Kieran watched her go, his smile fading as utter confusion set in. He’d known of Katie, obviously. Anyone within fifty miles of town knew of the Petersens. He’d seen her around, but she’d never spoken to him before. In fact, until she’d asked him about the survey for the student paper yesterday, she’d given no sign she even knew he existed.

Kieran felt the envious, resentful eyes of other boys on him and squirmed beneath their scrutiny. He wasn’t used to being noticed. In fact, he went out of his way to avoid it. He wanted no part of any sort of drama, but Katie, whether she realized it or not, brought drama along for the ride with her. The mere fact that she’d been talking to him put Kieran on the entire student body’s radar--and, potentially, a target sign on his back.

He tried not to ogle at Katie as she disappeared around the corner. But dammit, Kieran was a healthy teenager, and she...

He swallowed. “Beautiful” didn’t do Katie Petersen justice. She was beyond such descriptors. Everything about her, from her toned legs to her angelic face to the lustrous sheen of her hair and the color of her eyes, seemed impossibly perfect. Flawless. Katie seemed almost to float above the mundane concerns of ordinary life, untouched by the grubbiness of the world around her. She seemed almost ethereal, a vision of womanhood made flesh.

Kieran was not one to gossip, but he had overheard some of the other guys in his classes say that Katie Petersen didn’t date. He wasn’t surprised. Her gorgeousness was intimidating, sapping the confidence of any guy who ventured near her like some sort of force field. Those who’d been able to overcome it had all been gently but firmly turned down.

And yet, not only had Katie gone out of her way to speak to him, she’d somehow gotten herself invited to his house! Something about her smile and the cheerful, down-to-earth way she spoke made Kieran lower his guard, almost as if she cast some sort of spell over him. Now that she’d left, the spell had broken, and he felt a fresh wave of panic despite the reassurances she’d given.

What was he going to do? He’d never had a girl over before! Would she really not mind the messy state of the house? What if she got her uniform dirty while he showed her around the shop? What if--

Kieran shut his eyes tight and took several deep breaths. Don’t overthink it, he thought through clenched teeth. This is just a friend coming over to hang out. Don’t even dare think otherwise.

Friend. The word sounded rusty. Unused. Kieran didn’t have a lot of friends to begin with, and his mother’s death had sent him right into isolationism. What few friends he did have became distant as Kieran stopped hanging out with them, and now, three years after her passing, he still had no desire to try rekindling any of those relationships. Grief robbed him of that, as it had so much else. Even the mere memory of his mother’s face was too painful to bear. He pushed it away with an effort.

Whoever said all wounds heal with time was a fucking idiot, he thought sourly, shoving his hands in his pockets.

But Katie...something about her cut through the gloom that surrounded his life like a ray of sunshine streaming through an overcast sky. Her positivity and kindness both surprised and disarmed him. She exuded a kind of warmth that had been missing from his world for far too long, and now that she was no longer nearby, it was twice as noticeable by its absence.

Kieran tried to picture Katie Petersen in the repair garage, surrounded by tools and metal and engine grease, and couldn’t help a chuckle. She’d seemed genuinely interested, but how long would that last? Not long, probably, he thought with a melancholy sigh. I’ll just have to enjoy it while I can.

His anxiety grew more intense as the day went on. Kieran shuffled from one class to another, doing his best to muddle through, but his heart just wasn’t in it. When the final bell rang, it might as well have been a funeral gong.

This could be fun. This could be fun. Don’t worry, it’ll be okay...

Even as the words crossed his mind, Kieran didn’t believe them. He just hoped that Katie wouldn’t be too disappointed or put off.

No. She said she wasn’t like that. She promised. She said she didn’t care.

He wanted to believe her. So very much.

But what if she doesn’t show up at all?

Kieran stopped in mid-stride. He hadn’t considered that possibility, but it was a real one. What if Katie did flake? Would he be disappointed? Relieved? Both?

Kieran never discovered the answer to that question. When he walked out of school, Katie was waiting for him in the parking lot.

He sucked in a breath at the sight of her. He couldn’t help it. Nor could he help the sudden surge of blood to a very particular part of his anatomy when the wind rustled her uniform skirt, showing just a peek of her inner thighs.

“Hi, Kieran!” Katie said, waving before running over to meet him halfway.

He probably should have responded with a greeting of his own, but instead all he could manage was, “You came.”

“Duh.” She rolled her eyes. “Of course I came, silly! So, you ready to head out? We could stop and grab something to eat first if you’d like. My treat.”

“Oh, uh, n-no, that’s okay.” Kieran shook his head, trying to smile. “I appreciate it, really, but I’m not hungry.”

“Of course you’re hungry,” Katie said matter-of-factly. “You’re a guy.”

Kieran flushed.

“Come on, let me do this for you,” Katie insisted. She put her hand on his arm again and her touch was like a jolt of pure energy. How many boys had Katie Petersen touched, even casually? Not many. Of that, Kieran was certain.

“Well...okay. If you really want to, but there’s no pressure or anything.”

“I know,” she said. Katie looked down the line of cars in the parking lot. “So, which one’s yours? I’m curious.”

“I’ll show you,” he said quietly. “This way.”

He led her past more than a dozen vehicles, some of which looked shiny enough to be fresh from the dealership. Don’t be embarrassed, he told himself as he walked. You worked hard to fix it up. You spent months repairing it. Be proud. It doesn’t matter that her dad has more cars in his garage than there are rooms in my house. It doesn’t matter that she’s used to riding in sports cars; it doesn’t--

He almost walked right past it, so absorbed was he in his thoughts, but thankfully Kieran stopped himself just in time. “Here. This is it.”

“It” was a small, silver-colored pickup truck, one that looked like it might have been built when Reagan was still president. It was a modest little vehicle, old but clearly well-maintained and cared for. Kieran had seen to that personally.

