Pushing Limits (22 page)

“That sounds interesting,” he says with a smile.  “Which city do you
want to work in: LA, New York, Nashville, here?”

The mention of Nashville makes me twinge.  I will probably always
associate Nashville with Tommy.  “I don’t know.  Right now, I plan on
focusing on getting a job at one of the music studios downtown.”

“It sounds like you already have a plan in mind,” he says, taking a bite
of his burger.

“Yeah, I want to work here while I go to school.  Then graduate and
move to either LA or New York.  I’d like to work with either John Rubin or
Rick Vernon.”

“I’ve heard of John Rubin, but I don’t know Rick Vernon.”  He smiles
shyly.  “I would love to learn about this.  If it’s your passion, I
want to know all about it.  You must promise to teach me.”

“Uh, sure.”  Now it’s my turn to be embarrassed.  I study my
burger and take a bite.  The taste is perfection.  My eyes close, and
I smile.  “Wow, this is probably the best burger I’ve ever had.”

His lips curve into a leer.  “Uh, I’m glad you like it.”  He
studies my face, and his dark eyes dilate.

My face flushes, and I look away embarrassed.   I mutter,
“Yeah, it’s good.”   

And Mr. Charming is back with a vengeance, or rather is it Mr. Politician
because he flashes me a megawatt grin and says, “Dirty’s is an Austin
institution.  I hope you don’t mind a burger joint for our first
date.  I try to always eat at the best restaurants.  Dirty’s is the
best.  I’m glad you like it.”

So, what do you want to do when you graduate?” 

“I want to get my Masters, of course.”  He smiles winking at
me.  “Find a wife that’s fun, adventurous, a suitable background,
independently wealthy, and a hard worker.  Run for my first public office
in a major city.  I’m considering here, Chicago, or LA.  They are all
major cities with a significant Hispanic presence.  I’ll start off in a
local race and run for a single term in city government, preferably a
comptroller or deputy mayor position.  Make all the suitable connections
to secure backing for a run for Congress, the Senate or a governorship, finally
the White House.”  His tone is confident laced with a bit of
arrogance.  I stare into his eyes. The black is lit from within and almost
seems to twinkle.  His mouth is spread into a playful grin. 

It takes a boatload of confidence to admit you want to run for
President.  Wow.

“That’s quite a plan.”  I chew my burger and wonder why his wife has
to have a suitable background and be independently wealthy.  He probably
doesn’t want a wife that will drain his family’s wealth since he’ll probably
need it to run for office.  I’m sure he’ll campaign and take contributions
from donors but with that confidence and that smile, they’ll probably be
begging to give him money.  Funny, there wasn’t an even passing mention of
love in his plan.

“So tell me about your family.”  He stretches his legs out under the
booth.  “What about your parents? “

“My Dad doesn’t work.  My mom is deputy mayor of Chicago.”

“Really?  I thought I sensed a political background,
pequena
.”’ 
Yeah, my right eye.
  I bet he already knew about my parents and has
even had me vetted. 

“And you didn’t know who my mother was.  Really, Bobby?  Be
honest.”

“Ok, I did know who your mother was, but I want to know about you.” 
He winces, but at the same time, his eyes are twinkling.  “Tell me why you
chose Texas College?”

“I didn’t, my mother did.  But Austin is starting to grow on
me.  I like it here.  What do your parents do?”

“My family runs a foundation called ‘Hispanic Outreach.’  They also
have a few businesses, but mainly they focus on their foundation.  The
entire family is passionate about getting a Latino into the White House.”

“Sounds like a lot of pressure on you.  I take it you are their
first choice for the first Latino president,” I say.  I’m completely
serious and have no idea how someone takes that level of expectation from their
family.  My crap seems like a pittance compared to this load of
shit. 
Geez, I never thought I would ever in a million years think
someone was worse than my mom. 
Compared to the pressure he must be
getting from his family, my mother’s requests seem almost reasonable. 
Almost
.

“Yes that’s the plan.”  He smiles.

We finish our burgers and walk back to the dorm.  Bobby talks the
whole way back and to his credit, he asks me lots of questions.  Even
though I try to get him to leave once we reach the dorm, and in the lobby, and
at the elevator.  He refuses, and walks me all the way up to my
door.  We stand there, and I feel sixteen again.  I’m surprised at
how nervous I am.  I try not to think about kissing him, but it seems like
it’s all I can think about.  I pull my keys out and slide the key in the
lock.

