"Right," I replied as a fart escaped.
He wrinkled his nose. "Whew, that was a stinker."
"Sorry."
After the second glass of wine, I was feeling much better.
"Ready to get back to the States?"
"A little. College will seem so boring after this."
"Are you kidding? You can party now."
#lookinmybriefs

"Yes, I love Europe. I love the castles, and the trains, and the metros. We should move here someday."
"Maybe. How about Portugal?"
"Can't say, since we didn't go there."
"Next trip: Portugal, Spain, and Greece."
"Maybe Istanbul."
"If the political situation stabilizes."
#lookinmybriefs #romance

You can drink alcohol in most European countries at eighteen, so I had experienced the pleasure of Hefeweizen ale, warm beer, and wines from France and Italy. I was looking forward to Guinness. At twenty-five, Rickie was much more familiar with the effects of alcohol. #lookinmybriefs #contemporary

Rickie returned with more soup, more tissue, a local version of Fabreze for the bathroom, and two bottles of wine.
"That's what I need," I said, eyeing the wine.
"Eat some more soup first."
After dinner we settled on the sofa. He opened the Beaujolais and poured a glass for us. #lookinmybriefs

While he was gone, I opened my browser and checked the weather. So far, it had been quite nice during our vacation, sunny August skies with a few clouds. It had rained yesterday morning while we were in Westminster Abbey, but had cleared by the time we left. #lookinmybriefs #newadult #contemporary

When I returned, the dishes were done.
"I'm going out for a bit."
"You're leaving me here, all alone and sick?"
"I won't be long. I need to pick up a few things at the store."
#lookinmybriefs

I pulled myself from the bed and hobbled over to the sink.
"I'll do the dishes."
"Better not. You'll give your cold to the next guest."
I started to argue, but the bathroom placed a sudden urgent call. #lookinmybriefs

"You are not going anywhere. You're staying right here and resting. I'll take a train and a bus to Stonehenge."
"Rickie! I can't miss Stonehenge."
"Just kidding. I'm staying here with you."
When the soup was hot, he poured half into a ceramic bowl.
"Here you go."
#lookinmybriefs #newadult #romance

"Yes, that was fun. I'll make you some chicken soup."
Our Air Bee and Bee had a small kitchenette. He opened a can, dumped the contents into a pan, and turned on the stove.
"Where we going tomorrow?"
"You are not going anywhere. You're staying right here and resting." #lookinmybriefs #contemporary

"What did you like best about our trip?" Rickie asked, probably trying to distract me.
I mulled the question.
"Paris, I guess. No wait, it was the palace in Vienna. The one Napoleon confiscated."
"The Schonbrunn."
"Right. No, it was the boat trip around the Venetian Lagoon."
#lookinmybriefs #romance

I should have been grateful that London was our second-to-last stop on our European adventure. It was my first time and his second. I did not feel grateful, and I wondered if the Irish customs people would even let us into the country when we landed in Dublin. #lookinmybriefs #newadult #contemporary

"I can't be sick on my birthday," I wailed. "I'm in London."
"Just think of it as experiencing English germs."
I blew out snot and asked, "Do you think I gave my cold to people at Westminster Abbey?"
"Not more than a couple hundred."
#lookinmybriefs #birthdays #newadult #romance #contemporary

"Maybe they were punishing the naughty kids."
His observation startled me. "You think?"
"If so, they were remarkably effective. Ready for bed?"
"Yes, and I have something to show you. Wait 'til I'm ready."
"Okay. Happy birthday, Lucy. I love you."
"I love you, too."
#lookinmybriefs #birthdays

"I can't believe they talked like that in front of us," I exclaimed. "What were they thinking?"
"Maybe they were punishing the naughty kids."
His observation startled me. "You think?"
"If so, they were remarkably effective. Ready for bed?"
#lookinmybriefs #birthdays #newadult #romance #contemporary

Rickie and I were so embarrassed we didn't notice when it ended, but Dad stood up and announced that they were leaving. He had rented a hotel room. Side by side, we watched from the bottom of the stairs as they drove away, and then we returned to our apartment. #lookinmybriefs #birthdays #shortstory

"And the sofa."
"We took the legs off so it was lower to the ground."
"Had some great times there."
"Yes, but I wore out the knees on my best jeans."
Their erotic conversation continued until the end of the game. #lookinmybriefs

He laughed. "I boned the hell out of you on that bed."
"Dad," I said weakly.
"Remember doing it on the table?"
"Yes, but I was more flexible in those days."
I noticed Rickie had paled. I imagine I was the same color
#lookinmybriefs

"Had a good bed in that old apartment," Dad said. "Until it broke." He and Mom exchanged a meaningful glance.
She giggled like a girl. "Yes, that poor bed. You gave it one too many thrusts." It took me a second to catch on, and then I winced.
#lookinmybriefs #birthdays #newadult #shortstory #romance

Rickie grinned. "That must have been embarrassing."
"Yes, but really it was for the best. It was time for them to know. I should have been upfront with them from the beginning." Her sharp gaze traveled from Rickie to me, causing us to shift and squirm.
#lookinmybriefs #birthdays #newadult #romance

"It has a shower," Mom said. "That's more than we had at college."
Dad smiled. "Yeah, those were the days. Remember the apartment over the garages?"
Mom laughed. "Yes. It had two bedrooms, antique furniture, and a claw footed tub. It was cold as hell during the winter."
#lookinmybriefs #contemporary