Ally Hughes Has Sex Sometimes by Jules Moulin

standing behind her. “Sounds fun to me.” She could feel him at her back. He whispered in her ear: “Teach me, too?” He placed his hands on top of her shoulders and started to massage them.
    Ally turned and said kindly, “Not a great night . . . and you have a cold.”
    Teddy’s face fell. He stepped back and leaned against the table, perching his buttocks half on, half off. “You need to get out of Brooklyn, Al. Out of this house.”
    Ally turned to the sink, embarrassed. She picked up a Brillo and started to scrub a casserole dish. “I’m sorry. You’re right.”
    â€œWe got together. Your mother was sick. You said you were stressed. She passed away and you were sad. When I’m upset,
all
I want is to hop in the sack. We have fun. Don’t we?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œHave you ever been—
frigid
before?”
    Ally paused and looked at the dish. “
Frigid
?” she said quietly, wondering if in fact she was. She turned. “But we fool around.”
    â€œYes, we do, but we’re
adults.
Grown-ups, Ally, and I can’t get past second base.”
    Ally nodded. He was right. That was true.
    Teddy looked around the kitchen. “I think you’re stuck. In her house. You can’t have
fun
in your
mother’s
house. You can’t get out from
under
her—spell.” Ted reached into his pants pocket and pulled out the soggy handkerchief. He blew his nose. “You need a vacation—or a shrink.”
    â€œMaybe,” said Ally. “My best friend’s a shrink. I’ll ask her.”
    â€œOr maybe you’re not attracted to me.”
    â€œPlease,” she insisted, turning around. “You’re attractive. You are.”
    â€œI know!” He laughed. “I know I am! I’ve got appeal.”
    â€œYou do.”
    â€œBut that doesn’t mean . . . Some women need—some need a meal. Some need commitment.” He was musing.
    Ally nodded. “Some do,” she said, “but tonight, I’m tired. Five-course dinner, cooked from scratch. Lizzie and her nose . . .”
    â€œAll right,” he said. “I’m an ass. I got you a new set of golf clubs. There.” He pointed to the corner.
    â€œTed.”
    He straightened and lifted his buttocks from the table and tucked in his shirt. “I want to take you down to this course. I like you, Al, I always have, and I’d like to take this to the next level.”
    Ally studied him for a moment. “Aren’t you—
seeing
other people?”
    Teddy paused. “Not
really.
”
    She rubbed her eyes. “I thought you were. I had this sense—”
    â€œYou want to go steady? We can go steady.”
    Ally turned to the counter and picked up a piece of tinfoil. She wrapped it around a chicken breast.
    â€œYou want me to pin you? Give you my ring and my varsity jacket?”
    She turned and handed the chicken to Ted. “Did you play sports?”
    â€œNo,” he admitted. “Only the golf.”
    Ally smiled.
    â€”
    At the front door, he kissed her. “You know what I thought? All night tonight?” He lowered his voice.
    â€œNo. What.”
    â€œAlly has a fantastic ass. It’s perfect.”
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œI’d pay for that ass. To
own
that ass.”
    She gently pushed him out the door.
    â€œThat turns you on,” he sang as he left. “You’re pushing me out
because
you’re turned on.” He trudged down the stoop. “Am I right?”
    â€œNope. Good night, Ted. Thanks for the wine.”
    â€œNight, Al. Love you.”
    Ally waved and watched him walk off toward Hicks Street. Then she looked up at the low-hanging clouds and held out her hand. It had started to rain.
    â€”
    In the kitchen, she washed down the table.
    Maybe he was right, she thought, Ted.
    Claire was still so alive in these rooms.
    She drew still