“You’re not going to invite me in?  I thought we had fun,
pequena
.” 
His mouth is curved into a wicked grin.

“I think I want to take things slow for once.  I’m sorry.  I
have an early appointment with my advisor, and I need to hit the sheets.”

“I like the sound of that. 
Hit
the
sheets
. 
Me gustaría darle las hojas con usted
.” 
He takes my face in his hands and kisses me.  It’s
deep and sensual and I lose myself in it.  He slides his tongue along my
lip, deepening the kiss.  I moan in his mouth, and his arms tighten around
me.  His lips are soft.  His tongue tosses and turns with mine in a
carnal dance.

I pull away and
turn to unlock the door.  He kisses up my neck and surrounds my
earlobe. 
Oh shit
.  Lingering there, he caresses it with his
tongue, sucking and pulling.  I melt against the sensation.  His
hands move to my breasts, kneading them gently. 

“
Pequena
,
your mouth says no, but your body seems to want me to come in.”  His soft
sexy voice sends chills along my neck.  The key unlocks the door, and his
hand pushes it open.  The room is dark.  “
Pequena
, I can do
wonders for a broken heart.  Come.”

I trail behind
him.  “Bobby, hmm, I don’t know.”

He reaches my bed,
turns and pulls me against his firm chest.  His hands lift my face to his,
and he kisses me, his lips caressing mine.  He lowers himself to the bed,
with me in his arms, his hands stroking my breasts, sliding inside my shirt,
kissing my neck with slow sensual kisses.  His smooth hand encircles my
neck, and his thumb pushes my face to the side as his mouth goes for my weak
spot.

“Ah,
pequena
,
you like that.  Your pulse quickened.”  He licks my earlobe, raking
his teeth over my earlobe, slow and rough.  My breath hitches, wishing for
more.  “Ah, I see.”  He lowers his mouth to my earlobe, his hand
around my neck, holding my head firmly, and bites my earlobe.

“Oh God!”  I
whine, panting hard, my body wanting more.

“Ah, so you like a
harsher touch,
pequena
.  A little pain gets your heart
racing.  Very interesting.”  His hands shove my shirt up, yanking
down my bra, his fingers rolling my nipples roughly, and sending heat down to
my pussy.  “Take this off, so I can lace your pleasure with pain,
pequena
.” 
His wicked smile heats my core.

The doorknob
turns, and Sally flips on the light.  “Oops, geez, guys, I’m sorry”

I scramble to pull
my shirt down, and Bobby says, “Do you want to join us?  It’ll be like old
times.”  He smiles and looks at my shocked expression.  “
Pequena
,
I’m joking.  Sally and I are friends.”  He strokes the bottom of my
chin with his finger, kissing my lips.  “Besides, the first time I have
you, I want you all to myself.”

I practically melt
right into the bed.  Rico Suave…yeah right…on steroids. 
This guy
is dangerous
.

Sally is still at
the door, saying, “I can go to the student union.  Please don’t let me
interrupt.” 

“It’s ok. 
Bobby, I’m sorry.  I don’t think I can do this.  It’s too soon.”

“I understand,
pequena
. 
We can take it slow.  I like you.  I want more than a one night
stand.  I don’t want to scare you off.  Hell, it’s taken me weeks to
get you to go out with me.  I should go.”  He smiles sweetly. 
He leans down and kisses me thoroughly.  He walks to the door, turning to
wave at both of us with a smile, and closes the door behind him.

 “I’m sorry,
hon.  I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.  Do you want a
drink?”  Sally asks, a blush rising.

“Yes, I most
certainly do.”  I shake my head.  “Are you sure you don’t mind my
going out with him?”

“I’m sure.” 
She smiles, squeezing my shoulder.  “It never would have worked. 
Sooner or later, probably much, much sooner, I would have left his bed even if
he did put a ring on it.  Not having a vagina?  It’s kind of a deal
breaker for me.”  She shrugs, giggling.  She walks over to the
kitchenette and concocts one her lemon drops for both of us.

“Get your ass over
here.  Do I look like a waitress?”  She grins taking a seat in one of
our chairs.

I scoot off the
bed and take the seat opposite her.  “You know he was really sweet. 
I had a nice time.”  I take a sip and smile slyly.  “And you’re
right, the man can kiss.”

“You little
vixen.”  Sally nudges me, and we both giggle.  “Do you think you’ll
go out with him again?  What about Tommy?”

