Chapter 12

Georgina and Daniel were lying on her double bed. They had attended a parents’ meeting at Middletown High to talk about the upcoming camping trip.

They had enjoyed another passionate, intense lovemaking session. Daniel had Georgina tightly wrapped around his arms. Everything was perfect. Then, she said those dreaded words.

“Daniel, we need to talk,” she said slowly dragging her fingernails down his arm.

“Here it comes,” Daniel thought. “The moment I’ve been expecting since we started dating.”

“You’re breaking up with me, aren’t you?” Daniel said suddenly out of breath. His heart was pounding fast in his chest. “What is it? Some other guy?

“No! Of course, not! Why would you think that?” Georgina slapped his chest. “Did I ever give you any reason to doubt me?”

“No, you didn’t. It might come as a shock, but I’m not the most confident person on earth. Can you make it quick, please? Things girls say when they reject you, I’ve heard them all. ‘I like you as a friend,’ ‘I don’t feel the same way’, ‘It’s not you, it’s me... ‘, ‘“I have pepper spray, and I’m not afraid to use it... ‘“, he said with a sad laugh.

Daniel had the look of someone who had been hit so many times that they no longer even wanted to get up.

Georgina’s heart melted. She grabbed Daniel’s hands tightly in hers and looked straight into his eyes. His hands were shaking.

“I like you, Daniel. Really, really like you.”

Daniel nodded, doing his best to hide the emotions swirling inside him. He had planned to talk with Georgina today, but, apparently, it wouldn’t be necessary.

Georgina took a deep breath and said, “Here it goes, I like you an awful lot, Daniel. We have a great time together and I do want to spend the rest of my life with you...”

“But...”

“But I am just not ready to get married yet. I do intend to marry you though, but I don’t know when.”

Daniel stopped holding his breath and exhaled his relief.

“I feel the same way,” he finally admitted when his heart was beating normally again.

“What? You do?” Georgina said, her boyfriend’s reaction had surprised her.

“When Mom started talking about marriage and kids I completely freaked out.”

“Me too.” Georgina brought his hands to her lips. “I don’t want you to think that I’m having second thoughts about you or our relationship. This is not the case at all. I’m very, very happy with you just the way things are.”

She kissed his chest, his neck, and finally his lips.

“I think this is a case of don’t fix it if it’s not broken. We’ll talk about marriage when we are both ready. Don’t worry about my mother. I’ll handle her. I have a lifetime of experience doing it,” Daniel explained.

“Is she always like that?”

“Who? Mom?” He grinned. “Oh yeah. She is most certainly always like that. You’ll get used to her ... I hope.”

Georgina laughed. “She’s not that bad. She wants the best for you as most mothers do. It’s flattering she thinks I can be the one for you even if I’m a shiksa.”

“She has done some growing. She truly surprised me.”

“Before we change the subject let me say this. I’ve come to realize that the possibility of getting married is there, and I’ve kind of come to look forward to the moment when you and I get to know each other well enough to take that step. Good enough for you?”

“Good enough for me. When the moment comes, I think we stand a good chance of having a pretty good marriage.”

They kissed passionately. Georgina untangled from his arms, turned around, and dropped to all fours before slicing a seductive look at him over her shoulder.

“Ready for round two, my lord?”