The Florida Trip Pt. 02

Welcome to Part TWO of The Florida Trip. This is intended as a direct sequel to my previous Trip series, The Baseball Trip. Think of this as The Baseball Trip: Season Two. You don’t have to read the original story to get what’s going on here, but it’ll definitely help. 

Everyone is over the age of 18.

I was back in the hot tub. Sitting in the warm, sudsy water. Sexy Sarah was by my side, slowly stroking my cock. My girlfriend, Alyssa, watched from across the way. Her own hands full of beautiful blonde Kelsey and her boyfriend Kevin. The pressure from Sarah’s touch felt so good, pumping me, but somehow I couldn’t cum. Alyssa cheered me on.

“Come on, Ben,” she said.

“Cum for us,” Kelsey said, her eyes half-lidded from the pleasure my girlfriend was giving her.

“Yes, Ben, do it,” Julia said. My roommate was sitting across from me in the tub, leaning forward on her elbows like she couldn’t wait for the big finish.

“I know you want to so bad,” Sarah said.

“Come on, baby,” they said, all in unison now, “Cum!”

I blinked my eyes open.

I was lying in bed, daylight creeping through our hotel window. My pillow smelled like chlorine and industrial cleaner. I rolled over, groggy, and found Alyssa staring at me. Light-green eyes half open.

“Hey,” she said, sleepily, “Good dream?”

“Not bad,” I said.

“Sounded like it,” Alyssa said, “You were groaning in your sleep. But not better than the reality, right?” She smiled that naughty smile of hers.

“Yes,” I said, “I mean no. I mean, about that. What happened last night…”

“It was awesome, wasn’t it?” my girlfriend said. She brushed her red hair out of her face. “I mean, when you told me about your road trip last summer, I figured some of it had to be made up. But after last night at the pool? Holy fuck you weren’t kidding. This is going to be so much fun. For both of us.”

Alyssa leaned over and kissed me on the nose. I didn’t know what to say. Like I had a question in me somewhere, but I’d left it next to my car keys back on the kitchen counter.

Before I could find it again, Alyssa rolled out from under the covers. She’d changed into a light blue, knee-length cami at some point during the night and I loved the way the sheer material hung off her incredible body.

“After all that, I definitely need a shower,” Alyssa said and padded off to the bathroom.

I now had a clear look at the other bed. Sexy brunette Sarah was lying back like she might still be asleep. Her little sister, Chloe was next to her, resting her head on Sarah’s shoulder. Eyes wide open and staring off. The high school senior saw me looking and grinned.

“Well that was interesting,” Chloe said.

“What?” I asked.

“Don’t play dumb, it doesn’t suit you,” she said.

“That’s not what I’ve been told.”

Chloe tsked her tongue at me and threw off the covers She stood up and stretched her arms over her head, giving me quite the view of her substantial assets. Then, as if no one else was in the room, Sarah’s teenaged sister reached down and pulled her shirt right off.

“Chloe!” Sarah said, suddenly wide awake.

“What?” Chloe asked, “The bathroom is taken and I need to get changed. Plus there’s nothing here he didn’t see last night.”

That was true, but that didn’t stop me from appreciating the high school senior’s body. Chloe really had a nice set of tits — large and firm. And when she turned around to get into her suitcase? I mean, my God. That girl had an ass that demanded to be squeezed, slapped, taken. My brain knew Sarah’s younger sister was a lesbian, but all my penis saw was a perfect target.

“Also, you’re my sister and he’s a boy,” Chloe said, “So I don’t really care if either of you are looking. Now if Alyssa was out here…” Chloe saw the surprised expression on my face and stuttered to a stop. “Your girlfriend’s hot, Ben. That’s all I’m saying.”

“She is,” I agreed.

“I really like her, Ben,” Sarah said. She was sitting up now. Her brown hair hung down all tangled, creating curtains over her amazing, massive chest. Sure, Sarah was wearing a tank top and long pajama pants. It hardly held in how sexy she was.

“Thanks,” I said, “For last night.”

“Oh, it was my pleasure,” she said.

“See, now that’s gross,” Chloe said and shook her head, “Breeders.” She pulled on a sleeveless striped top and a pair of short, khaki shorts. We’d begun our trip freezing in Buffalo. We weren’t even in Florida yet, but we’d already entered summer clothes territory. It was a wonderful thing to wake up to.

Chloe started to sit back down on the bed, but her older sister stopped her. “I need coffee, Chlo,” Sarah said, “Can you go get some?”

“Get it yourself,” Chloe said, “Ben and I are recapping last night’s action. Speaking of hot chicks, Ben, your roommate’s pretty awesome, too. And don’t even get me started on Kelsey. I mean, I remembered she was pretty, but…”

“Chloe,” Sarah said, holding her head like it was vibrating, “Coffee. Now.”

“Fine fine,” Chloe said, picking up her purse and heading for the front door, “Somebody needs to get laid. Try not to fuck on my side of the bed though, OK? I know I’m not sleeping there again, but I’ll still be able to feel it scorch my soul.”

Sarah threw a pillow at her sister, but Chloe had already escaped out the front door.

“So, about last night,” Sarah said once her sister was gone. The buxom brunette scooched over to the side of her bed, reached out, and took my hands. Pulled me up so we were sitting across from each other.

Oh no, not this again. 

On our previous road trip — the one in the summer with a little bit of baseball and a fuck-ton of fucking — Sarah had spent the whole time doing dirty stuff with me at night and then feeling guilty about it in the morning. I’d assumed that since she was no longer in a relationship, Sarah would finally break her cycle of horny guilt (turned on remorse?). Apparently not.

“Sarah, it’s fine,” I said, “Seriously.”

“But you and Alyssa.”

“I’m pretty sure you saw how Alyssa feels about all this,” I said, “She’s just having fun. You should, too.”

Before Alyssa and I had left for the Florida trip, we’d both agreed that it was OK to fool around a little. After all, it was a trip tradition. Besides, if the last adventure had taught me anything, it was that I wasn’t made for real, deep relationships. That made Alyssa my perfect partner.

“Remember what Kelsey said the last time?” I said, “Just playing around. There’s nothing to get mad about. Certainly not to be sad about. It’s not a relationship, so enjoy the ride.”

Sarah squeezed my hands. Sort of swung my arms back and forth. Nervous. “No, I get it. I mean, I started it last night. Well, Alyssa started it but it’s not like I had to keep going. Anyway. I know it’s not cheating. It’s just… I want to make sure I’m clear about my intentions.”

I smiled, genuinely. This was the Sarah I remembered and adored. Overthinking everything only after it had already happened.

“I’m happy you’re with Alyssa,” Sarah said, “I really am. Last summer was incredible. It changed my life. I know that sounds weird, but it really did. But even if we could be together, Ben? I wouldn’t want it. Don’t take it hard. I wouldn’t want anyone right now. I feel like I’ve been trapped for so long and I want some freedom to figure out who I am.”

The bathroom door opened with a pop. We’d been so engaged, I never heard the shower stop. Alyssa walked out wrapped in a too small, white towel. Her pale, freckled skin still dripping. She looked down at where Sarah and I were holding hands and frowned. Sarah dropped me like I was poison ivy.

“I should jump in the shower,” Sarah said.

“Yeah, you do that,” Alyssa said.

*

Alyssa and I got dressed while Sarah got clean. Eventually, everyone met down in the lobby. It was still early, but the sun was already way too bright for a group of people that had been up far too late the night before. The breakfast area was busy, but we were able to find a table big enough for all seven of us: Me, my girlfriend Alyssa, my roommate Julia, Kelsey, her boyfriend Kevin, Sarah, and her younger sister Chloe.

As we ate the hotel breakfast — dry pastry and wet, powdered eggs — I tried to catch Alyssa’s eye. But she wouldn’t look my way. She’d told me she wasn’t upset back in the room, which is just girl-code for “I’m upset.” I didn’t know what to do with that. I tried explaining that Sarah was in the middle of giving me the “it’s not you, it’s me” speech, but Alyssa had waved me off.

Everyone seemed a bit uncomfortable that morning, honestly. As if being so intimate the night before had left us all feeling distant. It made sense. We were all still in our respective relationships. No one had broken up or even argued (Ironically, holding Sarah’s hand had gotten me in more trouble than fingering her pussy). Yet we’d all gotten naked and done dirty stuff together. It was a tough thing to reconcile, even for those of us who’d done something similar the summer before.

Were we all ‘on a break’ or did the fondling mean something? Was this a one-time thing or was the whole trip going to be this way? All of us carried the questions but no one was willing to bring them out and share the weight. So, we just sank lower with the burden of it. It didn’t bode well for our future of being cooped up together for hours in the car.

Julia looked up and caught my eyes. Like the truth of it all had struck her, mid-bacon.

“Disney,” she said. I couldn’t help but smile wide. Suddenly, everyone around the table was grinning and nodding. Like Julia had spoken the magic words to wake us from our melancholy spell.

“We’re going to be in Disney World. Today.”

*

After breakfast, we collected our things and marched out to the parking lot. I assumed we’d all grab the same seats: Kelsey riding in her boyfriend, Kevin’s car. Me, Alyssa, Sarah, and Chloe with Julia in the big white Honda Odyssey. But as I climbed into my usual spot in the middle row, I looked up and saw Alyssa on the other side of the lot, getting into Kevin’s little sedan instead.

I jumped up to go after her, but before I could move, Sarah got in behind me and I was blocked. The one moment I didn’t want the sexy Sarah sitting next to me.

“Hang on,” I said, and started to open the door on the other side.

“Dude, if you’ve got to piss, use the bottle,” Julia said as she climbed into the driver’s seat. “We’ve already wasted too much time this morning.”

“But…”

Julia started the car, the roar of the engine preemptively ending our argument. I pulled on my seatbelt as if I was chaining myself to the seat. I stared out the window like a puppy watching its new owner head into the supermarket. What the hell?

I kept an eye on Kevin’s car as it followed us out of the parking lot, down the service road, and onto the highway. As if by tracking my girlfriend, I could keep our relationship under control. I knew Alyssa wasn’t happy about… something. But it didn’t make sense. She’d encouraged me to fool around. After all, hadn’t she done the same with Kelsey and Kevin?

But maybe that was the problem. Alyssa told me she was attracted to the K couple, as I’d started to think of them. To be fair, everyone was into them. They were celebrity attractive, yet real-world right there. But what if Alyssa meant something more than just the usual objectification. What if last night had meant something more. Not for me or Sarah, but for the triad in the other car?

Sarah reached over and rubbed my arm. “I wouldn’t worry too much,” she said, “Remember, Kelsey’s on her best behavior for her boyfriend.”

I nodded. That did make me feel a little better. The old Kelsey would have… Well I didn’t want to think about what our little slut would have been up to with my girlfriend.

