the more you know

Ellie still wasn't sure she was ready for the pool.

She knew Eric thought she had a body image problem. Maybe she did.

He'd poured out all sorts of information about himself to her just to let her know she was not alone.

1. He can only grow whiskers on his sideburns and under his chin. His beard is a bit patchy and not something he's proud of.

2. He kissed everyone in pre-school because he liked the way their lips felt.

3. His Dad is from England and lives there with his new family, and Eric's never met his other siblings.

4. And he's pretty sure its is sister who always kept insisting he had to be gay. Just had to be.

Eric told her this while in his underwear in his room. "Oh, and I sleep in the nude." One other tidbit he had to add. Eric also told her he hadn't smoked pot anymore with Kyle, either.

"He hasn't been around much lately, but then I've been with you." And he'd left it at that, touching her nose with his index finger as if that would be the magic she needed to stop this nonsense of seeing the glass half empty instead of half full.

Of course, it didn't help much that she came home late into the night from her so called little library business.

"Just what have you been doing with this Eric?" Her Mom wanted to know.

"Nothing." Only she imagined the touching, the kissing, his skin next to hers, Ellie did her best to keep a straight face. "Everything is OK. You don't have to worry about me." She hated getting the third degree. She didn't want to be angry with her Mom and all the questions. But it was so hard to do. She had to shut down before she became rude and made everything uncomfortable. "Please, Mom, just let it go."

"I think he needs to come over for dinner," her Mom kept her arms crossed staring at Ellie as if she knew what was really going on.

"Dinner?" This felt so embarassing. "Promise me, no baby pictures. I don't want him seeing me in the buff with the dog." She hated that picture. She was only two in the picture. But it wasn't something she wanted dinner guests eyeing.

First the pool. Now this.

"Sure, why not," Ellie sighed.