television. Lunches where they dished over their men, and
television. Lunches where they dished over their men, and
trips to the mal where they walked and shopped but
hardly ever bought anything. Though my mom had never
carried an extra pound and wouldn't until after she had
Arty, they'd formed a group to walk around the
neighborhood to help get in shape. It was more an excuse
to get away from us ever-present kids as they gossiped,
but I'd often watched them from the concrete front porch
as they passed by on their rounds and wondered what
made them laugh so loud.
There was no laughing as Eric and I walked. I'd set the
initial pace, but his legs were much longer and we ended
up walking faster than I usualy did. Pride kept me from
asking him to slow, and I didn't have breath left for chatter.
We passed office buildings and finaly, Green Street,
where Harrisburg went from city to neighborhood most
drasticaly. We passed bikes and other joggers, most
heading the opposite direction. I was glad for the pace that
made talk impossible. Eric didn't seem the chatty type,
anyway. Arms swinging, he didn't walk so much as lope
along the sidewalk.
Somehow I didn't care about the sweat ringing my armpits
or dripping down my cheeks. I hadn't bothered with much
or dripping down my cheeks. I hadn't bothered with much
makeup either, and no woman looks her best in
sweatpants. With any other man I'd have been cataloging
my flaws and wishing I'd at least swiped my lips with gloss,
but with Eric it simply didn't matter.
Because I knew he had made himself come at my com
mand, and it didn't matter what I looked like or wore. I
had power over him. He didn't know it, but I did.
It took a lot of the pressure off in a major way. I didn't
have to worry if he liked me or what he was thinking. I
could find out any time I wanted, just by writing him a
note. And if I decided I didn't like him, this never had to
go beyond a walk along the river.
'How far do you want to go?' His question came close on
my thoughts, startling me.
I looked at my watch, calculating the distance we'd gone
and how long it would take to get back. I was going to my
dad's supposedly to watch the boys while he and Stela
went to some charity fund-raiser, though I knew my real
task was to figure out what burr had gotten into Jeremy's
britches. Stil, it was only lunchtime. The sky had stil been
slightly overcast when we left, but now the sun had come
out. The first realy good weather of the spring. I didn't
want to waste it.
'Another half a mile.' I swiped the back of my hand across my face. 'And I need to stop for a drink, too.'
'Fair enough.'
