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The next morning when I wake up I hear my parents arguing downstairs. I block them out by turning on my record player and I grab a book from my shelf to get lost in. I have nine hours to kill before Eric comes to pick me up. If I’m lucky, my parents will go up to the VFW to play cards or something later on.

After an hour of reading I finally get out of bed and go across the hall to shower up. I don’t know where Eric is taking me later, but I decide I’ll change clothes into something a little nicer later on. Once I’m dressed I go on down to the kitchen. Daddy’s gone, but Mama’s sitting at the table with a cup of coffee and one of her magazines.

“Mornin’, Mama.”

“Good morning, Sookie,” she says without looking up.

“Where’s Daddy?”

“Out fishing with Terry and Ray.”

Of course. It’s Saturday.

I pour myself some orange juice and put a few slices of bread into the toaster.

“What are your plans for today?” Mama asks.

“I’m going to work on my homework and later on tonight I have a date.”

Mama looks up at me with concern.

“He’s a good boy, Mama. It’s the boy from the lake this summer. He moved to town and he’s living over on Hummingbird now. His name is Eric.”

She doesn’t look too convinced, but says, “Tell me about him.”

I organize my thoughts and tell her what I know about him. His love of books, his dreams of becoming a teacher, that he’s polite and respectful of me… most important that he loves me.

“Does he really, or is he just saying that like the others?”

“It’s real. He looks at me different than those other boys. He talks about books with me and he wants me to do well in school. His father all but offered me a job when I graduate from high school.”

“What kind of job?”

“Secretary. I think Mr. Northman is an architect. He said his firm is always hiring new girls. I think I might give it a try.”

“But I thought you wanted to get married?”

“I do, but I can have a job, too.”

“Sookie, sweetheart, working in offices is for men and women too unattractive to find a husband,” Mama tells me. “Your place is at home, keeping the house and raising the kids.”

I sigh and bite my tongue to keep from sassing her. The more I think about her point of view, the more kookie it sounds. Eric wouldn’t feel threatened if I got a job; he would be proud of me. Finally someone would be proud of me.

I eat my toast, drink my juice and then go back up to my room to study. Time passes much too slowly, but I get all of my work done. Around three I start getting ready. I set my hair in rollers, fix my makeup and put on my favorite red dress with black dots on it. I style my hair the way I want it and then dig out my black high heels. Just before five o’clock I’m ready.

I go downstairs and find Daddy in his chair in the living room.

“Where are you going?” he asks.

“On a date,” I answer. “The boy I went steady with over the summer moved to town, so I’m going out with him.”

“Bring him in. I want to meet him.”

“Yes, sir.”

God help poor Eric.

A few minutes later Eric pulls into the driveway. He parks the car and comes to the door like the gentleman he is. The bell barely rings before I open the door.

“Hi,” I grin when we’re face to face.

“Hi,” he smiles, and pulls flowers out from behind his back. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” I take the flowers from him and lift them to inhale their scent. They smell like heaven. “Come in. Daddy wants to meet you.”

“Okay,” he says, and steps into the house.

I lead him to the living room and introduce him to my father, who is still parked in his chair. “Daddy, this is Eric Northman. Eric, this is my father.”

“It’s nice to meet you, sir,” Eric says, and holds out his hand for Daddy to shake.

Daddy grips it firmly and nods. “You gettin’ the milk for free, or are you fixin’ to buy the cow?”

I should be shocked by that, but I’m sadly used to Daddy assuming the worst where I’m concerned.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” Daddy says without letting go of Eric’s hand.

“I respect your daughter, and I treat her like the lady that she is,” he says. “And if she ever agrees to marry me, I’ll consider myself lucky.”

Daddy snorts and says, “If you take her off our hands, you’d be doing us a big favor.”

Eric’s eyes go wide and he pulls his hand away.

“With all due respect sir, you shouldn’t talk about your daughter like that. She’s better than you seem to think she is.”

“You don’t know her very well then,” Daddy says. “Just wait and see. Be home by curfew, Sookie.”

