Winter break ended, and the Spring semester began at the end of January with a new set of classes, instructors, and classmates. I was proud of my four-point zero grade point average last Fall. Of course, they were all general education classes, which seemed more like a high school rewind. But it was good to remember how things were. Time management was the key, and I excelled at it.

After the rooms were painted and the new carpet was laid, I received all the new furniture. It wasn't expensive, but it looked durable. I guess when you have renters, you never know how they'll treat things. I donated all my old furniture to the Habitat for Humanity thrift store. It was all my parents' old stuff, and they didn't mind me donating it.

The shower construction went well, with just a few minor glitches. Contractors seem to have a way of stretching out jobs, whether it's their fault or for some other reason. It turned out nice, and I can't wait to share it with someone.

The weather was still cold and wet, but I was back to class and studying. Malea texted me, and we set up our dinner date. She offered to cook at her place, and I accepted. She owned a small house on the other side of town. It was in a nice neighborhood, and I had no trouble finding it.

It was a dreary Friday night, the day after Valentine's Day. It had been raining all week, and I hadn't gotten any workouts because of that and a full class load. With most of the work completed on the house, I had more free time, but in the rain and cold, I didn't feel like being out in it too much, so I studied more. It wasn't a bad thing; I got good grades in all of my classes.

When I arrived at Malea's, I parked on the street even though the driveway had plenty of room. I brought two bottles of wine, one red and one white. I'd thought about flowers, but I wasn't sure if this was a date or just a friend dinner.

I knocked, and within a few seconds, Malea opened it. She was dressed casually, in jeans and a long-sleeved flannel shirt covered with an apron. Her long black hair was tied in a bun. She looked very relaxed and comfortable, not like the times we'd seen each other before. I liked this look and told her so as she let me inside her home.

Malea thanked me for the compliment and the wine. She was also glad I wasn't overdressed; she'd forgotten to mention it would be very casual.

After Malea closed the front door, I followed her into the kitchen. She took the wines from me and complimented my choices as she placed them in the fridge. I noticed a delicious aroma as I watched Malea take an already-opened bottle of white wine from the refrigerator. She smiled as she set the bottle on the counter and reached into a cupboard for two glasses.

Before she poured, she told me, "I love that Chardonnay you brought, but I think this Sauvignon Blanc will go better with our dinner, Andy."

I replied, “You're the chef, Malea. Dinner smells fantastic.”

Malea laughed, "I'm hardly a chef. This is an old family recipe that I love. It's a Polynesian version of Teriyaki Chicken; I hope you'll like it. I should have asked if you had any food allergies. I'm sorry, I hope you don't."

I smiled, "I don't have any allergies, and I'm sure it's just as delicious as it smells. I don't have any family recipes. My parents weren't into cooking and being in the service; you eat what's put before you or go hungry."

She laughed, “Well, now I know, thank you.”

Malea poured our wine and handed me a glass. She giggled, “Here's to gourmet eating!”

I smiled as we toasted and clinked our glasses, “To gourmet eating!”

After toasting, I asked if I could help. Malea declined my offer, telling me she figured I'd be on time, if not early, and that dinner was almost ready. She told me to have a seat at the table while she got out all the silverware and plates. It had been a long time since someone as lovely as Malea made dinner for me.

We started talking about the house, school, and her work. I asked how Val was, and Malea replied that she was swamped establishing the commercial part of the business. I asked her to say hello, and she said she would.

Within a few minutes, dinner was ready. With the plate in hand, I joined Malea at the stove. I suggested she get what she wanted first because I would probably eat what remained. Her eyes went wide as she smiled. She took what she wanted and then watched as I filled my plate. I did leave some because I didn't want to overflow my plate.

I sat as Malea placed her plate on the table and grabbed the wine to top off our glasses. Dinner was truly delicious, and I told her so. We talked as we ate, which is something I hadn't done with anyone but Val and my parents for the last nine months.