“Yeah, what’s up with that?” Chloe asked. I couldn’t help but notice that she’d claimed the front seat next to Julia. The two of them had been hand-partners the night before, as well. I knew Chloe was in a relationship and Julia was about as straight a girl as I’d ever met. Except for that one time the previous summer. And these road trips did have a history of ending high school relationships. OK, so maybe I didn’t know anything at all. I guess my point is that the two of them together again caught my eye. That’s all.

“Kelsey wants to be a ‘good girl’ for her boyfriend,” Sarah said, “She doesn’t want him thinking she’s some kind of slut.”

“Seems like a lot of work, just to end up with an unhappy boyfriend in the end,” Julia said, “Either he likes you chaste and he’s going to be disappointed, or he wishes you were loose and leaves for someone who will be.”

“That reminds me, what happened with you and your last boyfriend?” Sarah asked, “I mean, I’m happy to have Chloe along and all, but I thought Brandon was coming with us. Not that I’m prying. OK, I’m prying. What happened with you two?”

“Ben fucked it up,” Julia said.

“Seriously?”

“I did not,” I said. I was happy to have a distraction from my own dark road, but this was not the alley I wanted to turn down. I still felt responsible for Julia’s break up, which meant I definitely didn’t want her to blame me for it. Because, you know, being defensive and cagey is always the way to improve a friendship. “We had one conversation about the Sabres,” I said, “That’s it.”

“And the next morning, out of nowhere, the fuckface dumped me,” Julia said, “Whatever, I’m over it.”

“Well, I mean, the Sabres are pretty bad this year,” Chloe said.

“Shut the fuck up. Like your stupid Devils are any better,” Julia said. She swerved the Odyssey out of the lane, slamming the gas and the horn at the same time. “Out of my way, assbitch!”

Well at least Julia was over it.

*

We crossed into Georgia and, I swear, the sun got brighter. The roads opened up, the trees turned greener, and all the highway signs showed speed minimums but no maximums. An invisible line and a “welcome” sign with a big orange peach on it could change the world, apparently.

We were all for marathoning it through — we wanted as much Disney time as possible — but our gas tank wasn’t on the same page, so Julia pulled over to fill up at the first exit we came to. Kelsey’s car slid into the pump behind ours.

I saw Alyssa jump out of the back seat and head over to the station’s convenience store. I climbed over Sarah to do the same. No matter what anyone said about Alyssa understanding, I needed to talk to my girlfriend. The other girls stared after me as I sprinted into the convenience store.

“Wow, he really did have to pee,” Chloe said.

“I don’t know why he didn’t just use the bottle like a big boy,” Julia said.

Inside the rest stop, I scanned the aisles of candy bars and Pop Tarts until I saw that telltale shock of long red hair. I found Alyssa near the back, studying a shelf full of chips like they might hold the secret to solving our global energy crisis.

“I’m really craving Ruffles,” she said, “But they don’t have any. They are these things called ‘Ridgies’ but I don’t think it’ll be the same.”

“Are we going to talk about this?” I asked.

“You think I should get Doritos, instead?” Alyssa asked.

“Come on. You’re not allowed to be mad at me,” I said, “We talked about this. Being an ‘adult’ and all that. Besides, you were fooling around in the hot tub, too.” Alyssa looked at me a little surprised. Did she really think I hadn’t noticed?

“No, of course I knew,” Alyssa said. “I just…”

“You wanted to have a little fun,” I said.

“Yeah, like we talked about,” Alyssa said, “I thought that’s what this trip was for.”

“So you can play around,” I said, “But when I do it, I get in trouble?”

Alyssa eyed me up, like trying to figure out if all my wires were connected properly. “You don’t see it do you?” she said, “You and I can be together and do these things because we trust each other that it doesn’t mean anything. That girl? Sarah? She wants something more.”

“Alyssa, I told you this already. When you came out of the bathroom, Sarah was telling me she doesn’t want a relationship. Seriously. She’s just playing around. Like you. Like all of us.”

“If you say so,” Alyssa said. She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek.

“I know so,” I said.

“Look, I’m not saying you can’t fool around with Sarah,” Alyssa said, “Hell go slap around those giant fun bags of hers till they burst. I trust you. Just keep an eye out is all I’m saying. I’ve seen it happen before and it’s like spilling poison down a well. Once feelings get involved, you can never get them out again.”

“It’s just a little playful fondling,” I said, “Nothing more. Like we agreed. I know that you’re the only one for me.”

Alyssa stepped back and smiled at me. “Well, let’s not go crazy or anything,” she said, then skipped out of the store.

*

I went to the bathroom, then bought a bag of the Ridgies and a bottle of Coke. After I paid, I walked back to the car. My legs were already stiff from the long drive and I hobbled around like someone had tied my laces together.

Alyssa was sitting in the backseat of the Odyssey, waiting for me.

“Kelsey and Kevin wanted some ‘alone time,'” she said and shrugged. I figured the couple was having their own negotiations about what had happened the night before. Not just the helping hands from my lusty girlfriend, but before then — in the pool — when Kevin had grabbed for topless Alyssa, sending Kelsey and her bare breasts over to me.

“Their loss,” Julia said, “This here’s the party car.”

Sarah took shotgun next to Julia this time, so Chloe settled for the third row. Once we got on the road, Julia used the GPS to show us how much further we had to go — a thin green line, shorter than my pinkie, was all we had left. Disney felt so close, so real. Suddenly it was the only thing we could talk about.

“I can’t wait to meet Mickey,” Chloe said.

“Oh come on,” Sarah said, “That’s a cop out.”

“Please, like you don’t want to go see Winnie the Pooh,” Chloe said.

“”Everyone wants to meet Mickey,” Sarah said, “It’s like saying vanilla’s your favorite ice cream. What Pooh and I have? That’s special.”

“Uh huh,” Chloe said, “What about you Julia? First character?”

“I don’t know,” Julia said, “I’m way more excited about the rides. Buzz Lightyear maybe? Or Stitch? I guess Stitch.”

“Way to nail it down there, buddy,” I said.

“I haven’t heard you mention anyone,” Julia said.

“Oh that’s easy,” I said, “Cinderella.”

“Ben that’s creepy,” Chloe said.

“Seriously, dude,” Julia said.

“Fine fine,” I said, “I guess I’ve got enough princesses here in the car to keep me busy.”

“It’s been so long since I was at Disney,” Alyssa said, “I don’t think I even remember which characters are there.”

“We went a few times when I was younger,” Julia said, “I haven’t been since high school, though.”

“Chloe and I haven’t been in a long time, either,” Sarah said, “Not since we were super young. Before our Dad… Well I doubt Chloe even remembers. What about you Ben?”

“I haven’t been since third grade,” I said, “Family car trip. Exactly like we’re doing now.”

The whole car turned and stared at me. Even Julia, who was driving. Four beautiful female faces, all of them turning a bit pink. Arousal or embarrassment, I couldn’t say.

“Fine,” I said, “Not exactly like we’re doing now. Not at all.”

*

When the car crossed into Florida, we all cheered. In only two days we’d gone from too cold for heat to too hot for A/C. From icicle covered, leafless trees to balmy palms. It really felt like we’d accomplished the impossible.

We had originally planned to stop in Jacksonville for lunch, but now that the Mouse was within reach, no one wanted to even pause. Instead we broke open the chips and candy we’d bought at the rest stop and resolved to drive on.

The snacks didn’t make anyone less restless, however. As if we were approaching the speed of light instead of Orlando, everything seemed to slow down. The mile markers loomed ever more distant. I felt like I could count every rotation of the tires. I needed a distraction, or the last two hours of our ride would feel like two years.

“We need something to do,” I said, “Get us through the home stretch.”

“We could play our game,” Sarah said.

“Oh no,” I said.

“What game?” Chloe asked.

“Oh wait,” Alyssa said, “Is this the one you guys did at the end of your trip last time? When you all ended up, um, doing dirty stuff in the car?”

“Trust me,” Julia said, “We didn’t need a game to get us to do dirty stuff in the car.”

“God, Ben, what did you tell your poor girlfriend?” Sarah asked.

“Just about everything,” I said, “Except for the part with the kangaroos. I still can’t think about marsupials without getting erect.”

“Good Lord,” Julia said, “I swear I’d pull over just to hit you, only I’m worried I might never stop punching.”

“What exactly have you gotten me into here, sis?” Chloe asked.

“It’s not a dirty game,” Sarah said, “At least, not inherently.”

“Inherently?” Alyssa asked.

“Sarah’s use of vocabulary is both voluminous and meticulous,” I said, “Also she’s right. There’s nothing saying this has to turn into something sexy.”

“And yet, somehow, it always does,” Julia said, sounding not unhappy about the idea. “In any case it’s really simple. The game is called ‘I Bet You Won’t.'”

“Oh God,” Chloe said, “This can only go badly.”

“I know!” Alyssa said, “That’s the best part!”

“Right, so here’s how it works,” Julia said, “I bet that someone won’t do something. For instance, I bet that Ben won’t eat this gummy bear I found under the seat.”

“Ha ha. I know that you’re messing with me again,” I said, “You took that gummy from a bag you bought before.” I reached forward, took the bright red bear out of her hand and popped it into my mouth. “You lose,” I said, mouth full of gelatin.

“Right, so, if Ben had been smart about this and said ‘no’ to the bear, I would have gotten a point. However, since he did eat it, I was wrong. So Ben gets a point and I have to do something equally disgusting. Also, for the record, I really did find that one under the seat. I don’t think my brother cleans his car all that often.”

“Blech!” I spit the bear out.

“So what’s Julia’s punishment?” Alyssa asked, clearly intrigued. I thought about it for a moment.

“I should make you eat that same disgusting gummy,” I said, “But instead I think you should have to put your mouth on something way dirtier. I dare you to kiss Alyssaaaaa’s… cellphone.”

“Oh man,” Alyssa said, “I got excited for a minute there.”

“What’s so bad about kissing your girlfriend’s cell?” Julia asked.

“I happen to know she dropped it in the toilet two weeks ago,” I said.

“Yuck!” Julia said.

“That’s pretty gross,” Chloe said, “Can’t we veto things that aren’t fair?”

“The phone can’t be that bad, she’s still using it,” I said.

“Only because I can’t afford a new one,” Alyssa said, “You sure Julia shouldn’t kiss anything else of mine, instead?”

“Ben said cellphone,” Sarah said. Alyssa shot her an ugly look.

“Fine,” Julia said, “Whatever.” She reached back and took my girlfriend’s phone. “I’m assuming you replaced the case? I’ll just kiss that.” She gave it a little smooch, then handed it back to Alyssa, who looked at it with a little pout.

“Alright, enough arguing about useless stuff, let’s do something fun,” Sarah said, “Ben, it’s your bet.”

