by Judi Calhoun
It was nearly seven o’clock when I fell face first onto my pillow, giving up hope of ever finding Rick Steel’s phone number. I had unsuccessfully searched the Internet, and all the outdated directories under the kitchen cabinet were absolutely useless.
Now I was forced to tell him face to face…the date was off. I groaned. How do I get myself into these messes? As I got up to change my top, I mentally flipped through a list of excuses. Yeah like, they’re going to work! Lets see, my best friend is sick, I need to wash my hair, none of my clothes are clean, I don’t date bad boys, etc.
My cell phone went off. It was Jake asking me out. Immediately I was struck with guilt. I told Jake I would call him in an hour, giving me exactly enough time to break my date with Rick, change into a better outfit, and call Jake back.
The doorbell shrilled loudly sending fear into me. I bolted from my bedroom, down the stairs...two seconds too late. Ian was already shaking hands with Rick. “Here she is now,” he said, grinning like a used car salesman pushing a lemon.
“I…I’m sorry, I really can’t go out,” I said.
“Why not?” They both said in unison.
“I’ve got a…” I froze. How could I say I already had a date; then why had I agreed to go out with Rick in the first place? I hesitated a second too long.
“Come on! Go out. Have some fun. You deserve it,” said Ian, nearly wrenching my arm from its socket as he pushed me at Rick and I stumbled into his arms.
“You’ll need a jacket.” Rick whispered, exhaling lightly on my cheek.
Ian tossed me my green army jacket from the hall closet. Rick caught it with one hand and draped it around my shoulders. I reluctantly shrugged into it, feeling like a lamb heading for slaughter.
Rick drove a black, nearly flawless, rebuilt Electric Glide Harley-Davidson. Except for one small dent in the front fender, it was what dad would have called cherry.
I climbed on the back and fastened the strap of the helmet as Rick instructed me to wrap my arms around his chest. I looked around for something else to grab. “I’ll just hold on here,” I said, gripping the bar behind me.
He revved the engine, it sputtered and roared. He peeled out, the force knocking me backwards and I nearly fell off. Eagerly, I wrapped my arms around his chest, speculating that he had done that on purpose.
Rick had a heavy foot. He seemed bent on killing us both, yet after a few miles, I sensed his proficiency and relaxed. We drove down Main Street in a whirlwind of color and sound. I smiled, feeling the cool night air rushing against my skin, smelling the exhaust fumes, and Rick’s after-shave. I felt oddly comfortable and didn’t understand why.
Rick took a side street and pulled into a small bar-and-grill named Mac’s Magic. He parked along a string of other bikes all lined up in the same direction.
When we stepped inside, Rick waved at a few scary-looking bikers who chuckled and made nasty gestures back.
Mac’s Magic had no specific décor, just square vinyl booths surrounding worn-out Formica tables. We dropped down into a dark booth. As I leaned on the table, my arm stuck to it. Rick continued staring at me. To say I was uncomfortable was a major understatement.
“This your regular hang out?” I asked.
“Sort of,” he leaned across the table and whispered. “My uncle owns it.”
“I thought you just moved here.”
His glance shifted to a heavy-set man behind the counter flipping burgers. “I was sent here,” he said, finally. “My mom sent me to live with my Uncle and Aunt...long boring story.”
“So you’re here till graduation?”
“Something like that,” he said his eyes shifting sideways, and then changing the subject. “You and Jake, are you two dating?”
“Yes. We’re close… friends.” I said. Why did I say that? I was in love with him, I just didn’t know if Jake felt exactly the same way about me.
A slight grin played at the corners of his mouth. “Nice guy that Ian. He’s going to be your father soon, right?”
“Mom’s dating him,” I said, feeling more than a little annoyed at his comment. As far as I was concerned, Ian would never be my father.
He frowned, squinting, perhaps trying to figure me out.
The waitress brought our food. It did not look at all appetizing. I ate the fries and picked at the rest. Oddly enough, Rick did the same thing. I studied him, now that he wasn’t staring at me. What did Rick Steel want? If he thought I was dating Jake, why had he even asked me out? Was Ian involved in this somehow? Could he be somehow controlling everything in my life?
I tried to call Gabby, I knew she’d be my only ticket out of here, away from Rick, but she wasn’t answering her cell. The more avenues I pursued to get me out of this date, the harder Rick fought to convince me to go along with him. Before I knew it, I was on the back of his bike again. It wasn’t until we pulled past Salem Street that I recognized the way to the public beach.
