I wanted to think it was something more. For her I mean, I know it was me, hell she was one of only three women I've ever been with. It was spring break in Pensacola and I had just turned eighteen ready for the world of free love. Yes, it was just barely the seventies, women were liberated, and HIV was a distant sci-fi nightmare. All I needed was a willing partner.
Being the awkward, shy one in our group of three friends on the trip, I quickly found myself left out of the romance when we met a couple of sisters vacationing with their parents. One of my friends went off with the younger sister for some PG rated fun while my best friend Mike slipped away with Ellen, the college student, for something a bit sexier. I spent the next few days body surfing, sketching beachscapes, and listening to how Mike lost his virginity.
Finally, on the last night of our trip Ellen bought us some beer and then sat down with Mike and I for a game of Monopoly. Yeah, I know, but hey after a few beers the game got interesting. Mike dropped out early as I quickly trounced him and turned my attention to Ellen. Soon Mike fell asleep and I realized that winning the game was not on Ellen's mind. When I got up from the floor and moved over to a chair with a noticeable tent in my pants, she saw it wasn't weighing on me either.
As she slipped onto my lap I asked, "What about Mike?"