Talking with Malea was like talking with an old friend. As we ate, we bounced around so many subjects that I was afraid my food would get cold. We talked about the furniture for the house, paint colors, the shower, and a little about the backyard. I mentioned I wanted to put in a raised bed garden, and Malea said she'd talk to Val, but she didn't see why not.

I think Malea was flirting a little, too. Now and then, she'd touch my hand or arm when she was talking. We discussed how we arrived at our current situations, the good and bad parts. It must have taken us at least half an hour to eat, which was about three times longer than I usually take.

During that time, we finished off the bottle of wine, and Malea opened the white one I brought. I couldn't tell the difference between the two.

After we finished eating, I helped clear the table and offered to do the dishes. She removed her long-sleeved flannel shirt, revealing a tank top that may have been a size too small, and she looked terrific in it.

Malea thanked me for the compliment and suggested I wash while she dried and put the dishes away. She mentioned I must have been starving, or her dinner choice was spot on. I smiled and told her it was both and to thank her family for creating it.

That got a big smile and a kiss on my cheek, and Malea said she'd let her mother know. As we washed and dried, Malea intermittently bumped into my side. Sometimes, it was her breast against my arm, and others, it was her hip against me. Neither of us said anything, but I think she was doing it on purpose, and I didn't mind at all.

It was getting close to nine when I thought we were finished with the dishes, but I looked back at the table, and our half-full wine glasses were still there. I mentioned we'd forgotten them. She replied we didn't. She left them for last so we could sit and talk on the sofa. The second bottle was almost empty. Malea topped off our glasses with the remainder of the wine while I dried my hands. I followed her with my glass to the living room, sitting close to her on the sofa.

Malea proposed another toast, "To a lovely dinner and a new friendship."

I replied, "It was a fantastic dinner and great conversation, Malea. Thank you for inviting me."

Malea smiled as she sipped, placed her glass on the coffee table, blushed, and said, "I've wanted to do this all evening."

She moved closer, placed one hand behind my head, and kissed me. This wasn't a repeat of our midnight kiss. This was long, sloppy, and passionate. She'd caught me off guard, my wine glass still in my hand as we continued kissing. After a minute or two, she broke our kiss to let me think about what had just happened.

Malea sat back, waiting for a reaction as she bit her lower lip. I could see she was hoping for a positive response. I smiled as I placed my glass on the table and gazed into Malea's eyes.

I asked, “Was that dessert? Because it was delicious, Malea. I hope there's more.”

She smiled, "Just a taste of what may be dessert, Andy. I've never done anything spontaneous like that before to a man. I'm not very outgoing when it comes to dating and things like that. I wanted to see your reaction and if it was as sweet as New Year's Eve."

I smiled, "I liked it. You have lovely lips, Malea. I'm the same way, not very outgoing. I certainly don't mind you being forward. Was it as sweet, or do we need to check again?"

Her giggle gave her away, "Maybe once or twice more, to be sure, if you don't mind."

I loved the sparkle in her eyes, "I don't mind at all. Kissing a pretty woman is one of my favorite things to do."

Malea blushed, “Well, I enjoy kissing a handsome man.”

She leaned in once more. This time, she wrapped her arms around me as we kissed. I wrapped mine around her, and within a few seconds, our tongues were dancing. I could feel her moaning as we shifted into a better position. Soon, I was on my back, my head against the armrest, with Malea on top. My hands worked their way under the back of her top. Her skin felt smooth and warm and joy to touch.

We continued making out, becoming more passionate until Malea broke our kiss and sat up. Her face was flushed as she looked down at me.

Malea blushed, "I'm getting warm. Would you mind if I took off my top?"

I replied, “I'm getting warm also. I don't mind if you don't mind if I take off my shirt.”

Her eyes lit up, "I don't mind at all, but maybe we should move to the bedroom. We can stretch out there. The sofa is a little confining."

I smiled, “You don't seem to be that shy to me, Malea. You lead, I'll follow.”

