said. “You have aced every course you have taken with as much or little effort as me. Plus, my programming test is not until Wednesday morning. When is yours? Thursday?”

They had a brief stand-off until Denise finally laughed. “You’re right. We are doing well in our classes, and the mid-terms are not for a few days. Still, why are you so interested in the Hasbro stock? It looks like the company has done very well the past couple of years.”

“It has,” said Thomas. “And that is why I am debating my next move. I want to move most of the money out of Hasbro and into Microsoft.”

“Microsoft? The computer company?” Denise asked.

“Yep, exactly. They were founded over a decade ago, but their stock will take off in the next few years. I’d like to invest a healthy chunk of money and ride that until it is time to switch to a few of the companies that will become hugely successful in the internet-age.”

“OK – You would know best,” said Denise. She knew the term, “internet age,” from talking with Thomas, but other than a brief foray into the future, she did not fully understand the ramifications of the changes coming to the world in the next decade.

“Onto a different topic. What about inviting a bunch of friends out for a celebration after the mid-terms? We haven’t gotten everyone together in quite a while. Maybe even since the wedding reception.”

Thomas pushed a button on the computer and watched the monitor dim. He stood and pulled Denise to him, kissing her as she got close.

“That sounds like a great idea. And I assume that since you have asked, you already have an idea about who should be invited, where we should go, and many other details?”

Denise smirked. “Of course.” She kissed him back and turned to run to the bedroom. He could see her bare bottom as the t-shirt flared up with her sudden turn. He double-checked that everything shut down and then went to the bedroom to find that Denise had ditched the t-shirt and was lounging naked on the bed, playing with herself as she waited for him to disrobe and join her.

On Sunday afternoon, Denise started calling family and friends to invite them to a celebratory dinner on the Sunday after mid-terms – a week from today. Her first calls were to the six that went with them to Florida.

“Hey Kimmi!” Denise started. “Do you and Matt have plans for next Sunday? Thomas and I want to host a celebration dinner after the mid-terms since we haven’t seen anyone in ages.”

“No plans,” Kimmi said quickly. “We’re in! I’m surprised you are calling and didn’t have Thomas call Matt.”

Matt was Thomas’s best friend from grade school. They also roomed together for a year in the dorm before Thomas moved into his mom’s house.

“He was going to call, but when he got tied up with his studies I told him I would make the calls.”

The two chatted for a few minutes before Denise begged off due to the remaining calls she needed to make.

Her next call was to her former dorm roommate, Cindy. The conversation was basically the same she had with Kimmi. It ended with Cindy agreeing that she and Charles would also attend.

The last of the group from the spring break trip to Florida to agree to come to the party were Trish and her fiance Brian.

Denise took a short break to find Thomas in his office once again pouring over his stocks spreadsheet.

“Make a decision?” she asked.

“Yeah, I think so. I’m going to let the portfolio ride as-is for another three weeks, then reposition the bulk of the money into tech.”

Denise just nodded. She did not know the future like Thomas and assumed he would make the best decision.

“I called the six from Florida and they are all in. Next up is Sandy and Eddy, Tammy and Billie, and Ginny.”

Thomas grunted as his focus again returned to the numbers he had been staring at for a week.

Denise returned to the kitchen and took the wireless phone from the wall mount. She sat at the kitchen table and looked at the next name and number on her list. She dialed.