Half an hour later, Erica came out of the bathroom in patterned pajamas. They had characters from the popular cartoon Boonie Bears plastered all over them.

In the bedroom, Matthew stood beside the bed, hands in the pockets of his pajamas. He stared at the two items on the bed intently.

“Hey, Matthew. What are you looking at?" Curiously, she walked over and saw the wine red nightdress Debbie had bought for her. She felt embarrassed to wear it so she kept it in the closet. She never took it out.

So why was Matthew so interested? ‘Wait! What is that thing beside the nightie? It looks familiar...' she thought, confused.

Matthew was wearing his poker face. By now she knew what that meant. He was angry. He picked up the box and asked, "So, is this the reason why you won't make love to me?" It never occurred to him Erica wouldn't sleep with him because of this.

Erica's face turned bright red all of a sudden when she remembered what was in the box. It was the sex toy Debbie bought her the other day! She lunged for the box, trying to wrest it from his hands.

“No! It's not..." She was so flustered she could barely speak.

Matthew wouldn't give it to her. He raised it in the air and stared at the agitated girl, still expressionless.

“Why are you so upset?" he asked.

How could she not be, now that Matthew found the box? "Look, get your mind out of the gutter. Mom bought it for me. She and Dad went abroad, saw it in a shop window and dropped money on it. I wanted to throw it away..."

"Then you found a use for it, right? Is that why you didn't throw it out?"

‘What the hell? She had never used it; she didn't even know how to use it! "I-I... I forgot it in the closet. Please! Give it to me! I'll throw it away, okay?" ‘Oh my God! How embarrassing!’ She really wanted to cry. How could she forget to put it in the garbage?

Instead of giving it to her, Matthew opened the box and took a look at the oval-shaped thing inside.

“We could use this tonight. What do you say?"

Erica was about to cry.

"No, Matthew. I really didn't buy it. I didn't use it either." 'Boo...hoo...Mom, you've really screwed things up.

Matthew calmly closed the box lid.

"Oh, I thought you couldn't wait any longer. It seems I misunderstood you

“Yes, you big oaf. Why would you think I want something like that?" If it weren't for Debbie, she wouldn't even own one. She'd have no idea where to get it, even. ‘Boo...hoo...

“But..." He paused, smiling evilly.

"I think it's better to keep it. It might be useful And it might. A bit of spice for their sex life.

Matthew was getting more ideas, even though they hadn't actually slept together yet.

“Quit playing around, Matthew. Give it here. I‘1l throw it away! Give it to me!" Erica jumped up and down in front of him for a Long time, but couldn't reach the box held high in the man's hand. She was anxious, angry and shy.

But Matthew didn't give it to her. He took the box and walked out of the bedroom. He was going to make sure she didn't throw it away. He felt the safe might be a better place for it.

Erica grabbed his sleeve and begged pitifully, “Matthew, let's talk about this. Don't do that!"