Mari Rosales sat at the edge of the bed, her hand drawn to her mouth and her insides feeling like she’d been kicked in the stomach. She had a habit of biting on her fingernails when she was nervous and she couldn’t force herself to kick the habit in this instance.

Her friend Tiffany was pacing back and forth in the blue bedroom that she occupied. She had invited Mari over to pry her for details about the homecoming dance that Mari and Stacy went to the night before. When Mari reported that she hadn’t been successful in her attempts to woo Nick and cause tension with Stacy, Tiffany became furious.

After an initial bout of yelling, Tiffany started grabbing various items in her room to hug to her chest while she paced the room. At the moment, she held a turquoise blue pillow to her chest. She wore a teal blue tank top and white Capri pants.

“Let me get this straight,” Tiffany said after a few silent minutes. “You found the time to fuck your boyfriend in the bathroom but you couldn’t get Nick alone for two minutes? I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you with this plan.”

“Tiff, he’s not my boyfriend. He’s just some guy I met at one of my parties one time. He’s cute but not a good fuck, no.”

Tiffany threw the pillow to her bed like she was holding a hot potato, startling Mari.

“Oye, what is it?”

“Aha, I’ve got it. You just said you met your date at one of your parties. That’s where Nick and Stacy met right? I thought you said he hooked up with some other girl there.”

“Si. It was the blonde conchita who broke up with one of Nick’s friends and started dating another one. I think he was involved too.”

“Well there you have it,” Tiffany said. “You were there. Just tell Stacy that Nick was in a threesome with some whore the night they met and we’ll see how genuine she thinks he is now.”

“Do you really think that will work? That was before they started dating. I think your best bet is if he hooks up with someone new, someone he hasn’t met before.”

Tiffany jutted her long pointer finger at Mari, affirming her idea.

“I like where you’re going with this, girl. You need to have a party this weekend. We’ll have to invite all of the hottest girls we know, even the bitches. Do you think you can get your parents to leave for the weekend?”

“Most likely. They’ve been dying to see some fall colors and you know they’re going to have to drive way up into Wine Country to get close, probably further than that. I could convince them that now is a good time to take a weekend trip.”

“Gotta love Napa,” Tiffany said. “We have to get some of these girls to go for Nick and Nick to go for some of the girls. We need to make sure Stacy catches him in the act or that there’s at least enough evidence that she’ll have to leave him.”

“Are you sure you want to do this? I know you have feelings for Stacy too and all but I think she really likes this guy.”

Mari continued. “She’s your best friend. She may not like you getting in the middle of their relationship if word gets out that we’re planning this.”

“Don’t worry, it won’t. That is unless I can’t count on you to hold up your end of the bargain again. You know why we have to do this, right? If he would cheat on Stacy so easily with me at the mall, what makes you think he wouldn’t cheat on her again?”

“Si, very true. I just hope you know what you’re doing, Tiff.”

“Oh I do. Trust me.”

**

Frank Hawkins entered Louie’s Bar for what he hoped would be the last time. It had been an enjoyable trip for him to Southern California but it was time he returned home. He’d come here for a few reasons, to finally own up to his past and meet his son Nick, whom he’d had no sort of relationship with during his 18 years and to also find a way off the streets.

Frank had revealed to Nick that he was homeless and out of a job. While he didn’t want to say he was looking for a handout; that was essentially what he was doing. Frank was willing to do whatever it took to avoid being homeless forever.

But after the fiery reaction he received from his former love interest and Nick’s mother, Roberta, he knew she was in no mood for reconciliation or charity. It was time for Frank to face the facts and move on. He had at least met his son and they seemed to get along fine.

He didn’t want to continue sending his son mixed messages about how great it was to have sex with whoever you wanted when in large part Frank was in his current situation due to his constant desire for sex. He hoped his son didn’t fall into the same patterns he did.

Maybe Nick would see how much of a bum he was and take a hint. Frank had last been serious with a woman 5 years ago and their successful 3 year partnership nearly led Frank to change his ways and finally settle down but it was all for naught. The desire overcame Frank again and he ended up cheating on his then fiancée.

His latest predicament saw him sleeping with his boss’s wife, which led to his current state as an unemployed homeless man.

Frank sat at the counter and ordered a pint of Guinness, his longtime beer of choice. The bartender quickly served him and moved down to assist another patron. Frank took a sip of his cool beverage and saw the door open out of the corner of his eye. He noticed Nick enter the building, holding the hand of a cute brunette who appeared to be a good 6 or 7 inches shorter than him.

