Suzie’s House 372 : Not Even With Bribery

The old guy was blushing. After all the serious stuff they’d been talking about, Tracy thought Drew blushing was kind of cute. Or maybe just fun.

“So this is all just a timing thing.” Drew sat up in that plastic lounge type chair like he though he was going to go somewhere, and covered his face with on hand. He sighed like he was really fed up with everything in the whole world.

“Timing?” Gene didn’t sound so sure.

“Yeah,” Gene said slowly. “Yeah, I see what you mean.”

“I don’t get it.” Tracy looked from one to the other. They both looked real uncomfortable.

“Teenage boys are notorious for having short fuses.” Drew said it like that should explain everything.

“Not Gene. He hardly ever gets into fights.”

“That’s not what I meant. I mean…” Drew wiped his hand over his face. He got even redder. “Oh forgot it.”

He looked like he was about to lunge out of the chair and run for the house.

“Oh no you don’t.” Tracy got up faster and pushed him into the lounge chair. “You aren’t going anywhere until you explain.”

“He means…” Gene stopped for a second to take a deep breath like he had to fortify himself of something. “A guy like me has trouble with… you know.” He gestured at his crotch area. “I can’t really slow down because I don’t last long. I mean, it comes up really quick, but then it goes away fast, too.”

“It makes perfect sense that you would require a great deal more time to become ready than it takes for him. You can’t really ask him to slow down because then he’d probably lose it completely.”

“No, that….” Tracy stopped to think about it. Was it really all just about timing?

Well, it certainly wasn’t about what had happened to her before. Or maybe it was a little, but only a little, and she could work that all out for herself if she could just get Gene to work with her.

“It can’t be that hard,” she muttered. Both guys were staring at her like she was nuts. “Don’t give me that skull tackle look.”

“Huh?” Drew’s brow wrinkled.

“I think she means skeptical,” Gene said like it was totally normal to change her words to whatever he wanted. The jerk. She’d clobber him if they weren’t making progress.

“Oh. Right.” Drew took the suggestion quickly, and was already moving on. “These things are affected by mood, and a young man’s mood changes quickly. I’m not saying it can’t be done, but you’ve given him a mighty tall order.”

“Gah.” Tracy could feel the frustration building. She’d never been any good with frustration.

“I mean, put yourself in his shoes. He wants you desperately all the time. The closer you get, the more he wants you. You could probably kiss him and he’d be done.”

“I’m not that bad off.” Gene glared at Drew. “All right, it’s pretty close.”

“Hey. You’re already a saint in my book,” Drew assured him. “You’ve shown remarkable restraint. Keep up the good work.”

Tracy tried to picture herself in Gene’s shoes and totally failed. “There’s got to be some way to make this easier. Like maybe a carrot and stick thing…”

“It’s not something you could fix with bribery,” Drew said in that patient way adults got when talking to her. “You’re just going to have to adjust to one another. Isn’t that what a relationship is all about?”

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