AN: So this chapter falls right in after "First Date." Freddie is now 21 (so is Carly), and it's their third year of college. This was going to be just an intro to the conversation between Freddie and his mom, but it got so long that I decided to go ahead an post it as a separate chapter. I hope you like it!

Thanks to everyone who is reading and reviewing this fic. I love reading your feedback. It keeps me going! I know it is taking me a while to update, but I don't want to force this story. The ideas are developing slowly on this one. So thank you for your patience!

Now...on with the story!

iFind My Father

Chapter 8 Awkward!

I woke to the sound of Carly's "not-snoring" on Saturday morning. I couldn't help but smile. She insisted that she did not snore, and I had decided to let her go on deluding herself.

I stretched languidly and wrapped my arms around her, relishing the memories of the past three days. We had spent every spare moment together. I watched her dress rehearsals (I knew she was going to make a wonderful Aldonza, but the blonde wig would take some getting used to), and she attended my fencing matches. The sound of her cheering for me made victory so much sweeter.

We stole kisses between classes. We played footsy under the table at lunch. We studied and did our homework together (yes, we actually got our work done, but only because we studied in the library—surrounded by people). We had dinner together each night and fell asleep in each other's arms (I was going to miss that when Gia came back from New York!).

Despite getting closer to her every day and spending each night in her bed, we had kept our promise of taking things slow. We hadn't gone past chaste kisses and sweet, innocent caresses. It was driving me mad!

Except for that night in the club. I closed my eyes and relived that night, letting images and sensations flood my memory. Carly in my arms, pressed against me as we danced. The feel of her soft bosom against my chest, separated by only a few thin layers of fabric. Her lips burning a feather-light trail down my neck. The hot, slightly damp skin of her bare back under my fingertips. Her hands roaming my back and chest, exploring the contours of my muscles. Her hips grinding into mine.

I felt my arousal growing, and fought the urge to rub myself against her. I gritted my teeth and took several slow, deep breaths. I rolled onto my back so she wouldn't feel the evidence of my excitement.

She felt me move away from her, though. Her breathing changed, and she started to wake. "Freddie?" she mumbled sleepily.

"It's okay, baby," I said in a strained whisper. "I'm here. Go back to sleep."

"Mmmm," she groaned in her sleep, rolling over and resting her head on my bare chest. She wrapped her arm around my waist and snuggled closer to me. I wrapped one arm around her and rested my head on my other arm.

"Okay," I thought, "this is doable. I just have to calm down, and…." Then she did something I wasn't expecting. She drew her knee up and threw her leg over me, her thigh rubbing against the still very aroused part of my body. I hissed as pleasure shot through me.

I felt her body go rigid, and mine did the same. Neither of us breathed. We lay frozen like that for what seemed like hours, but it could only have been a second or two. I slowly lifted my head and looked down at her. Her wide doe eyes met mine. "Freddie?" she whispered.

"Carly, I," I said shakily, "I'm sorry. It's just that I…I…," I swallowed hard, not knowing what to say. "I was fantasizing about dry humping you?" That was no good. "Forget taking it slow. I'm going to lose my mind if I don't have you right now?" Nope, not that either. "I can't help it," I said lamely.

"It's okay," she said with a nervous smile. "I understand. Guys wake up like that a lot. It's natural. No big deal."

"Yeah," I answered gruffly. No way was I going to tell her that I, in fact, did not wake up like that. Or that I had only gotten that way after deliberately fantasizing about her. Nope. She did not need to know that I was perving on her while she slept. Nuh-uh!

She started to disentangle herself from me, and I bit back a groan as her thigh brushed against me again. "Sorry," she muttered then rose from the bed. I watched her cross to the bathroom and shut the door.

By the time the bathroom door opened again, I had managed to calm myself down. I pulled some clothes and my toothbrush out of the duffel bag I had brought with me. "My turn," I said brightly as I stepped toward the bathroom door. I kissed her forehead before entering the bathroom and closing the door behind me.

When I reemerged, clean and dressed, she was sitting at her desk with her laptop open. She had dressed in dark jeans and a red hoodie. Her hair was pulled into a messy ponytail. She wore a pair of socks that looked like something Spencer would wear, and she had neglected to put her shoes on.

I sat on the edge of her bed and started putting on my black converse sneakers. "So what do you want to do today?" I asked her.

"I don't know," she said, closing her laptop and turning to face me. "I was thinking about going to see Spencer. What about you?"

"Well," I said as I finished tying my left shoe and reached for the right one, "I thought I might go see my mom. I really do need to talk to her. We could ride to Bushwell together. I'd like to see Spence, too."

"Sounds good," she said as she rummaged under her bed for her shoes. "Have you seen my red sneakers?"

"I put them in your closet after I tripped over them last night," I answered, glancing up at her. She wore a sheepish grin as she reached for the closet door.

