So I finally got to go on vacation. Not exactly someplace nice for the winter, but back home to the Jersey shore. Despite my many requests, my wife declined to join me. She did not get along with my family well. I come from a large Italian family that is overly social, and she can only handle it for so long. A full nine days was entirely too long. That left my nine year old daughter to be my only travel companion back to visit family and friends.
It was on Tuesday, two days before New Year's Eve, that I was running a quick errand to a local grocery store while my daughter stayed with my mother. I was walking down the paper aisle and saw, out of the corner of my eye, a face I had not seen in years. She still wore her light brown hair just past her shoulders. Her tight jeans clung to her taut thighs and calves, but the heavy coat concealed the rest of her features.
I remembered the rest of her quite vividly from our high school and college days. She had the sweetest face, an infectious smile and soft supple breasts. She always dressed conservatively, but it was after many nights of hanging out as friends that we let things go a little further.
Shaking myself from my reverie, I tried to catch up to her. I smiled to myself like a little kid about to win a game of tag. She stopped to examine a jar of sauce, and I took my chance. Sneaking up beside her, I took a deep breath. I was only a foot away from her, just off her left shoulder. I purred the words, "So, lover, did you miss me?"
I heard her gasp. It was fortunate that she was examining a plastic jar of sauce, because it fell to the floor as she whirled around to embrace me. I expected the hug. However, I was not quite ready for her to jump up and wrap her legs around me as well.
"Holy shit!" She cried out near my ear. "I have missed you!" A hurried and friendly kiss passed between us. "What are you doing here? I thought you moved to Indiana." She slid her legs down to stand on her own.
It was then that we both heard the sound of two people softly applauding. Apparently, they liked the reunion scene that just unfolded before them. We gave them our thanks and resumed the scene.
"We did." I replied slowly as I noticed that the front of her coat was unzipped, and I could see she was still lithe and sexy. I tried to hide my desire behind my happiness to see her. "I'm back visiting. My whole crazy family still lives around here. Mom still asks about you."
"She remembers me?"
"Of course she does." I broadened my smile. "We used to get together a lot, you and me. Besides, I never brought another Jewish girl to our big family's Christmas dinner."
We both laughed, and were glad our spectators were gone. "Where's your sweetie?" She asked casually. I was not sure if she was just being cordial or probing.
"Well, my munchkin is with my mother, but my better half decided to stay home. How about your knight in shining armor? Where's he hiding?" Tag, you're it.
She sighed. "He got stuck working this week, so I came down to visit my sister all by myself."
Really, I thought, but I said, "What a shame." I thought quickly. "What are you and your sister doing for New Year's? We're having a big party at my cousin's house. I'm sure she would not mind if you and your sister came to party with us. You know how my family is."
"Sorry, love." I felt my heart lurch. I was in high school all over again getting turned down for the prom. "We have tickets for a show up north. Otherwise I'd love to hang out with you." She now started to back away a little. But not far. She still held my hands.
"But," she paused as she thought too, "What about tomorrow? Do you have any plans?"
"None as important as catching up with an old friend." I replied almost sullenly. Truth be told, I was supposed to meet up with a few of my family and go see a movie, but I could weasel out of it.
She thought for a moment more. While she thought, she softly caressed my hands. Massaging from my palms to my fingers. God, it felt good. I was hoping to feel those fingers massaging me elsewhere too. "I am busy most of the day and meeting my aunt for dinner. How about we meet up at seven, downtown at Main and Washington for a cup of coffee. Take some time to catch up." Her smile warmed my core, and her hands gripped mine tighter.
I smiled right back. "That sounds great!" I tried to muzzle my excitement, but I was failing. She enjoyed seeing that.
"Great, it's a date, then." She shook my hands excitedly, and I went right along with it. She slipped from my grasp and leaned up to put a quick smooch on my right cheek. I returned in kind, and we parted.
As she sauntered away, she turned back to me. "Tell the munchkin not to wait up. We have lots to catch up on." I picked up on something more in her voice, but dismissed it. We were both happily married, and just happy to see each other. Right?
So we met up at the coffee house, got our snacks and drinks, then sat down in the back room where there are a few very comfy couches. We sat on a three-seater, so we could sit close and face each other while we talked. She was very careful to keep her long woolen skirt tucked under her legs to stay warm. She also wore a thin pair of black cotton tights for walking in the cold, so modesty would not be an issue. Her heavy sweater was easily hiding the delicious curves beneath.
We covered everything that had passed through our lives in the five years since we saw each other last. We had a great time laughing and joking and recalling old memories that seemed so lost to time that we did not even know we had forgotten them.
It was about ten minutes to one in the morning when our waitress asked us to settle our tab. Both of us were shocked at how fast the time flew by. We settled our tab and took good care of our waitress. Then my lovely companion asked, "Where are you parked? I'm right around the corner."
I lightly bit my lower lip. "I, um, had a small budget to fly out here, so I, ah, had Mom drop me off, and I was kinda hoping to get a ride home from you, if that's ok. If not, she's probably still up watching TV with my daughter."
Her smile turned coy. "So..." She leaned in a little closer. "You are my prisoner then." I doubt that the Cheshire Cat had a bigger grin than hers was right now. It stirred old feelings in my gut. My thoughts ran rampant, and my blood ran hot. I could feel myself blushing at my ears.