" Megan, aren't I supposed to be the one who tells you things like that?" I said."I guess," she replied. "But I'm so mature for my age, I come up with...these things on my own, you know?" I can't deny that, Honey Pie. By the way, I'm glad you and I have been finding time to have fun together." Me too, Mom."After Jason left for his first year of college, Megan and I found our way back into each others' arms (and beds). There was no anxiety or tension as their had been with Jason and me. It sort of. Megan put her hand over his.“Thank you for coming. I can't stand being alone in here anymore, but I don't dare leave the children by themselves. They're asleep in the study.”“Why there?”“I certainly wasn't going to put them back in the same room after what Flora told me. I wanted them somewhere where I'm close.” She considered her next words carefully. “This house and these woods, are they...haunted?”“Yes,” Bryn said. “But not by ghosts, exactly.”“Okay. Whatever they are, are they. ”“What about Nick, personally?” “Personally, it doesn’t bother me. You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met. Sorry, that was an inappropriate comment.”“Nick?”“Yes?”“You’re very sweet. Thank you for saying that.”“I mean it.”Her lips were a glossy shade of pink. Was that gloss or lipstick? Either way, my lips felt dry and I had to chastise myself. I was precariously close to tasting her lips.My hands worked further down. I had to press forward in order to reach her clavicle. I was kneading. Beyond a basic sexual titillation, I had no interest in her or any other girls. My sole interest was to save money and, hopefully, leave home -- and, definitely, to make it to New York. At the Liberty Cash Grocery Number 23, Charlie himself couldn't fire my interest in his numerous female contacts.On my sixteenth birthday I received a driver's permit. My stepdad refused to allow me to drive the family car, but to me the permit meant I was one step closer to independence. I began planning the.