“It was a rustbucket when my dad got a hold of it,” he said. “A real junker. Nothing worked--not the engine, not the brakes, not the steering, nothing. Dad said that if I could fix it up, I could keep it.” He fished out his phone--an aging flip phone, not an iPhone--and showed her a picture on it. It was clearly the same vehicle, but the difference was as stark as night and day. The truck in the picture looked like it was left outside to rot for a decade. It was covered with rust and the driver’s side door hung crazily from its hinges. It had no tires, no windshield, no mirrors, and no upholstery in the cabin.

“You fixed all of that?” Katie gasped.

“Yes.”

“How long did it take?”

“About three years. I started when I was 15. Some of the parts I had to hunt down individually. The truck’s a 1984 Ford Ranger, so it took a lot of time and patience. A lot of car shops don’t carry parts that old; you have to go to parts dealers who specialize in the older stuff. It wasn’t cheap, either. I had to work two, sometimes three jobs in order to afford some of it.”

’Did your dad help you at all?”

“No. He said it was my project, and I needed to stand on my own two feet. I’m glad of it, too. Sometimes you need to do things yourself instead of relying on someone else to help you.”

He couldn’t have known it then, but that remark raised Katie’s opinion of him considerably. Katie understood all too well the value of self-reliance and independence. Her grand plan to have a baby was built on the assumption that she’d have to take care of everything on her own.

“That’s incredible,” she said softly. “It looks almost like new.”

Her praise made a thrill rush through him. Kieran felt momentarily light-headed.

Katie, oblivious, brushed a hand over the shiny handle on the door. “And you’ve been driving it for how long now?”

“A few months. I wash it and do maintenance on it every weekend.” Kieran allowed a little pride to seep into his voice. “It runs great. It might not have a USB slot or a GPS or Bluetooth, but it’ll take you from one end of the country to the other without breaking down and it’s sturdy enough to shrug off unpaved roads and rough terrain.” His mouth quirked. “And don’t even get me started on the gas mileage. It’s phenomenal.”

“I can really tell how much effort and care you put into restoring it.” Katie gazed up at him, her eyes shining. “Thank you for showing it to me and letting me ride in it.”

Looking into her bright, beautiful eyes was like looking into the sun, for he was only able to do so for a few seconds before he had to look away. Kieran averted his gaze quickly. “It’s nothing,” he mumbled. “But thank you for saying that.”

He fumbled for his keys and unlocked the door to the passenger’s side, holding it open for her.

“Such a gentleman,” Katie said, with a giggle that almost sounded nervous. Kieran instantly dismissed the possibility. It was ludicrous. Impossible. Girls like Katie didn’t get nervous about anything.

“I...er...” He stumbled over his words and cringed.

“Kieran, relax. I’m not making fun of you. I think it’s really sweet.” She clambered into her seat and Kieran tried not to look at her shapely behind. Get your mind out of the gutter, dammit! he thought furiously.

“So where would you like to go?′ Katie asked, once he started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.

“Would...would Panda Garden be okay?”

“Sure!” Katie chirped. “You like Chinese food, huh?”

“Oh, yes. But my dad hates it, so I almost never get to have it. Sometimes he’ll get it for my birthday though.”

“Panda Garden it is, then!”

Fifteen minutes later, they were pulling away from the small fast-food restaurant with several Styrofoam boxes nestled in Katie’s lap. The smell was heavenly and filled the truck’s cabin. Kieran fought to keep his mouth from watering.

“You like Chinese food too?” he asked.

“Yeah, but I don’t have it very often either.” Katie gestured at herself. “Health nut, remember?”

“R-right.”

“How far away is your place?”

“Not far now. Maybe about 15 more minutes,” said Kieran. “So...” he trailed off as he searched for another topic of conversation. “What do you do for fun, Katie? We’ve talked about my hobby. What are some of yours?”

“Oh, I do all sorts of things!” she said. “Swimming, volleyball, baseball. I’ve done a few beauty pageants--”

“Beauty pageants?” Kieran couldn’t help a snort of laughter.

“Is that really so unbelievable?” Katie asked, narrowing her eyes in mock affrontery.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because if they let you enter, it’s no longer a competition. It’s a formality.”

Katie barked out a surprised laugh at Kieran’s wry humor. “I appreciate the compliment, though if you saw some of the other girls who participated, you might not be so certain.”

I doubt that, Kieran thought sardonically, but decided to let the matter drop.

“As for my other hobbies...I’m on the cheerleading team of course, and then there’s tae kwon do...”

“You do martial arts?” he asked, surprised.

“Yup! I'm a black belt. Fourth degree.” Katie’s voice took on a teasing edge. “Why? Are you scared?”

“N-no, of course not! It’s just...surprising, that’s all.”

“Why would it be surprising? A girl’s gotta know how to take care of herself, Kieran.” Her expression turned serious. “Not every guy is decent like you.”

Kieran’s face turned so red and burned so hot one could have toasted marshmallows on cheeks. “Thanks. That, um, that’s really nice of you to say.” I’m not anything special though, he added silently. Not really. Not like you. “You must be a really competitive person to do all that. I wish I had that kind of energy.”

“Don’t sell yourself short!” Katie’s tone was mildly scolding. “You spent three years fixing up a car that most people would have broken down for parts years ago. That takes just as much determination as any of the stuff I’m involved in, and don’t let yourself think otherwise.”

She really isn’t snobby at all, Kieran thought. He felt a fresh wave of guilt over the assumption he’d made about her earlier. Katie continued to talk as he turned onto a street that led to his father’s place of business.

“So, what’s your dad like, Kieran?”

“He’s pretty cool. I guess you could say he’s a little more hands-off than other parents. He generally gives me my space, but he’s always there if I need help with something. He’s not, like, distant or cold or anything, you know?”

“I think I understand." Katie nodded. “Every parent has their own style.”

