“I’m not faking it, Mother,” she demanded.
“Baby, I know that. Eric doesn’t.”
*****
Eric had finished the fence work in the afternoon. He wasn’t sure how much they would get done, but Julia said she and Emily could continue to work on the junk in the big barn.
He sat on the ATV and looked out into the fields. The solitude was what he needed to sort through the thoughts that clogged his mind.
He wanted Julia so badly, he was willing to do anything to make love to her again. Even though she told him he couldn’t be with her while Emily was there, he was desperate to find a way.
He decided that nothing was going to be decided as he baked in the hot Sun, so he rode back.
Julia and Emily were carrying a large broken table to the dumpster when Emily said, “I think Eric has a crush on you.”
Julia gasped and almost dropped the table. “What are you talking about?”
“He checks you out. It’s not like he’s ogling you. He’s not being a pervert, it’s like he adores you.”
Julia faked a laugh. “At my age, I wouldn’t know what to do with him if I could have him.”
Both women laughed and that’s when Eric pulled up next to them. “What’s so funny?”
They looked at each other and broke out in a haughtier laughter. When Julia caught her breath, she said, “We were just talking about you and your crush on me.”
His mouth dropped open. He stuttered, “I…I…uh…”
The ladies laughed at him again. Emily smirked, “Settle down, Big Guy. We’re just messing with you.”
He looked at Julia and frowned. He shook his head and walked over to the barn to begin putting the second coat of paint on.
“Sorry, Mom. I just keep messing up with him.”
“It’s not your fault, Sweetie. I’ll talk to him later. Let’s give him some time to cool off.”
Julia felt horrible. It was such a tease to do that to him, knowing full well that he had more than a crush on her. She couldn’t believe she told him the truth about what they were laughing about. Then she had the sick realization that he might think she told them about their making love.
“Actually,” Julia said, “I’d better not let it fester. I’ll go smooth it over right now.”
“That’s probably a better idea,” Emily agreed.
Julia walked up to Eric, and he noticed her out of the corner of his eye. He wanted to scream at her, but he kept quiet.
“Eric?”
He stopped painting and looked at her.
“I didn’t tell her anything about the last two days. She was picking on me for you sneaking little glances at me, checking me out and she told me you have a crush on me. I swear, I told her nothing.”
He nodded, “I’m just glad my feelings for you are funny to you guys. I’m sorry I ever…”
“Don’t you dare,” she growled, a bit too loudly. “Don’t you dare diminish or apologize for or feel sorry for what we shared. This has nothing to do with that. I know you’re in a bad spot and you’re confused about your feelings right now, for several things, but what we shared was special to me. I know it was for you.”
Emily was shocked at what she heard. She didn’t plan on eavesdropping, but they were standing in front of a window, and she happened to walk by as her mom spoke loudly. She tried to understand the meaning behind the words she heard. “What we shared.”
“What the hell did they share?” she wondered.
She realized it could only mean one thing. Her mother and Eric had sex. She shook her head in disbelief. Was her mother a slut, or was Eric that much of a stud? She picked up a couple of the smaller 2×4’s and walked out to the dumpster.
As she reached the entrance, she almost bumped into her mom. Julia looked down and said, “Everything’s fine now,” as she hurried past her.
“What the fuck?” Emily sighed.
She tossed the wood into the dumpster and looked around the corner of the barn. Eric was sitting on the ground with his head in his hands. “My mother must have really done a number on him,” she thought. She felt sorry for him and wondered if that’s how she could get into his good graces again, but then quickly shook that thought off. If she wanted Eric to like her, his relationship with her mother would have to be an off-limits topic.
*****
Eric skipped dinner that night. He claimed he wasn’t feeling well and went out to the tent to rest. Emily grabbed the leftover taco salad and made a bowl even though they had pork chops for dinner.
“What are you doing?” Julia asked.
“I’m taking Eric some dinner. He’s not sick, he’s just avoiding us.”
Julia agreed, “Take it easy though. He was pretty embarrassed earlier.”
“I know, Mom.”
She held her tongue. She wanted to go off on Julia for her role in the way Eric felt.
“Eric?” she called out as she approached the tent.
“What?”
“I brought you some dinner. I know you’re just upset and are avoiding us. Please eat though. You need to keep your strength up, what with the way Mom’s working your butt off and all.”
He didn’t say anything, so she moved to the opening of the tent and felt the hot stale air.
“Jesus, Eric. It’s smoldering in here. You’re gonna get heat stroke.”
“I’m fine,” he challenged. He wasn’t fine. He was soaked with sweat and was certain he smelled terrible.
“Come inside, please. Or at least come out of the tent and eat the food I brought. It’s the cold taco salad so it’ll be refreshing. I even threw some freshly crushed Doritos on it. I hate it when they get all soggy.”
He smiled. He hated when the chips got soggy in the fridge as well. He sighed and crawled out of the tent.
“Alright, I’ll come in and eat, but only because I don’t want to get sicker sitting in this heat.”
She smiled, “Great, come on!”
She bounced towards the back door and her ass jiggled which made his cock stir.
“God, these women!” he groaned.
“Here, Eric. Sit down and eat. I’m gonna run you a bath to soak your tired muscles.” She put a Pepsi on the table and ran off before he could stop her.
Julia was washing dishes and turned from the sink, “She’s really worried about you. We both are. It’s going to be awfully hot out there tonight, please sleep on the couch in the air-conditioned house.”
“Julia, I don’t…”
“Don’t make me call your mother.”
He snorted, “I’m twenty-years-old. That doesn’t work on me anymore.”
“Oh no?” she smirked and grabbed her phone.
“Okay, okay! Don’t bug my mom. I’ll sleep in here,” he mock fought.
“Good idea,” she smiled and went back to the dishes.
Eric had barely finished when Emily dragged him up to the bathtub. He shook his head at her inclusion of bubbles.
“I know what you’re thinking,” she sighed. “They’re stress relief bubbles. You’ll enjoy it.”
“Whatever,” he shrugged.
“Mom and I are going into town to grab some stuff. Do you need anything?”
“No, I’m good.”
“Okay. Enjoy your bath.”
She closed the door behind her and bounced down the stairs.
Eric felt the hot water and did look forward to how it would feel on his tired muscles. The manual labor he’d done made muscles he didn’t realize he had sore.
*****
A long while later, he stood and turned the shower on as the bathwater drained. The cool water rinsed the soap and bubbles of his refreshed body.
He looked at the counter and shook his head. “I forgot my bag,” he grumbled. He called out to see if they were home yet, but no one answered. After drying off, he decided it was safe and he’d walk down to the living room and grab his bag.