Junior Year Box Set

“Only you can answer that. If you’re asking if I like you, I do. I’m nowhere near ready for a lifetime commitment, and I’m not ready to settle down with a girlfriend. With that said, is there a possibility of us becoming more? I would say there could be.”

“I’ve always thought I would save myself for marriage,” Zoe said.

I understood that. She was brought up in a religious family. Then I thought about Peggy. I had waited for her because she wanted to wait for marriage. Then she slept with Mitch as soon as she broke up with me. I knew it was wrong, but I realized that if Zoe decided to wait for marriage, I wouldn’t see her for much longer. I would never pressure Zoe to do anything she didn’t want to do, but I wasn’t going to have another Peggy in my life, either.

“Zoe, I’m not here to change your mind. If you want to wait, then wait,” I said.

We heard the doors open and walked back to the restaurant. Each table had a view of the river. I was surprised when they had reserved a table that gave us the best view. When our server came to the table, I grinned because I recognized her. It was Karen, Gary Baxter’s girlfriend. During my freshman year, Beth Anderson had been infatuated with Gary. He ended up breaking her heart. Gary later dated Karen, who was the leader of the Chastity Club, a religious group at our school that preached abstinence. For some reason, I never was asked to join.

“Tonight we will begin with a farm stand mushroom and cheese tart. We serve this gorgeous mixed mushroom and Gruyere cheese tart with a green salad with warm walnut and pear vinaigrette dressing. The main course is prime rib with creamed horseradish sauce, garlic mashed red bliss potatoes, and asparagus with lemon butter. For dessert, you will have a white chocolate soufflé with raspberry sauce.

“For our diners under 21, we offer several nonalcoholic cocktails. I would suggest the salted Meyer lemon and sage press. It’s quite refreshing,” Karen said.

I looked over at Zoe, and she gave me a little nod.

“That all sounds wonderful. Thank you, Karen,” I said.

She was clearly surprised that I knew her name. She went to the next table and did her presentation again.

“How do you know her?” Zoe asked.

“Karen was a senior when I was a freshman. We never hung out, but I came to know who she was through her jerk of a boyfriend,” I said.

Zoe then got the whole story out of me. When Karen brought us our drinks, appetizer, and salad, she was still trying to puzzle out who I was. The cocktail was excellent. You wouldn’t think salt should be part of a drink, but it brightened the flavor of the Meyer lemon and sage. I would have to try it with a little vodka sometime. The appetizer was delicious, while the salad was salad.

Zoe and I had a wonderful meal, and we acted like old friends. We simply had a level of comfort with each other greater than one might expect. There never seemed to be any awkward pauses or uncomfortable questions, as so many first dates seemed to have. When the bill arrived, it was pricey for our area, but for something this special, I would come again.

I grinned when we left because I had paid cash and could tell Karen still didn’t know who I was.

◊◊◊

I figured out who one of Zoe’s helpers was when we next went to Brook Davis’s home. Zoe took my hand and led me into the woods to the fairy-tale-like clearing. There was candlelight coming from one of the cabins, and when we entered the setting was right out of a romance novel. There was champagne chilling in the living room and soft music playing. Candles lit the room, giving everything a warm glow. Whoever had planned it was smarter than I was because the candles weren’t scented. I think I’d about killed myself when I tried to be romantic with Tami.

“Would you like some sparkling cider?” I asked.

“Please.”

I opened the bottle, poured two glasses, and then made a toast.

“Here’s to fond memories. May you remember tonight the rest of your life, and have only kind thoughts of me when you do.”

There are times you need to be a man. This was one of them. Zoe needed me to take the initiative. After we drank our toast, I took her glass from her and set it on the end table. I turned to her and looked her in the eyes before I kissed her. That was what she needed. I recognized I was in for a good night when she pushed me back and kissed me with more passion than I’d realized she had. I was amused that Zoe had suddenly become so forceful. It wasn’t that she wasn’t an active participant in what we’d done in the past, it was just that she never seemed to initiate what we did.

Zoe broke our kiss and pulled back to gaze into my eyes. The smoldering look was enough to cause Mr. Happy to come fully awake. She gave me a mischievous little smile and got off me. She did a sexy little walk to the bedroom door and turned back to see if I was following her. Zoe wiggled her butt and walked into the bedroom.