“Exactly.” He bit his lip, debating his next question carefully before he dared to ask it. “What’s your dad like?”

“Oh, he’s really great,” Katie said. Her blue eyes brightened, like a clear aquamarine lake on a summer’s day. It was all Kieran could do not to gape. He had never seen eyes like that before. Jesus Christ, she’s stunning.

“He’s really nice and always tries to make time for me despite his busy schedule,” Katie went on. Mercifully, she seemed unaware of the momentary effect she’d had on him. “One of the things he likes do to is take me to the Renaissance Fair every year. It’s sort of a tradition. I’ve been going since I was five. Have you ever been?”

“No, but I’ve heard of it and I think it sounds cool. What’s your favorite thing there?”

“Probably the glass-blowing! They have a live demonstration where they show you how people made glass way back when, and you can even buy the stuff they make!”

Kieran gave a wistful sigh. “Sounds really interesting. I wish I could go.”

“Why don’t you? You’ve got a car.”

“Yeah, but my dad usually needs help on weekends. That’s when the shop is busiest.”

“Oh.” Katie looked a bit crestfallen. “And you’ve never asked him for a day off?”

“Not yet, no. I think he’d give it to me if I asked him, but I don’t want to make a habit of it. That way, when I really do want one, he’ll be more likely to say yes.”

Katie pursed her lips, accepting his logic as Kieran pulled into the driveway behind the shop and switched off the engine. “Smart. So this is it?”

“Welcome to Callaway Auto Repair,” Kieran said dryly, gesturing at the place with an arm. “This is where the magic happens.”

Katie snorted and reached for the door handle, only to find that Kieran was already opening it for her. She beamed with pleasure. Her smile was so dazzling, so bright, it made Kieran’s breath catch in his throat.

“Thank you,” she said.

“D-don’t worry about it.” Kieran’s voice trembled a little and he cursed himself for it. “Some people think it’s old-fashioned, but--”

“I don’t,” Katie said firmly. “I think it’s chivalrous and very sweet. If other girls can’t see that, that’s their problem. Your dad raised you right.”

“My mom did too,” Kieran added quietly, so quietly Katie thought he hadn’t meant for her to hear. She decided, tactfully, not to comment on it and looked around at the shop instead.

It was a small establishment, with garage space enough for several vehicles at a time, and a small unpaved lot next door where cars would be parked until they were worked on. In the front there was a small waiting area stocked with magazines for customers to wait in, and beyond that--Katie assumed--was the office where Kieran’s dad kept his office.

Kieran fished a set of keys out of his pocket and opened the door for her. “After you.”

She beamed again and walked inside, looking around with interest. The small waiting room was stocked with magazines--mostly about cars--and a tiny television set hung from the ceiling in one corner. Katie picked up one of the magazines and flipped through it curiously.

“Any of those look familiar?” Kieran asked.

Katie nodded, pointing to a bright red sports car in the centerfold. “My dad has one of these.”

“Ferarri.” The name rolled off Kieran’s tongue with reverence. “That exact same model?”

“No, it looks a little different. And it’s silver, not red.”

“Wise choice. My dad always says that a brightly colored sports car is a bad idea. An absolute magnet for traffic cops.” He snorted. “Not that I think any cops would try pulling over your dad.”

“Being the governor does have its perks,” Katie agreed with a chuckle. “Can I see the shop now?”

“Sure. This way.” He fished out the keys again, opened up a door labeled “EMPLOYEES ONLY” in big red letters and held it for her. Beyond was the workshop in all its chaotic glory. No less than three cars sat there--one suspended on jacks, another with its hood propped open. The third lay on the floor like a wounded steer, surrounded by several toolboxes and an assortment of wrenches. There was also a long workbench set against the far wall, as well as a number of tall cabinets.

Katie took it all in, studying everything with eager curiosity. Her gaze lingered on the workbench for a moment. Kieran, seeing this, took it as a sign that she wanted to know more about it. He was happy to elaborate. “Grandpa made that workbench back when this place first opened up. It’s been repaired, but it’ll never be replaced if we can help it.”

What Katie had actually been doing was fantasizing about being fucked over that workbench, imagining herself bent over it with her skirt hiked up while Kieran pounded her from behind. The fantasy was so arousing that she nearly made her move right then and there before her more logical side reasserted itself. As much as she wanted to get pregnant, now was not the time.

No hint of any of this showed on her face, however, so Kieran remained blissfully ignorant. Katie nodded, as if accepting his words, though she hadn’t heard most of them. “And those cars? What’s wrong with them?”

Kieran pointed to each of them in turn. “Damaged brakes, damaged engine, and that last one...we still haven’t figured out what’s wrong with it yet. Dad thinks it might be the break line, but I’m not so certain.”

“What’s your theory?”

“The transmission,” Kieran said at once. “Got to be the transmission. Something’s out of whack there.”

“How can you tell?”

“The noise. The thing with cars is, when you work with them long enough, you start to recognize which parts make which noises, and what kinds of noises they make when they’re not working correctly. I know what a car sounds like when the transmission is on the fritz.”

“You can tell all that just by the sound?”

“Yup.” Kieran couldn’t help feeling a little smug. Then a question occurred to him, something he hadn’t thought to ask before. “Do you have a car?”

Katie nodded. “I do, but I don’t drive it much. I have a license and everything, though.”

“Do you mind if I ask what kind?”

“Mercedes-Benz.”

“You have good taste in cars, Katie. The Germans always make good ones. My dad swears that the Volkswagen beetle is the easiest car in the world to fix.”

“What’s the hardest?”

Kieran thought for a second. “Probably Jaguars. Especially the older models, like the XJS V12.”

“Ever worked on one?”

