Mrs. Mac looks at the clock and gasps, “Oh, look at the time! Is there anything else I need to take?” She refers to her spreadsheet. “Summer sausage. I almost forgot. JJ, will you run out to the garage freezer and get two packages of summer sausage?”
“Sure.” I mean, it’s the least I can do.
So, I go out to the garage. They have one of those huge chest-style freezers. The kind that you can fall into and never be found until someone else needs something frozen.
I hate these things.
And, of course, I see that the summer sausage is at the very bottom in the back.
Figures.
I’m leaning over, bent practically in half, trying to reach it.
And the stupid garage door is open. I hear blaring music coming from up the street. I recognize one of my favorite songs.
Great. It’s getting louder. I suppose the new cute neighbor boy is gonna drive by and see my butt stuck clear up in the air like this. Not a pretty picture.
I almost have my hands on the sausage when—honk!—a car horn scares me, and I very nearly fall in.
I manage to work my way back upright and turn around to see Phillip driving into the garage in his recently purchased little red BMW. He’s got the top down, the music blaring, and his hair is all messed up.
He looks sexy!
It is at that moment, I decide I’m done thinking.
Click.
Brain officially turned off, body officially turned on.
Yikes!
I walk over to Phillip’s car door, turn my back to it, jump up over the door, and land with my butt on his lap and my legs dangling over the side.
That was kinda slick. I didn’t know that doing the high jump in track would come in so handy someday!
Phillip catches me and says, “You know, I think I could get used to seeing your butt hanging out of the freezer every day when I come home.” He gives me a big, wonderful smile and says, “I was hoping you were already here.”
His arm is holding up my back, and he’s looking into my eyes.
“Yeah, well, you might change your mind when I tell you about the real interesting conversation I’ve been having with your mother.”
“Really? About what?” The way he asks makes me wonder if he already knows exactly what we were talking about. His voice has this, You’re going to tell me a dirty joke, aren’t you, tone to it.
“You.”
“Uh-oh,” he says, although he doesn’t sound the least bit worried.
I pull my legs into the car, tuck them under me, and flip around, so I am facing him. It’s more comfortable; plus, I like looking straight into his eyes.
“Yeah,” I say, poking my finger into his chest. “Uh-oh for you.”
“Why’s that?”
“Well, I think she wants me to try to seduce you.”
“Keep sitting on me like this, and you won’t have to try very hard.” His eyes are playful.
Oh.
I look down and realize that not only is this a more comfortable way to sit, but it’s also significantly more intimate.
I’m straddling the poor guy.
Shame on me!
He laughs. “In fact, you’ll be lucky if I let you out of this car.”
I smile at him, trying to make him think I was smart enough to plan it that way.
“Oh, come on, Phillip. I thought you’d play at least a little hard to get. Be a challenge.”
He looks at me seriously. “What are you trying to say?”
I let my voice drop its playful tone because he needs to know I am not joking around about this. “Look, you said I’d have to come to you. So, here I am, and you’d better write this down because it doesn’t happen very often. I admit it. I was wrong, and you were right. I didn’t really try in Mexico. I was scared and stupid, and I preferred to have you mad at me than not with me at all.”
“I know this.” He is softening but still has a stern look in his eyes. “So, no holding back this time?”
“That’s right,” I state firmly with a nod of my head.
“And no games?”
“What, am I gonna have to get a lawyer? I think maybe you need to make some concessions, too. You did leave me with two strange guys.”
“Fine. What do you want?”
“No bossiness,” I say with a sweet smile.
“Deal.” He is grinning from ear to ear, and I can tell this makes him happy, but evidently, he is still not completely convinced because he lowers his voice and says, “So, you’re really going to give this a try? A real try?”
“No, Phillip, I’m so through trying. I am doing.”
I curl my fingers into his shirt, pull him closer, and plant a big kiss on his lips. I keep kissing and kissing and kissing him.
I’m kissing him with every ounce of pent-up passion I’ve been holding inside me for however long I’ve loved him. His hands are in my hair, so it’s hard to determine right now when that exactly was. Oh, who cares? This just feels so incredibly right.
Finally, I think.
I might never stop kissing Phillip.
Ever.
Of course, it is at this moment that I’m startled by another loud, echoing honk, honk!
I open my eyes and slowly tear my lips away from Phillip’s. His dad is honking and turning into the driveway.
Phillip grins at me, but his eyes are smoldering. “Dad followed me home from the office. I was under strict orders from Mom to make sure he got here on time. They’re heading to Lincoln tonight with the Diamonds.”
“Yeah, your mom told me,” I say back, still staring into his eyes. We’re just sitting here, staring at each other, and I know I should probably move or get out of the car or something, but I sort of don’t want to. I’m afraid I might break the spell.
Something special just happened here, I think.
Just then, Phillip’s mom walks out into the garage and says, “JJ, did you fall in the freezer?” She sees me sitting on Phillip’s lap in the rather intimate position, laughs, and shakes her head. “You work fast. Heck, if I’d known my powers of persuasion worked so well, I would have suggested this to you years ago.”
I’m embarrassed, to say the least, but, hey, she kind of asked for it.
I extricate myself from Phillip’s lap, and we both get out of the car.
I notice that he can’t seem to take his eyes off of me. In fact, he is gazing at me with such intensity that it’s making me blush.
Thank God the Diamonds pull up in the RV. Mrs. Mac becomes a drill sergeant. She knows something has happened and wants everyone out of there quick. They get everything loaded up and leave.
Phillip and I are all alone.
Finally!
I’m sitting on the kitchen counter, and he is standing between my legs, his arms wrapped around me.
“Well,” Phillip says, “what do we have to do to get ready for this party?”
You’ve got to be kidding me!
I know Phillip is very practical and always needs to get everything finished and in order.
But, come on! Isn’t this what he wanted?
Okay, fine. I guess I’ll just have to persuade him not to be so practical.
So, I start kissing him, but it’s not working quite as planned because, although he is kissing me back, in between kisses, he is asking me questions.
“Did you go to the grocery store?”
Kiss.
“No.”
“Did you pick up the beer?”
Long kiss.
“No.”
“Did you make a list?”
Longer kiss.
“No.”
“Did you do anything?”
“Not yet.”
Then, I jump off the counter, lead that boy up to his room, and lock the door.
It’s time to finally do what everyone seems to think we have already done.