Malea grinned, "I have my moments. I get a good vibe from you, Andy. I didn't want this to feel like we were rushing. It sort of feels that way."

I replied, “I don't feel like we're rushing. We've been flirting all evening. The bedroom is the logical conclusion, I think.”

Malea smiled as she rose from the sofa and stood before me, “Val said you were sweet and a gentleman. You are amazing, you know that. Not that most guys would decline the offer.”

I replied, "Aunt Valerie is a very nice lady, and I appreciate the compliment."

I laughed and took hold of her outstretched hand. Malea guided me to the bedroom, flicking on the light as we entered. She asked me to wait while she locked up the house.

I told her I would and replied, “Where would I go?”

Malea laughed, "You could escape out the bathroom window. But, you know what I meant, silly. Just don't undress. I want you to do a slow strip for me."

My expression gave me away.

Malea continued, “Oh, never done that for a woman? This should be fun. Back in a few, Andy.”

Malea was very different than most of the girls I'd been out with. She was older than all of them but not as old as Val. I liked her sense of humor and her self-assurance. I had no clue whether this was a one-night thing or the beginning of a relationship. Either way, I would enjoy it and hoped Malea would enjoy it, too. I was definitely going to do my best to make that happen.

Once Malea left the room, I quickly used the bathroom. While washing my hands, I noticed her toothpaste tube on the counter. I removed the cap, squeezed a bit out, and rubbed down my teeth using my finger. I heard Malea walking towards the bedroom, so I replaced the cap and returned to the bedroom.

She entered the room and stopped to see me standing there, "You look like the cat that ate the canary, Andy. What's going on?"

I replied, a bit embarrassed, “I used some of your toothpaste to freshen my breath.”

Malea laughed, “I would have figured that out when we kissed. It was very thoughtful of you. My turn for the bathroom. You can take off your shoes and socks. Put them by the chair, okay?”

Malea left me to do her thing in the bathroom. I removed my shoes and socks and put them on the floor beside the chair. I waited at the end of the bed for her to return. It wasn't long before the bathroom door opened. I looked over and saw Malea standing in the doorway. She was nude, the bathroom light silhouetted her slim body. My jaw dropped, and my dick began to stiffen when I saw her.

I looked her over and said, “Yoga and Pilates have been very good to you, Malea. You look amazing.”

She blushed, "Thank you, Andy. Diet helps also. Now, would you mind undressing for me? Slowly, like a striptease, please."

I grinned, "I'll try my best to be sexy. It will probably be more comical, though."

Malea laughed as she turned off the bathroom light and entered the bedroom, “I'm sure I'll enjoy it either way.”

Malea slipped past me, turned down the bedsheets, and then slipped into bed to watch me. I started with my shirt. I'd worn a long-sleeved flannel shirt with a tee underneath. I slowly unbuttoned the flannel as I watched Malea's reaction. She smiled as I released each button, her hands at her sides.

When the buttons were free, I untucked my shirttail from my pants. I was trying to sway and look sexy, but my shirt wasn't cooperating, and it seemed clumsy to me. Malea grinned as I finally got it loose and tossed it over to my shoes. Next up was my tee.

Before removing that, I loosened my belt and unbuttoned my pants to make it easier. Malea was staring at me in the general direction of my crotch, and I could tell she saw the bulge there. She bit her lower lip as I reached behind my back and pulled my tee over my head and off. It also got tossed to the chair as Malea applauded my performance.

When I began unzipping my zipper, Malea began pinching one of her nipples as she watched. The sight of that added a little more to my growing erection. I let my pants drop to the floor, releasing my dick to pop out, creating a mound in the front of my boxers.

Malea's eyes widened when she saw that, and her free hand slipped between her legs to begin rubbing herself. I've never been with a woman who has reacted the way Malea did, and it really added to my arousal. When she asked me to hurry up and join her, I quickly dropped my boxers and stepped out of them.