“Yeah.” Kieran made a face. “Once. I’m in no hurry to repeat the experience. Thankfully, we don’t get a lot of cars like that. Mostly it’s just run-of-the-mill stuff. Honda Civics, Toyota Camrys, the kind of cars you see on the road every day. Once in a while we’ll get an interesting one, but not often.”

They continued in that vein for some time, walking slowly throughout the workshop as Kieran pointed out various points of interest. Katie listened attentively and asked many questions, all of which he was more than happy to answer. Kieran did not have a lot of opportunities to talk to people at length about his passion for cars, so he enjoyed the opportunity immensely.

And the more they spoke, the more natural it all felt. For a time, Kieran almost forgot they came from two completely different worlds. He and Katie fell into an easy and friendly rapport that made the time go by in a blur.

He glanced at his watch in the middle of explaining the merits of different tire treads and did a double-take. "Oh, wow! Katie, it's been almost two hours! The food we got earlier has probably gone cold by now." He gave her an apologetic look. "It's my fault, I, er, got a little carried away."

Katie waved the apology aside. "Don't beat yourself up, Kieran! Time flies when you're having fun, and I know I was. If you've got a functioning microwave and some paper plates, we'll be fine." Her stomach rumbled and she flushed. "Preferably sooner rather than later. I'm starving!"

"Me too. Don't worry, we've got some plates and stuff in the break room. Some soda in the fridge too."

"Pepsi?" Katie asked hopefully.

"Nope. Coke products all the way."

"Heathen," she sniffed in mock disdain.

"Infidel," Kieran replied without missing a beat.

A few minutes later, as he watched her put away a truly astonishing amount of lo mein noodles and chicken fried rice, Kieran struggled to pick his jaw up off the floor. "Where on Earth do you put it all?"

She winked. "I have a secret pocket, like a kangaroo."

"Heh." He slurped up some noodles of his own, hoping to find another avenue of conversation. To his surprise, it didn't take very long to do so. Talking to Katie came so easily. A little too easily, perhaps. Almost as if they were--

--Kieran abruptly squashed that line of thought before it could go any further. Katie did not, could not be interested in him like that. This isn't some cheesy romance novel, dammit. Get your head out of the clouds or you'll just be setting yourself up for disappointment.

"I've always wished that humans had something more than just opposable thumbs," he said. "Retractable claws, for example. Or night-vision."

"Or super-hearing and smell, like wolves do," Katie agreed. "One of my dad's friends is a dog breeder, and he once told me that canines hear and smell on a level we can't even begin to imagine."

"Venomous fangs?"

Katie giggled and reached for her soda. "Maybe, but think how risky kissing would be!"

An image of Katie's lips pressed against his own instantly popped into Kieran's head, and suddenly his jeans felt tight and constricting. The thought of being close to her like that was enough to make his cock grow so hard it hurt.

It must have shown on his face too, because Katie snorted so hard she nearly choked on her drink. She coughed, spluttered, and hurriedly reached for a napkin. For a second he feared she was choking. Kieran's blood turned to ice and he bolted out of his chair, but Katie held up a hand.

"I'm okay," she managed after a moment. "You just looked so funny, I couldn't help it!" A teasing smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth. If Kieran didn't know better, he'd say the expression was borderline lascivious. "You were thinking of kissing me, weren't you?"

Kieran didn't see any point in denying it. She'll just think me a liar if I do, and that's the last thing I want. "Yeah. I was. Stupid, I know, but...I mean..."

He gave a helpless shrug. "I'm a guy with a pulse. I couldn't help it. I'm sorry." He slumped in his chair. "Guess I'm no different than all the other guys who ogle you when you think they're not looking, huh?"

"But you are, Kieran." Katie's tone was serious. "You are different."

"In a good way or a bad way?"

"Definitely a good way. It's partly my fault too, you know. I'm the one who brought up the k-word, after all. I should be the one apologizing for making you uncomfortable." She reached over and squeezed his hand briefly. "We're good, I promise."

Kieran wanted to believe it, but was also afraid to. "And you're not just saying that to make me feel better?"

"Not even close." Katie looked him dead in the eye. He almost flinched at the intensity he saw there. "I'm a straight shooter, Kieran. You will always get total honesty from me. All I ask is that you give me the same in return." She stuck out her hand. "Deal?"

Kieran shook it without hesitation. How soft and smooth her hand was, compared to his own work-roughened and calloused palms. How small and delicate it seemed. Men and women really are different, he thought. And Katie's definitely not just a pretty face.

He had no idea just how true that was.

After Kieran and Katie finished their late afternoon repast, it took the better part of two more hours for him to finish showing her around his father’s shop. He talked and talked and talked, answering one question after another and even, on several occasions, letting her hold some of his father’s more expensive tools. She seemed to soak up everything he told her like a sponge. Seeing her like that, Kieran saw why Katie consistently earned higher grades than everyone else at school.

Is there anything she isn’t good at? The question popped into his brain before he could stop it, and he felt like a jerk for even thinking such a thing. So far, Katie treated him with nothing but respect and kindness, but there was also more to it than that.

The brutal, honest truth was that Kieran was lonely, and it wasn’t until meeting Katie that he realized just how lonely he’d truly been. Losing his mom had robbed him of the desire and energy to be as outgoing as he’d once been, and this created a vicious cycle of self-isolation which eventually turned him into a social outcast. Katie was the first person he’d spent any time with outside of school in more than three years, with the obvious exception of his father.

Speaking of which...he’ll be expecting me at home by now, he thought. Clearing his throat, he said, “Katie, it’s going to start getting dark soon. I’ve really enjoyed hanging out with you like this, but maybe it’s best if I drove you home.”

Katie smiled. Kieran felt its impact like a physical blow. Would he ever get used to it? Not likely.

“Actually, I was hoping I could come over to your place and we could watch a movie or something. Is that okay?”

