"Better." Lin's smile would have lit up the room."We're going to have a hard time explaining this to your mom." Actually, I think she's been expecting...it."I sat up, "What?" I told her last Summer. If I couldn't find the right guy before the end of the college, I was going to come home and seduce you. She tried to laugh it off, but she knew I was serious." Oh, hell." Besides, I told her if she tried to stop me, I'd go out and screw a whole biker gang. I think she'll be happier knowing it was. I watched and it was like Simone was a robot as she opened all her giftsand forced a sweet happy smile on opening each of the packages. Therewas expensive perfume, jewellery such as earrings for pierced ears, somemoney, sweets and even some sexy lingerie. These were the things mostgirls dream about receiving and yet it was clear to me that Simone wasstill in a state of deep shock, and despair about the trip. However hertears and sobs were seen by the other girls as tears of joy and not. “That’s it? My shoes?” I tell you, that’s the first man who’s ever liked me for my shoes. And they weren’t expensive shoes—they weren’t Manolo Blanhik or Prada. I bought them at a junk shop when I was a student. Very high, very pale yellow and very strappy. They went with the gown. “Are you married?” I asked. “No. But I could be. Are you good with children and dogs?” “Dogs?” But he had to go. He was in a hurry. He had more important matters to attend to, a plane to catch. I caught hold of his. We had classes, did homework, completed chores, argued about things, and were just like any normal family.At night, the house was full of lovers, sharing passion, sleeping together, unwinding from a stressful day.The sleeping arrangements were very fluid. The girls still had their room. They kept their stuff in their room. Rudy and I had our room. All that was exactly as it had always been. But who slept in the various beds changed on an almost nightly basis.Sometimes - rarely - everybody slept.