“Tommy’s
gone.  I wish I had the opportunity to explain…but you were right.  I
lied.  He caught me.  I lost him because I couldn’t do the one thing,
that I always felt was so important, be honest.   I am so quick to
cut people out my life who do that shit to me.  How can I blame him for
doing the same?”  I sigh, studying my glass, twirling the yellow liquid in
the glass.  “Yeah, I think I will go out with Bobby again.  I’ve
never dated someone like him.  He definitely lives up to the tall, dark,
and mysterious stereotype.”

“Who, Bobby? 
Mysterious?”  Sally laughs.  “Shish!  He’s such an open
book.”  She waves me off with a smirk and gets up to make us two more
drinks.

“
Mi
amour
, it was only to get your
attention.  I want you back in my life.”  I hear Bobby’s voice deep
in the library stacks, and I turn toward the sound, listening.  Maybe this
is why he’s given me the cold shoulder since our hot and heavy session got cut
short by Sally. 

“It’s always been
you,
mi amour
.  Can’t you see that?”

I freeze when I
hear Sally’s familiar southern drawl.  “But, I don’t love you,
darlin’.  I’m sorry.  I don’t mean to hurt you, but you can’t keep
holding on to what we had.  Bobby, when are you going to realize, we
aren’t going to work?  I care about you, darlin’, but not like that. 
Not enough to marry you.  I don’t care what my family says.  I refuse
to marry some guy just to make them happy.”

“I can be what you
want.”  His voice is sultry and smooth as he says, “You know we were
amazing together.  The women don’t matter to me.”

“As long as you
get pre-approval, darlin’.”  She sighs.  “I don’t need you to tell me
who I can sleep with.  I’m not interested in marrying someone, hell seeing
someone, who is so much like my father.”

 “If it’s
Amber you’re worried about, don’t be.  I can let her down easy. 
She’ll understand.  You girls can still be friends.  I won’t come
between you….that is, unless you want me, too.”

“Oh honey, Amber
hasn’t given you a thought since she saw you last.  Believe it or not, the
sun does not rise and set on your beautiful face.  Don’t worry about my
girl.  We’ve uh, been keeping busy, let’s just say.”

“So, she managed
to get you into her bed?”  His voice is terse, and I really wish I could
see their faces, but they’d see me.

“Oh no, not
exactly.”  She giggles.  “I have a new friend now.  She’s a
sweet little thing that works over at the Yellow Rose.  You should go see
her show, it’s really hot.  She’s the headliner.  Trisha.  She
loves getting down and dirty.” 

“Rolling in the
trash has never been my thing.”  His voice sharpens. 

“And, there you
have it.  That is why I will never marry you.  You’re a snob, Bobby,
and an arrogant one at that.  Goodbye.”  Sally stomps out of the
stacks crossing the lobby and out the library door.

The crash of a
shelf collapsing echoes through the noisy library as all heads turn to the
stacks.

***

“I heard you, and
Bobby in the library.  I guess I know why he hasn’t bothered to call me
back,” I say with a shrug.

“Did you really
care?” she asks pensively.

I look down at the
dishes in the sink as I run the sponge over the bowl.  “No, I can’t say
that I did.  It sucks being dumped twice in six months.  I think I’ll
stick to women for a while.  Apparently, I understand them a bit better.”

Sally joins me at
the sink, picking up a dishtowel and drying the bowl.  She glances at me,
a touch of fear on her beautiful face.  “Uh, Amber, why don’t you text him
again?  It’s been weeks.”

“I have texted
him, Sally.   Actually, more often than the one time I told you
about.  I haven’t heard word one.”  The burn of the tears catches me
by surprise.  Grabbing another bowl, I attack this one with a touch more
aggression.  “I’m not going to text him anymore.  He knows where to
find me.  I was wrong, but to not give me the opportunity to explain isn’t
right.  He should have trusted me.”

“Why?” she asks,
“Why should he trust you?”

“Because we care
about each other?”  I sneer with a sigh.  “I don’t know.  I do
know if he had given me a chance, I could have explained.”

“He’s been through
a lot with that fiancé.”  She takes the bowl from me, pulling it away with
a gentle tug, and rinsing it under the water.  “He’s not the most trusting
guy, and you weren’t exactly forthcoming.” 

