“Did you get it?” I asked Pete when he called. He had taken his driver’s test that afternoon and you’d think by my gyrations, it had happened to me instead.
“Of course.”
“Was it hard? I need details!”
“Nah. Piece of cake.”
“That is hella awesome. I still have months to go.” I hated being the youngest person in my class.
“I thought we could celebrate.”
Yes! “Whatcha got in mind?”
“A drive? Sometimes you’re a little slow, Trapani.”
I giggled. “Your parents will let you take the car?”
“They trust me. It’s not like I haven’t been practicing for months now.”
“Hold on.” I set the phone down and scrambled into the kitchen where I asked my mom for permission. She consented, with a few rules to which I readily agreed before racing back to my room.
“She said okay, but no freeways, and I can’t go far.”
“See you in twenty minutes.”
“Drive carefully!”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Sorry. Go. See you soon.”
I paced until he slid to the curb in his mom’s station wagon, a wide grin plastered across his face. I bolted out the door, my smile matching his. He drove! By himself! It was almost as good as getting my own license.
“Where to, my fair lass?” he said.
My brain scattered several directions. “Let’s go up Broadway Terrace and turn right into the hills. There’s a great view up there.”
Pete put the car in drive and smoothly pressed the gas pedal.
“Impressive,” I said.
He smirked. “And you expected something different?”
He was so cocky sometimes, but I smiled. “Not really.”
We drove through the foothills for the pure novelty of it. Pete finally pulled over, parking at a small unintentional overlook.
I made him tell me every detail about his driving test, and we talked about what kind of car he wanted to buy. He said his parents wanted him to drive the station wagon for a few months before getting his own vehicle, but they would pay for his car and everything.
I glanced out the window, admiring the gorgeous sunny day we found ourselves in. I had bigger questions on my mind when it came to Pete O’Reilly than what his first car would be.
I took a deep breath, steeled myself and took the plunge. “Can I ask you a question?”
He stretched his arm along the top of the front seat, giving me his undivided attention. “Shoot.”
Whew, here goes. “Are we ever getting back together?”
“Why don’t you say what’s really on your mind?” he said, chuckling.
I smiled. “It just seems like…we’re…well…”
“Yeeeees?”
He was not going to make this easier. “I want to be with you. And I think you want to be with me.”
He stared out the window, obscuring his face from my view. “You’re right, I do. You’re like a bad habit. I tried staying away from you but obviously,” he gestured with his hand, “I have not succeeded.”
I smiled, wondering if I would be brave enough to tell him the rest.
“So, I guess that means we’re back together.”
I closed the distance between us and threw my arms around him. His held me close and we stayed in the embrace, neither of us wanting to break apart.
“Pete?” I pulled away slightly, staying close.
“Yeah?”
“If I tell you something, promise not to freak out?”
“It depends. You’re not half-Klingon or something weird like that are you?”
I laughed. “No such luck.”
He feigned relief.
I hugged him again and whispered, “I’m in love with you.”
He buried his head in my shoulder and his arms tightened around me. “I’m in love with you, too.”
My heart lurched in my chest. He loved me too! Hearing him say the words meant it was true. I moved to face him and without thinking, leaned my face toward his and kissed him on the lips. Soft and warm, a perfect fit with mine. We separated, but he pulled me back and we kissed again, this time with more intensity. My pulse quickened, mixing with sensations of excitement, yearning and others I couldn’t name. I had never experienced this. Somewhere in my mind, I could only discern perfection, the idea we were meant to be together. I wanted to kiss Pete forever.
Gone an hour already, I visualized my mother tapping her foot impatiently, expecting my return. With regret, I broke our embrace.
“I have to go,” I said.
He nodded. “I wish I didn’t have to take you home.”
I grinned. “Nice while it lasted though, right?”
Pete smiled back and I slid around in my seat, fastening the clunky safety belt, but staying right next to my boyfriend in the middle of the bench seat. I loved being able to say and think that word again: boyfriend, boyfriend, boyfriend. Not only was he mine, but we were bona fide in love. And we shared the kiss of the century! Several, in fact.
I giggled, reliving it.
“What?”
“Nothing. Just happy.”
Pete clasped his right hand in mine and drove with other hand on the wheel.
“Is that technique approved by the driver’s handbook?”
He laughed. “Don’t worry, Trapani. I got this.”
I believed him. Being at Pete’s side, my hand in his, I felt completely safe for the first time in months.
He pulled up in front of my house, kissed me goodbye and walked me to the door.
After a quick check-in with my mother to show her I still lived, I sprinted to the bedroom and called my friends straight away, telling them the juicy details of my reawakened love life. In my heart, I knew things were going to be different this time.
18
Summertime
I threw back the covers and practically vaulted out of bed, stretching my arms high in the air and letting out a happy groan. On a normal day, I spent twenty minutes contemplating