Kieran thought about it. Well...Dad’s not expecting company, but on the other hand, he’ll probably be happy that I’m not spending another afternoon all by myself. “I think it’ll be fine.” He gave a rueful chuckle. “I’m afraid our TV isn’t very big, though.”

Katie waved his words aside with an elegant sweep of her hand. “Don’t even worry about it. I’m nothing if not flexible.”

The lizard part of Kieran’s brain noted that, as captain of the cheer squad, Katie was probably flexible in more ways than one. It also wondered, with vivid mental imagery, how that flexibility might be put to use in...other ways.

Kieran quashed that line of thought, though only with considerable effort. Frustration boiled up inside him. For the last time, stop it, he snarled at himself. Katie isn’t a piece of meat, for God’s sake. Stop thinking like such a knuckle-dragger, Callaway. You think she’ll want to be your friend if she figures out what’s going on inside your head?

No. Of course not. If Katie knew, she’d be disgusted, and she’d have every right to feel that way. Hell, she flat-out told me one of the reasons she wants to be friends is because I don’t ogle her like most guys do. If I start, I’ll be no different from them in her eyes.

Katie cleared her throat, a little impatiently. Kieran realized she was still waiting for him to say something and felt embarrassment warming his cheeks. “Sorry! Yes, of course, Katie. I--I’d really like to hang out a little more before we have to call it a night. My place isn’t far at all.”

Katie gave that thousand-megawatt smile again. “Sounds like a deal to me.”

“Just give me a few minutes to lock up on our way out.” Kieran fished the keys from his pocket again. “If I left the place unlocked and something got stolen, Dad would skin me alive.”

“Take your time,” Katie assured him. “I’m in no hurry, Kieran. We’ve got, like, pretty much all night.”

She waited patiently for him as he locked all the doors and switched the security system on before heading outside. It took several minutes--there were lots of keys to sort through before he found the right ones--but soon they were back in Kieran’s refurbished pickup truck. The drive was very short, and in no time at all he was pulling into a gravel driveway next to a small, one-story house that, while not decrepit, had clearly seen better days. The paint on the outside was starting to peel, and at least one of the windows was covered with plywood instead of glass. It never bothered Kieran before, but now, with Katie by his side, he was filled with shame at the way his home looked. “It’s not much, I know,” he admitted.

“It’s your home,” Katie replied. “That’s more than enough for me to like it.”

Her simple, no-nonsense response made his heart swell inside his chest. She really is a good person. “Thank you,” was all he could think to say.

“You’re welcome,” she chirped. “So, do you need to knock, or...?”

“No, Dad leaves it unlocked until I get here. C’mon in.”

Without further ado, Kieran opened the front door and stepped inside. Katie followed close at his heels. “Dad! I’m home!” he called.

“About time,” an older man’s voice replied. There was the sound of someone getting up from a chair--Katie guessed the noise was coming from the living room--and then she got her first real look at Kieran’s dad.

It was immediately obvious that Kieran did indeed take after his mother. Where Kieran’s hair was dark, his father’s was a fiery shade of red, though it was going gray at the temples. His eyes were green instead of the chocolate brown color Kieran sported, and his face was more rough-cut and square-shaped than his son’s. Still, there was still a resemblance between the two Callaways. Kieran and his father shared the same nose and slender, lean build, though his father had whipcord muscles from long years in his auto shop.

The moment he saw Katie, Sean Callaway stopped dead in his tracks. “Who’s this?” he asked. “A friend of yours, Kieran?”

Kieran nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, she is. Dad, this is Katie Petersen.”

“Petersen? Like the governor?”

“Yup!” Katie nodded. “He’s my dad! Nice to meet you. I hope you don’t mind that Kieran invited me over.”

“Not at all. Better than him just sitting in his room reading or playing video games, the way he usually does.” Sean’s tone was dry. “You two have fun. There’s some food in the fridge and a box of popcorn in the pantry if you get hungry.”

“Thank you.” Katie inclined her head respectfully.

“Right, well, I think I’ll turn in early,” Sean said. “Nice to meet you, Katie. You two have a good time.”

“We will!” Katie assured him, with her typical exuberance.

Sean smiled and nodded, though as he walked by Kieran, he paused just long enough to mutter “Use a condom” under his breath. Kieran turned positively scarlet with mortification, but by then his father was already disappearing down the hall.

“Kieran?” asked Katie. “You ok?”

“Yeah. My dad was just, um, giving me a hard time. Just some teasing, you know? We do that a lot. It’s like a banter thing.”

Unbeknownst to him, Katie heard every word of what his father said, and it was all she could do not to bust a gut laughing. Not only because she delighted in his father’s dry sense of humor, but also because he wasn’t that far off the mark. Katie wanted nothing more than to take Kieran to bed just like Sean implied. The only difference was she had no intention of using protection or birth control of any kind.

Kieran knew none of this, and Katie wasn’t about to tip her hand early. Instead, she smiled innocently as she imagined fucking Kieran in a number of different positions, from reverse cowgirl to missionary to doggystyle. She imagined him buried between her thighs, licking her virgin pussy and clit with his tongue, and pictured herself on her knees in front of him, staring up into his eyes while she sucked his cock. Had Kieran known the lewd nature of her thoughts, he probably would have fainted.

But he didn’t. Instead, he did his best to brush his father’s comment aside and show Katie into the living room, where an old box-like TV and VHS player sat atop an aging wooden stand.

“You have a VHS?” Katie asked.

“Y-yeah. I know it’s, um, a really old system, but our DVD player broke a while back and we don’t have the money to get a new one right now.” He shrugged. “I hope you don’t mind an older movie.”

“Are you kidding? I think it’s cool. I haven’t even seen a VHS since I was a little kid,” Katie said. “I think it’s nostalgic, and I like it.”

Kieran laughed and let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. “You’re really something else, Petersen.”