As before, we did some silly stuff, mostly eating snacks that had been in each other’s mouths. Naturally, things progressed to kissing — cheeks, hands, innocuous stuff. Finally, Julia bet me I wouldn’t kiss Sarah on the cheek (which, of course, I did). That was enough of a green light to get my girlfriend to go for something a little racier. As if the redhead really needed the motivation.

“Julia, I bet you won’t kiss me on the lips,” Alyssa said with a smile.

“God, why is it — just because I’m athletic, everyone thinks I’m into girls,” Julia said, “No offense, Chloe.”

“None taken,” Chloe said, but it seemed to me that she did look a little hurt.

“In any case, I’m driving,” Julia said, “So that’s a hard no. But since you lost that bet, I think you should smooch Sarah on the mouth, instead.”

Well Julia had Alyssa there. Because if there was one person in this car Alyssa didn’t want to kiss, it was the ever-so-sexy Sarah. Something about the brunette seemed to switch Alyssa 
off — beyond what she’d already told me at the rest stop. On the other hand, though, Alyssa clearly wanted the game to get beyond tame, gross-out challenges. So the pretty redhead stretched forward and planted one right on Sarah’s pink, delectable lips.

Sarah, to her credit, leaned into it, doing a creditable job of showing something like affection. I saw she even snuck her cute little tongue against my girlfriend’s mouth. Finally, Alyssa pulled back, looking a little dreamy.

“She’s a good kisser,” Alyssa said and shrugged, “But I bet she won’t kiss her sister that way.”

“What, I don’t get a turn?” Chloe asked.

“You are,” Alyssa said, “Right now.”

“Fine, fine,” Sarah said. She slid between the seats to get to the back row. Then she leaned in and kissed her younger sister on the mouth. “Not like we haven’t done this before.”

“Wait, seriously?”

“Not like that!” Sarah said, as she and Chloe ended her kiss, “Just like, sisterly greetings or whatever.”

“Suuuuure,” Julia said.

I admit I was a bit taken aback. I knew Kelsey kind of had an incest thing (Well, sort of? She’d told me she played around with her brother but she’d also hinted that it was more about her brother’s friend, aka me, so I wasn’t exactly sure what was going on). Now it seemed like Sarah and Chloe had maybe done some stuff, as well — based on how red they were both turning. I was starting to wonder what the hell I’d missed with my own older sister, once upon a time. Was everyone doing this stuff except for us?

Sarah really did seem embarrassed, but Chloe laughed it off. “Finally, my turn,” she said, “Since Julia is too busy driving for a kiss on the lips, I bet she won’t let Alyssa kiss her other places, either.”

“Wait, what exactly do you mean by ‘other places?'” Julia asked.

“Kisser’s choice,” Chloe said. Well now, this was getting even more interesting. Clearly, Sarah’s little sister was wise beyond her years.

“I’m not allowing anything until I know what’s getting kissed,” Julia said.

“Words to live by,” I said.

“Soooooo, I could kiss your hand?” Alyssa asked, clearly her first bid.

“Yeah — I’ll do that,” Julia said.

“Too easy,” Chloe said. “Try again.”

“Boob?” Alyssa asked again. Julia stared forward. I saw she hit the gas a little harder. Ticking the speedometer up to 75 on a 65 road. But it was my girlfriend who was really testing the limits.

“Yeah. OK,” Julia said and sighed like it was the biggest imposition in the world, “But don’t push your luck.”

The whole car sucked in its breath. Like I said, Alyssa’s last relationship before ours had been with a girl. It was no big deal, really. I was also well aware that my girlfriend had a bit of a crush on my roomie. I mean, who could blame her, really?

I know I spend most of my time rambling on about beautiful Kelsey, sexy Sarah, and my own amazing Alyssa. But the truth is, Julia was easily one of the hottest women I’d ever met. Her athletic body and big, green eyes. She had a girl-next-door face that made me want to move into the neighborhood and never leave. Maybe I don’t spend as much time on Julia because it was harder to explain how gorgeous she was. There was nothing “prominent” about her. No superlatives. But she was super all the same.

I got why my girlfriend was into Julia, is what I’m saying. Because, damn, I was into her, too.

Alyssa and Sarah switched seats so the redhead could get better access. No, car safety wasn’t the first thing on anyone’s mind at that point. Alyssa started to lift Julia’s shirt from the hem, but the lithe brunette started to giggle.

“Ticklish,” she said, and shoved her elbow back down.

“Well then how am I supposed to win my bet?” Alyssa asked.

“Over the shirt will have to do.”

Alyssa visibly pouted. “That’s no fun.” Still she leaned over and put her mouth right where she imagined Julia’s nipple would be. Even though it was through a shirt and a bra, it clearly got to Julia who sucked in her breath like she’d been bit. Maybe she had.

Alyssa leaned back into the driver’s seat, looking self-satisfied. “Better than I imagined,” she said, then licked her lips.

“Oh whatever,” Julia said, “There’s hardly anything to kiss anyway.” Everyone loved Julia’s little titties except for the girl, herself, it seemed.

“I’d take a bite of perfection over an all you can eat buffet of mediocrity,” Alyssa said. I saw Sarah cock her eyebrow. The car went silent.

“Well, Chloe, you lost that one. Time for your punishment,” Julia said, “And since you were so kind as to involve me in the last one, I think it’s only fair for me to give you your sentence.”

Everyone leaned forward. Like we were about to hear who won the next election.

“Kiss Ben,” Julia said.

“On my tit?” I asked, smirking.

“Lips are fine,” Julia said, giving me a nasty look.

“Rats.”

Chloe screwed up her face with distaste.

“Hey, you can’t do the punishment, don’t commit the crime, sis,” Sarah said. She was clearly excited about the opportunity to egg everyone on. Especially her younger sister. Sarah: secret troublemaker.

Chloe nodded her head. Grave. She switched seats with her sister. I leaned back and closed my eyes. Let her come to me. Our lips made contact. Pressed close. I thought about how attractive Chloe was. Her cute face and killer body. I let that desire drive my every action. Teased and tasted at her mouth. Slid my hand up to Chloe’s chin. Ran my fingers through her hair. And then, when I felt her body relax, I slipped my tongue forward.

Chloe’s breath caught, but she didn’t pull away as I probed at her mouth. She let her tongue sort of dance around mine. Chloe’s hand drifted down to my bare leg. Like my body wasn’t already responding to everything I’d already seen, I felt my cock stiffen to the point where I’d swear it was sneaking out my shorts’ leg to meet the teenager’s wandering hands.

But as Chloe finally gave in and pushed forward, I slipped out of her grasp. Always leave them wanting. I looked at the young brunette — her eyes closed, lips pursed. Still engulfed in the kiss even though it had ended. Slowly, she blinked her eyes open. Smiled at me, dreamily.

The car gave us a round of applause. Even Alyssa smiled at me shyly, like I’d done her proud somehow.

“Ew, boy,” Chloe said, “Yucky.” She made a big show of wiping her lips clean with her arm. But no one was buying it.

We’d reached a precipice. Everyone felt it. The sexual tension had climbed and climbed until, like the rollercoasters we were about to ride, we all reached the tippy top. Now gravity (and desire) took hold and started to drag us down with a vengeance.

All sorts of possibilities opened up. The things we could all “make” each other do. The ways in which we could assemble, break, then recombine. Our lust almost unstoppable.

Then Julia screamed.

*

“There it is, there it is, there it is!” Julia said. Sure enough, the highway was now adorned with signs pointing to the multiple Disney hotels and theme parks. It was so incongruous, such stately green highway signs displaying fantastical words like Kingdom, Epcot, and Pop.

As I said before, Disney hadn’t been my first choice for a vacation spot. I’m not saying it had to be baseball, but how many college kids talk about their wild Spring Break at the Magic Kingdom? It seemed like a place for kids. Families. But Julia had been excited — all the girls really — and so I’d let them sweep me up in it.

But even though I’d eventually agreed to go, this trip wasn’t something I was enthusiastic about. Seeing my friends again? Being warm? Hell yes. Going to Disney World in my early twenties? Eh.

But then we saw those signs — those words — and I was nine again, in my parents’ car. So amped up I could barely sit without kicking my legs and swinging my arms.

“Hey, be careful,” Chloe said, “You almost hit me.”

“Sorry,” I said, “I got caught up for a moment there.”

I heard honking and I realized it was Kelsey, celebrating along with us. A month of planning, weeks of anticipation, days of driving. We’d finally arrived: Walt Disney World.

And that was when things really started to get crazy. I thought we’d reached the top. Our climb had barely begun.

*

We pulled up to our on-site hotel, Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, and parked under the dwindling shade of a palm tree. Kelsey swung into the spot right next to us. Then, en masse, we marched through the lot and into the hotel lobby.

Julia and Kelsey got in line to check us in while the rest of us stood to the side. Our group was giddy — too much soda and Disney, not enough sleep. Shaking and bopping like we all had to pee. I tried to rein myself in. Just lean back and soak up the atmosphere.

The lobby was empty, though not deserted. Poppy music echoed through the hall, punctuated by the bloops and bleeps of a nearby arcade. Somehow, over it all, I heard the dialogue from at least two separate Disney movies. One was Moana, I’m almost certain. The lobby itself was bright with polished floors and day-glow, colorful walls that made our hotel seem like the world’s cleanest, most enthusiastically decorated mall.

There were two sets of sliding doors on either side of us. Behind one set of glass was the pool, overseen by a sculpture of Sorcerer Mickey, filled with kids and families jumping around and screaming. To the other side was the hotel restaurant, fronted by — shocker — a gift shop. What slot machines are to Vegas, souvenir stores are to Disney.

“Our rooms are ready,” Julia said. She walked over to us, a rainbow of wristbands held tightly in each hand. She distributed one to each of us — these Magic Bands would be our hotel keys, our wallets, our tickets. Everything we needed for our five-day adventure. “I vote we throw our stuff in our rooms and then hit the park.”

Everyone agreed, immediately. We went back to the cars, got our bags, and started the walk to our rooms. The day was hot, the air clean. The suffocating cold of Buffalo had already melted off me and I felt completely content sweating through the heat. Like it was burning away months of misery.

We walked through the lobby again, past the pool, then down a pebbled sidewalk surrounded by parched shrubs and giant statues of dalmatians and fire hydrants. My suitcase rumbled over the pavement. The sky was so blue it hurt my eyes.

I saw Kevin slow, letting the girls get a bit ahead of him. He motioned for me to do the same.

“Hey man, I just wanted to say I’m sorry for last night,” Kevin said, once it was just the two of us. Admittedly, I was only half-listening, caught up in the five perfect bottoms bouncing in front of me.

“It’s fine,” I said, “I don’t think you have anything to apologize for, honestly.”

“Could you tell Kelsey that, please?” Kevin said. He wiped his brow. He really did look upset. I thought people that good looking didn’t have problems.

