The Stake

“I miss you, too. But there’s nothing I can do about this weekend.”

“Yeah, I know.” He squeezed her knee, and his hand moved slowly up her bare leg to the hem of her skirt. He caressed her thigh. It felt good.

“Just don’t go throwing Candi at me every time you get upset.”

“Jealous?”

“Suppose I was always threatening to dump you for Cliff Ryker?”

“That shithead?”

“You think you’d enjoy it?”

“You wouldn’t. Not if you went ahead with it.”

“He’s cute.”

“Not as cute as me.” Jim’s hand crept under her skirt. She pushed it away. “He’s no gentleman, either.”

“And you are?”

“I’m not like Cliff. He isn’t the kind of guy who takes no for an answer. First time out with him, and he’d bang you till you couldn’t see straight. If that’s what you want, I’ll be glad to take care of it for you.”

“You go out with Candi, and you’ll never get the chance.”

“Hrnmmm. I like the sound of that. You mean, if I don’t, I do?”

“Where there’s life, there’s hope.”

She pulled the Mustang over to the curb in front of Jim’s house. Checking the windows and rearview mirror, she saw nobody nearby. She turned to Jim. She slipped a hand around the back of his neck. “No funny stuff,” she said. “Just a quick kiss.”

“How about coming in for a Pepsi, or something?”

She shook her head. “I have to get home. My folks are waiting.”

“Ten minutes? That won’t throw off your trip by much. Tell them you had to stay after class.”

I didhave to stay after class, she thought. It wouldn’t be a lie.

“Is your mother home?”

Jim answered by swinging a thumb over his shoulder, pointing out the Mazda in the driveway.

“Okay,” Lane said. “Ten minutes. No longer, though.”

She took her hand away from his neck and climbed out. Jim stayed in the lead as she walked up the flagstones to the front stoop. He unlocked the door and held it open for her.

The air was cool.

The house was silent except for the hum of the air-conditioning system.

Jim didn’t call out to announce that he was home.

“Are you sure she’s here?” Lane asked.

“Might be sleeping. Or taking a bath. Who knows?”

They entered the kitchen. Lane leaned against a counter while Jim took a couple of cans from the refrigerator. The air smelled fresh. It was almost too cold on her skin. It chilled the damp back of her blouse.

Jim found glasses, dropped ice cubes into them, and filled them with soda.

A glass in each hand, he stepped in front of Lane. She reached for her drink. Instead of giving it to her, he stretched both arms past her sides and set the glasses on the counter. His arms closed around her, pulled her gently forward until their bodies met.

“What if your mother walks in?” Lane whispered close to his mouth.

“I don’t think she will.” He tugged the tail of her blouse out of her skirt and slid his hands underneath.

Lane let herself sink against him. She kissed him.

Shouldn’t be doing this, she thought.

But she’d intended to kiss him good-bye, anyway. And his hands felt good roaming the bare skin of her back. And she liked the feel of his chest tight against her breasts. She could feel his breathing and his heartbeat.

He started to fumble with the catches of her bra.

She pulled her mouth away. “Oh no you don’t.”

“It’s all right.”

“No, it isn’t.”

He unfastened the bra anyway. She felt it go loose.

She grabbed Jim’s arms and pushed them down to his sides. “I said no, and I meant it.”

“Come on, what’s the harm?”

“For one thing, your mother.”

“She might be in town at the beauty parlor,” he said, smiling as if he expected Lane to appreciate the news.

“The car...”

“She usually goes with Mary from next door. Right about three on Fridays.”

“You knewshe wasn’t here?”

Still smiling, Jim shrugged.

“You lied to me.”

“Just a little fib.”

“Terrific,” she muttered, reaching up under the back of her blouse to fasten the bra.

“Come on, don’t do that.” He lifted his hands to her breasts.

“Cut it out.”

“Come on, you like it.”

“I told you...” She got one of the hooks fastened. He was squeezing, rubbing. She didlike it. “Damn it, Jim.” Not bothering with the other hook, she swung her hands around and pushed him away. “I have to leave.”

“No you don’t. Hey, come on.”

“This is what I get for trusting you, huh?”

“Look, I’m sorry I lied about Mom being here. Okay?” He looked into her eyes and gently held her shoulders. “I just figured you wouldn’t come in, and... we haven’t been together for weeks. I get crazy wanting to be with you. Sometimes, all I can think about is kissing you and how it feels to hold you. Especially after last time.”

“That was nice,” Lane said, remembering.

She had been under orders to be home by eleven, so they’d skipped the second feature at the movies and parked in the desert outside town. She’d refused Jim’s suggestion to get into the backseat. Staying in the front, they twisted themselves awkwardly to embrace and kiss. But it was wonderful. She felt daring and romantic and sexy in the moonlit car. Her blouse came off early. She managed to keep her bra on, though. In spite of Jim’s begging and his attempts to remove it. In spite of her own desire to rid herself of the garment and feel his touch without a stiff layer of cloth in the way. Finally she’d told him, “It’s almost time to leave.” He didn’t protest, simply nodded and murmured, “I guess so.” Reaching behind her back, Lane unhooked her bra. She took it off. His mouth fell open and he stared for a long time before touching. When he did touch her breasts, his hands were trembling.

Softened by the memories of that night, she stepped forward and put her arms around Jim. She kissed him gently on the mouth. “Apology accepted,” she whispered. “But I really do have to leave now.”

His hands slid down her back and caressed her rump. “What about your Pepsi?”

“Time’s all up. You can walk me to the car, though.”

He squeezed her against him and kissed her hard, then stepped away. “Guess I’ll just have to wait for next Friday, huh?”

“It’ll get here.”

“Not soon enough.”

“I’ll miss you,” she said.

“I’ll miss you more.”

“No you won’t.”

“Yes I will.”