Page 21 of Love Story
“There was another question I didn’t ask you.” She released his hands and sat on the bench. Like at the dance she was breathless, but he doubted it was from the bike ride.
He stood there, looking at her, taking in the vision of her. “Ask it.”
“How old are you, John? The dance was for underclassmen.”
True. John winced. He took the seat beside her and shifted so he could see her. She did the same and their knees touched ever so lightly.Focus, John. You can’t lose this girl.He tried to think of the best way to say this. “I broke the rule.”
“John.” She shook her head and a quick laugh slipped between her lips. “How old are you? Thirty?”
“Wow.” He chuckled and leaned back a little. “I hope I don’t look that old.”
“You don’t.” She laughed. “I thought you were a sophomore. Betsy told me you were in medical school here.”
“I am. Yes. Second year.” He shrugged. “There never seemed to be a good time the other night to bring it up.”
“So you’re what... twenty-four?”
“Just turned.” He didn’t blink, didn’t look away. “And you?”
“Nineteen.” She leaned her head back and groaned softly. “Now my parents will definitely kill me. I break the rules and go to the dance and take up with the only second-year med student there.”
John knew he should be worried. She might be young, and she might be scared to death of her parents. But her words would stay with him always.Take up with... that’s what she’d said. She had taken up with the only second-year med student. His smile started on the inside and took over his face. “We can find a way, Elizabeth. Age is just a number.”
Her eyes locked on to his again and the afternoon breeze made the moment feel magical. “It is, isn’t it?”
This time her words almost made him cheer out loud. She wasn’t going to run. They would find a way. They had to.
Before they knew it they’d devised a plan. With Betsy’s help they would meet here and he would take her wherever she wanted to go. Out to dinner... to Allmendinger Park... shopping at the mall, or just here. Sitting this way on a bench that would forever memorialize the beginning of their love.
Two weeks later the Wesley family left town for a long weekend at the lake. From the first night John wanted desperately to take her home, find a way for the two of them to be alone. A place where they wouldn’t have to look over their shoulders for her parents.
They were at the park that evening, swinging side by side and talking about the rigors of medical school, when John couldn’t wait another minute. He looked at her, taking his time. “My family’s gone.” He searched her eyes. “The house is empty.”
Elizabeth didn’t say anything. Her expression grew deeper, with the same sort of desire John had felt the minute she walked into the dance hall that first night. “I could... make you dinner.”
She smiled. “You’d make me dinner?”
They were the best words John had ever heard. He took her hand. “Let’s go.”
They bought ground beef and potatoes and carrots at the store and drove to his house. The whole time John wondered if she could hear his pounding heart. He didn’t want to do anything that would cross lines. He respected Elizabeth like he’d never respected any girl before. But once they set the groceries down on the kitchen table, he turned to her. “Elizabeth.”
She faced him, breathless, her lips slightly open. “Kiss me, John. Please.”
His heart felt like it would burst, but he kept his cool. He drew her close and wove his fingers into her hair. Then for the sweetest minute of his life he kissed her. One kiss became another and another.
She was a drug and he was forever addicted. He knew he would never feel this way about any other girl as long as he lived. But after that single minute he stepped back. It took a while before he caught his breath. “I... can’t. We can’t.”
Her heart was pounding as hard as his. Again, he could see it in the hollow of her throat. “I know.”
John took another few steps from her and moved closer to the groceries. “Let’s... let’s figure out dinner.”
Elizabeth nodded. “I’ll help.”
“Stay there.” He held up his hand. “Give me a minute.” His laugh was as much the sound of his body trying to cool down as it was his way of keeping the mood light.
They managed to make dinner and share a conversation about her parents and their many rules and John didn’t kiss her again. Not even when he dropped her off a few blocks from home later that night. After all, her parents thought she was at Betsy’s house. The last thing he wanted to do was shame her, even in the slightest.
Not just because it was the honorable thing to do. Though John would’ve spent the whole evening kissing her if he could’ve. But he also didn’t want her parents to see guilt in Elizabeth’s eyes. If they did, they might learn about him and find a way to break off what John and Elizabeth had just started. And that was a risk John simply couldn’t take.
