CHAPTER 18

DIRK

Whitney Waconia was a television reporter with Channel 9 News. She interviewed me about Amy Autmn’s attack when I was in the hospital. She was a raven-haired beauty with arctic blue eyes and a dazzling smile that radiated from a wide mouth with full, luscious lips. She called me a couple times a day just to chat, and she sent me countless texts. Then she started to hint that I should ask her out on a date. So with a great deal of awkwardness, I asked her to dinner the very same day I told Amy that I had never been on a date.

I felt like she was out of my league, yet she treated me like I was a rock star. I asked my brother for tips on conduct and conversation while entertaining a young lady. What I got instead was a playbook for seduction. So I bumbled my way through dinner, and she somehow still felt the desire to see me again. The next night she took me to a club, which was not really my cup of tea. A day later I took her on a wooded hike, which was not her cup of tea. Then we went to a movie that was almost a neutral activity. Our next outing was to be a motorcycle ride on the upcoming weekend.

I arrived at Whitney Waconia’s condo on my 1997 1200cc Harley Davidson Low Rider on a beautiful, sunny fall morning. When I went up to get her, I was surprised to see that she had on a fancy leather motorcycle jacket. She’d told me that she’d never been riding before. Then I saw a price tag hanging from the sleeve. I pointed it out to her, but she told me it was intentional in case she didn’t like motorcycle riding and wanted to return it.

My bike had straight pipes rather than mufflers, and it barked loudly when I started it. Whitney jumped and her pretty face formed an ugly scowl. Then she clumsily climbed on behind me. She wrapped her arms around my midsection and snuggled in tightly. I never had given a woman a ride before, but it seemed I was going to like it.

After about a twenty-mile ride with one stop for a latte for her and black coffee for me, we returned to her condo. She stumbled a little when she climbed off my Harley. It was weird that Whitney appeared to move about better in her three-inch heels than in the tennis shoes she was wearing.

I walked her up to her condo. She had to change and go on an assignment. She said it would take her three or four hours, and she wanted me to come back at seven. She was going to cook me dinner. She unlocked her door and turned to look at me with a seductive smile, her bright blue eyes sparkling, and her jet black hair tangled from the ride, yet still attractive.

“Dessert is going to be extra good,” she told me as she ran the back of her fingers over my jaw.

I swallowed as my heart began to race. I got the feeling she wasn’t talking about food. This mind-bogglingly gorgeous woman wanted me! My morals and ethics were rapidly leaving my brain as I told myself I needed to buy some condoms before I returned at seven.

Then I recalled what I had told Amy about my feelings on intimacy and commitment. Why did Amy come to mind? Thus far Whitney and I had simply shared four chaste kisses as we parted ways after our dates. I leaned in to make it a fifth, but she grabbed a handful of my shirt and pulled me into her condo, shutting the door.

“It’s time you stop being such a gentleman,” Whitney declared as her arms went around my neck and her open mouth pressed into mine.

Our faces stayed connected for several minutes, and my lower nature took over my actions. My hands began to explore and she stopped me as she pushed away, grinning from ear to ear.

“Now that’s the spirit,” she cooed. “I hate to stop us, but I really do need to get going. We will resume this later after dinner tonight.”

She gave me one more passionate kiss before telling me goodbye in a low sexy rumble.

“Bye,” I squeaked.

I went from Whitney’s place to a car wash. I used their coin changer to get a couple dollars worth of quarters. Then I went to a sports bar that I had been to with my brother for lunch one time. I had remembered seeing a condom machine in their restroom. There were enough people there to make it possible to go in and out virtually unnoticed. I don’t know why I was secretive and embarrassed. As I rode home, I pushed aside the nagging convictions of my conscience. With the memory of locking lips with the brunette beauty still so fresh in my mind, it wasn’t hard to do.

I pulled my iron horse into a parking spot about fifty feet from my apartment building. After just having come from Whitney’s condo, it never seemed shabbier. I was about to climb off of my cycle when a pretty young woman with strawberry blonde hair exited my building. I realized that it was Amy, and she was probably here to see me for some reason. She began to walk in the opposite direction of me so I called out. She stopped and gazed all around, looking baffled. I removed my sunglasses and the Cubs baseball cap that I was wearing backwards.

“Amy, over here,” I called again.

