Stuck
Chapter 3
"Is this a good idea?" Mike's partner, David asked.
"What?" Mike retorted. Maybe it was a mistake to tell him about Christine.
"You are sleeping with a girl that's barely of age." David answered.
"She's nineteen. Her birthday was last week." Mike said.
"Not my point. If the boss finds out…" David said.
"He knows. I told him to begin with that she was staying with me and then when the relationship progressed; I told him; although not in vivid detail." Mike answered.
"And he said?" David asked.
"He wasn't thrilled but than he said he met his wife the same sort of way. Just said to be careful." Mike answered as he bit into his hot dog as they walked.
"So, knowing your track record; do you really like being with someone so young? I don't know on experience as the two aren't mutually exclusive anymore." David asked.
"She is inexperienced and the experiences she has had, have been less than stellar." Mike answered.
"Do tell. Remember, I live vicariously through you. Cynthia is pregnant again." David said.
"Again? Isn't that eight?" Mike asked.
"Six. I do need to give you pointers on birth control, by the way." David answered.
"Please don't. No; she is a nice girl. I take her to meet my parents next weekend." Mike answered.
"How do you expect that to go?" David asked.
"Not sure. I've told them, obviously; but my mom is not happy. She thinks I should have married a girl from my hometown." Mike answered.
"The one that married your best friend and is having a second kid?" David asked in a teasing tone.
"Maybe not that one, although she let her opinion known on letting Amy go." Mike said.
"This visit home might be interesting." David said.
"So, boy or girl this time?" Mike asked.
"Cynthia is only six weeks along." David answered.
"So?" Mike asked.
"Oh, kid. So, is she on the pill? Because you don't have to sense God gave a bug. You'll forget to wear a condom at some point. I almost feel sorry for the poor girl." David teased.
"So far, so good." Mike answered.
"You've only been screwing her for two weeks!" David commented. They were almost finished with their foot patrol and their shift, and Mike was glad. Home to Christine.
"Two weeks is fourteen days." Mike said.
"I'm glad you can do math, genius." David remarked.
"Two weeks doesn't necessarily equal only fourteen times. Maybe…double that." Mike said and David choked on his coffee.
"Oh, to be young again!" David answered.
"So it doesn't stay like this?" Mike asked.
"No. I do good to get laid once a month anymore. What is happening now is fun, but it won't last. You need to decide before this goes any further if you can handle her when she has spit up all over her shirt, her hair hasn't been washed in a week, and its been at least two days since she had time for a minute long shower, when she is sour because you pulled another overtime shift and missed the anniversary dinner she cooked for you." David said.
"Maybe if you didn't miss that dinner, you'd get laid more often. Seriously; at that rate; how do you have nine kids?" Mike asked.
"Six. When you've been married this long and you have so many kids; you just learn how to make it work. My kids go to Grandma's Sunday afternoons after church. That's Cynthia and I's time." David answered.
"So that is my future?" Mike asked.
"Eventually; yes." David said.
"Do you ever miss it? When your relationship was new or when you were young and could play the field?" Mike asked.
"Cynthia and I married when we were young, so she was the only field I ever played. And no. I enjoyed that time in our life, but I also enjoy this time, a lot more so. Have fun now, but be prepared for things to slow down." David said as he opened the door to their precinct. Mike followed him, with his head spinning.
Was he prepared for that? His upbringing had been polar-opposite different than Christine's. She had told him that he was the first person to ever tell her that he loved her. Could it all be euphoria and great sex? What happened when real life set in? Bills? Being tired? Overworked? Mike changed out of his uniform and headed back to his apartment. Christine met him at the door with a huge smile and a kiss. At least she was always in a good mood. He was going to do some evaluating before they went much further. He just didn't want to break her heart in the process.