“I was about to say the same about you, Callaway.” Then, seeking another topic to talk about, Katie went over to a framed picture hanging on the living room wall. It was of a smiling, dark-haired woman who seemed to be in her late thirties but retained a striking attractiveness.

But it was the eyes that really gave her identity away. They were a soft warm brown, the same color as Kieran’s. Katie recognized them immediately.

“This is your mom, isn’t it?” she asked.

Kieran didn’t look at the picture very often. For the past three years, he’d trained his eyes to skip over it. Looking at his mother’s face hurt too much. Now, though, he had little choice but to do just that. “Yes,” he said simply. “That’s her.”

“She looks beautiful. She must have been a wonderful person.”

“She was.” Kieran’s voice was distant and soft and infinitely sad.

“Do you...” Katie hesitated, clearly unsure whether it was wise to ask the question she was about to ask. “Do you mind if I ask how...?”

“How she died?” Kieran finished. “Honestly, Katie, I kind of do. I don’t want...I don’t want to think about it right now. Not tonight. I hope you understand.”

“Of course.” Katie reached over and clasped his hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Of course I understand, Kieran,” she went on, her voice full of compassion. “I can’t imagine how painful it must be for you, and I’m sorry if I pried. I should have known better. Please forgive me.”

She’s holding my hand. She’s holding my hand. It was all he could do to keep his brain from short-circuiting. “It’s...it’s okay, Katie. You didn’t pry and I’m not angry with you or anything like that. I don’t blame you for asking, and one day, I’ll probably tell you. Just, um, not tonight.”

Katie nodded her understanding. “I wish there was something I could do,” she said, taking a step to close the distance between them. Before he could say anything, she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him in close for a hug.

Fireworks went off inside Kieran’s head. His whole body stiffened with shock. He was simply unable to process or accept what was happening. This couldn’t be happening, not to him, not with someone like Katie Petersen. This had to be some sort of mistake, some sort of cosmic joke the universe was playing on him--

He made the mistake of inhaling, breathing in Katie’s wonderful scent, and promptly lost the ability to form coherent thoughts. She smelled wonderful, like vanilla and wildflowers, and her hair was so soft and silky where it brushed against his chin as she laid her head against his chest. The room spun wildly--

--And Kieran’s lizard brain came roaring back with a vengeance. His hormones began to rage, turning his blood white-hot with desire. The part of him that was basically, animalistically male urged him to touch her, to caress her, to take her over to the couch and tear her skirt away and fuck her again and again and again and--

Kieran couldn’t think. He could barely breathe. All he could think of, his entire world consisted in that moment only of Katie and how soft and feminine she felt pressed against him. It--no, she--was intoxicating.

His cock strained against the confines of his worn jeans. It was so rampant and so stiff that it poked Katie right in the stomach. That, ultimately, was what cut through his fog of desire. That, and the shame which accompanied it.

Kieran reeled back from her so fast he nearly backed into the wall. His heart was pounding in his chest, but he couldn’t meet her eyes. He knew she’d felt the evidence of his arousal, and his body’s betrayal shamed him.

“I’m sorry,” he rasped. “God, Katie, I didn’t mean--”

Katie held up a hand. “Kieran...”

“It’s...I mean...I just--”

“Kieran.”

“Please forgive me, I’m not a pig or anything, I swear--”

“Kieran!”

He stopped in mid-ramble. “Y-yeah?”

Katie noticed his refusal to look her in the face and lowered her voice. “Look at me.”

He didn’t. He couldn’t.

“Kieran.” She reached up and cupped his face in her palms, turning his head ever so gently so he was looking into her impossibly blue eyes.

“You don’t need to be ashamed,” she said, firmly but gently. “You’re not to blame for the way your body reacts to me. I know you’re a good guy and I know you’re not a pig. If I thought otherwise I wouldn’t be here. This whole time you’ve treated me with nothing but respect. You’ve shown me what kind of man you are. If anything, I’m the one who should be apologizing to you. I should have realized that being so close to you like that would make your sex drive kick in. It’s not your fault--any guy with a pulse would have reacted the exact same way. I’m really sorry for putting you in a situation where you felt embarrassed.” She looked up at him. “Will you forgive me?”

Kieran’s jaw dropped. Is...is she for real? A lot of other girls would have reacted differently. But then, he reminded himself once again, Katie Petersen was not like other girls at all.

“I...” He swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. “O-of course I forgive you, Katie. I--” His face burned red hot for what felt like the millionth time that day. Honesty. She asked for honesty. I have to be honest with her. “I...actually really enjoyed it.”

Katie snorted. “Oh, that was obvious. Seriously, though, don’t sweat it okay? It’s all good, and so are we. I enjoyed it too, actually. I’ve never hugged a guy before, other than my dad.”

She enjoyed it? She enjoyed hugging me? Kieran felt a fresh surge of blood below his belt and was helpless to stop it. To keep her from noticing, he asked, “You’ve never hugged any guys before? Not even like, a friend or something?”

“Nope. Now...” she gestured at the television. “Would you like to pick a movie to watch, or would you like me to do it?”

“You can pick. Surprise me.”

She chuckled. “I intend to,” she said, and there was something in the way she said it, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on, which hinted that the words might have some sort of deeper meaning. He wanted to ask about it, but by the time he opened his mouth she was already for the kitchen. “Can I have something to drink, please?”

“Sure. Help yourself.”

“Thanks!”

Kieran sank into an armchair that looked at least a decade old, running a hand through his hair as he tried to gather himself. He was still trying to do that when Katie returned, bearing two sodas and generously-sized bowls of popcorn. She popped in a movie--Romancing the Stone starring Michael Douglas--and patted a spot next to her on the carpet. “What are you doing all the way over there, silly? Come join me.”

Like a deer being lured further and further into a hunter’s trap, Kieran did.

