She shrugged in response. She wasn’t wrong. Donna had been very intuitive for as long as Jessie had known her. “I do what I like, Donna. I don’t just succumb to everyone else’s whims.”
“I know. And I know how much you love Dexter, but you don’t get to forget that you have a say in the relationship too.”
Jessie frowned, staring at Donna for a few moments.
“Where’s all this coming from?” she asked.
“I’m just concerned for you, honey,” Donna said. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I know you don’t,” she replied. “I’ll be okay, regardless. I know I’m tiny, but I’m a tough girl.” She was trying to get Donna to lighten up a little, but she wasn’t having it.
“You are, but if you aren’t comfortable with something Dexter wants you to do, are you going to say something?”
Jessie honestly didn’t think that was possible, but for Donna’s sake, she tried to imagine a scenario where it was.
“I guess I’d just go with it in the moment and talk to him later. I wouldn’t want to make anyone upset.”
“Honey, you need to be able to say no in those moments,” Donna argued. “You can’t really expect to go along with everything and be okay. You’re going to get hurt.”
Jessie knew that her friend was just trying to look out for her and nodded.
“You’re right, of course,” she said. “I’ll be sure and talk to Dex about it tonight.”
“Promise me,” Donna said, staring at her sternly.
“I promise,” Jessie replied.
“Now… I know I said that I wanted Dex tonight, but I’ll make John take me out so that you can talk.”
Jessie was going to argue that it wasn’t necessary for her to do that, but Donna could be stubborn when she was in a protective mood, which she most certainly was.
“I appreciate it,” Jessie said. “I think I could use a quiet night. We’ll have to plan something for you and Dex soon.”
Donna didn’t look displeased by that plan at all.
*****
Dexter
Typing away at the email, Dex thought of the best way he could draw it to a close. He was taking some time to touch base with his brother overseas. He always tried to keep it lighthearted, though he loved his brother dearly.
“How are you and all the other girls faring at Cheerleader Camp? Hopefully you aren’t being made fun of that much. Just so you know, I sold all your stuff and rented your room out to a homeless guy.
As for me, Jessie has been getting me all sorts of pussy. I swear, that girl likes for me to fuck her friends more than I actually like fucking them. If you’re a good boy, I might see if she can find some guy for you. Just kidding bud. I’ll have some nasty skank lined up by the time you come see us again…”
There was a gentle knock on the door and Dex looked up as his dad poked his head in.
“Hey… son?”
“Yeah?” Dex looked over to see his father in the doorway. “Come on in.”
“You have a minute to talk?” Don walked over, then saw the email. “Writing your brother?” he asked with a smile.
“Yeah, I figured I’d give him some shit for a change,” he joked, flashing a grin.
Chuckling, Don read some of the email, then stood back up. “Hopefully he’ll be home soon,” he added.
Dex nodded. “I think a few months is what I heard last time,” he said. “What’s up?”
“I uh… wanted to talk,” his dad said.
Dex nodded, sliding his chair back and watching as his father moved to sit on the bed behind where he was sitting, and turned to face him. He watched as his dad got settled, then sighed deeply and seemed to struggle to say what was on his mind.
As he waited, he watched and studied his father’s face. It was weathered of course, but there was a light in his eyes and a smile at the edges of his mouth that hadn’t been there before.
After a good thirty seconds of silence, he saw his father finally look up.
“I don’t want you to do that again,” he said.
Dex cocked his head. “You mean with Jessie?”
His father nodded.
“Son,” he said with a beleaguered sigh. “You and Jessie have given me something that I never thought I’d have again,” he said at length. “It was something incredible, that I’ll never be able to repay.”
He was looking up, directly at Dex as he spoke.
“I never thought I’d be able to have sex with a girl as young and feisty as Jessie, but it doesn’t change the fact that it shouldn’t have happened.”
Dex frowned.
“I know you mean well, and I know you’re probably fine with what went down, but it really can’t happen again.”
Dex nodded.
“You regret it?” he asked.
“Yes and no. I had fun with her, for sure. I just wouldn’t want to be the reason you and Jessie had a fight or split up. I haven’t seen you this happy in a long time, and I wouldn’t risk ruining that for the world. Kids shouldn’t have to worry about their parents.”
“I know,” Dex said, looking at him comfortingly. “But it really wasn’t just about helping you. Jessie is… well… you know how she is.”
“She’s a whirlwind for sure,” his father said with a chuckle.
“Well, she’s like that all the time, with everyone. She’s going to end up in a situation where she’s gone farther than she intended, and I knew that I needed to find a way to be okay with that.”
His dad nodded.
“I’m not saying that that was the only reason, but it was the biggest one, for me.”
“I can understand that,” his dad replied. “I just can’t stand the thought of being the cause of you two splitting up. Not to mention, if anyone found out, they wouldn’t think too highly of the whole situation.”
“Eh… fuck what other people think,” Dex said, waving his hand dismissively.
“Easier said than done, son. If it got out that I was having sex with my son’s girlfriend, it could hurt me in the professional world. I might stop getting business.”
Dex hadn’t thought of that.
“Not to mention, she’s doesn’t exactly blend in when she’s being a crazy, sexual whirlwind. But the point is, there’s a million reasons why it shouldn’t happen again. Can you promise me that you won’t put the three of us in that type of situation again?”
Dex sighed, then nodded. “I can. I promise. I’m sorry if it made things weird or difficult for you.”
“God… no, son,” his dad replied. “It was the best time I’ve ever had, and a big part of me is wanting it to happen again, but… like I said, it’s just not a good idea.”
Dex chuckled. “Well, you know how she can get,” he said. “I’ll tell her to behave, but…”
“What good will that do,” his dad finished for him.
Dex chuckled, then stood as his dad came over to briefly hug him and pat him on the back.
“Thanks kiddo,” he said.
“You’re welcome,” Dex replied.
Stepping back, his dad offered him a smile, then turned to leave.
“By the way, Erin and Jessie are trying to get you a date with Erin’s mom, I think,” Dex said. “They were talking about it last night.”
“Oh yeah?” he asked, looking back with interest.
“Yeah. She seems nice.”
He saw a smile cross his dad’s face and gave him one in return.
“That girl,” he said, shaking his head as he turned and left the room.
Dex chuckled, then turned back to finish his email. Afterward, he started playing a video game to pass the time. A little while later, he heard his phone buzzing and grabbed it after pausing it.
“Hey,” Jessie said as he answered.
“Hey baby,” he replied. “So, are we hanging out, or are you just gonna relax tonight?”
“I guess I’d like to see you; if I have to,” she said, punctuating her attempt at humor with a giggle.
“I know, it’s such a chore to put up with me,” he replied, loving the sound of her laughter in his ear.
“Well, you’re welcome to come over whenever you like.”
They spoke a few minutes longer, and then hung up. Saving his game, Dex shut the PC down and then got changed and let his dad know that he was heading out. After making sure he looked decent, he grabbed his stuff and went downstairs.