“She read you the riot act, huh?” I asked.

“For five straight hours! I know Kelsey can be a bit of a prude. I mean, I get it, first real relationship and all. I told her that we were just playing around. You know it’s not serious, I know it’s not serious. That kind of thing. But it didn’t stop her from railing into me the whole drive down about boundaries and knowing where my bread is buttered — whatever the hell that means. You’d think I was the lord of the perverts. I mean, shit, I didn’t make Kelsey take her top off. That was her idea.”

“Actually, I think that was Alyssa’s,” I said, “My girlfriend can be a bit of a troublemaker.”

“Whatever man,” Kevin said, relief starting to spread across his face, “We’ve both got issues with our girls. As long as you and I are cool, I’m cool.”

“Yeah man,” I said, cautiously, “We’re fine.” Issues? What was Kevin talking about exactly? Him and Kelsey were riding the rapids a bit, sure. But Alyssa and me? We were smooth sailing all the way.

I didn’t have time to think about it, though, because we came up on our building. On the one side, it was covered by a three-story high, inexplicable hockey mask from The Mighty Ducks (as if any of us had even heard of that movie until that very moment). In front there was a small pool made to look like a hockey rink. All in all, it was like a Motel 6, but gaudy. Which is quite an accomplishment if you ask me.

We’d gotten two rooms again, both in the same building, but on opposite sides. We all decided that we should split by relationship status. Alyssa and I would share the pool-view room with Kelsey and Kevin. Meanwhile, the singles — Julia, Sarah, and Chloe — would stay on the far side facing the parking lot. Of course, all situations were negotiable depending, but this seemed as good a logic as any for how to divvy ourselves up at the start.

Everyone was raring to go, but we all wanted to throw our suitcases inside and freshen up before heading out. So we split off, promising to meet in front of our little pool in ten minutes. Alyssa, Kelsey, Kevin and I walked into the giant hockey mask and up the stairs to the second floor. Then we went down the concrete walkway, past a cleaning service cart full of linens and toilet paper rolls. The air smelled of pool water and fresh paint.

When we got to our room, I waved my new magic bracelet (blue, with a Mickey head on the face) at the door. The lock clicked green, and I pushed into our home for the next five days. Inside was your standard motel decor: two double beds, a tiny flatscreen TV, and a bathroom — separated from the rest of the room by a heavy curtain — on the far side. There were a few expected Disney touches as well, including a filmstrip ribbon of All-Star Movies’ icons (Herbie the Love Bug, 101 Dalmatians, Toy Story, Fantasia, and Might Ducks) running around where the wall met the ceiling.

I threw my suitcase onto the closest bed and sprinted to the bathroom. Long drives and big sodas are a lethal combination. Just as I was tucking myself back in, the curtain flew open and Alyssa burst into the room. She swung the curtain behind her, curtly. I couldn’t help myself; I flinched. All I could think was, oh God, what did I do now?

I braced myself for the onslaught, but it came in a way I wasn’t expecting. My girlfriend tackled me, grinding us up against the tile wall. Arms wrapped around my neck, tongue plunging into my mouth.

“That game in the car got me so hot,” Alyssa said. She reached down and grabbed my cock (my fly was still open from before) and started stroking me with abandon. I shot my hands down under Alyssa’s waistband and found her hot and ready. What was it with my girlfriend and bathroom handjobs lately? Well I certainly wasn’t going to complain.

Alyssa gripped my dick hard, working me back and forth with a friction that almost hurt. I did my best to catch up and return the favor, but Alyssa’s shorts were far too constricting. I reached up to unsnap her pants. Despite the pain, I could feel my pleasure building. Until…

“Guys hurry it up in there!” Kelsey called out, “The others are already waiting for us.”

“Dammit,” Alyssa said, dropping my cock immediately. I swear that was almost the most painful part of the whole experience. Going from all to nothing like that — us boys just aren’t built for it. Alyssa straightened herself, snapped her pants back into place and quickly checked the mirror to fix her hair. Then she gave me a kiss on the cheek and popped out of the bathroom like nothing had happened.

“Sorry,” I heard her say, “You know how long it takes guys to use the bathroom.”

I took a moment to collect myself and then walked out. I was only a minute behind her, but my redheaded girlfriend was nowhere to be seen. Instead, just Kevin and Kelsey stood in the center of the room, whispering to each other. They were both smiling, Kevin’s arms around the beautiful blonde’s waist.

I couldn’t help but be a little jealous. Kelsey had been mine, once upon a time. Well not mine. Kelsey was a person, not an action figure. But she’d held me and smiled at me and looked at me with those big blue eyes — affectionate and wanting. Who doesn’t want that?

Because we’d been in separate cars for the whole drive, it felt like I’d barely seen the K-couple on this trip. Although, the night before I’d also seen a bit too much of both of them. So I suppose it balanced, in a way. Still, it almost felt like we were on two different trips to this point and I was looking forward to spending more time together.

“Alyssa’s already waiting for us outside,” Kevin said.

“What took you so long in there?” Kelsey asked.

“Oh, you know, just some um, problems. I mean, not those kind of problems, I just… Well, that is, Alyssa. You know what? None of your business.”

The K-couple stared at me.

“Well, OK then,” Kevin said.

We found Alyssa leaning against the balcony outside, studying her phone. We walked back down the stairs to the pool as a foursome. Julia, Sarah, and Chloe were already waiting for us, the three of them leaning against the chain link fence, squinting under the sun.

“Took you guys long enough,” Julia said, pointing down at her magic band like it was a wristwatch, “Mickey’s not waiting around forever you know.”

“Some of us non-robots had to use the bathroom,” I said.

“Hey, I have to change my oil every now and again,” Julia said, “I just don’t take forever to do it.”

We tromped back to the front of the hotel. I felt oddly light without my suitcase to drag behind me. I kept patting my pockets, counting and recounting my belongings as if I was forgetting something important.

“Everything OK?” Sarah asked. I didn’t see her sidle up next to me.

“Yes, I just have that feeling like I’m forgetting something,” I said, “You know what I mean?”

“I do,” she said. She looked pointedly in front of us, where Alyssa was walking with the rest of the group. She was doing the flirty-touching thing with Kevin. Laughing too loudly at Julia’s jokes. Making sure to keep pace with Kelsey.

“Not forgetting anything there, either. Right?” Sarah asked.

“You know Alyssa,” I said, “Well, actually, you don’t. But it’s fine. She’s getting in with the group. That’s a good thing. I think.”

“Just making sure,” Sarah said, “Don’t want to lose anything on the trip, you know? Something you might miss later.”

I cocked my head, confused. But Sarah just smiled and sped up to catch everyone else.

*

We’d planned to go to Magic Kingdom that day. While that only gave us a half-day in the most packed park, it was impossible to imagine starting our adventure anywhere else.

Back in front of our hotel, we got in line for the bus to Magic Kingdom. A few people were already waiting when we got there — a couple of families with small kids and a grandma sitting in a Rascal scooter. We queued up behind them, between the silver chains that marked off the waiting area. A couple of the guys, Dads with their wives and kids, saw us come over and openly stared.

That seemed to happen a lot on our trips. Usually it was the men who did the drooling, but sometimes the women did, too. I could see why. Alyssa, Sarah, Kelsey, Julia, and Chloe were all fucking gorgeous, each in their own unique way. And then Kevin and I were the only guys with them — I mean, I’d be jealous of me, too.

A long accordion-style bus with the words “Magic Kingdom” on the front pulled up. “First ride at Disney!” I said as I stepped in. The group all gave me a dirty look.

The seats were hard, and the A/C ran harder. As a group of seven, we all had to split up in different spots. Alyssa and I managed to sit across from Kelsey and Kevin near the front, while Julia, Sarah, and Chloe went to the rows of seats near the back.

We sat for a little bit while everyone got loaded onto the bus. It was surprisingly full for a mid-Monday ride. Then we glided off. The K-couple seemed pretty engrossed in each other — not making out or anything like that but holding hands and staring at each other in that young-love kind of way. That didn’t discourage Alyssa at all.

“So, Kev,” she asked (Kev?!), “Have you been to Disney before?”

“This is actually my first time,” he said.

“Virgin, huh?” Alyssa asked.

“Oh, not even close, sweetie,” Kevin said. His girlfriend shot him a death stare.

“What about you, Kelsey?” I asked, quickly moving to intercept, “Have you been to Disney before?”

“Twice, as a kid,” Kelsey said, “Last time we went I was in high school.”

“So last year, then?” I asked.

“Very funny,” Kelsey said, “It was two years ago.” Kevin, Alyssa, and I all laughed. Then we realized Kelsey was trying to be serious.

It was a long ride and they played jaunty Disney songs the whole way over. I found myself staring out the windows, as if I could figure out where we were going. There was a ton of construction everywhere. If something wasn’t getting built it was being torn down.

Then I saw the sign. A bright blue arch with the words Magic Kingdom sitting over it in yellow. I got Alyssa’s attention and showed her the gateway. She smiled and leaned back to look. We all did. Whispering and pointing like we’d spotted a UFO. It had only been a few weeks, really, from planning to fruition. Somehow, finally getting here, it felt like the culmination of an amazing, arduous quest.

The bus stopped with a squeak of breaks and a long, exasperated sigh. We stepped out under a series of individual awnings, each marked with different resort names. The rest of the bus stops were empty. Julia shot me a wide grin as she got off the bus. We weren’t even inside the park, and she was already a schoolgirl, skipping happily down the street. I didn’t recognize happy, silly Julia. I kind of liked her.

We walked through the parking area. There was a lake on our left and a large ferry boat was docked there, letting off its own passengers. Then the road went up, slightly. Above us, I could see the bright blue monorail station. To our right — through dark, wrought iron bars — were fields of flowers: yellows, oranges, and reds all in swirls of color.

Sarah grabbed my arm and pointed at the front gate. A large wall of archways loomed ahead. There was a clock in the middle of it and, on top, train tracks. As we came closer, I saw a line of security guards and metal detectors blocking the way forward.

We’d left almost everything back at our hotel room — kind of smart, sort of stupid — so getting through security was a cinch. The girls had to show their purses, but that was it. Kevin and I waited on the far side as they went, then we all walked through the metal detectors.

Still, somehow, we weren’t in the park. We got into the next line. Disney employees each stood in front of four metal poles with a round Mickey symbol on top of each of them. Alyssa went first, then me. I pressed my Mickey-headed bracelet to the Mickey-headed sphere. I put my finger on a fingerprint reader. After a moment, they both glowed green.

We were in!

We went under the shaded archways, past faux-movie posters for some of Disney’s most famous attractions, and then we were there.

