“In movies, it's all beautifully choreographed, set to an increasingly dramatic soundtrack.In movies, when the boy pulls the girl to him when they are both finally undressed, they never bump their teeth together and get embarrassed and have to laugh and try again.But here's the truth: In movies, it's never half so lovely as it is here and now with Jase.”

“But here’s the truth: In movies, it’s never half so lovely as it is here and now with Jase.”

“Is Jase already going to marry you?"I start coughing again. "Uh. No. No, George. I'm only seventeen." As if that's the only reason we aren't engaged."I'm this many," George holds up four slightly grubby fingers. "Jase is seventeen and a half. You could. Then you could live in here with him. And have a big family." Jase strides back into the room, of course, midway through this proposition. "George. Beat it. Discovery Channel is on."George backs out of the room, but not before saying, "His bed's really comfortable. And he never pees in it."The door closes and we both start laughing.”

“Is Jase already gonna marry you?” I start coughing again. “Uh, No. No, George. I’m only seventeen.” As if that’s the only reason we’re not engaged. “I’m this many.” George holds up four, slightly grubby fingers. “But Jase is seventeen and a half. You could. Then you could live in here with him. And have a big family.” Jase strides back into the room, of course, midway through this proposition. “George. Beat it. Discovery Channel is on.” George backs out of the room but not before saying, “His bed’s really comfortable. And he never pees in it.”

“We get to the front door and I lean back against it. "Thank you," I repeat."You'd have done the same for me." Jase puts his thumb under my chin and tips it up. "It's nothing.""Well, except that I can't drive, and you never would have gotten yourself into that situation and---""Shhh." He pulls on my lower lip gently with his teeth, then fits his mouth to mine. First so careful, and then so deep and deliberate, that I can't think of anything at all but his smooth back under my hands. My fingers travel to the springy-soft texture of his hair, and I lose myself in the movement of his lips and his tongue. I'm so glad I'm still alive to feel all those things.”

“You okay? This okay?" I nod, pulling his hips more tightly to my own."Now we'll make it better," Jase vows, and begins to kiss me again as he starts to move in a rhythm. My body follows, unwilling to let him go, already glad to have him come back.”

“So now you've met my mother,' I say to Jase that night, leaning back on the roof. 'I sure have. That was awesome. And completely uncomfortable.”