Frank fought the urge to acknowledge his son since he wasn’t sure if Nick shared the nature of his reappearance with his friends. Frank couldn’t blame Nick for hiding the fact that he had a deadbeat dad that finally showed up in his life after 18 years.

Frank took another sip of his beer as Nick and his guest were seated at a table behind Frank. Frank was surprised that the place had any available seats on a Sunday but then remembered the Chargers had a bye week this week. There were a few obnoxious Raiders fans seated on the other side of the bar but the other drinkers and diners looked like regular folks just enjoying a good meal or hanging out with friends watching some football.

Frank suddenly felt very alone. He’d met some good people while here but none that could help him out financially and none that he could call on when times were tough. It wasn’t like he had a lot of friends to go back home to. He’d slept with his buddies’ wives or girlfriends and all of his female friends. He thought to seek more answers for his behavior like Nick was doing but figured it was too late for that.

He looked over his shoulder to the table where his son and the girl were sitting. The girl got up and headed towards the women’s restroom. Frank didn’t see any sort of acknowledgement from his son.

It was probably best for him to just leave now and forget any of this had ever happened. Frank considered leaving the remainder of his beer at the counter and walking out but felt a sudden tap on his shoulder.

“Hey, Frank. How are ya?”

It was Nick.

“Nick, what are you doing over here? Do you really want your date to know about me?”

“Relax, I’ve got a few minutes. Women and the bathroom, you know?”

“Right,” Frank said. “How’s your little…problem coming along?”

“I actually think everything’s going to be ok,” Nick smiled. “I’m seeing a therapist and even though I’ve only been once, it was a great session. I asked Stacy to be my girlfriend and we had a great night at homecoming last night; she’s the girl in the bathroom right now.”

Nick moved closer to Frank’s ear to whisper something.

“And the best part,” Nick continued. “Is that we had sex 3 times last night and once this morning. All of those urges I’d felt before seem to be gone. Maybe it was as simple as having a girlfriend and knowing that I don’t want to do anything else to upset her that’s allowing me to move past this.”

Oh no, Frank thought. He remembered feeling that way too, just 5 short years ago. That was when everything else in his life began to go downhill.

“Well I’m glad you’ve figured things out. But before you go, I wanted to tell you that I’m leaving.”

“Why? What for?”

Frank swallowed hard and looked towards the women’s restroom. He definitely didn’t want Nick’s girlfriend overhearing his problems.

“I’m still broke, still homeless. Things are much easier to afford up where I’m from since I wasn’t able to figure out anything during my visit. At least I got to meet you though.”

Nick looked visibly disappointed. Despite being out of his life for 18 years, had Frank somehow won his son’s affection? It gave him a small sense of hope that he actually mattered to someone else.

“Don’t worry. I can always come back once I’ve got things figured out.”

“Dang, that sucks,” Nick said. “I wish there was something I could do.”

Frank’s ears perked up at the mention of Nick willing to offer help.

“Well if you’ve got any lifelines for jobs or housing, I’d be willing to extend my stay.”

“I’m not sure what I could do. I don’t even have a part-time job. What did you do for work before?”

Frank wasn’t sure he wanted to disclose what he really did for a living. It could cause more harm than good if Nick found out. Before he could answer, Nick’s girlfriend arrived from the restroom.

“Who’s this, babe?” Stacy asked.

Nick hesitated; apparently shocked she had emerged from the bathroom so suddenly.

“Uhh, this is Frank. He’s a family friend.”

Family friend, eh? Good cover.

“It’s nice to meet you Frank.”

“And you as well, Miss?”

“Stacy. I’m Nick’s girlfriend.”

“Well then, Stacy, I won’t keep you two from enjoying your day. Goodbye.”

Without waiting for them to go back to their table, Frank placed a dollar bill on the bar to leave as a tip and walked out of Louie’s and out of his son’s life as if he had never entered it.

**

After enjoying a nice lunch with Stacy, Nick held her hand as they walked through a scenic park not far from Louie’s Bar. The sounds of water surrounded them as they walked past an old fountain.

Nick wished he could have done more for Frank and didn’t want to think that was the last chance he possibly had to speak to his father but it very well might have been. Instead of dwelling on the side of pessimism, Nick thought back to all that had transpired following the homecoming dance and the night of bliss he shared with Stacy at the hotel.

After the first time they had sex, they fell asleep in the spooning position. Nick had placed his still hard penis near Stacy’s entrance for no particular reason, if only to comfort him in knowing that he could still have sex with her again when they woke up.

He had awoken to the pleasurable feeling of his bare penis nestled inside of Stacy’s vagina instead of being sheathed in a condom.