She spotted me and her face lit up, causing me to smile with pleasure. I wasn’t sure that I would ever see her again, but here she was. The blow to the head seemed to have changed me. I was becoming more outgoing with the opposite sex.

Last week when I saw Amy, I was just high enough on pain pills that I rambled about my life to her. That was something I had never done with anyone. I even acknowledged that I was a virgin after she informed me that she was. I had a sudden feeling of foreboding.

“Is this yours?” Amy asked with wonder in her eyes.

“It is,” I replied. “It used to be my father’s.”

“Is it a Low Rider?”

“You know Harleys?”

“Not really,” she replied with a shrug. “My grandpa had a good friend that had a ‘77 Low Rider, and they look quite similar. Yours looks newer, though.”

“This is a ‘97,” I told her. “Not exactly new at almost twenty years old.”

“I always wanted to ask him for a ride,” she said as she clasped her hands in front her, twisting back and forth slightly. “But I was just too shy.”

Amy was an incredibly beautiful woman. I already thought that she was very cute, but she seemed so young and girlish at my apartment. I hadn’t really given her too much thought. Especially when Whitney showed interest in me. But now Amy looked like a very grown woman indeed. I liked her hair in the braided ponytail. It seemed to make her fox like features more accentuated.

“I can take you for a ride,” I told her.

“Really, when?”

“How about now?”

“That’d be awesome!” she exclaimed, almost bouncing.

“Do you want to get on?”

“Oh,” she said, frowning and looking in the direction she began walking before I called out to her. “Brock gave me a ride here. I almost forgot.”

“Why’d Brock give you a ride here?”

“He and Destiny are worried about me going out and about by myself, what with my two crazy sisters. He’s even been escorting me to work most of the time.”

“Why’d you come here, anyway?”

“I don’t have one of my credit cards,” she said wincing. “I think it might be by your sofa. I was wondering if I could have a look?”

That seemed weird. How could a credit card have popped out of her purse when she was here last week? It was easy enough to let her have a look around, though. “Yeah, of course, you can look.”

“Maybe you could give me a ride around the block afterward.”

“If you wanted a longer ride, I could take you home,” I told her. “Unless Brock doesn’t trust me.”

“Let’s go talk to him!” Amy suggested, seeming to bursting with excitement.

She dashed off down the street. I lowered my kick stand and followed her. She stopped at a blue Shelby Mustang. I stepped beside Amy as she put her hands together as if in prayer.

“Please, Brock, please,” she pleaded.

Brock put down a book that he was reading and stuck his hand out the window at me.

“How are you doing, Dirk?” Brock asked as our hands came together and we shook.

“Good, you?”

“Can’t complain, other than looking after my teenage girl here,” he said protectively.

“I’m a grown woman,” Amy declared with hands defiantly placed on her hips.

Brock Storm sighed. “Are you still on pain meds, Dirk?”

“Not anymore,” I answered.

He sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. Veins popped on his muscular forearms. He got out of the car and stood in front of me, almost like some sort of challenge. But I just smiled meekly, and he chuckled. Then he looked at Amy. “How are you gonna ride on a motorcycle with that skirt?”

“You’d have to hike it up pretty far,” I added.

“No, she’s not,” Brock said, testily.

“No Sir!” I blurted. “I was just saying, not suggesting. Her skirt didn’t occur to me when I offered her a ride. I guess we’ll have to take a rain check.”

“Ooooh,” Amy whined. She actually seemed on the verge of tears. “I really, really want a ride.”

Brock eyed her compassionately, then his face lit up. “Hey, I think Dee left some jeans  in my trunk. She was going to change into them for a hike after church, but one thing led to another and we never went.”

“Perfect, thanks,” Amy said as she snatched the pants out of Brock’s hand. “Can I change in your bathroom?”

“Of course,” I replied

“Promise me you’ll get her home safe,” Brock said, almost as a threat.

“I’d give my life to protect Amy,” I replied honestly.

Brock nodded slightly with approval, but still gazed coolly at me. Amy clapped a couple of times and kissed Brock’s cheek.

“I love you, Daddy!” Amy told Brock, partly joking and partly serious.

Something like surprise, but also love, came over Brock’s partially scared face. He pulled Amy in for an embrace as he stared hard at me over her shoulder. I suddenly became aware of my plans with Whitney that upcoming evening. I tried to maintain a calm demeanor as I wondered what I was doing messing around with Amy, albeit as friends. Or was it?