I turn swiftly to
Sally and put my hand on my hip, the water saturates my jeans.  “I don’t
know what else to do.  I’ve tried to contact him, and he doesn’t
respond.  He’s done, Sally.  I can’t change that.  I have to
move on.  End of story.”

She picks up the
dishtowel again and whispers, “I’m sorry, hon.”

“How could I have
been such an idiot?”  I fling my arms out, sloshing more water off my
hands.  I return to washing the dishes as Sally stares at me in
shock.  “Look can we talk about something else?”

Sally puts her arm
around me and squeezes tightly, “You know I’m not going anywhere, right?” 

I nod and hand her
a washed glass, swiping away a tear.

“Now that finals
are over, where should we take your aunt while she’s in town?”  Her eyes
are bright as she wiggles her eyebrows up and down. 

My phone pings,
and I walk over to my bed to retrieve it:

I am flying
down tomorrow.  Sorry it’s such short notice. 

This was the
only time I could pry the jet out of your mom’s hands. 

I should be
there at ten am. 

I realize we
probably won’t catch your advisor, but let’s try anyway.

 Can’t
wait to see you!

“Change of
plans.  Aunt Patty is arriving tomorrow at ten a.m.  She’s going to
call me when she’s on her way.”  I text her a quick reply and look up at
Sally.

“Tell me what
happened with your Aunt Patty.”  She sets the last bowl in the cabinet and
crosses the floor to sit on my bed.  “If I’m going to meet her, I have to
know what I have to gloss over and what I can talk about.”

“When I was a
senior, Aunt Patty and I were tight.”  I toss my phone on the bed and sit
cross legged, facing Sally.  “We were always kinda close but that last
year of high school, I told her everything.  I think she was the one who
actually convinced my mom to let me come home.”  I smile sadly remembering
the first time I saw Angela.  I lift my eyes and continue.  “Anyway,
when I got home, mom was starting her run for the deputy mayor slot so she put
me in her campaign office on the south side.  Angela worked on my mom’s
campaign out of that office so we had the opportunity to hang out a lot. 
One thing led to another,” I nudge Sally with a broad grin, “and we hooked
up…and eventually fell in love.”

“From everything
you’ve said, she sounds pretty special, darlin’.  You were lucky to find
that kind of love,” she says, squeezing my hand with a smile tinged with
sadness.

“Yeah, I
was.”  My eyes fall, and I thank God for like the thousandth time for
having had someone like Angela in my life.  “Well, I told Aunt Patty, and
she spilled it to my mom.  My mom freaked out and said there was no way I
was coming ‘out’ during her campaign, and I certainly wasn’t coming out with a
Latina girlfriend from the projects.  My mom watched me like a hawk after
that.  I had to sneak out like some thirteen-year-old punk to see
Angela.  It sucked.  If Patty had kept her mouth shut, my mother
would have never known.”

“Has your aunt
kept your confidences since you got here?”  Her brown eyes lock with mine.

“Yeah, she’s been
cool.”  I smile.  “No phone calls from my mother and no drama.”

“So, it sounds
like it’s time to take her off the hook.  Am I right?”

“Yeah, I guess
so.” I say begrudgingly as I study my hands.  “I’m doing it again, aren’t
I?”

“What do you mean,
Amber?”  Her smirk is undeniable.

I sigh. 
“You’re right, ok?”  I smile.  “I should give her another chance.”

“I think we could
have a hell of a lot more fun if we didn’t have to watch what we say around
her, don’t you?  Think about it.  You should tell her about Tommy.”

“She knows I’m
seeing someone, but I never told her who.  Remember I told you she met
Tommy when he drove us in, and she came on to him.”  I shiver
uncontrollably at the thought.

“Well, don’t you
think it’s about time you admit that you fell in love with a
mother-acceptable-heterosexual male?”  She smiles, nudging my arm.

“I guess so, but
why does that matter anyway?”  My eyes narrow at her.  “We’re over.”

“Talk to
her.  It sounds like she’s a blast, and she screwed up once.  Once,
Amber.”  Sally smirks at me with a brow lifted.  “Honey, you have to learn
to let people in.  Let her in on your life here.”  With her hand on
her chest, she says, “I, for one, do not like having to watch what I say so if
you want me to meet her, I’m gonna let my freak flag fly.  I don’t
apologize for who I am and neither should you.  Now where should we take
her?”  She bounces on the bed like a ten year-old girl, clapping her
hands.  “We have to take her to Hippy Hollow, Amber.” 