By the time Carly and I got to Bushwell, it was ten o'clock. We took the main elevator to the eighth floor and walked hand-in-hand through the hallway. As we neared our apartments, we heard voices coming from around the corner. I slowed my pace as I recognized Mr. Edwards' voice. I caught Carly's eye and placed a forefinger over my lips. She nodded her understanding.

"I promise, Marisa," Mr. Edwards' voice sounded soft and soothing. "I'll take care of this. My men know where he is, and I'm going there to deal with him personally. He won't bother you or Freddie anymore. I'll make sure of it."

"Just be careful, Gregory," my mother's voice answered. "You know how dangerous he is. He probably has men all over the city. You won't be safe."

"My men are there, too," he said. "I'm not going into this alone."

"When do you leave?"

"I'm flying out tomorrow morning at eleven. I have a stop at Dallas-Fort Worth, and I'll land in New Orleans around eight o'clock Central time. I'll call you when I land."

"What if he runs?"

"He's wanted for drug trafficking in Texas and Arkansas. I've alerted the state police in both states. They're patrolling those borders on the lookout for him. I have my men watching for him in Mississippi."

I pulled Carly behind me as I pressed myself against the wall and peeked around the corner. Mr. Edwards was standing just outside our front door. He was wearing black slacks and a white dress shirt that hung loose over his pants. An emerald green tie was draped over his neck, one end hanging down either side of his chest. He held a black suit coat in his left hand. His hair was ruffled, and I noticed the top three buttons of his shirt were undone. "What is he doing here dressed like that at ten o'clock on a Saturday?" I wondered.

Then I saw my mother appear on the threshold. She was wearing a robe I had never seen before. It wasn't her familiar mint green terrycloth bathrobe. It was a flaming red silky-looking thing with black lace trim. My jaw dropped. I had never known my mother to wear anything so revealing. It didn't even reach her knees! I didn't even want to admit to myself what kind of hair she had. My mother did not have sex hair! No, no, no!

I glanced back at Carly, who stood silent behind me. I must have had a what-the-HELL look on my face because she leaned forward to peer around me, curiosity all over her features. I looked back just in time to see my mother stepping into Mr. Edwards' arms.

"Just promise me you'll come back," she said, her voice shaky. "I don't know what I'll do if anything happens to you." She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.

Carly and I looked at each other, both mouthing the words, "OH MY GOD!" Then we made the mistake of looking back at them. It was like a train wreck. We really didn't want to see it, but we couldn't look away. Mr. Edwards' hands slid down my mother's back, lower and lower, until they weren't on her back at all. Then he squeezed.

Carly's gasp reverberated off the walls. My mother and Mr. Edwards sprang apart, facing us with wide eyes. Carly and I stepped out from our hiding place behind the wall, and awkwardness ensued.

"Freddie! Carly!" my mother said as she tugged at the hem of her robe with one hand and tried to smooth her hair with the other. "What are you two doing here?"

"I…we…uh," I stammered.

"Spencer!" Carly shouted. "Visit Spencer…I'm just gonna…."

"Y-yeah," I stuttered, "we were gonna…and I w-wanted to talk to y-you…but…."

Carly turned toward her apartment door and began digging through her bag for her key. "Spencer!" she shouted, pounding on the door. "Open up!" She attacked her bag again, searching frantically for the key. She gave up on finding the key and pounded the door with both fists. "SPEENN…CEERRR!" she shouted.

The door opened, and Spencer looked down at his sister. "Carly what's…," he trailed off as he glanced up, taking in the sight of my mom and Mr. Edwards. He made one of those faces that only Spencer can make. "Uhh…morning everyone," he said uncomfortably.

Carly shoved him aside and stepped into the apartment. I tried to follow her, but the door slammed in my face. I whirled around, my back pressed to Carly and Spencer's door, and faced my mom with wide eyes.

Mr. Edwards cleared his throat awkwardly. "I think I should go, Marisa," he said. He turned to face me, and I noticed that those three buttons on his shirt weren't just undone. They were missing. I could see the pieces of thread dangling from the fabric where the buttons had once been sewn on.

"Ohhh…mygodohmygodohmygod," I thought as my mind tried hard to reject the image of those buttons popping off and flying across the room.

"Freddie," he nodded at me as he stepped past me and made his way down the hall. I stared at his back until he was out of sight. I was trying to avoid looking at my mom in that slinky red thing again. I balled my fist at my side and pounded on the door behind me.

"Freddie," my mom began, "why don't you have a seat on the couch while I get dressed? Then we can talk."

It took me a second to make my mouth work. "Uh, I think I'll wait with Carly and Spencer," I said as I pounded on the door again. The door opened behind me, and I felt a hand grab the back of my collar and jerk me into the apartment. I slammed the door quickly and pressed my back to it, happy to be on the inside this time. Carly stood facing me with horror on her face.

"OH MY GOD!" we both shrieked.

I really wasn't looking forward to this conversation with my mother!