“I love you, too,” Brock said as he looked me right in the eyes.

Due to my anxiety, and Brock looking me right in the eyes, I actually opened my mouth to tell Brock I loved him. But thankfully caught myself before the blunder.

“The only reason I’m allowing this,” Brock said, “is because I haven’t seen anything suspicious when I’ve been with Amy. But that ultimately means nothing. You guys need to be aware and call me immediately if you see anything funny. Got it?”

“Yes,” Amy and I said in unison.

“Why do I get the feeling that Dee is going to have my behind in a sling over this?” Brock lamented.

“Because she will,” Amy laughed.

“Where are you guys going?” Brock wanted to know as he crossed his thick and muscular arms.

“I thought I’d take her by the river and through Ellis Park,” I told him. “Then to my brother’s place out by Hunters Ridge. I keep my motorcycle in his garage there. Then I’ll take Amy home in my Jeep.”

“All right then,” Brock said. “Keep your eyes open and call me if you see anything suspicious. Got it?”

I nodded. Brock left as I wondered why I was drawn enough to Amy to endure his sinister interrogation. Especially when I had a good thing going with Whitney.

“Did Brock freak you out?” Amy asked, pulling me out of my thoughts as we walked to my apartment

“Huh?” I croaked. “Oh, no, not really. He’s definitely intimidating, though, but I think he likes me.”

“I know he likes you,” she said, looping an arm through mine. “So you’d give your life to protect me?”

“I proved that, didn’t I?” I asked with a puzzled frown.

“You did indeed.”

Was Amy interested in me romantically? What was with her looping her arm through mine? No, she just had a hero-fondness thing going on. Is that what it was with Whitney, too? No, Whitney and I were falling in love. That’s why we were taking things to the next level. I was certain she was destined to be my wife. So why was I hanging out with Amy right now?

“Let’s go have a look for your credit card,” I told Amy. “Then you can change, and we’ll go for a ride.”

“Sounds great,” she agreed and then aimed a huge smile at me.

We found the credit card in between the seat cushions of my couch. Funny how she seemed to go right to it. Then she went into my bathroom, and a couple minutes later emerged carrying her calf high boots in one hand and black pantyhose in the other. The top half of the jeans fit her fine, but Amy was several inches taller than Destiny, and the pants were major high water. Good thing she had the boots.

She sat on my couch and began to stuff her pantyhose into a small purse. It wouldn’t zip closed. Then she frowned, paused, and looked at me. “I wonder if Brock will ask me why I’m not wearing my pantyhose? Why they’re in my purse?”

“Put them back on!” I ordered.

She giggled. “It’s okay, Dirk. He knows I was going to have to change. After all, he’s the one that gave me the jeans from his trunk.”

Was she toying with me? Regardless, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Amy grinned and almost shouted the word “cool” when the iron beast barked to life. Quite a different reaction than the lovely Whitney had when she jumped back as I started it. However, when Amy climbed on behind me, she didn’t snuggle in like Whitney did. I supposed that is the difference between who’s just a friend and who’s a lover.

I took Amy along the river just like I told Brock I would. Then we stopped at a park. We walked and talked, and I admired Amy as she admired the flowers. After that, we became so engrossed in conversation, I had a slight panic when I noticed that it was a quarter after five. It would take probably over an hour to go to my brother’s place, get my jeep, and then deliver Amy  to the Storm residence. Then I needed to go home and shower. Then I would have dinner with Whitney Waconia and after that, continue where we left off earlier with the lip lock we were in.

AMY

I felt a thrill of excitement when Dirk’s motorcycle roared to life. I had a different, more intense excitement when I climbed on behind him and put my arms carefully around his waist. As silly as it may sound, it was the most intimate thing I had ever done with a guy. Yet I am not ashamed of my vow of chastity. Until marriage that is. If it even was to happen.  

The ride was so much fun! But something troubled me right from the start. Being so close to Dirk on the cycle, I was certain that I smelled a woman’s perfume on him. Then when we stopped at a park and engaged in a really good conversation, I felt comfortable enough to ask him why I smelled the perfume. It turned out that I wasn’t the only female to enjoy a motorcycle ride with Mr. Easton that day.

