Chapters (38)
- one
- two
- three
- four
- five
- six
- seven
- eight
- nine
- ten
- eleven
- twelve
- thirteen
- fourteen
- fifteen
- sixteen
- seventeen
- eighteen
- nineteen
- twenty
- twenty-one
- twenty-two
- twenty-three
- twenty-four
- twenty-five
- twenty-six
- twenty-seven
- twenty-eight
- twenty-nine
- thirty
- thirty-one
- thirty-two
- thirty-three
- thirty-four
- thirty-five
- thirty-six
- thirty-seven
- epilogue
She hurried out the door and began walking the three blocks to home. She heard nothing but distant traffic downtown, and a cool breeze tipped her dress upward every few steps. Most houses she passed had already turned out their lights for the evening. As she turned onto her street, Johnny pulled up in his dad’s car. He reached over and lowered the window. “Get in, baby. It’s early.”
“Oh, Johnny, I really should...”
“...get into the car with your boyfriend,” he finished.
Violet dutifully climbed in, wondering if he was taking her home or elsewhere. She got her answer when he turned, heading up the mountain road. Excitement scampered along her spine. What would Mama say? Mama would never know.
Johnny found a spot overlooking the city lights and turned the radio on. Nat King Cole crooned “I love you for sentimental reasons...I love you and you alone were meant for me, please give your loving heart to me, and say we’ll never part” Violet turned her face to Johnny’s and whispered, “Let’s move to the back.”
“If you say so,” he grinned. He reached for her hand, his face suddenly still and solemn. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. It’s been over a year, Johnny. I don’t want to wait any more.”
Violet laid across the seat and pulled his body to hers. She explored his mouth with her tongue, teasing and probing. He unbuttoned her dress and eased it off along with her white lace bra, then lowered his head to her nipples, kissing and licking each one until she moaned. “Please...” she said.
“Please what?” he sounded choked.
“Make love to me, Johnny.”
Afterward, she tried to decide what all the fuss was about. It took only a minute and hurt more than she’d imagined. She wondered if sex ever felt good, and if practicing made it better. Johnny had collapsed on top of her with a groan. She stroked his sweaty back, grazing it with her fingernails. “I love you, Johnny.”
“And I love you. I’m going to marry you, Violet.”
She giggled and raised herself to rest on her elbows. “When?”
“Soon. I need to talk to my folks about a few things. And I’ll want to ask your dad for permission.”
She pulled her dress up and began fastening buttons, gazing at him in the moonlight. Violet told him, “I’ll love you forever, Johnny, but I won’t wait forever. I want to be your wife when you start college.”