“Yes, sir,” I say, and then quickly pull Eric out of the house before he can throw a punch at Daddy, who was definitely cruisin’ for a bruisin’.

Once we’re in his father’s car, he looks over at me with a disbelieving look on his face.

“I’m sorry you had to see that,” I apologize.

“Is that what it’s like for you all the time?” he asks.

“For as long as I can remember, but it’s gotten worse since the rumors started.”

“That’s awful, Sookie,” he says. “It’s no wonder you don’t think well of yourself.”

Hearing him say that, as true as it is, is painful. I don’t want to cry and ruin my makeup, so I steel myself and forbid my eyes from doing it. But I want to.

“Let’s change the subject,” I suggest with a smile.

“Okay.”

Eric starts the car and the further we get from my house, the lighter my mood gets.

“So where are you taking me?” I ask him since it isn’t obvious to me where he’s going.

“The next town over,” he says.

“Oh.”

The wicked voice in my head whispers that maybe he’s embarrassed to be seen with me, but I know that isn’t true.

He must sense my shift in mood because he adds, “Because I don’t want you to be worried about what people are thinking of us all night.”

“I’m not,” I assure him.

“Would you rather stay in town?”

“We don’t have to. If you had somewhere in mind, that’s fine with me.”

“I really don’t want to mess this up.”

“You won’t.” I slide across the seat at a red light and kiss his cheek.

“Then let’s go have a quiet night where no one will bother us.”

“Fine with me.” I rest my head on his shoulder and enjoy the ride. It feels good being with him again.

A few minutes of quiet go by before I ask him what his parents’ reaction was to finding out I live just a few blocks away.

“They were shocked, and happy,” he smiles. “They want you to come over for dinner soon.”

“I will. I like your folks. They’re good people.”

“They are,” he agrees. “And they love you as much as I do. Just in a different way.”

It’s bizarre to hear him say that. I don’t doubt he’s being truthful since Eric has always been honest with me, but then I remember they don’t know a lot of things about me and I wonder if their opinion would change if they found out the truth. Living in this town means they will. When it gets out that I’m dating their son, the other mothers will whisper over the fence. The fathers, between war stories and reviews of lawn mowers, will mention getting Eric tested for the Clap because he’s seeing me. I’m used to the rumors, but I’m not sure they are.

We pull into the parking lot of the Starlite Diner and Eric parks the car. I wait while he gets out and comes around to open my door for me. I study his moves and note how none of it seems forced or like it’s an attempt to manipulate me. The boy I met at the lake that was scared to talk to me, but wanted nothing more than to hear me speak, is still standing right next to me.

He’s a keeper and I very nearly threw him away.

I can’t think of words to say that won’t embarrass him, so I push up on my toes instead and kiss him. I don’t care who might be looking, or what anyone might think about it. I love this boy and that’s all that matters.

“You okay?” he asks with a smile.

“I’m swell,” I smile back at him, and take his arm as we walk into the diner.

It’s busy because it’s a Saturday night and we aren’t the only teenagers on a date. We’re shown to a booth covered in shiny aqua vinyl with chrome plating on the table edges. A little jukebox is wired in at the end of the table and we’re handed menus before Harriet, our waitress, hustles off to help other customers.

“Have you been here before?” Eric asks while he looks over the menu.

“Once or twice. Usually we go to Ruby’s since it’s in town, but the food is good here too.”

“I think I’ll get the burger just to try it,” he says, and sets his menu aside.

“Good choice.” I know what I want so I set my menu aside, too.

“And I’m getting a chocolate shake.”

“Tired of being jealous of mine, huh?” I tease.

“Time for a change,” he smiles, and reaches for my hand.

I let him have it and lean over to see what’s in the jukebox that I might like. I’m interrupted by Harriet, and we order our meals. I turn back to the jukebox with Eric’s hand still wrapped around mine and look up out the big window over our booth when bright headlights catch my eye.

When I see a bald head and violet eyes my breath catches. What in the world is John Quinn doing here?

EPOV

“What’s wrong?” I ask when Sookie’s whole body seems to tense up.

“See the cue ball that just walked in?”

I look up and see a jock-looking type standing by the door. He’s tall and bald, but that’s about all I notice about him.