Since I was at the end of the bed, I leaped onto it, twisting myself in midair, and landed on my back next to Malea. She laughed as my dick swung back and forth, and the bed reverberated from my bouncing.

When the bed quit moving, Malea moved over me, placing her hips above mine and placing my swollen penis in one of her hands. I watched as she moved to ease me into her, marveling at her dark brown areole and erect nipples. She moaned, her eyes closed as she guided my shaft into her vagina.

Malea was tighter than Val, and it felt amazing when she lowered herself onto me. When I was in, she leaned forward so we could kiss. When our lips met, she began moving her lower body up and down me, and our lovemaking began.

I reached down and planted my hands on her small firm asscheeks, gripping them as she moved back and forth. They felt good in my hands, and when Malea broke our kiss, she asked me to swat her now and then. When I said I would, she smiled and kissed me again. This time, our tongues began dancing. When I did swat her, it wasn't exactly gentle. The result was Malea moaning into my mouth as we kissed. Until that moment, I wasn't too sure about the swatting; I figured she liked it, and that's why I didn't hold much back when I did it. From then on, the swats were more frequent as I alternated hands and squeezed her asscheeks in between swats.

Malea was enjoying what I was doing as she alternated her gyrations on my cock. She'd break from kissing me to sit up, then change her rhythm and movements. Since she was somewhat upright on me, I moved one hand to caress her breast and play with her nipple as I continued smacking that sweet tight ass.

That's when shy Malea became a Tigress. She started talking dirty, describing how I was making her feel. When she looked me in the eyes, they were wide and full of excitement. Her voice grew deep and sultry with each new description of our lovemaking. I hate to admit it, but I liked how she enjoyed it. It helped take my mind off how good she was making me feel and prolonged my erection.

I also contributed, telling her how hot she looked and how great she felt on me. She asked me to tell her when I was about to cum, and I told her I would. That made her intensify her movements and the way she described how I felt inside her.

Despite trying to think of non-sexual things, I couldn't hold out much longer, so I told Malea I was close. She lowered herself once more, and we returned to kissing. Her lips against mine and her tongue inside my mouth was the straw that broke the camel's back.

I reached up to hold her to me as I let go inside her. Malea broke our kiss, arched her back, and reveled in the way she was feeling as I filled her. She lingered, sitting on top of me until I was drained. Once I was empty and back to normal, Malea slipped off me. She lay off to my side, using her fingers to play with my chest hairs as she nuzzled my neck and whispered how much she enjoyed the ride.

I told her I was glad she left the lights on so I could watch her exquisite body and her face as she played with me. She was a little embarrassed and apologized for getting as excited as she did. I told her it was fine, I didn't mind at all, and I found it very exciting. Malea thanked me and mentioned she hadn't gotten that aroused in a very long time. She also complimented my endurance, which made me blush.

Malea hesitated momentarily and asked, "Do you like to get naughty, Andy? Do you like the spanking thing?"

I was honest and told her, "That was a first for me. I liked that you liked it, and it got you excited. I've had a very vanilla sex life so far. I guess it would depend on what you mean by naughty."

Malea practically purred, "Maybe we can explore a little bit, Andy. Not that I'm really kinky or anything like that, but I have some things that add to my pleasure, and hopefully, you might enjoy them also. We can try if you want. It's all up to you."

I thought for a moment, "I'm willing to try some things as long as we talk about them first, and I can stop at any time if they're uncomfortable for me."

Malea grinned, "That's perfectly fine. I like open minds, Andy. I'm glad you feel that way. We'll talk more. But, right now, I need to get off this wet spot. Would you mind shifting over a bit so we both have a dry spot?"

Thankfully, Malea had a king-sized bed, and we shifted far enough away so we were both comfortable. We talked a little more, and then Malea got up and placed the covers over us. We fell asleep spooning, my arm over her body, holding her close.