The Magic Kingdom stretched off in front of us. If you’ve never been, this is the picture you’ve seen a thousand times. A downtown street right out of the suburban 1950s ran before us and, beyond, as if another dimension had crashed into our own, was the massive, bright Cinderella castle. Grey stone turrets topped with bright blue cones.

On film, on the Internet, it’s neat but not a big deal. In person, something about the view made my whole body thrum. It’s not something I can describe, exactly. Maybe it’s cultural programming — if I was from Zimbabwe maybe I wouldn’t feel this way. It would just be a weird amusement park. We’ve all been brainwashed by TV and movies. Our entire existence, honestly, is designed to make us respond to things a certain way.

Or maybe it really is magic. Maybe that family from Zimbabwe would walk in and stand, shocked, like we did. Hearts pounding. Suddenly engrossed in this other, incredible place. I can’t speak for other people. I only know what I felt stepping into the Magic Kingdom, surrounded by my friends. I was nine again, my world filled with wonder, caught up in the candy-scented breeze.

*

We were in a small square with a flagpole in the center. Next to the pole, in a little park surrounded by dark chain fencing, Pluto was standing and taking pictures with families. The line to meet him ran through the little circle where he stood and all around the fence. Rationally, I could say that it was some poor guy in a bright yellow dog costume. But my heart just screamed ‘it’s Pluto!’ and at that moment I couldn’t imagine feeling any other way.

Julia squeezed my arm and pointed at the same place. I guess I wasn’t the only one having a moment. All of us bopped around, laughing and calling out all the different little details. The firehouse and the movie theater. And, of course, the great big castle at the end of the street. The excitement of it all so great that it filled us up, burbled out, and spilled over everyone.

We strolled up Main Street, past the shops. They had little sculpted, moving vignettes in the windows from the different movies. It reminded me of the windows at Saks Fifth Avenue during Christmas. A woman stood on one street corner holding what looked like hundreds of Mickey-shaped balloons. Everything smelled of fresh popped popcorn.

The road was crowded, but it wasn’t a press. People were stopping in the center of the street for professional pictures in front of the castle, but most were like us, moving a brisk pace up the sidewalk. A couple of times, I almost got run over by someone with a stroller. If that happened to me anywhere else, I’d probably be cursing them out for hours. Here, I just smiled and let it go. I don’t know, maybe they were pumping Xanax into the air. It would have explained a lot.

We passed a bakery and I looked in the window at all the Mickey-shaped treats. I felt my stomach grumble. We’d skipped lunch and now everyone admitted they were hungry. We wanted to get moving, start doing Disney stuff, but we couldn’t deny the need for food.

At the end of the street, we found a hot dog spot called Casey’s Corner. It had striped awnings and a picture of an old-timey baseball guy out front. I mean, how could we say no to such a portentous icon? Also, we were starved, and Julia said if we made her walk any farther she’d eat one of us alive.

Fortunately, four o’clock isn’t a big eating hour. There were no lines and plenty of seats. We used our phones to order food, then pushed together a couple of tables in the outdoor courtyard. A man was playing the piano in one corner. I sat back in my little metal chair, ate my hot dog, and soaked in the sun.

There was something about just being on the street eating that felt so comfortable. I’m going to be saying this a lot, but it’s not something I can exactly explain. The atmosphere relaxed me, took all my worries and melted them away. Watching the crowds stream by, listening to the piano music, I felt good about the world. Like everything was in its proper place.

“This is not bad,” I said, “Not bad at all.”

“This is probably the worst thing we’re going to do all day,” Julia said, “Seriously, if you’re going to get all mushy about Casey’s Corner, what happens when we go on an actual ride?”

“Prolly die,” I said, mouth full of hot dog.

“We can only hope, dude,” Julia said, and punched me.

“You’ve wounded me!” I said, “If only there was a medical student nearby to save my life.” I looked pointedly over at Kelsey. The beautiful blonde rolled her eyes at me.

“I’m not even pre-med, yet,” she said, “Julia’s physical therapy degree would be better help than anything I could do.”

“I can’t look for assistance from the one who attacked me,” I said.

“Guess you’ll have to die alone, then,” Kelsey said. She went back to eating her hot dog. I gave Sarah a look that said “ouch” and she nodded back, knowingly.

When we were finished I collected everyone’s plates and took them to the trash. Sarah came along and helped.

“I wouldn’t take it personally,” Sarah said, “Kelsey’s been that way the whole trip. She’s my best friend, supposedly, and she’s barely even said two words to me.”

“That’s odd,” I said, “Wonder what’s up her butt?”

“I think that’s exactly the problem,” Sarah said.

*

Full of food, we made our way around a few grassy plots and up to Cinderella’s castle. Spires reaching to the sky. Somehow, they found a way to make stone shine in the sunlight. It’s quite the effect.

I started to pull the girls forward and get them set up for a picture in front of the famous edifice. I turned to Sarah, our resident professional photographer in training, and realized that she wasn’t holding her camera.

In fact, it suddenly occurred to me, I hadn’t seen her take one picture the whole drive down. The previous summer, Sarah had done a whole photoshoot at a Canadian gas station. Yet here we were, probably the one of the most photographed spots on Earth, and she didn’t even have a disposable.

“Must have left it in the hotel,” Sarah said, “Oh well. We all have cellphones.”

So we did. But even with that, I noticed Sarah wasn’t taking any pics. We grouped, separated, regrouped again. Alyssa and I with Kevin and Kelsey. Julia and me. Sarah with her sister and Julia. Chloe and Julia alone. We even found a young couple willing to take a shot of all of us together, smiling and pointing back at the castle. As they walked away, I heard the man say, “Holy fuck, every girl in that group was fucking hot.” His wife slapped his shoulder, like something straight out of a famous meme.

The sun was starting to sink in the sky, but we still had a few hours of light left. After ‘wasting time eating and taking pictures’ — as Julia’s put it — we all wanted to make the most of what was left of the day. For a group that had spent hours together in the car, we proved surprisingly unwilling to separate. Which was fine, except no one could then agree on where to go.

“Less arguing, more rides,” Julia said, hands on her hips.

“Fine, you fix it then,” Kelsey said.

Julia stepped back and pointed to each of us, like she was directing traffic. She sent Sarah, Chloe, Kevin, and Kelsey off to Fantasyland. Then she told Alyssa and I that she’d come with us to Splash Mountain if we’d agree to do Space Mountain afterwards.

Finally, we all had a deal and a destination. Even this way, though, it wasn’t perfect. As a compromise, doing both Mountains together made perfect sense. Geographically that’s a disaster. The rides are essentially on opposite sides of the park. No one recommends doing Disney this way, but whatever.

Julia, Alyssa, and I backtracked past the sculpture of Mickey and Walt, pointing off to the future. Then we cut over a bridge and into Liberty Square — the section of the park made to look like Colonial America. I saw Haunted Mansion in the distance, another one on my wishlist that would have to wait, and then turned into Adventureland.

On the right was the river and Tom Sawyer’s island. On our left were restaurants and the show for the Country Bear Jamboree. Finally, at the end of the road, we saw it: Splash Mountain. We walked down the hill and right to the entrance of the ride. The sign said there was a 30-minute wait, which, all things considered, seemed pretty good. I had been prepared to wait for hours. But it was still late February, near the end of daylight, and the park was beginning to cool down. It was busy, of course, but only in pockets. We’d lucked into an open space.

We sprinted to get on line, then slowed to a crawl as we waited, step by agonizing step. I leaned against the wooden fence, hands on my knees. We were all out of breath from going as quick as we could. My shins burned. Since when was I so out of shape?

“All that sitting the last few days,” Alyssa said, “It made us weak.”

“Also, how much exercising have you been doing all winter?” Julia asked. I had to admit, it wasn’t much. Yet another thing to blame the constant cold for.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself,” Alyssa said, “You’ve still got a super sexy bod. Don’t you think so Jules?”

We went around a few corners and then started up some wooden stairs. This waiting area seemed to go on forever. I couldn’t imagine what it was like when a ton of people were there.

“Seriously, Julia, isn’t our Ben still totally sexy?” Alyssa repeated her question.

“He’s OK, I guess,” Julia said, finally, “Not that I make a habit of noticing, or anything. He’s just my roommate, after all.”

“Come on, look at those calf muscles,” Alyssa said, reaching down to squeeze my leg, “And those biceps. Broad chest and shoulders. Our Ben is a prime piece of man meat. And I haven’t even mentioned the choicest cut.”

Both Julia and I got tactically distracted. The architecture of this ride was really something. The feel of an old mill, all the pictures of the brer characters… That’s great Imagineering right there. Right?

Look, I don’t mind being objectified — I clearly do it all the time, so I can’t exactly complain when it’s done to me — but I could tell Alyssa was making Julia uncomfortable. The family-friendly environment wasn’t helping things. I kept waiting for a disdainful mother to glare all of us down to size. None of that stopped Alyssa from going over my finer assets and asking Julia for her expert opinion.

We started going back downstairs. I could hear people loading into the boats. Everything was wetter. We were clearly getting close.

“OK, yes, he’s hot,” Julia said when we reached the bottom. Then, quieter, “I always thought so.”

“See?” Alyssa continued on, “And he’s all ours.” Julia raised an eyebrow. Alyssa reached over and squeezed Julia’s bicep. “Ooooh, you’re not so bad yourself.”

The line jumped forward before Julia could respond and then we were splitting off to get into our shared log. I ended up between the two women — Alyssa at the front of the boat and Julia behind me. We all cheered as we lurched forward.

“Now this is our first ride at Disney!” Julia said and squeezed my shoulder from behind.

After the walk and the line, it felt nice just to sit in the log as it carried us along. Up a hill, then around past animatronic rabbits, foxes and bears. A couple small drops, then climbing up again. Always bringing us closer to the big finish. Kind of like a lot of other things I’d been doing on these road trips, honestly. I reminded myself to stay focused — we were on a fucking kid’s ride after all. I was pretty sure an erection in that moment would be just cause for immediate ejection.

We made the final climb. A pair of vultures warned us about going to the Happy Place. The boat paused at the top. Brer Fox held Brer Rabbit over a boiling pot. We slowly tipped forward. Gravity reaching for us. Gripping. Wooosh! We raced down the hill and then hit the bottom, water splashing over us.

The ride held for a moment at the bottom and I checked the damage. I’d gotten a little wet, mostly on my arms, but not nearly as much as I expected. Then we went around the corner and all the animals serenaded us with “Zip A Dee Doo Dah” before we had to climb out.

“I think they turn down the water when it’s not so warm,” Julia said as we walked through the gift shop, showing me that she hadn’t suffered much of a soaking, either. Alyssa had been in front, yet she was mostly dry, as well.

“Well, after spending time with you two hotties at least some parts of me are dripping,” Alyssa announced loudly as we left. Well, so much for staying behaved on the kid’s ride.

