him to go get a beer for myself.
Twisting the cap off I fling it into the empty sink, spinning around with my
butt up against the counter. Chad was in dark jeans, clean Timberland boots, a
muscle defining cotton t-shirt with a long sleeve light button down collared
shirt over top. His grey streaked brown hair was down, the waves hitting just
above his shoulders as he ran his fingers through it. "So where you wanna
eat," I eyed him up as he chugged the last of his beer, putting the bottle
in the recycling bin near the door. God, when he bent over my eyes went
straight to his tight butt, the slight curve it had in his dark jeans. I had to
close my eyes to stop from staring, bringing the beer up to my lips to stop
from issuing a slight whimper of excitement.
"We'll find
someplace," he smiled. So it was going to one of those nights.
Where we just drove around aimlessly, stopping wherever and whenever. That was
perfectly okay with me. Finishing my beer, I grabbed my purse and an old
sweatshirt from the coat hook, letting Chad hold the door for me again as I
locked up. His truck was amazing, it even smelled brand new as I slid into the
passenger seat. It had all the bells and whistles, the perfectly clear sounding
radio thrumming to life with the turn of the key.
I ran my hand along the
pristine dashboard, playing with the radio buttons and opening and closing the
center console. It was so clean, I just had to touch it, a slight chuckle
coming from beside me. "It's like you've never been in a new
vehicle," Chad laughed, backing out of my driveway, a wide smile on his
face.
"Oh shut up,"
I kid, punching him in the arm then squealing when he jabs his arm at me,
trying to tickle me. "The road, the road," I squeal as his truck
starts to swerve and I push his hands back to the steering wheel, his laugh
warming my heart and making me giggle. Sighing I lean on the center console, my
head lolled to the side and resting on my shoulder, a smile on my lips as I
watch the almost barren landscape pass through the windshield as we drive out
of town. I see him adjust himself in his seat, leaning towards me and my heart
races as I see his arm hesitantly slide up onto the top of the console, his
hand mere inches from mine. I try not to let him know I'm watching out of the
corner of my eye as I see him shoot a look at my fingers tapping away on the
leather, his fingers wiggling as if he's nervous. Then he does it, he slides
his hand forward, taking mine and interlacing our fingers, his slightly rough
skin bringing my nerve endings to life. I had to close my eyes, the sensation of
his touch making the breath catch in my lungs, then I opened them to look down
at our hands, joined, resting on the new leather. He squeezed his fingers
lightly, bringing my look up to his face and the sweet, childish smile that was
on his lips causing one to pass over mine. The blush that followed embarrassed
me, diverting my eyes to my lap Chad squeezed my hand again and I squeezed
back, looking out my window at the darkened sky.
We drove like that for
probably an hour, silent except for small conversation, the radio blaring in
between me changing the stations, the entire time our hands joined over the
center console, never parting. I noticed the sign for the Great Dismal Swamp
National Wildlife Refuge as Chad turned past the open gate, picnic tables and bike
trails lining the road as we drive by. He pulled up in front of a covered
pavilion, throwing it in park I look over at him with a raised eyebrow,
"What are we doing?"
"Come on," he
smiled, releasing my hand and leaving it cold only for a second as he slams his
door shut, jogging around to open mine for me, "we're gonna go for a
walk." His hand was warm as I slid mine back into its resting spot, his
fingers squeezing mine lightly as I threw my sweatshirt over my shoulder. I
notice Chad spit out his Skoal pouch as we walk down a little sidewalk towards
the sparsely lighted tree line and I can't help but giggle,
Tamara Rose Blodgett, Marata Eros