Saturday morning, I woke around my usual time, six. We'd broken our spooning sometime during the night, and Malea was still asleep next to me. When I got up to use the bathroom, the room was cool, if not a little chilly. When I returned to bed, Malea stirred but didn't wake up. So, I lay in the dark and thought about what we'd done. But, mostly, I thought about what the slightly kinky things Malea had briefly mentioned could be.

I dozed off a couple of times, but when Malea got up to use the bathroom, I stayed awake and waited for her to return. When she did, she snuggled next to me, nuzzling my neck.

She whispered, “Thank you again for last night, Andy. Would you like to shower first or make love then shower?”

Her hand slid down my body until it found my flaccid penis. Within mere seconds, he woke and began to rise. Malea kept playing with him as she licked and gently bit the nape of my neck, waiting for a response.

I answered, “I think you know the answer to that, Malea. You seem to have things well in hand.”

She giggled, "I do, don't I."

Malea continued playing with me as I reached down to reciprocate. We moved so we could kiss and play with each other under the covers. Malea's soft fingers teased and worked my dick into another nice erection. I managed to find her clit after a little fumbling around, which didn't bother Malea. After a few moments, Malea let go and threw the covers off us.

She sat up, then turned her body so she could give me a blow job. She was off to the side of me, her cute little ass within reach. I managed to slap her once, which she delighted in. Then I tapped her ass cheek and asked her to move over me. Malea paused, looking back at me with a smile.

She slipped her leg over me as I positioned her above my face. As soon as my tongue entered her, she moaned. Her attention to my dick slowed down as I began exploring her sweetness. Recalling everything Val had taught me, I worked that magic on Malea. I surprised myself, and maybe Malea also swirling my tongue under her hood and around her clit. I'd back off and lick and kiss her labia, then back inside to edge her. I continued doing this with slight variations so that Malea was so distracted with my handiwork she paused several times, leaving my stiff dick yearning for more attention.

When Malea realized what she wasn't doing, she went back to stroking and sucking me until I hit her spot again. We played like that until I was too far gone and had to cum. Malea engulfed me as much as she could without gagging and swallowed my sperm as I intensified my focus on her climax. It wasn't long before my new love bucked and squirmed over my face, covering my cheeks with her honey.

After that session, Malea and I were exhausted. She rejoined me face to face, snuggling, kissing, and basking in the glow of our lovemaking. After a few minutes, Malea suggested we shower and have breakfast before we both nodded off again. I knew I could use some food and at least one cup of coffee before we got to some serious sexual exploration. I told her that was a great idea. So off came the covers, and into the shower we went.

We took turns soaping each other down in between kissing and caressing each other. We talked about what she thought about various kinks. I discovered she wasn't that kinky, and the things she suggested were fairly mild. Well, mild, in my opinion. Not that I've experienced anything wild and crazy. But, I consider spanking, blindfolding, nipple clamps, and light restraint mild. Those were some of the things Malea enjoyed.

After showering, since I only had the clothes I wore over, I put on my boxers and socks and borrowed a robe Malea had from an old boyfriend. It was a little small for me but bigger than hers.

Malea made our breakfast scrambled egg whites, faux sausage, and coffee. It was excellent, and I was surprised that the sausage tasted as good as it did. We talked about what we'd done and what kind of relationship we both were looking for. She wanted to be fuck buddies, and I was fine with that. I wasn't looking to get into a romantic relationship this soon after getting out of the Navy and while in school.

Fucking now and then would work fine as long as we didn't mind if the other had relations with someone else. We agreed that we'd call it off with no hard feelings if we found someone special.

I helped with the dishes, and then we went back to bed after Malea had changed the sheets. I tried helping but just got in the way. Once the new sheets were on, Malea got her toys from the side table and showed them to me.

We were both naked, sitting on the bed facing each other as she showed them off. The blindfold was pretty mundane, like one you'd use if you were a day sleeper. The handcuffs were pink and fuzzy, but she said they worked fine. The nipple clamps were interesting. Malea called them Japanese nipple clamps. She said when you pull on them, they clamp harder.