*

With one Mountain down, it was time for us to fulfill the other end of our bargain and race to the far side of the park. We went back through Adventureland, right past that same Walt and Mickey statue, under a rocket-ship shaped archway, and suddenly we were in the future. Well, a 1960s-style, retro-future, in any case.

Tomorrowland seemed busier than where we’d been and the wait at Space Mountain was reflective of that: 45 minutes, the sign said. It flipped to 50 as we got in line. The sun was low now, rubbing up against the horizon. To think, we’d been in South Carolina that morning.

“Crazy, I know,” Julia said, “It feels like we’ve had such a long day, but it’s also like everything’s just beginning?”

The line was inside the building which was, thankfully, well air conditioned. One day of heat and I was already craving cool air. This was my ironic punishment for complaining about the winters up north, I knew. There were large screens on either side of us with simple, sci-fi shooting games. Voices echoed as people waited. I saw another group of people about our age playing a charades game with their phones.

“I know what you mean,” Alyssa said, “Like, that whole car ride feels like it was yesterday already. But it also seems like it was five minutes ago? I don’t know it’s weird.”

“Yes, my whole day feels discombobulated,” I said.

“Discom-boob-ulated, as well,” Alyssa said with a smirk. Then she saw Julia’s frown. “Sorry. I guess I’m still a little worked up from the game before. We never did finish, exactly, did we?”

“Oh, I think it’s done,” Julia said.

“What? You didn’t enjoy my little kiss from before?” Alyssa asked. “Maybe I didn’t do a good enough job. Oh! Let me try again. I bet I do way better.”

What was it with Alyssa? She was always a bit enthusiastic, if you get my meaning, but she seemed to be going totally over the top with this. Almost trying too hard.

“The kiss was fine,” Julia said, “OK, it was kind of great. It’s just… It’s no fun doing those things here. And without a partner. You know? Maybe if Brandon was here.”

“I understand,” Alyssa said, “I’m totally happy to share mine.” She gave my arm a squeeze for emphasis. “Come on, I’m bored. Let’s play.”

Julia and I both shared a look. “I’m not doing anything here,” Julia said, “It’s not appropriate.”

“Ooh, that sounds like a challenge,” Alyssa said, “Oh I know, I bet Julia won’t kiss her roomie here on the line.”

“I, um, I think it should be Ben’s turn to make a bet,” Julia said, “He was the last one to, y’know. When he kissed Chloe.” Julia looked down at her hi-top Converse. Amazing what could be so interesting when someone was putting the pressure on you.

Alyssa gave me a little kick in the shin, then nodded her head from me to Julia. Like she was my wingman at a middle school dance, trying to get me to ask my crush girl to join me on the floor during a slow jam.

“Um, yeah,” I said, “I bet you wouldn’t, um, kiss me.” I kept it ambiguous, remembering that the last time I’d put it that way, Julia had managed to slip out of it by kissing me on the cheek. I figured she’d catch my hint. She looked so miserable standing there, I felt I owed my roommate and nominal best friend an easy out, at least.

Julia looked up from her laces and stared at me. Licked her lips slightly and stepped forward. She put her hands on my cheek and pressed her lips to mine. My breath caught. I hadn’t kissed Julia in nearly nine months. It felt familiar as yesterday. Captivating and wonderful.

The way she held my face in her hands. Teased at my mouth with her tongue. Even nibbled at my lips with her teeth. Fuck. The moment seemed to drag me down, so much harder and faster than any flume ride.

Julia’s hands slipped away. My mouth felt cold. I opened my eyes and hoped I hadn’t been standing there, dumbly, for too long.

“Wow,” Alyssa said. I braced, still not exactly comfortable with kissing other women in front of my girlfriend. “That was awesome!”

*

Alyssa was playing a dangerous game and it had me far more nervous than the rollercoaster we were about to climb on. Space Mountain, after all, was just a wild mouse ride in the dark. What Alyssa was doing — creating a high stakes scenario with no discernable rules — this had fucking consequences and I could feel them creeping up the back of my neck.

Fooling around, in theory, was fine. Upsetting my roommate, toying with her emotions? Making Kelsey break her promises to herself? Whatever it was we were doing with Sarah? These all seemed like bad ideas, the opposite of the fun without consequences that Alyssa seemed to be selling.

We got on the ride and launched into space. Ripped this way and that. Up and down. Unable to see where the next turn was coming from. Every time it seemed we were coming to the finish, we would drop and then curve round and around. Finally, we stuttered and slowed. At least I knew this ride had an ending.

After we were done, the three of us walked back outside and found, in our absence, that the world had turned to night. Tomorrowland was well lit — everything flashing bright and colorful. The park was still crowded, and huge groups went by holding glow sticks and wearing neon necklaces. The rides nearby roared and flashed. It was like a completely different place. More otherworldly than where we’d been when we started the ride.

I checked my phone and found that the other half of the group was looking to get together for dinner. I suggested a burger place near us in Tomorrowland and so we agreed. After walking the park end to end for the last two rides, I was glad to have a short jaunt to eat.

Julia kind of hung back as we strolled over. She seemed a bit embarrassed by what had happened on the line. Probably regretted it. I resolved to talk to Alyssa as soon as we got some alone time. Things with Julia and me had already been on the brink before we started this trip. We were supposed to be making things better, not worse.

Cosmic Ray’s was busy, but not too bad. At the front was a large, animatronic, lounge-singer alien sitting behind a circular piano. He played some tunes and told bad jokes. It was cute. Again, I used my phone to order our food. Then Alyssa and I found seats while Julia went to grab ketchup and napkins.

With the two of us alone at the table, I took my chance. I grabbed Alyssa by the arm and looked her straight in the eyes.

“I think you’re making Julia uncomfortable,” I said.

“I think I’m making her horny,” Alyssa said.

“OK, seriously,” I said, “I mean, this is fun and all, but you seem to really be pushing for stuff.”

“You have to trust me,” Alyssa said, “Julia’s acting cold but she’s feeling just as hot as you and I.”

“If you say so,” I said, “I don’t want to make her mad.”

“It’s not about feelings,” Alyssa said, “Like your trip last summer — no one’s falling in love. We’re enjoying each other. But it’s no fun to fool around all by myself. That’s the point of having a partner. I keep telling you, we have to do this stuff together.”

“So you’re trying to set me up with Julia?” I asked.

“Amongst other things,” Alyssa said. She winked at me, cryptically. “Trust me, you’re going to be a happy boy by the time I’m done.”

Before I could press her further, Julia came back with the condiments. As if she’d led them there, Kevin, Kelsey, Sarah, and Chloe then joined us at the table, already holding trays of food. While we ate, we talked about what we’d been up to. The other foursome had taken it easy, getting pictures with Donald and Goofy and then going on the Dumbo ride. Chloe showed me the pics on her phone and it looked like they’d had fun.

After dinner, we all wanted to attack the Magic Kingdom with gusto, but we were all too tired to really consider it. The length of the day — careening from intense boredom to unbearable excitement — it was starting to wear on us.

We agreed to do one more ride all together, then call it a night. The group consensus was Dwarven Mine Train, but the line was over two hours. Haunted Mansion was also backed up. But Pirates of the Caribbean was only a twenty-minute wait and if that’s your last choice, then you’re doing pretty damn OK.

We walked out of Tomorrowland and back past Cinderella’s castle. We’d only been in Disney for a few hours, and already this path felt well-travelled. It was different, though, seeing everything at night. For a well-lit place, I found the Magic Kingdom to be oddly dark. It gave the park a whole different atmosphere, the castle glowing brightly in the distance. Once we were in Adventureland, we went past the flying carpets and the Jungle Cruise, and then got on line for Pirates.

This was more of an old-school Disney line with no entertainment. Long switchbacks separated by dark black chains. There were a few displays — treasure chests behind prison bars, that kind of thing — but nothing to keep us entertained. I resisted the urge to stare down at my phone. It seemed like such a waste, to drive so far and spend so much money, just to stare at a screen. Staring at a fake sewer grate in a faux-stone wall made way more sense.

“So you guys just did the rides?” Sarah asked, leaning against the wall, “Nothing… out of the ordinary?”

“Ben kissed Julia,” Alyssa said.

“Reaaaallly,” Sarah said. She gave me a smile that showed she was intrigued. “That’s way more interesting than I imagined.”

“It was a dare,” Julia said, hands on her hips, “That’s all.”

“We were continuing our game from before,” I said.

“Oh, that’s cool,” Chloe said, “We should totally keep going with that.”

“No,” Julia said, “We shouldn’t.”

The line moved more quickly than I thought it would. When we got to the front, I told a man dressed in a pirate costume there were seven of us. He broke us into three groups. Alyssa and I got in the front. Kelsey, Kevin, and Julia went behind us with Sarah and Chloe sitting behind them. We had the whole boat to ourselves.

Once everyone was seated, the boat lurched forward and plunged us into darker darkness. We floated through a wall of mist.

“Dead men tell no taaales,” a pirate-y voice said.

“Dead men eat no snaaaails,” I said.

“Dead men don’t ride raaaaaails,” Alyssa said.

“Bread men won’t find saaaaales,” Kelsey said.

“You guys are ruining the mood of this,” Julia said.

We went past a scene of a crab picking at a skeleton, then dropped down a short hill. It was less dramatic than I remembered, but maybe I was desensitized from the fall on Splash Mountain.

The boom of the cannons buffeted us on either side. When a ‘cannonball’ hit the water, Sarah got splashed and screamed. We all laughed, her included. We’d somehow managed to get wetter on Pirates than on Splash.

We came around the corner to the famous auction scene. I was really looking forward to the pirate saying ‘I’ll take the redhead’ since, you know, I was with a redhead and I had taken her. But they’d changed it and now the pirates were selling chickens, instead. I guess I could see the point — selling women isn’t exactly an acceptable thing to do. Even for pirates.

After we went past an animatronic Jack Sparrow, we got out of the boat and rode up a long, flat escalator. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face — the ride was as fun as I remembered. Maybe even a little better. Robot pirates for the win!

We went through the gift shop and back out onto the streets. I almost suggesting turning back around and getting right back on Pirates. I really wanted to keep going. There was so much more to see! But I couldn’t. My legs ached. My eyes burned. My body basically started its shut down procedure without my permission. I could tell everyone else was going through the same process of excitement and exhaustion.

So, with heavy hearts, we started heading back to the hotel. As we turned down Main Street, however, a booming voice announced that we were five minutes away from the fireworks show. We all looked at each other like little kids begging for our parents’ permission.

“Yes,” I said, “We pretty much have to.”

We found a place on the grass and settled down. The sky was a sheet of black. The grass surprisingly soft. The lights around us went dark and the castle, itself, lit up. Music swelled. The sky boomed and filled with a rainbow of exploding, chemical stars.