“Yeah,” I say. “Do you know him?”

“That’s John Quinn,” Sookie informs me.

That’s the name of the boy who took Sookie’s virginity. I want to go confront him. I’d like to punch him. But I refuse to ruin our date. I look at Sookie and smile.

“You’re here with me, and we’re having a lovely time, and I love you,” I say. “Don’t pay him any mind. He doesn’t deserve it.”

“He deserves a good kick in the pants,” she says. “But you’re right; you’re what matters and not him.”

“He’ll get his,” I say. “But he’s already ruined too much of your life.”

“I hope you’re right,” she says with a small smile.

“Haven’t I always been?”

“Don’t go getting cocky on me now.”

“Not cocky, confident,” I smile.

“Mmhmmm…”

“You brought it out in me,” I say. “I like who I am since meeting you.”

“I don’t blame you. I like who you are, too.”

“And I like who you are.”

Harriet drops off our milkshakes and then disappears into the crowd of customers. As always, Sookie goes straight for the cherry on top of her milkshake.

“That’s not all that mouth is good for,” Quinn says under his breath as he passes our booth.

I hate the look that comes across Sookie’s face when she hears what he says.

“What did you just say?” I ask Quinn.

“Eric, don’t,” Sookie says.

“I said that’s not all her mouth is good for,” Quinn says without a hint of shame. “Ain’t that right, Sook?”

“Get bent, Quinn,” she says.

“Don’t talk to her like that,” I say.

“And what are you gonna do about it, creep?” Quinn snickers while staring me down.

“Quinn!” Sookie glares up at him.

“I’m just making sure your suitor here knows about all of your talents,” Quinn says.

“Then I guess I should let everyone know that this conversation lasted longer than you did in the backseat,” Sookie says with a raised voice.

The diner goes silent for a few seconds and then I burst out laughing… and I’m not alone.

Quinn’s big head turns bright red and Sookie says, “I’m not gonna say it again, Quinn. Get. Bent.”

“You’ll regret that,” he says, but walks away.

“That was brilliant,” I tell Sookie.

“I guess.”

It really was. And it makes my inner guy happy to know that it wasn’t that great. Maybe I won’t be so intimidated when the time comes for us.

“I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself.”

“Thanks,” she says. “I just wish I didn’t have to.”

“I wish that too.”

The waitress brings us our food, and I happily dip a fry into my chocolate milkshake.

“I’m really happy we’re here,” I tell her. “I’m looking forward to a lot of dates with you. And the best part is that there isn’t an end in sight this time.”

“I sure hope not,” she says as she lifts a forkful of mashed potatoes to her mouth.

“As long as you’ll have me, I’m yours.”

Sookie smiles and nudges my foot with hers under the table. I nudge hers back and pick up my burger.

“What would you like to do when we’re done here?” I ask. I don’t know how she feels about a lovers lane situation. I’m not even sure what her curfew is.

“We could go for a drive if you want,” she suggests. “Or I could show you where kids around here go parking.”

I smile and say, “I like the sound of that.”

“The drive or the parking?”

“The parking.”

She looks relieved and says, “Good.”

“Why wouldn’t parking with you sound good? Unless you’re suddenly a worse kisser…”

“You know I might be. You might need to whip me back into shape.”

I grin and say, “I’m willing to put in the time.”

“I’m so lucky to have you.”

“Reverse that.”

“I love you too,” she says.

I just smile and take another bite of my cheeseburger. We finish dinner with no more troubles and then Sookie shows me how to get to the place kids go parking. I find a nice, secluded spot and turn off the car.

“I can’t wait to get my own wheels,” I say.

“What do you want to get?”

“A Chevy.”

“Rag top or hard top?”

“Dad says hard tops are safer, so probably that.”

Sookie nods and asks, “What color?”

“I’m not sure. I’d like to find one the color of your eyes though.”

Sookie smiles and slides across the seat.

“Your eyes are prettier, though. A little blue, a little green and there’s gold right by your pupils,” she tells me.

“I love that you notice all of that,” I say, and kiss her gently.