Katie almost had to sit on her hands once Kieran sat down next to her. She itched touch him, all of him, all over his body. It was a good thing his dad was in the house, otherwise self-restraint might have been impossible.

Kieran had no idea the kind of fire he’d ignited inside her. The feeling of his erection pressed against her stomach was burned into Katie’s memory. Even through the fabric of his jeans, she’d been able to tell how hard and long and thick it was.

She couldn’t wait to see the real thing, but now was not the time. It was a delicious agony, the waiting, but it was necessary. Just now Kieran was still in a raw emotional state. If I made the move now, if I told him what I want, what I want him to do to me, he’ll run for the hills. I need to comfort him and make him feel at ease again.

And, she admitted to herself. He’s such a sweetheart. I don’t like seeing him so upset.

It was true. Kieran was a a genuinely good person, a kind-hearted young man who didn’t view women as sex objects first and people second. His embarrassment and shame at the way his body reacted to her closeness proved he was raised to treat women with respect, that he wasn’t a slave to his baser instincts. Katie deeply appreciated and respected that. Of all the things I like about him, that’s probably the top of the list.

She offered him some popcorn and he accepted with a nod of thanks. Katie’s eyes flicked to his hand as he took a great handful of the greasy, buttery snack. It was a worker’s hand, the hand of someone who knew the value of honest labor. Calloused and rough. Strong too, strong enough to break bones and batter down locked doors. But Katie wasn’t afraid. Kieran was physically much stronger than she was, but he’d never use that strength to hurt her. She was as certain of that as she was of the sun rising tomorrow morning.

I definitely made the right decision when I chose him. She snuck a glance at Kieran when he turned back to the television screen, felt a warm wave of affection for him wash over her. It will be an honor to give you my virginity and bear your child.

I should probably say something. If I stay quiet for too long he’ll think he offended me, no matter what I told him earlier. Hmmm...

The movie showed a scene of one of the main characters traipsing through the jungle. Katie decided to seize on that. “Have you ever wanted to travel, Kieran?”

He nodded. “I’ve thought about it, yeah. I’d love to see places like the Grand Canyon or Yosemite, maybe visit Edinburgh one day. Have you seen pictures of it? All those spires and Gothic architecture...it’s like something out of a fantasy movie.”

“Really?” Katie dug her phone out of her pocket and opened the web browser. “Let me see. You’ve made me curious.”

A second later, the search results popped up. Katie whistled. “Wow. You weren’t kidding.”

“Yeah.”

“What about theme parks? You ever want to visit one of those?” She was careful to keep her voice casual, but inwardly, Katie felt her heart beat faster. What if he doesn’t like them? How will I get him to go with me then?

Kieran, oblivious, put her concern to rest. “Absolutely. I never got to visit one as a kid, and they seem like so much fun. I’ve never been on a roller coaster before. Not once, can you believe that?”

Katie stared. “You’re kidding? You’ve never been on one at all? Not even, like, at a county fair or something?”

“Nope. The last time we had a county fair my dad needed me to help in the shop, and we don’t have the money to travel out of state.” The admission was clearly hard for him, but his eyes were bright with fierce determination. “When Dad retires and I take over the shop, though, that’s going to change. You wait and see, Katie.”

“I know.” She smiled. “I believe in you, Kieran. I know you’re going to do great things with it.” It wasn’t just flattery. There was no doubt in Katie’s mind that Kieran would take his family business to a new level of prosperity. I should come by and visit once I’ve had the baby and gotten settled in at my new job, she thought. I don’t want to just drop Kieran once he’s knocked me up.

And if he hasn’t just given me the perfect opening to make the offer, my name’s not Katie Petersen.

“It’s...well, it’s funny you should say that,” she said carefully. It was a struggle to keep her voice calm and casual. She knew what she was about to do was risky, and she hadn’t planned on doing it so soon. But even though she’d only met Kieran a few days ago, she already felt a strong bond with him. Something in Katie’s heart was telling her that this was the moment, and she always listened to her heart. This was the time. This was her chance. She had to act now while the iron was hot.

“How so?”

Katie hid a nervous gulp by taking a long slug of her soda. “Remember when I said I take taekwondo?”

“Vividly.”

Katie giggled. “Well...I took first place in a tournament recently.”

“I’m not surprised. How many people took part?”

Katie tamped down on a surge of impatience and answered his question. “A lot. There were a lot of rounds and the competition lasted for three days. I’ve got a video of some of it on my phone if you’d like to see it! My mom taped it for me from the bleachers.”

“Sure! I’d love to see it.” His eager tone made Katie’s pulse quicken again. She dug out her phone and quickly pulled up the footage. Sure enough, there she was in her white uniform, a black belt around her waist, her strawberry blonde hair flying behind her like a banner as she leapt through the air with all the grace of a pouncing jungle cat. Kieran watched with awe as Katie demonstrated a flawless butterfly kick.

“Holy shit. Remind me not to piss you off.”

Katie accepted the compliment with one of her own. “I doubt you could do that, but thanks. Anyway, as part of the prize, I won a three-week trip to Disney World with one friend of my choosing. All expenses paid. Plane tickets, hotel, everything. I wasn’t sure who I was going to ask, but...” She tilted her head a little to look up into his eyes. His warm, chocolate-colored eyes. So cute! “I think I do now. Would you like to go with me, Kieran?”

The complete and total surprise and disbelief on his face would have been comical if the stakes weren’t so high. Kieran heard what she said, but his brain was clearly having trouble processing it.

“I...You...what?”

Katie laughed. She couldn’t help it. “I’m asking if you want to come on the trip as my plus-one, silly. Does that sound like something you’d enjoy?”

He frowned. Always so thoughtful and serious, Katie thought with a mental sigh of longing. I hope he passes that trait on to our baby.

“I don’t know,” he finally said. “I mean...my dad still needs my help in the shop. I can’t just up and leave all of a sudden, certainly not for three weeks at a time.”

