Traces of Desire
Copyright© 2025 by Big Ed Magusson
Chapter 17
I woke up around eight to the sounds of Liz moving around the room. My head hurt and my mouth was cottony. I slowly sat up, grateful that my hangover was mild.
“Mike?” She asked quietly.
“Yeah.”
“You got a shirt I can borrow? I spilled beer on mine last night.”
“Yeah.”
“Top drawer?” She pointed at the correct dresser.
I blinked. She was standing there in just her panties and her dirty shirt. I took a good, long look, even though they were less revealing than her bikini had been the day by the pool.
“Mike?” she repeated.
“Yeah. Top drawer.” I pulled the covers back and started to climb down. While I did, she opened my drawer and found my U-2 concert shirt. She turned around and then pulled off her current shirt.
I stared at her bare back in the seconds before she pulled my shirt down.
“You want your bra?” I lamely looked around for it.
“It’s dirty.” She turned back around and smiled at me. “There. Much better. I’m going to go see if I can get into my room or not.”
“And if you can’t?”
“Then I’ll meet you at breakfast.”
I nodded dumbly.
“Thanks.”
Then she headed out, with me wondering what I should have said.
To my surprise, Liz was already in the cafeteria by the time I got down there. The place was mostly deserted and she’d picked a quiet table off to the side. She waved at me, but then clutched her coffee like it was a lifeline. My headache was starting to fade, but I was still grateful the cafeteria had served pancakes instead of warmed-over eggs. Liz had opted for toast.
As we sat, I kept trying to think of the best way to ask her out. My suggestion of a movie the week before had turned into a group outing. I didn’t want that to happen again.
I was still working through ideas when Sandy sauntered in. She looked relaxed and she smiled and waved when she saw us.
“Great, now she’s done,” Liz grumbled. She took a long sip of coffee.
A few minutes later, tray in hand, Sandy joined us.
“Good morning!” She chirped. “Isn’t it a great morning?”
Liz glared at her.
“I had a wonderful morning,” Sandy continued. “And night.” She smiled sweetly at Liz. “Thank you.”
Liz rolled her eyes. Sandy ignored her.
“So where’s this new guy?” I asked.
“Greg?” Sandy answered. “He had to go back to the frat house. They’re doing a service project today and he’s so, so committed to helping the community.”
Now I had to avoid barfing. Meanwhile, Liz’s glare had turned to ice.
“He’s a great guy,” Sandy continued. “A really great guy. And he understands commitment.”
I blinked. “Why are you looking at me?”
“Oh, no reason,” she said. “I’m sure you understand how important commitment is.”
I shoved some pancakes in my mouth so I wouldn’t have to respond. She’d just met this guy, slept with him immediately, and was talking about commitment?
“He believes in commitment, and he’s kind and funny and smart—”
“So is he going to be here a lot?” Liz snarled and then raised her coffee to her lips.
Sandy shrugged. “I’ll ask him this afternoon.” She smiled. “They’re having a barbecue after the service project and he invited me.”
“A barbecue at the frat house,” Liz said.
“Of course.” Sandy frowned. “Where else would it be?”
“I thought Rush was next week,” I said in confusion.
“It is.” Sandy looked bewildered.
“But he’s already doing things with the frat.”
“Huh? Oh! Greg’s already a full brother. He’s a junior.”
My look of confusion deepened.
She flipped a hand. “Oh, I get it! You’re wondering why he was here. He just knew some people. And I’m glad he did, because...” She made an overdramatic sigh.
“Congratulations,” Liz said, with such sarcasm that I could almost see the puddles.
“Thanks!” Sandy beamed, ignoring Liz’s tone. But then her eyes fell on Liz’s shirt. Her eyebrows rose.
“Oh,” Sandy said.
“What?” Liz snapped.
“That’s Mike’s shirt, isn’t it?”
“Yeah ... and...?”
“So...?” Sandy tilted her head and looked at us expectantly.
“Nothing happened,” Liz said.
“Oh? Oh.” Sandy gave me an apologetic smile.
I just sat like a deer in headlights.
“I think I’m done.” Liz stood and grabbed her tray. “Are you done with the room?”
Sandy blinked. “Of course I am.”
“Good.” Liz turned to me. “I’ll bring your shirt back this afternoon.” Then she walked off.
“Geez,” Sandy said as Liz headed off. When she was out of sight, Sandy gave me an apologetic look. “Sorry. I just assumed.”
I grimaced. Liz was peeved, but ... I hadn’t done anything! I felt shot down and I hadn’t even asked her out!
“You two should be together,” Sandy said. “You’d be perfect. I’m sure if you give her time, she’ll figure it out.”
I had no idea what to say.
I thought about Liz as I returned to my room my room. I really couldn’t come up with anything I’d done wrong, so I figured I just had to wait. In the meantime, I wasn’t sure what to do with my time. I didn’t have much homework, and I wasn’t in the mood to do it anyway. I had the D&D game tomorrow to get ready for, but at the moment I wasn’t in the mood to do that either. Although I admitted I was looking forward to seeing Britt again.
I snorted softly. I liked Britt. She was cute and fun. Liz—wow. Smart. We had great conversations and I really liked her company. If I was honest, I also liked her tits. It still amused me that I preferred her smaller breasts over Kathy’s, but it was what it was.
Of course, neither measured up to Lori’s. She was ... whew!
Just thinking about her took my breath away.
So did I want Britt or Liz or Lori?
Was all of the above an option?
I was starting to see the appeal of sowing my oats.
Amusingly, I realized I’d seen two of those women topless. And now I’d seen Kathy topless, too. With Julie and Ann, that meant I’d seen five women’s bare breasts since I’d started college.
Ann ... yeah. It’d been a week since I’d talked to her. I hoped she was okay.
I’d screwed up with her. I’d had enough time to think about it, and I knew I shouldn’t have implied she was my second choice. I really owed her an apology for that. Maybe she’d forgive me?
I sighed. As much as I hated it, it was the right thing to do. “You make a mistake, you apologize for it.” That’s what Dad regularly said.
I sighed again. Apologizing was the right thing to do.
I picked up the phone and dialed Ann’s number. She picked up on the second ring.
“Hey, Ann, it’s Mike.”
“What do you want?”
I took a deep breath. “I, uh, owe you apology.”
“Okay...”
“I’d rather talk in person. So, uh, maybe we could get together or something?”
“I don’t know...”
“We’ve been friends for a long time,” I said, “and ... I hope we can still be friends. And least I’d like to be.”
“Well ... okay.”
“Meet at the grill? Or I could come by your dorm.”
“Umm ... I’ll meet you in the lobby.”
“Sounds good. Now or later?”
“Now.”
“Then I’ll see you in a bit.”
She hung up without saying goodbye.
Ann came out to her dorm’s lobby and I did a double take. She smiled and she’d clearly brushed her hair and put on a little make-up, but she still had bags under her eyes. She forced a smile, but I could tell it was half-hearted. Her eyes remained dull, and after a moment, the smile faded.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hey.”
I grimaced. I wanted to give her a hug, but didn’t know if I dared.