The air was cool enough that I started to wish I’d brought a sweater. I suppose Sarah was feeling the same because I suddenly felt her press against my side. I saw that Chloe was lying on her older sister, on the other side.

I felt someone lean against my left arm. I assumed it had to be Alyssa, but when I looked over, to my shock, I saw it was Kelsey. Her short blonde hair rested against my chest, tangling with Sarah’s long locks. I caught Kelsey’s eye and the beautiful blonde smiled and snuggled closer. Kevin lay down so his head rested on Kelsey’s chest.

I felt a pair of arms wrap around my shoulders. I looked back and saw my girlfriend smiling at me. The attractive redhead looked purposefully at the women on my left and right and squeezed me tighter. I saw that Julia was now lying on Sarah, as well. Right next to Chloe.

I leaned back into Alyssa’s chest. Let my head loll. Smelled the coconut scent of her hair. All seven us now resting against each other. The park went completely dark. Music played while characters were projected onto the castle. The skies filled bright with color. As if the whole World was celebrating our arrival.

The big finale came and the music soared. A bright, green glowing Tinkerbell leapt from the castle and flew overhead. The crowd cheered and we all shouted along with them. A minute later, the lights came up on the park. The show was over.

We all slowly got up, brushed ourselves off, and started marching toward the exit. Our first day in Disney was done.

“This is nice,” Kelsey said, as if she’d just figured that out.

“It really is,” I said.

*

The bus for All Star Movies wasn’t there, but All-Star Music was already waiting and so we took it, instead. The vehicle was super crowded, full of sleepy toddlers, weary parents, and overloud preteens. We all managed to squeeze on, but it meant standing the whole way back to our hotel. I gripped the overhead bar and Alyssa held onto me. We swayed back and forth with the road.

The bus pulled up at the All-Star Music and then vomited us out like a Freshman girl at her first frat party. We got our whole group together and walked along the front driveway, through a parking lot, and towards our own hotel. The night sky was washed out from all the ambient light. I thought the resort grounds might be busy, but it was practically silent — everyone was either already in bed or still out at the parks. It wasn’t all that late, really, but it sure felt like it.

When we got to our building, we all exchanged quick hugs.

“How was your day?” Julia asked Sarah, “I mean, this is supposed to be your trip after all.”

“It’s been awesome,” Sarah said.

“It still is awesome,” I said.

“It’s going to get even awesom-er,” Allyssa said.

That established, Sarah, Chloe, and Julia all went around to their side of the hotel. Kelsey, Kevin, Alyssa, and I tromped up the stairs to our room. We stumbled through the doorway. Our suitcases, still unopened, were waiting for us on the beds. Getting changed for sleep was going to be a bit of a complicated operation, I could tell.

“Girls in the bathroom, guys out here?” Alyssa asked. Kelsey, Kevin, and I all shared a dubious look. But none of us could think of a better option. The girls grabbed their things and went into the bathroom. I took my suitcase off the bed, opened it and found a pair of plaid pjs. Quickly, I shucked off my pants and boxers and pulled up the pajama pants. I head the rustling sounds of Kevin doing the same.

I climbed into bed and lay down, I was about to flip the TV on when I heard giggling coming from behind the bathroom curtain. Alyssa and Kelsey both. I looked over at Kevin. He was lying back on the bed, also wearing plaid pj pants. He really was in fantastic shape, I noticed. A good amount of dark chest hair that belied his clean-shaven face.

The girls started laughing again and Kevin rolled his eyes.

“You may have to go in there to rescue your girlfriend,” I said.

“Not without backup,” he said. I wondered if he realized what he was suggesting.

Finally, the bathroom curtain slid open and both girls walked out. Kelsey was wearing a pair of tiny yellow boy shorts and an old t-shirt with, appropriately, a picture of Minnie on it. Alyssa had on a silky, white top with black, lacy edging. It left her shoulders uncovered and hung down to right above her knees. It was super sexy, and probably the least revealing thing I’d ever seen her sleep in.

The girls joined us in our respective beds.

“What was that all about?” I asked Alyssa.

“Just girl talk,” she said, then kissed me on the cheek. Kevin reached over and switched off the light. I closed my eyes and started to think back through the events of the day. I barely got past breakfast before I started to drift off…

I felt Alyssa shake my arm. I struggled back to consciousness. I couldn’t tell what time it was, only that I’d certainly been asleep.

“What’s up?” I asked, doing my best to whisper. The pretty redhead shushed me anyway. Then she nodded her head over at the other bed. I tried to look over, but I couldn’t see much. Two human-sized lumps under the sheets. Maybe a bit of movement?

Alyssa smiled at me, dangerously.

“They are not,” I said, quiet as I could.

“Yuh huh,” Alyssa said. She leaned up and kissed me hard on the lips. She put her hand on my cheek and then started to drift it downward. Through my chest hair and into my pajamas.

I reached down and grabbed her wrist. I mean, I wanted her to keep going, but I also couldn’t imagine getting frisky while Kevin and Kelsey were in the bed next to us. There was risque and then there was risky.

“They’re doing it,” Alyssa said, pouting. She started to kiss me again. I felt her lift the bottom of her dress up over her hips. Her butt. She settled herself back down on my crotch and I swear I could feel the heat of her sex through the fabric of my pants.

Nervously, I looked over at the other bed. My eyes were starting to adjust. I could make out that Kelsey was resting her head on Kevin’s chest. They did seem to be moving back and forth a bit. Then they shifted, rolling over so Kelsey was lying on her back. I saw the sheets rise as she opened her legs. Raised her knees upwards.

Well then.

Alyssa reached down and pulled my pants down to my knees. Then she grabbed my manhood, more than ready, and rested it up against her opening. She smiled at me. Looked over at Kevin and Kelsey, then back at me, and dropped right down. Sheathed me in her sweetness.

Alyssa let out a long, satisfied sigh. It had been days since we’d done this and it felt incredible. She sat up, letting the sheets fall back. There was no hiding what we were doing any more. I looked over and found Kelsey staring back at me. Blue eyes shining through the darkness. I gave her a smile and she nodded at me. As if giving me permission.

Kelsey’s body began to slide back and forth slightly. Kevin was clearly fucking her. The beautiful blonde’s face contorted in pleasure. Alyssa began moving, as well. Sliding up and back slowly, letting both of us luxuriate in the feeling of my cock in her cunt. Alyssa raked her nails across my chest, playfully.

I heard Kelsey make a long low moan. I looked over and saw her eyes flitting around the room. At Kevin as he plowed into her. At Alyssa as she rode me. Right at me, both of us, feeling that drive to release.

“He’s giving it to you good,” Alyssa said, and I realized she was talking to Kelsey. I don’t know why, but somehow acknowledging each other made everything feel even stranger than it already was. The odd discomfort that was also illicit. Thrilling to feel so right and wrong in the same moment.

“He is,” Kelsey said, “So good. Ben?”

“His cock feels so nice,” Alyssa said, “Riding him is the best. You should do the same to Kevin.”

“OK,” Kelsey said, as if it was an order. She rolled Kevin over so he was on his back. Then she climbed on top and, in a mirror of my redheaded girlfriend, impaled herself on Kevin’s dick. They groaned together.

Both women were now on top, in reflection of the other. Kelsey’s breasts were slightly smaller than Alyssa’s — she was smaller in general, actually. But their female forms seemed matched as they both rode the cocks inside of them. I stared at them both, entranced.

Alyssa’s movements got more frantic. She bent down, resting her weight on her arms. Her freckled breasts hung down so invitingly. I saw Kelsey lean down, as well. Her short, blonde hair tossing back and forth.

“You look really good,” Alyssa told her.

“You don’t… look so bad… yourself,” Kelsey said.

“He getting you there?” Alyssa asked.

“Getting… close. Yeah.”

“You going to cum, Kevin? Alyssa asked. “You going to fill your little Kelsey up?”

He grunted in response. Alyssa slowed her movements, savoring being wrapped around my dick. Watching while Kelsey started to shake. Moan.

“Here, let me help you,” Alyssa said. Before any of us could react, Alyssa jumped off my cock and went over to the other bed. She slid in behind Kelsey while the little blonde rode her boyfriend. Alyssa put her hands around Kelsey’s waist, then ran them down, through Kelsey’s flaxen pubes and right to her clit.

As Alyssa’s fingers made contact, Kelsey stiffened. I thought she was upset, but then her whole face contorted with pleasure and she screamed. Shook.

“Oh! FUCK!” Kelsey said. She fell forward, still shaking from orgasm. Leaving Alyssa sitting there and staring down at Kevin’s cock as it jutted outward. Dark and curving upward slightly.

I turned to my side, my own dick still sticking outward, too shocked to do anything but stare. My girlfriend leaned back a bit and stripped off her outfit, leaving her completely naked on top of Kelsey’s boyfriend. Alyssa looked down at his cock and licked her lips a little.

“Here, let me get that for you,” she said. She bent at the waist and took Kevin’s stiff prick into her mouth. I waited for him to say something, but instead he just groaned. Kelsey turned and looked back to see what Alyssa was doing. Her eyes went wide.

“It’s OK, I’ve got him,” Alyssa said, mouth still full of cock, “You take care of mine.” She said it like it was the most natural thing in the world. Kelsey gaped for another moment, then nodded and slid off the bed. Wordlessly, she climbed up between my legs, dipped her head down and swallowed me whole.

I cried out in pleasure. Kelsey had always been an enthusiastic cocksucker and, immediately, I could tell that she’d gotten practice. Her movements were a little more controlled, skillful. Beautiful blonde Kelsey sucked my cock — tasting me and the remains of my girlfriend’s juices — while my girlfriend, herself, worked Kelsey’s boyfriend, licking her flavor off him.

I looked down and saw Kelsey had her hand between her legs while she sucked me. I reached down and found her breasts. Rubbed at her nipples. I slowly pulled her up to me. We didn’t say anything. Didn’t even meet each other’s eyes. Kelsey reached down, aimed my cock, and sat right down on it.

Fuck her pussy was tight! I heard a long, low groan and saw that Alyssa had done the same with Kevin. All four of us now, as before. Only we’d switched top halves. Kelsey had her eyes closed. Her lips pressed tightly together. She grunted every time she bottomed out on me. I reached down, found her clit and started to rub. The beautiful blonde moved faster. Her breasts bounced. Her movements became more erratic.

I heard the sounds of similar coupling in the other bed. It was strange, hearing the familiar noises of Alyssa’s pleasure, but not being the cause of them. Not that I was paying all that much attention — I couldn’t take my eyes off Kelsey. God, she was so amazing. I’d forgotten how nice it was to be buried in her snatch.

“Come on, Ben,” she said, “Cum. I’m so close. I need you to cum for me.”

“Yeah,” Alyssa said, “Give to her. Give it to meeeeeee!” Alyssa jumped off Kevin’s cock. She started stroking it with abandon. Kevin grunted, and a steady white stream shot out. Splashing Alyssa’s pink breasts. Her neck.