“You work hard in that shop,” Katie countered gently. “You’ve never asked for time off before, you said it yourself. You also said your dad would give it to you if you asked for it because you’ve never done it before.”

“Well...yeah,” he admitted. “But what about school? I’ll fall behind in my classes.”

“Let me worry about that,” Katie said. “I don’t usually like to play this card, but I’ve got a lot of pull with the teachers and the principal. I can talk them into cutting you some slack.”

“But...but...” Kieran sputtered for a moment. “Why not one of your other friends? Why not your mom or your dad or a cousin or something? Why not anyone else? Why me?”

Katie put a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll tell you why. First, because you’re a lot of fun to hang out with. Second, because you’re interesting and unlike anyone else I’ve ever met. Third, no one should ever make it past the age of eighteen without going on a roller coaster at least once. Kieran, this is a no-strings-attached offer. You won’t have to pay for anything.” You won’t have to pay for anything that happens while we’re down there either, she added silently. “And besides, you deserve it.”

Her tone grew a little stern. “You deserve to relax and have fun. You deserve to have an adventure and make some memories before you take over the shop and get too busy with work. Think about it--how many times do you think people get to go on a trip like this? Once or twice in their lives, if they’re lucky. If it were me, and I passed on this, I’d always regret it. Let yourself have some fun, Kieran.”

It was a long moment before Kieran replied. Katie could almost hear the wheels turning inside his head and could only hope her words struck a chord with him. All her careful planning, all the meticulous preparations made over the past six years hinged on this one moment. If he said no, if he refused, she’d need to formulate a contingency plan.

All she could do was look into his soft, warm brown eyes and wait for his answer. After a moment of silence that lasted eternity, he finally gave it.

“...Okay.”

It took every last ounce of Katie’s formidable self-control to keep from leaping to her feet and shouting with joy. As it was, she squealed with pleasure and threw her arms around him in a spontaneous hug. “Yes! Oh, thank you, Kieran! I was really, really hoping you’d say that! I can’t wait!” She was babbling, but she was unable to help herself. “Don’t worry about a thing! I’ll take care of the details.”

“Sure. When, um, when does the flight leave?”

“In a week,” Katie chirped. “Is that enough time?”

“Y-yeah, I think so. Gives my dad enough of a heads-up. I wouldn’t want to just leave tomorrow with no warning.”

“I understand completely. Would you like me to email you a copy of the itinerary?”

“That’d be great,” Kieran said with no small amount of relief. “I’ve...” he flushed. “I’ve never actually flown before.”

“There’s nothing to it,” she assured him. “Don’t worry--I’ll be your guide!”

“I feel safer already.”

His dry humor, as ever, tickled her funny bone. Katie smothered a laugh. “Glad to hear it.”

He gave her his email and she quickly forwarded a copy of the flight schedule to him, and they spent almost an hour after that discussing what to bring and how to make the journey as smooth as possible. Katie was a wealth of expertise on the subject--her parents often took her on vacations abroad as a child--and was eager to put any anxiety or unease Kieran felt to rest. By the end of it, he was looking increasingly excited, and the movie was forgotten completely. Instead, they looked at pictures and maps of the huge theme park on Katie’s phone, making plans and talking long into the night. It was past 11 when Katie, with the greatest reluctance, finally admitted she needed to be heading home. Kieran drove her back, and as she watched his truck pull away from her house, she felt a pang of genuine sadness at his absence.

Only when his tail-lights disappeared around the corner did she finally give voice to her jubilation. Katie jumped into the air, pumping a triumphant fist. So close! She was so close to her goal now that she could almost taste it! She couldn’t wait to be a mom, couldn’t wait to finally have her first time with Kieran, couldn’t wait to finally unleash all the years of pent-up sexual frustration and energy inside her.

Her hands shook with excitement, causing her to fumble as she groped for her keys. Katie’s parents were already asleep, and she didn’t fear punishment for coming home late. Katie worked hard and played hard--she often stayed out late hanging out with friends or going to practice for one of her extracurriculars, so it wasn’t unusual for her to come home around this time. She crept up to her room and shut the door behind her. Her pussy was sopping wet with arousal, and she all but tore her clothes off, throwing her stunningly naked form on the bed and plunging her fingers inside her virgin womanhood. Her thumb began rhythmically flicking her clitoris.

Katie was so turned on that it took only moments for sparks to start going off inside her head. She closed her eyes, imagining that it was Kieran fucking her, that it was Kieran’s cock and not her fingers sliding in and out of her pussy. She imagined him pinning her beneath his strong, lean body, his cock slowly plunging into her, filling her and stretching her and claiming her maidenhead as his well-deserved prize. She imagined kissing him as their bodies became one, as they gave each other the most intimate embrace two human beings could know. How would his lips feel against hers? Had Kieran kissed a girl before? Would it hurt, when he penetrated her for the first time in her life? Sometimes it did, for girls, but Katie wasn’t afraid. She was sure Kieran--sweet, gentle, considerate Kieran--would make sure her first time was magical for both of them.

She imagined then the moment of ultimate triumph when Kieran reached his climax. She imagined him throwing his head back and shouting with release, imagined his cock twitching inside of her before filling her waiting, eager womb with jet after jet of hot, thick, life-giving sperm--

Katie arched her back, her eyes rolling back in her sockets. Her body went taut like a bowstring, her muscles spasming as pleasure roared through her like a tidal wave. Just thinking about sex with Kieran gave her one of the most mind-blowing orgasms she’d ever experienced. It took more than a minute for Katie to finally come back to herself. Her exquisite breasts heaved as she panted for breath, her nipples hard enough to cut diamonds. Goosebumps broke out all over her skin.

Our baby is going to beautiful, was the last thought Katie had before she went slipped, still naked, into a blissful sleep.