It took tremendous effort to maintain a neutral disposition, along with a carefree attitude, as my heart broke in pieces. Not only had Dirk given another woman a ride, they had seen each other several times and appeared to be becoming serious. I resolved to put aside my disappointment and just enjoy this moment in time with Dirk before he exited my life for good. I could cry later.

The last part of the ride involved going to Dirk’s brother’s place, where Dirk stored his motorcycle. Dirk’s brother, Devin, lived in a pretty fancy house. To me it seemed a bit like a mansion. Although Devin was in his mid-twenties, his significant other was a lady of around forty, and apparently quite well-to-do.

Not long after we pulled into Devin’s driveway, he came outside. My jaw dropped when I saw him. Devin and Dirk could have been twins, they looked that much alike. I would have asked if they were, but Dirk already told me his brother was a few years older.

There were two things that made them easy to tell apart though. Hair styles and tattoos. Devin had sandy blonde hair that was cut short on the sides and swooped up a little in the front. It was like a 1950s look with a modern twist. When Devin dipped his head to light a cigarette, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the deceased actor James Dean.

Devin’s arms were also sleeved out with tattoos. The left arm was mostly skulls, monsters, and demons. His right arms was cartoonish figures and clowns. He wore a bright green polo shirt and white shorts with thin blue stripes. The heavy tats with the preppy attire were an interesting contrast.

“I thought you switched to vaping,” Dirk said to Devin.

“I did, but I still gotta have the real thing a few times a day.”

Devin looked at me and seemed to be leering. “Who’s this fine female specimen?”

Did he just call me a specimen? I always told myself not to judge by first impressions, but I couldn’t help thinking he seemed like a creep. I recalled Dirk saying they were close, and even best friends. Talk about opposites! However, Dirk did look exasperated and embarrassed.

“This is Amy Autumn,” Dirk said. “Amy, meet my brother Devin.”

 “Ah, the damsel in distress,” Devin said as he extended his hand to me. “Nice to meet you, Miss Autmn.”

“Likewise,” I said as I offered my hand. I later asked God for forgiveness for the lie.

“Here,” Devin said in a low tone as he tried to covertly pass something from hand to hand with his brother. Dirk looked baffled at the unexpected exchange. He dropped the small, square object Devin had tried to pass him. It was a condom!

“What are you doing, moron?” Dirk barked as he quickly picked up the prophylactic and handed it back to his brother. “I already got one, you…”

Dirk suddenly glanced at me with a rattled expression. I’m pretty sure he was blushing, but it was hard to tell with his tan. During the course of our conversation at the park, Dirk acknowledged that the news reporter Whitney Waconia had invited him to dinner that evening. He had made it sound like they were just friends. But if he needed a condom, she would prove rather friendly indeed. I felt sick.

“One ain’t enough for a young stud like you,” Devin said, his countenance appearing hostile and vindictive. He must not have liked being chastised by his younger brother in front of me. I got the feeling that the younger brother was usually subservient to the older brother.

“There’s a reason his name is one letter off from devil,” Dirk said.

Devil, I mean Devin, took a suck on his cigarette and blew a stream of smoke at Dirk’s face. Dirk testily waved at the noxious fumes and said nonchalantly, “I got to go.”

“Be gone then,” Devin said as he waved a dismissive hand. It seemed he was at least attempting lightheartedness. Then looking at me added, “Nice to meet you, Miss Autumn.”

The first lie just popped out of me spontaneously. So I just forced a smile.

Then with a slight bow, Devin said, “Lovely lady, I do apologize for my misbehavior.”

I would have giggled if I wasn’t dealing with roiling emotions. I just shrugged. “It’s okay.”

“You see, my dear brother usually spends weekends out in the woods with rabbits and squirrels, not with beautiful women,” Devin said, and then his eyes widened. “I mean with a beautiful woman such as yourself.”

“I know about his date with Whitney tonight,” I said with a casual shrug.

“It’s not a date,” Dirk blurted. Then he looked confused. “It’s just dinner with, um, a friend.”

“Then why the con…” Devin began, but trialed off, waving his hand dismissively again. “Get outta here.”

I was relieved when we climbed into Dirk’s Jeep. Then I became uncomfortable when the elephant joined us.

“Sorry about that,” Dirk mumbled.

