“Is she madder about us skippin’ out on church? Or about us goin’ nekkid swimming with a girl?”
Carson stared at Colby. Hard. “What do you think?”
“We’re dead,” Colt said again.
“You boys cause her enough grief with her havin’ to nag you constantly to get basic household chores done. Next time you start muttering under your breath when she asks you to do something? Imagine if you’d have the same reaction if I asked you to do something.”
Colby and Colt exchanged a look.
“And feel free to pass that advice on to your brothers. Now. Karen Ayers. What in the hell were you thinkin’?”
A few moments passed. Then Colby said, “We weren’t thinkin’ beyond she’s the prettiest girl in school with the wildest reputation.”
“Was it her idea to go swimming nekkid? Or yours?”
“Mine,” Colby admitted.
“But it wasn’t like we had to beg her to take her clothes off or nothin’,” Colt added.
“That’s not the way she’s tellin’ it, least not to her mother. Anything else happen you wanna talk about?”
Colby closed his eyes when Colt opened his mouth. “She let us touch her boobs. Not both of us at the same time, but one of us at a time.”
Like that made it…better. Christ.
“That’s all that happened, Dad, I swear.”
Carson addressed Colby. “Why’d you think it’d be a good idea to take your fourteen-year-old brother along?”
“I’m almost fifteen,” Colt protested.
“I took him because goin’ to the lake was his idea,” Colby said.
Colt tried really hard not to look smug.
And Carson didn’t know whether to laugh or whap him upside the head.
“I ain’t gonna pretend that you won’t be tryin’ to have sex as often as possible once you start down that path. I will say I expect you to be responsible, discreet and respectful.”
Confusion filled Colt’s eyes. “I don’t get it.”
“He means wear a condom, don’t have sex on the school bleachers and don’t go braggin’ about which girls you’re havin’ sex with. Right, Dad?”
He wasn’t surprised Colby knew the score, or how to score for that matter. “Yes, condoms, every time, even if the girl swears she’s on the pill. We don’t need a grandkid and you don’t wanna get some crotch rot that’s goin’ around. Discreet also means I don’t ever wanna hear about you skinny dippin’ again, or where you’re dippin’ your wick, and I definitely don’t want your Ma catchin’ wind of it, am I clear?”
“Yes, sir.”
“As far as respect? Girls who’re willin’ to have sex with you? Treat ’em right, not like they’re just a warm place for you to stick it in. Sex ain’t only about you getting your rocks off. The sooner you learn that—”
“The more sex I’ll have?” Colby inserted hopefully.
How was he supposed to answer that?
Don’t. Let that one go.
“Are we in trouble?” Colt asked. “’Cause you weren’t real clear on that.”