“Are you fucking
nuts?”  I ask, in complete and utter shock.  “I am not taking my aunt
to a nudist park. 
Ewww
.   I don’t
want to see her junk.”  I laugh.

“It’s fun. 
It won’t be embarrassing, I promise.  Not everyone is nude anyway, it’s
clothing optional.”  She chuckles, enjoying the look on my face.

“So, there’s a
bunch of old guys walking around nude?”  I ask. 
Seeing the look
on Aunt Patty’s face when some old dude walked by in all his glory would be
kinda fun, but would I need an eyeball wash afterwards?

“No, there are
plenty of students, families, and yeah, old people.  It’s a cool
place.  You have to go once just to say you’ve been.  Come on. 
I promise it will be fun.”  Sally eager smile is contagious.

“Ok.  We can
go.”  I sigh, rolling my eyes, standing to go grab a coke from our tiny
fridge.  “I heard about this place called McKinney Falls.  Is that
pretty cool?” 

“Yeah, I heard it
was beautiful, lots of waterfalls.  I’ve never been, but we could go
there.”  Her face lights up.  “Oooh, we have to take her to Mt.
Bonnell.” 

“No.”  I
snap, opening the refrigerator door.

“Why not?”

“Tommy took me
there.  It was our best date.  I don’t want to take her there,” I
say, turning my face and studying the inside of the fridge so she doesn’t see
the deep sadness on my face.

Sally walks over
to me, standing in front of me.  “You’re doing it again,” she says,
forcing me to make eye contact.  “I think…no.  I
know
I have
earned your trust.  Talk to me.”

“Tommy took me to
eat, and we rode up to Mt. Bonnell to watch the sunset.  It was
amazing.  If I go up there again, it’ll taint that for me.  I want to
save that memory as one of our places even if he’s gone.  It’s mine, and I
don’t want to share it with anyone else.”  The tears glimmer in my eyes.

“Oh, honey.” 
She wraps me in a big bear hug.  “I’m sorry he’s being such an idiot.” 
She looks down at me, her eyes shining, “You’re right.  We shouldn’t go
anywhere y’all went together.   What bars should we take her
to?  Does she like live music?”

“Yeah, she’s a
huge country fan, so as long as they’re playing country, she will love the
place.”  I grab a coke and sit at the table.

“I know just the
place.”  Sally reaches in for a Monster.  “My favorite band is
playing tomorrow night.  We can take her,” she says, her eyes shining,
“Perfect.” 
Another huge country fan, Aunt Patty is going to love
her.  Seriously, who wouldn’t?

“We need to
Hamilton Pool and Barton Springs.  It should be warm enough.  This is
going to be so much fun,” she says, bouncing up and down, giggling as her
Monster spews all over the counter.

***

“Honey!” Aunt
Patty says.  Standing in the doorway of our dorm room, she reaches to give
me a big hug.  Pulling away, she says, “You look different. 
Something’s different.  Oh well, it doesn’t matter.  Who’s this?”

“Aunt Patty, this
is my roommate, Sally Westin.”

“It’s nice to meet
you.  Wow, you’re one tall drink of water, aren’t cha?” Aunt Patty says,
gazing up at Sally. 

Sally graciously
smiles saying, “Hi.  It’s nice to finally meet you.  I’ve heard so
much about you.  Amber talks about you all the time.”  Standing back
to gaze at the two of us, she says, “Wow, I can see a family resemblance. 
With a change of hair color, you two would be hard to tell apart.”

Aunt Patty smiles
shyly.  “Really?”  Her eyes shine brightly.  As she walks into
the room, her long blond ponytail swishes back and forth, as she walks. 
In a t-shirt and jeans, she looks much younger than her forty-four years. 
As we sit down in the kitchenette, I notice she looks a different, too. 
Her pale green eyes are clearer and she’s quick to smile.  She’s much more
relaxed than usual. 

“What’s on the
agenda?” she asks, leaning forward on her elbows.  “Did you want to go
check in at the hotel?  I booked a room for you girls after I got your
text at my hotel.”

“We can do that on
our way to have dinner.  If we’re going to try to catch my advisor, we
better head over to his office soon.  I should probably fill you in on a
few things,” I say, sending an apprehensive glance Sally’s way.

“I’ve been having
some problems with an old roommate of Sally’s.  I don’t know if you
remember her, she showed us around campus when we arrived.  Her name was
Lily?”