A Walk in the Park

— CHAPTER ONE —

Jeremy was nervous. Lettie was so pretty and smart, he wasn't sure he could carry on a respectable conversation with her. He sucked a huge breath for courage and stepped over to where Lettie was standing with her friends.

"Could I," he began, "I mean, would you mind . . ." Jeremy was lost for words already.

Lettie saw how flustered the poor boy was, the tussle  of dark hair on the top of his head looking cuter than usual; his hands tangled just below his belt, wringing with sweat.

"Girls?" Lettie looked at her friends, "Do you mind?" She let her wrists wave her hands up and down as if to shoo her friends away like pesky flies. The girls left but giggled frantically as they stepped way.

"Did you want to ask me something Jeremy?"

"Yes," Jeremy's mind scrambled for the words. "I was wondering if you might, I mean, if you wanted to, and if you had time — "

Lettie leaned in close to Jeremy's face and spoke close to his ear. "Just whisper it to me. It'll be so much easier."

The boy smelled of a cologne of some kind — maybe the scent was sandalwood. "I had a dream about you, and in it, we took a walk in the park together," he whispered in Lettie's ear, the bursts of air from his lips ticking her earlobe. 

"And?"

"And in my dream I, - - I kissed you," he said with hesitation hugging each word.

"That sounds nice," Lettie whispered back to him.

"It does?"

Lettie nodded quickly with a beaming smile.

"So," Jeremy hesitated again, "would you? I mean, could you?"

"Let you kiss me in the park? We'll have to see about that. If you behave like a gentleman, then I will say the kiss is a definite . . . " Lettie paused for dramatic effect as she watched Jeremy's eyes get large . . . "maybe."

Now it was Jeremy's head bobbing quickly up and down, a giant smile beaming from ear to ear, his pearly white teeth glistening at Lettie.

"Tomorrow then? After school? A walk in the park?" 

Jeremy held his breath.

— CHAPTER TWO —

"You've barely touched your eggs," Jeremy's Mom chided.

"Not too hungry, I guess," he said.

"You'd better eat up. You've got a big day." At this, Jeremy threw a side-eye in his mother's direction but said nothing. He continued to fork the cold scrambled mess around his plate.

His mother, Dawn Stevens, wearing a form-hugging gray knit business sweater skirt, brought her leather valise to the kitchen table and stood over it, waiting. Jeremy finally looked up at her. An awkward moment later he asked, "What?"

"Do you think she suspects anything?"

"Lettie?"

His mother's stare bore down on him, silently willing her son to comprehend her dark expression. *Of course, Lettie! Who else would we be talking about?*

Jeremy stood and took his plate to the garbage bin under the sink and scraped the cold eggs into it. "Why should she?"

"You didn't give her the idea that you were overly anxious when you asked her?"

Jeremy slung his Star Fleet backpack over his shoulder and headed for the side door. "You worry too much, mother." He stepped outdoors and firmly closed the door on his mother's questions.

— CHAPTER THREE —

It was a perfect day for a walk in the park. A gentle breeze blowing through the trees and the sun shining warmly on their skin. Jeremy and Lettie walked hand in hand, enjoying the sounds of birds chirping and the rustling of leaves beneath their feet.

It was quiet between them. No nervous awkward conversation was needed to fill the empty quiet between them. Jeremy liked being near her — close enough to catch the scent of her shampoo, and close enough to study the outline of her collar bone where it dipped out of sight beneath her flowered top — the pretty top that kept her true shape secret from his eyes. From his touch. He had undressed her in his dreams, but those were just his imagination. Reality was much more exciting.

Lettie liked the feel of her hand in Jeremy's. She felt safe. Secure.

After they had walked a mile or so along the path that wound into the woods, Jeremy suggested that they stop for a moment to catch their breath and enjoy the scenery. They sat together on a fallen log. Jeremy pulled out some black velvet fabric from his pocket and handed it to Lettie. "Here, put this on," he said with a mischievous grin, "it'll make our walk even more special."

"You want me to walk blindfolded?" Lettie laughed. "How will I keep from falling on my head?"

"Don't worry," Jeremy encouraged her. "I'll hold on to you."

She took the cloth, still unsure, but curious as well. She wanted to find out if she could trust this boy. Lettie let out a long sigh and then, gave in to Jeremy's demand, tying the blindfold around her eyes. 

"You promise not to let me fall?"

"I promise. You can trust me."

Jeremy came to a sudden realization. A realization that aroused him physically.

He could study Lettie closely, without her being aware. Lean in. Inhale her scent at the nape of her neck. From close-up he could study the shape and fullness of her breasts. The look of her figure where her jeaned thighs met her torso — the lovely gap between her thighs just beneath her zipper.

"Are we going to stand here all afternoon?"

"No, I just got lost admiring you." Jeremy took Lettie's chin in his fingers. "I really think you are beautiful." He kissed her lips. It was a tentative, hesitant, unsure kind of a kiss. But a sweet kiss still.

"You should have warned me," Lettie said. "Then I could have kissed you back."

"Okay," Jeremy smiled, taking Lettie by her arms. I'm warning you." He leaned forward again and kissed her mouth — and as he did, Lettie put her arms around him and kissed him back. She pressed her mouth to his, but her lips remained tightly closed.

Jeremy touched her lips with his fingers. "You should open these next time."

"You are assuming there is going to be a next . . . ."

Jeremy's mouth was on Lettie's again, this time, his tongue seeking entrance to her mouth. A all moan came up from Lettie's throat and she opened her mouth for him.

…