Just for the fun of it, I had her clip one on my nipple. Yes, it hurt, and I didn't like it. But when Malea put them on herself, her eyes rolled back in her head. She asked me to pull on the chain, and I did. She moaned and asked for more tension.

As I continued pulling, Malea leaned toward me; her hand slipped behind my neck as she drew me in for a kiss. Her lips pressed into mine, another soft, delicious kiss. I slightly relaxed my arm, adding more tension to the clamps. Malea's tongue darted between my lips as she moaned. I heard her mumble, 'That's it,' and I noticed, with increased tension, Malea became more passionate.

We started playing a little game, with me tugging intermittently. She was riding a passion roller coaster, and I was in charge. My dick began to stiffen as we played our little game. Malea noticed my breath getting faster as she reached down to grab my cock.

She broke our kiss and then asked me to release her. When I did, Malea changed positions to give me a blow job. She had me lay back, so we were in a sixty-nine position. The chain from the clamps was within easy reach, so she sucked and licked me. Since her sweetness was right above my face, I started to pleasure her. When my tongue entered her sweetness, Malea moaned. I tried my best to keep pulling her chain as she devoured me, and I explored her.

It was awkward at first, but we soon got into a rhythm. As Malea became more aroused, she started telling me what to do. Between bobs and licks on my cock, she'd ask me to suck on her lips, tug them, stick my tongue in deeper, and swirl it all while pulling on her chain.

At first, I was gentle, but as I saw Malea's arousal grow, I got more aggressive. It had a snowball effect on my blow job as well. Malea was a mad woman, sucking on me as I played with her. We continued working each other into another climax, and much to my surprise, Malea came first, and I wasn't too far behind, exploding into her mouth. When we both were spent, Malea rolled off me after I released her chain. She lay panting, her head at my feet, staring at the ceiling.

The first words out of her mouth were, “Oh fuck, Andy. You take direction really well. I'm drained, thank you.”

I replied, "You're welcome. I guess six years of taking orders has something to do with that. I'm exhausted, Malea. Thank you."

We snuggled to catch our breath and then took a nap. The rest of the day was full of experimenting with Malea's toys, showering, eating, and napping. Malea cooked another spectacular dinner and then went back to bed for slow lovemaking.

I don't know how our fuck buddy relationship would work out, but it was going to be very educational for me.

After spending the weekend at Malea's house, I was spent. I didn't workout on Monday because I was exhausted. I almost fell asleep in my first class of the day, but thanks to a double espresso with Jasmine, I managed to stay awake.

Between that weekend and Spring break, the days continued to grow longer, as did my workouts. I was feeling great, and with an occasional visit from Malea, I was feeling very good. School was going well, and I was becoming more social, thanks to Jasmine, Colleen, and Elise.

For the remainder of February and into March, Malea and I met at her place at least once a week. We alternated where we met for variety. My new shower got rave reviews from Malea; she loved how roomy it was. When I saw the design, I thought the dual-head rainfall shower system was extravagant, but when it was used, it was very erotic and saved water.

Malea liked her toys. I was okay with them and used them on her because I enjoyed seeing her happy, and when she was happy, my world seemed better. The variety I experienced using them on her opened my mind more. She talked about expanding her collection to include some things I didn't understand, like a butt plug and a remote vagina stimulator I could control with my phone app. I guess I'm still a prude at heart.

I'm waiting for her to ask about a third person joining us. I know she likes the toys, but another person would add a whole new dynamic. She knows I wouldn't welcome another man, and the woman would have to be someone I met and got along with. She mentioned she has someone on the side she meets and is intimate with. That's all she'll tell me, and I don't pry.

Malea talks about Val now and then. She's got a boyfriend and is busier than ever, making money and being social. Malea has been put in charge of the real estate office's residential property management.

We've talked about renting the two spare rooms in the house. Because of Val's contract, it's entirely up to me. I like living alone, and when Malea mentions it, I tell her I'd rather not, and she drops the subject.