Feeling disappointed and discombobulated by my churning emotions, I replied, “For what? Dropping that condom?”

Dirk had stopped his hand halfway to the Jeep’s ignition. He looked at me wide eyed and stammered. “I… I’m not gonna, you know, use it. I gave it back to Devin, remember?”

“Yeah, I guess you won’t be using it,” I said. My rolling emotions now settling on just anger for the time being. “You’ll just be using the one Devin said you already had.”

“I… I… Ah…”

“When I came to see you at your apartment, you told me you believed a couple should be committed before intimacy.”

“Committed, not necessarily married,” he responded. He was becoming bold rather than timid. “If we’re in a position that I need that, you know, thing, we will have decided to go steady. That’s committed in my book.”

“Your book, not the Good book,” I replied. I was to the point of tears, which I desperately tried to hold back. Unsuccessfully.

“Amy, I’m sorry,” Dirk said, sounding anguished. He looked around frantically. I assume for a tissue.

“Just take me home…Please.”

For the next fifteen minutes we rode in the most awkward silence of my life. I at least quickly composed myself. But I was still embarrassed. I was also confused, I was mad, I was sad, I was glad when we pulled into the Storm’s driveway.

“Thanks for the motorcycle ride,” I told him with a forced smile.

“Thank you,” he said with a little smile. “I really enjoyed our time together. Before we got to my brother’s house, that is.”

I genuinely laughed. But then through my smile, I felt tears trying to return. I fought them desperately. This time successfully, but my anguish must have been noticeable. Dirk’s face fell, and he took my hand in his.

“Amy, I’m truly sorry. I don’t even know what I did to hurt you. I mean, before our ride, I briefly saw you in the hospital, and then, what, twenty or thirty minutes in my apartment. I’m sorry if I somehow led you on. I truly am. You see, I… I’m not really good with the, um opposite… You know…”

“I know,” I replied. “And you did nothing wrong. It’s not you, it’s me.”

Then I frowned. That sounded like a breakup. But there was nothing to break up.

I continued. “I owe you an apology. You see, I’ve never had a boyfriend. Not even really crush, until you.”

He frowned, puzzled. “I had no clue, Amy. I’m not very good at this stuff. I wish I had known… I think. But now I have, sort of, a girlfriend… I guess. But if I didn’t…”

Was this a brain tease, or what? I needed to get a flower and pluck petals saying, ‘He love me, he loves me not.’

“I better let you go,” I told him. “After all, you have a hot date.”

“Right,” he said enthusiastically, making my heart drop a little more.

“Well, see ya,” I said.

“See ya.”

I started to get out of his Jeep.

“I hope we can be friends, though,” I said with a forced smile as I closed the door. I started to walk toward the house when Dirk called after me.

“I just realized that I don’t have you in my phone,” he said.

“Oh,” I replied nonchalantly. “I guess we don’t have each other’s numbers, do we?”

I rattled off my number, and he punched it into his phone.

“Call me quick so I have yours,” I said.

He did, and my phone played the Looney Tunes theme song.

“Aren’t you gonna answer that?” Dirk asked with a big grin.

I put the phone to my ear and said ‘hello.’ Dirk put his phone to his ear.

“Is Bugs Bunny there?” he asked, chuckling.

“No, but Daffy, Tweety Bird, and Sylvester are,” I said, laughing.

“How about Yosemite Sam, Elmer Fudd, and Foghorn Leghorn?” Dirk added.

He liked Looney Tunes! Why did a prettier girl have to get to him first? I needed to go before more tears came. “See ya.”

“All right, I’ll see ya later, then,” Dirk said.

Will you? I thought bitterly. He left and I went inside the house. I closed the door and leaned my back against it. Destiny was reading at the kitchen table.

“Did you have fun?” she asked.

I nodded. “Were you mad that Brock let me go with Dirk?”

She shook her head. “I trust Brock’s judgment.”

 “Where is he?”

“He left about ten minutes ago with Bentley.”

“Good,” I said whimpering as I slid down the door and sat on the floor. “Because I need a good cry.”

I put my hands in my face and let the sobs break loose. I sensed Destiny move to sit on the floor next to me. Her arm went around my shoulders, and she leaned her head against mine. I didn’t know what I was missing before this woman was in my life.

Although she was only ten years older than me, she was like the mother I never really had. I wanted her in my life forever!