“I love your eyes. I love what they see when they look at me.”

“I love what they see too.”

She touches my cheek and then presses her lips to mine. I kiss her back in a sweet way at first, but our kisses soon grow hungrier.

“I missed doing this,” I say between kisses. “When is your curfew?”

“Ten.” It comes out almost like a moan and she moves my hand to her chest.

I groan when I get to massage her breast, and before I have time to think about it I find myself suggesting we move into the backseat. Sookie smiles and slips her shoes off before climbing over the front seat to get in the back.

I follow her quickly and soon I’m settled on top of her, kissing her neck and massaging her breast again. I’m not interested in taking it much farther than we are used to. We have all the time in the world to get there.

Sookie’s moaning and panting underneath me and her hips start to move, too. I move my kisses back to her lips and groan into her mouth. She knows just how to please me, but I realize that I’m not actually sure what to do to please her.

I pull back and say, “Can I ask you something personal?”

“Sure,” she says breathlessly.

“Will you show me how to help you… you know.”

The corner of Sookie’s mouth lifts and she nods. She takes the hand that isn’t on her breast and moves it under her skirt.

I wasn’t expecting this, but it excites me. It’s new, and I want to please her as much as she does me.

“Is this okay?” Sookie asks me.

“Yeah,” I nod. “I want to. You just have to show me.”

“I will.”

Sookie guides my hand between her legs, but leaves it over her underwear while she moves my fingers where she wants them to go.

She feels so hot, and I watch her face carefully. Her body tenses a little and her face contorts in pleasure as she moves our fingers in a circular motion. I feel like I’m impossibly hard from being so turned on over this, but I know she’ll take care of that later. Right now I just want to make her orgasm.

“Kiss me,” she whispers, and pulls my face to hers by the back of my head.

I don’t hesitate to do as she says, and she immediately deepens the kiss. Sookie moans into it and moves our fingers faster. Her hips start to move again and her moans get louder.

I’m too scared to say or do anything. My eyes are glued to her face, and my other hand starts to grope her breast again. I can feel her hardened nipple through her bra and I hope what I’m doing makes her feel good. Her breathing gets faster and her movements become more spastic.

Then her body tenses and her eyes close with bliss written all over her face.

I smile proudly and place small, sweet kisses on her neck as she catches her breath again. That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever witnessed.

“I love you,” she says softly and turns her face toward mine.

“I love you,” I say. “You are so beautiful when that happens.”

“It feels… I don’t even know how to describe it. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” I smile. “I thought that had happened for you before though.”

“It has,” she smiles. “It was different this time because there was… more direct contact.”

“Oh,” I say, and I can feel my face get a little hot.

“Sit up,” she says, and starts to move her legs.

I sit back against the seat and wait to see what she does.

Sookie straddles my lap and puts both of my hands on her chest… and then her hips start to rock back and forth slowly.

I groan and my head falls back. I know it isn’t going to take much for me. I’m too on the edge over what we just did. Sookie leans forward and kisses my neck, slowly moving up to my ear.

When she gets there she whispers, “My panties are so wet right now because of you.”

I wasn’t sure what to expect when she said that, but it definitely turns me on even more. I can feel the heat rolling off of her, and she starts to make these little noises that I can feel where she’s working me over.

“Do you want me to take my top off?” Sookie offers.

“Yes,” I nod.

Her hands move behind her to unzip her dress. She unclasps her bra and then she shimmies out of both of them, leaving her top half bare for me.

My eyes watch as her breasts bounce and move as her hips rock on top of me. I don’t waste time getting my mouth on them either. I can feel myself getting closer.

Sookie moans and grinds her hips down against me. My hands go to her hips and a few seconds later my body goes stiff and my head rolls back again. When I explode I feel it all the way in my toes.

“Sookie!” I nearly shout.

She’s breathing hard too, and lays wet kisses on my neck while I catch my breath.

“You’re amazing,” I tell her.

She kisses along my jaw until she reaches my mouth, and then lets her fingers play in my hair when she gives me one of those deep kisses that steals our breath.

I’ve never felt happier in my life.

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