Mom and Dad were doing well. I visited them at least once a week, time permitting. Mom had some issues with her treatment a couple of times. Thankfully, they were corrected, and she's doing much better. They're still looking forward to their next trip to New Zealand and Australia.

I continued working out with Jasmine and her friends at least twice a week when our schedules allowed it. I met some of their fellow track athletes who also thought I should try out for the team. It was nice, but I wasn't sure about it and the season would start soon.

I think I was forming a nice relationship with Jasmine. We didn't date, but we had coffee frequently during the week. She was majoring in broadcast journalism and hoped to become a sports reporter eventually. She was definitely easy on the eyes and had a very soothing voice for that type of work.

She and Colleen had me stop by a couple of times to fix some minor issues with their rental. I replaced leaking faucet washers in both bathrooms and had a nice time talking with them and flirting a little with Jasmine. It was a nice place, but it could use a plumbing upgrade.

I had Jasmine and her friends over to my place several times after our workouts to relax in the hot tub. I think they feel I'm a friend and not dating material. I had other thoughts when seeing them in their bikinis. However, I was a gentleman and didn't want to ruin our friendship. Naive, I know, but I didn't have many friends, and I didn't want to lose the few I had.

When I was putting the hurdles back after a long run the first week of March, I heard someone scream. I looked around and noticed a guy at the steeple chase water jump holding onto his ankle, obviously in pain. I grabbed my backpack, which had a first-aid kit, and went to help.

On my way there, a woman ran down from the bleachers to join me in helping the injured guy. She was on her cell phone, and I assumed she was talking to emergency dispatch. I'd noticed her sitting in the upper bleachers several times, watching and looking at a tablet. I figured she was taking a break and doing schoolwork.

We arrived at the water jump simultaneously. I asked if she had called 9-1-1, and she said she had. I didn't need to ask the guy where it hurt. It was obvious from the swelling. It looked like a broken ankle, so I introduced myself and asked his name.

His name was Kyle, and all he could do was wince with pain and swear. I completely understood and told him I had an ice pack and help was coming. I broke out an instant ice pack from my backpack and held it on his ankle.

The woman introduced herself. Jen knew Kyle; she was one of the track coaches, so she helped console him while we waited for the paramedics. I introduced myself to her, and we began talking while Kyle cried. He sounded like Nancy Kerrigan after she got her knee smashed, crying and asking why over and over.

We both did our best to calm him down and help him focus on anything other than his ankle. I think it may have been eight minutes or so until the paramedics arrived to treat and transport Kyle to an emergency room.

After they loaded him up and took him off the track, Jen thanked me for helping out. I told her it was fine; I was trained for that type of situation. We continued talking as we walked back to the hurdle I had left askew on the track.

Jen was a graduate assistant coach working on her PhD. She mentioned she'd been watching me work out from time to time. Jasmine and a few others had mentioned I was pretty good with hurdles and a fairly fast runner. Then Jen asked why I didn't try out. I told her I didn't think I was good enough.

Jen smiled, "From what I've seen and recorded, I think you'd be fine. Now that Kyle has injured himself, we have an opening if you want to try out. At least look at helping out on the medical team. Our primary first responder announced she was leaving, and we need someone else with medical knowledge. Yes, I did some research, Andy. We're not a big school, as you know. At least consider it, please."

I told Jen I'd think about the medical team. She said if I had any questions, we could sit down and discuss them over coffee or at her office. She thought I'd make a great addition to the track team due to my maturity. She also mentioned they didn't expect an Olympic qualifier, but I was good enough, in her opinion, that I'd do well. Jen added that it wouldn't hurt to try.

I had to agree with that and was curious about the whole thing. I told her I'd get in touch with her, and we could talk in depth. I thanked her, and we parted ways. As I packed up my things, I noticed the sky becoming darker and the wind picking up. According to my experience, the rain would be starting in an hour or so. I hurried home, hoping to avoid the rain since I was on my bike and unprepared for a downpour.