Kelsey put her hand on my cheek and gently turned me to face her. Then she let herself fall forward. Pressed her breasts against my chest. Whispered in my ear.

“Don’t worry,” she said, “Your little slut knows where your load is supposed to go.” She made a little gasp, then shuddered. She started rocking back and forth. Faster and faster. Chanting.

“Cum Ben. Come on. Cum.” Louder and louder. “Cum in ME!”

I stiffened from fingers to toes and, finally, went over the top. Ecstasy started at the root of my shaft and radiated outward as I blasted my cum right into Kelsey’s pussy. Again and again. Load after load of fertility filled the beautiful blonde and as I did, I felt her body collapse over mine. Her mouth open in a long, strangled gasp.

“Ha. HA AH!” Kelsey breathed, arching her whole body. Then finally she settled. Sank back into my arms. She giggled a little bit, then rolled off me. She looked over at the other bed and saw Alyssa splayed on her back next to Kevin. The two girls’ eyes met and they both started to laugh.

“Well that was different,” Kelsey said.

“That was awesome,” Alyssa said. She got up off the bed. Kelsey started to stand up, but Alyssa motioned for her to stay down. The lascivious redhead sauntered over and casually spread Kelsey’s legs open.

“Since you were kind enough to take my boyfriend’s cum, it’s the least I can do,” Alyssa said. She knelt down and put her mouth on Kelsey’s sex. I watched in awe while my girlfriend lapped my jizz right out of Kelsey’s dripping cunt.

The blonde laid back and sighed, like she was getting a massage at the spa. Her arms and legs spread out languid. Kevin and I both sat forward and stared. Mute.

Kelsey gasped and shuddered. She giggled again and stretched, sighing.

“Much better,” Alyssa said. She stood up and wiped her mouth with her forearm. Kelsey gave Alyssa a look like she was now ready to go all over again, but my girlfriend just gave the blonde girl a playful slap on the ass and climbed into bed next to me. Kelsey shuffled over to her own bed, not too pouty, and lay down next to Kevin.

“That’ll teach them to fool around when there’s another couple in the room,” Alyssa said. She kissed me lightly on the lips and I tasted a strange melange of her own sex, my spend, and Kelsey’s juices.

“Like we learned in kindergarten, you have to bring enough to share,” Alyssa said. She curled up around my shoulder and drifted off. I heard Kevin and Kelsey do the same.

*

I waited for sleep to arrive, but it ghosted me. The room was still dark, filled with the heavy breathing of three other, blissfully unconscious other people. The A/C rumbled quietly. I lay there wide awake. The music in my head was too loud — the memories too thick and fast — and it swept me away.

When Alyssa had said we could be an ‘adult’ couple — people who didn’t need to be tied up in silly stuff like jealousy — I’d assumed she’d meant superficial stuff, mostly. Maybe I’d cup a boob or something. But this was way more than I’d ever imagined. I didn’t want to be one of those ‘what does all this mean’ people, but there I was. Wide awake. Wondering what it all meant.

You’re not a settle-down-with-one-person type of guy, I reminded myself. Last summer proved that. It’s why I was with Alyssa, after all. So why did I suddenly feel so guilty?

I stared up at the ceiling and surrendered. I carefully extricated myself from the bed. Found my pants and shirt on the floor and got dressed. Slid on my sneakers. I creaked open the front door and stepped out.

It was warm out compared to home, but cold for Florida. I wrapped myself in my arms and shivered. The sky was still dark and starless. I heard the rumble of distant fireworks. Then I looked down off the balcony and saw a familiar face looking back up at me.

“Hey,” Sarah said, and gave me a little wave. She was leaning against the pool’s chain link fence in a way that made it seem like she should be smoking a cigarette.

“What are you doing out here?” I asked. She shushed me and motioned for me to come down. We met me at the bottom of the Mighty Duck mask steps. Sarah was still wearing her outfit from the day — shorts and a t-shirt — but she’d pulled a yellow sweatshirt on over it and it made her look very cuddly. Kind of like her buddy Winnie the Pooh, actually.

“Couldn’t sleep?” I asked.

The sexy brunette shook her head. “You?”

“Same.”

“Too excited about being at Disney?” Sarah asked.

“Sure,” I said, “Let’s go with that.”

She gave me a dubious look but didn’t say anything. Buried her hands in her sweatshirt pockets.

“Is that why you’re out?” I asked, “Disney buzz?”

“Sure,” Sarah said, “Let’s go with that, too.”

We shared a long look. Sad yet also warm. Like we’d known each other a thousand lifetimes and this was just the next one in the string.

“You going back to bed?” I asked.

“Don’t think so,” Sarah said, “Pool’s right there. I think it’s closed for the night but that never stopped us before.” For a moment I really thought about it. This was an old tradition, right? Me and Sarah getting soaked. But then, that was exactly what had gotten me all worked up in the first place.

I looked down at my phone. It felt so late, but it was only about 10:30. “You know what?” I said, “I have a better idea.”

*

We walked back up to the lobby. We didn’t say a word the whole way. About halfway over, I reached back and Sarah grabbed my hand. She smiled at me and flounced a little — gave her chest a little extra bounce.

We went through the lobby, discordantly loud and bright for the hour, and made our way over to the bus stops. We waited by the side of the road until the bus labeled Disney Springs showed up and we climbed on board.

Still saying nothing, like words might break the spell, we sat together on the bus. It was about halfway full, everyone talking quietly. Sarah rested her head on my shoulder. The ride to Disney Springs was way shorter than the one to the Magic Kingdom. Before I knew it, we stopped with a hiss and the doors swung open.

When I was a kid, they’d had this Downtown Disney area with a few shops and it was like the world’s saddest outdoor mall. Now, though, this was something different. The place was lit practically to daylight. Stores were bright and huge crowds flowed past. Live music blasted out of bars and busy restaurants. It was still a big outdoor mall, but it felt like a real thing now. Like somewhere you might actually want to go and have fun.

Again, Sarah took my hand and we started to walk around. We looked in shop windows and did some people watching. I tried on some silly Mickey hats. There were two different Star Wars shops and, of course, I had to go into both. We found a bench with a sculpture of Winnie the Pooh next to it, and Sarah let me take her picture standing next to the funny old bear.

We didn’t talk much, just absorbed the atmosphere. Exploring together like this, it felt like being a couple, and I let myself enjoy that sensation. Maybe more than I should have.

After all that wandering, we were both feeling hungry. Sarah went into a bakery and brought out a very decadent looking cupcake, covered in other candies and cookie crumbs. Like it needed any extra sugar. We sat on the edge of a fountain and shared it. Listened to the rush of water while everyone walked by.

“So, you want to talk about it?” Sarah asked.

“Not really,” I said, “You?”

“It’s like, we’re here. It’s all happening,” Sarah said, “Julia and Kelsey. You. Maybe I am feeling the Disney buzz.”

“If you’re thinking about me, Julia, and Kelsey that’s not Disney you’re buzzing on,” I said.

“That part, too,” Sarah said, “The last time we were all together it felt like this amazing, magical, inexplicable thing. And I missed it.”

“You didn’t miss it,” I said, “In fact, I’m pretty sure you started the whole thing.”

“Sure, I guess. But I was with Robbie and caught up in all that life stuff. I mean, you guys had so much fun and I feel like I just sat on the sidelines.”

“That’s football,” I said, “In baseball terms you felt benched.”

“Is now really the time to get into this?” Sarah asked. She stood up and started walking. I hurried over to stay with her.

“Right. Sorry. Look, I get what you’re saying. Sort of. Maybe I remember it differently, but I’m not going to tell you that you don’t feel the way you do. We’re here together now, aren’t we?”

“That’s just it. We’re here,” Sarah said. I took her hand in mine again. “Together. With my little sister and your girlfriend and Kelsey’s boyfriend. Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy for you guys. I’m just sad for me. At the end of last summer, I thought I had it all figured out. My future. My love life. All of it. We rode off into the sunset, happily ever after.

“I went to school and, I’m sorry, it sucks so hard. Artists are assholes. I kind of forgot that. Then I caught my stupid boyfriend fucking one of them. And I couldn’t even get mad cause I did the same thing to him the summer before. But it still sucked. I called Julia because I felt all alone and I felt like you guys were my only friends in the world and here we are. All together again. Only not, you know, together.”

“So that whole speech you gave me this morning,” I said. God, how was that only this morning? “The one about wanting to be alone. Find yourself?”

“I meant it,” Sarah said, “I’m not looking for a relationship. I’m not. I just… it doesn’t stop me from feeling lonely, either. I’m the worst person in the world, rooting against other people’s happiness. This selfish, unlovable bitch that no one can bear to be around.”

“You know that’s not true,” I said, “God, Sarah. I wish you could have seen inside my heart that first time I saw you again, outside your apartment. Maybe you felt like the last trip was a happy ending but for me? God it was so hard to see you go. I’m not sure how I’m going to do it this time. I’m trying not to think about it. Maybe you can take me with you to art school. I can beat up all the mean people for you.”

“You’re sweet.”

We found a bench looking out on the lake and sat down. I saw that Sarah was crying. Her face lined with tears. I felt self-conscious, but no one was looking our way.

“I must look so stupid. Crying like a five-year-old at Disney World.”

“You fit right in,” I said. Sarah punched me, not hard, then sniffled.

“I’m sorry,” she said, “I didn’t want to lay all this on you. I’m at the happiest place on earth and it’s just making me sad. I’m alone, I’m miserable, and I don’t know what to do anymore.”

“And you’re not taking pictures,” I said.

“Yeah, that too,” Sarah said, “In some ways that hurts the most. Like the one thing that I know makes me happy has been cut away. But every time I pick up the camera I get this sick feeling in my stomach. Like I don’t deserve it.”

“You deserve happiness,” I said, “I promise. And you’re not alone. I really am here.” I took her hand and pushed it against my chest. “See. Solid. Julia and Kelsey both love you and if you let them in, they’ll be there for you too. You have your sister. You’re talented as fuck and… God, you’re so fucking gorgeous it hurts me to look at you sometimes. I think everything’s going to turn out OK. I know that’s easy for me to say but I really feel that.”

Sarah looked at me, deep brown eyes shining. She wiped her tears away and took a deep breath. Then out of nowhere she shot forward and kissed me. Not like the silly, playful ones from the car. Or the sex-driven, hungry ones from before in the bedroom.

A real, true, loving kiss. The kind that communicated all the things we don’t have words for. I let myself drown in Sarah’s lips.

We pulled apart. Sarah brushed the hair out of her eyes.

“I think I can go to sleep now,” she said. We stood up and made our way back to the buses, hand in hand. They were starting to close the area down. Everything droned down to nothing. Lights winking out one by one.