Knowing that any attempt to calm things down would fail, Ed sat mutely on the couch watching the tirade continue. He believed John wasn’t going to s...eep with her until he was ready to make a commitment to her. It was the same reason that he had waited to make love to her. He couldn’t tell her that since it was John’s reason and they should discuss it with each other.Beth sat next to Ed on the couch, watching her lover vent her frustration. Having Ed here made it much more difficult to talk to. "You're so afraid of your Daddy, the conservative republican that you've buried yourself so deep in the closet and even resorted to hiring an impressionable girl to be your straight camouflage!" "What...what are you talking about?" he asked visually shaken. "Missy told me everything Derek. About how you're gay and you promissed her the family scholarship in exchange for her being your beard. But you were never really gonna get the scholarship for her, were you?" I couldn't...my dad said it. I’m Nicola Price,” said the girl.“You are the one that won an impossible scholarship. Is that right?” asked Sharifa.“Yes, well, it wasn’t impossible, obviously,” responded Nicola with a blush.“Well, I think it was wonderful,” said Sharifa as she held Nicola’s hands.“Thank you,” responded Nicola.“Get your drink and come with me,” instructed Sharifa.Nicola did so and followed Sharifa all that evening. Every boy that spoke to her, Sharifa introduced Nicola and made a point of including her in the. And I’m donating funds to cover materials. Anyway, for reporters, take their information and I’ll call them back. The one exception is Stan Jakes, from the Tribune; I already gave him an interview. Him you can put through.”“Got it. I wrote that down. I’ll make sure Kimmy knows.”“Thanks,” I said.I took the pink phone message slip from Keri and walked to Elyse’s office. I explained what had happened.“Wow! Bethany?”“So they didn’t tell you?”“No!” Elyse replied. “I think they might have been.