Pontius » Places

         The agony of the silence gnawed at Destin’s self-confidence and entire being. The words replayed over and over in her head: “I really didn’t mean to say that, Alec.” Her hands gripped the steering wheel like no tomorrow; stressing out was evident. Not only did she make herself utterly embarrassed, but Alec probably was disgusted with her. After all, what potential dating partner wants to hear about previous sexual escapades? Granted, Destin never went into gruesome, steamy details, but the discomfited feelings she experienced made it feel like each and every aspect of her “getting laid” had spilled out into the open air for all to hear. The flashbacks haunted her.

Sean, her ex (the very one that dumped her for Vegas prostitutes), liked to be in control and would take advantage of each adventure in the bedroom for some light dominating. He still cared for Destin and would never put her into a situation where she felt uncomfortable and therefore was satisfied with having being on top be his method of control. On special occasions like Valentine’s Day or her birthday he’d let her be on top if she wanted. However, that’s beside the point. All Destin could see now was a dim apartment room, Sean’s face, and sweaty (unmoisturized) skin. More or less, she was watching a new Saw trailer play in her mind. Every memory she had with Sean now scared her. Then again, who wants to remember the heartache that came with past flames?

In fact, her fear for thinking of Sean but being lost in thought regardless scared her to the point that when Alec spoke, she jumped ever so slightly. Her heartbeat picked up and she rapidly blinked her “deer-in-headlights” glare away at the reassuring “Oh.” With a deep exhale, Destin forced her hands to relax as she focused on Alex’s words.

“…only as one-third as likely to experience erectile dysfunction as men who exercise very little or not at all.”

Blink. Blink.

Blink.

Destin tilted her head to the side, her ponytail cascading toward gravity (wouldn’t Alec’s physics-y mind be proud—we incorporated physics!), as she took in the little blurb Alec used to provide comfort. Her mind took a minute to register, finding it necessary to repeat a small tid-bit of what he said. Let’s join Destin’s mind: “…experience erectile dysfunction as men….” This is the point where Destin’s smile reemerged from what seemed like endless suffering within her mortification. Visions and thoughts of Sean faded out and Alec appeared with a handful of the type of strange humor he possessed that assuredly made her laugh. Her burst of amusement started with small fits of giggles before it erupted into full-blown laughter.

Destin led her small car into a parking space, put it into park, and turned it off as she rest her forehead on the top of the steering wheel. Perhaps resting her head was a tool for balance, for it was undoubtedly true that Destin would have fallen over due to her giggling; but regardless, Destin shed all of her stress as she laughed like she had so many times back in the ol’ library.

With a relaxing sigh this time, Destin rolled her head along the steering wheel to look at her study buddy. She donned a wide smile, and waited a moment before finally speaking, “Thanks for being awkward along with me, Alec. It makes it so we’re even now.” She lifted her head up and moved to step out of her car. She then had a thought, because why not, and stood leaning her front against the frame of her car-–with her head rested against the hood. At that point, she waited until Alec exited the car as well before blurting on top of her smile,

“And, well… then is it fair to say you’re exercising vigorously?”