I loved holding Lance’s hand. We sat on a picnic bench sharing a sundae from Dairy Queen. The view was overlooking a bridge crossing Pensacola Bay. Lance had brought me here to visit his Aunt and Uncle who lived in Pensacola. For four months now we had been going out, but no one knew about it. Not even J.C. knew about it, and we intended to keep it that way.
“Hey Caryn, what do you say we attend the air show at the Navy base tomorrow?”
“Really Lance? That would be great! I love planes.”
“I know. That’s why I recommended it. The Blue Angels’ home is Pensacola.”
“I love the Blue Angels.” I said dreamily, sticking another spoonful of ice cream in my mouth. “They’re awesome.”
Lance chuckled. “Don’t talk with your mouth full.”
“Sorry.”
Lance took a spoonful of ice cream, swallowed it quickly, and stood up. He walked to the frail railing that kept you from falling straight to your death. He leaned on it and sighed. This upset me, so I put down the spoon and joined him.
“Lance, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I…….I just…….I don’t know Caryn. Something in me is missing. I feel this giant space right here.” He pointed to his heart. “And I can't fill it with anything. What’s wrong with me?”
“I don’t know Lance. Maybe you’re homesick. Maybe you need a vacation.”
“I could use one.”
“But we can't afford one right now. Maybe after we get back from Europe.”
Lance threw his arms around me and we held each other in the darkness. I watched the lights of the cars passing over the bridge one by one. He ran his fingers through my hair, and it sent chills down my spine. He turned me to face him and we kissed. It felt better than anything I have ever experienced in my life.
“I’m tired Caryn. What say we go back to the hotel?”
I yawned, then kissed him again. “Sounds like a plan.”
We threw out what was left of the Sunday and hopped into our car. (We drove in Lance’s 4-Runner since it was only a day’s drive.) We got back to the hotel at ten o’clock. I decided to take a shower before I went to bed. When I climbed out, I noticed that I left my clothes in my bag. I wrapped myself in a towel, and left the bathroom. Lance’s eyebrows immediately shot skyward when he saw me.
“That your nightgown?”
“Of course not you pervert!”
Lance wrapped his arms around my waist.
“I’m not a pervert. I just love my girlfriend.”
We began kissing again. This time, I couldn’t stop. I felt my hand loosen on the towel, and I felt the towel drop to the ground.
I couldn’t stop.