On my way home, I kept thinking about the conversation between Jen and myself. It seemed quite a few people thought I'd do well on the track team. The only thing stopping me was myself and my lack of confidence. When I got home, I wrote down all the pros and cons of running track. There were definitely more pros than cons, and if I didn't do well, I could always be on the first responder staff.

I decided to talk to Jen the next day and get all the details. It wasn't long after that that my phone pinged, letting me know I had a text. I looked to see who it was, and it was Jasmine. She said she heard about Kyle from Jen and wanted to stop by to talk to me about it if I was going to be home. I texted back that I was home and she could stop by anytime. In return, I received a couple of emoji smiles.

About an hour later, the doorbell rang. When I opened the door, there was Jasmine. She was dressed in her tracksuit and smiling. She looked a little damp due to the downpour I'd dodged.

Jasmine said, "Hi, Andy. You're such a good guy. From what I hear, Kyle is feeling better. Nothing broken, just a severe strain."

I smiled, "I try. I'm glad he's feeling okay. Come on in, you look like you need to warm up. I was just doing a little homework."

Jasmine smiled, “Yes, I had to run to my car since the rain was coming down in buckets. It was so hard, I had to wait in the parking lot before I could drive off.”

Jasmine walked past me, and I had no idea what scent she was wearing, but she smelled fantastic. Maybe it was the shampoo she uses or deodorant, but it was nice.

I offered her a towel and something warm to drink. She declined the drink, so I got her a towel to dry off with. When she was dryer, we went to the living room and plopped down on the sofa to talk.

Once we were settled, Jasmine started, "So, you met Jen. Isn't she the greatest? She mentioned she talked to you about the team and the responder thingy. Have you thought about it?"

I replied, "I have. I'm going to get more details tomorrow. I think I need certs for the responder thing, but I don't have any. As far as the team, I'll try out and see what they think. Jen hinted that she thought I could replace Kyle now that he's injured. What events does he do?"

Jasmine's smile grew larger as I talked to her. She thought momentarily, "Well, steeplechase, I think, hurdles and also some sprints. Jen would know more. You'd be better than Kyle. He's kind of a whiner and prima donna. But you didn't hear that from me."

I laughed, “Hear what?”

Jasmine replied, “Oh, you are good. So, how's everything else? We haven't talked much this past week. I really miss our coffee sessions.”

I replied, "I have to. I like talking with you, Jasmine. It might be fun being on the team together. I miss that group bonding thing like I had in the Navy."

Jasmine laughed, "It has its ups and downs. There's gossip and all that sort of stuff, but it's a great group, and we support each other. I like talking with you also. You're easy to talk to, and I don't get that leering look from you like I do with so many guys. I can be myself with you, and I like that."

I smiled, "Thank you, Jasmine. I think it's rude to gawk, and I do think you're very attractive. I haven't dated much in the last few years, so I'm very rusty at it."

Jasmine grinned, “I can understand that. So, would you like to go out on a date with me?”

I was a little surprised, “I'd love to. I grew up in this town, but I don't know if the places I took girls back in high school even exist these days. What would you like to do?”

Jasmine replied, “There are lots of things on campus. We just need to pick something we both want to do.”

With that done, Jasmine and I talked about the events we knew about on campus. We decided on a play that was opening the following Friday evening. I'd never heard of Eurydice, but I told Jasmine I'd look it up. Jasmine knew about it and explained it to me without giving anything away. It sounded interesting, so we made it a date.

As we were talking, my stomach began to growl. It was past my usual dinner time, and the sounds emanating from my stomach reminded me. When we heard the rumble, I blushed, and Jasmine grinned. I invited her to stay for dinner. I was having spaghetti with Italian sausage and a salad. She declined the offer, saying she should get home because it was her turn to cook, and Colleen was probably mad.

I told her to tell Colleen it was all my fault. I walked Jasmine to the door and mentioned we could have coffee when she felt like it. I thanked her for encouraging me to try out for the track team, and we called it a night.