The beach was almost deserted, except for a few people strolling along the water’s edge. The moment I was off the bike, Rick reached behind me, drew me close and his lips were on mine. I squirmed to resist, but suddenly I found myself yielding to his magic, closing my eyes, and melting into him. This is not Jake! I pushed him away, finally coming to my senses. “I can’t do this Rick,” I said, breathing heavily, “I love-”
“Jake?” He finished my sentence with his own question. Rick’s eyes caught a glimpse of moonlight, reflecting bitter disappointment. “Oh, I get it. It’s not real serious with Jake, but for you…a different story. Am I right?”
I shook my head, yes. The ocean breeze whipped my hair into my face.
“Don’t worry,” he said tucking the wild strands behind my ear. “I’m cool. We can just talk if you like.”
Relief washed over me. I smiled nervously and nodded.
As we walked along the beach, Rick asked about my favorite movies and books. It should not have come as a surprise when he told me he collected books.
“What’s your favorite?” I asked.
“You won’t like it.”
“Why, is it something really bad?” I asked.
“Give me an example. What would you consider really bad?” he asked.
“The satanic bible maybe.”
“Are you one of those people who supports banning books? Besides, what’s wrong with the satanic bible, anyways?”
“First off, I don’t believe in banning or burning books,” I said. “And secondly, are you kidding me? You actually like to read the satanic bible? ”
“Yes, I study it. It has loads of power to live by.”
I stop walking. “You’re a Satanist?”
“Maybe,” he said. “I’m open to all kinds of new experiences.”
“Then you’d never want to be with me,” I said. “I’m the opposite.”
“You don’t seem close minded to me. And my guess is, you’re not a religious nut…am I right, so far?”
“Define...nut.”
He smiled. “Okay, I think you believe in one entity that exists in your universe. That doesn’t make you a nut case. In fact, that makes you pretty normal and just the same as me.”
“I’m not the same,” I said.
He picked up a rock and flung it out beyond the surf. “Don’t you agree that it’s our belief system that keeps this old world spinning? And that the most important thing here is that we never force our beliefs on anyone else?”
“Sure. I guess. I just don’t understand how you can believe in evil rather than good,” I said.
“That’s incredibly unfair, you know. Who defines it as evil?” said Rick, not really expecting an answer. “Hey, I’m open to the truth, as long as you have scientific proof, and not just mere words written by men pretending to be the voice of God.”
“You make a lot of assumptions about my faith,” I said. “Really Rick, it’s so obvious that you have way more faith than I do.”
Rick looked stunned, and almost amused. “Why would you say that?”
/> “It takes way more faith to believe in words written in what...1969, than the words of Vox Dei, recorded in ancient text from the beginning of time, itself.”
He shook his head, smiling, and raised his left hand. “I give. You win this time,” he said, as if expecting we would have many more conversations about this in the future.
“Since I win, then you can finish answering my question. What does Rick Steel like to read, besides the satanic bible?”
“I told you. You won’t like it.”
“I know, so?”
“Okay, there are a few favorites. Anything by William Shakespeare, especially The Tempest.” He looked me directly in the eyes, waiting for my reaction.
I shook my head and gave him a playful swat on the arm. “That’s how you knew so much about the book in class.” I crossed my arms watching with amusement as he struggled to hide his laugh. “So Will Shakespeare and the devil, any others?”
“Well I do have another favorite book.” He paused. “Promise me you won’t laugh.”
“Go on.”
He took a deep breath, “The master, Lewis Carroll’s, Logical Nonsense.”
I burst out laughing.
“You promised!” he said, yet he started laughing too, although it was more like smiling wider.
“No, really, I didn’t promise.” I kept on laughing. The idea of tough biker, Rick Steel, reading Alice’s adventures in Wonderland was more than funny… it was hilarious.
“It’s a great book,” he said. “I have a creepy old copy...Carroll uses nonsense to criticize the archaic system of learning, like the Public School system, which hasn’t changed for the better since then, by the way.” He was serious. “Hey, you know I read Cather, Steinbeck, and Hemingway too. I keep going back to Carroll.”
My laugh came out light, almost a musical chuckle.
“I love your voice,” he whispered, moving closer, drawing me into his arms, his lips finding mine again. All my willpower melted into dangerous submission. My head protested, but my body went turncoat on me and surrendered to the fire of passion. Oh, he was good. Twice now and I never saw it coming.
Finally, I pushed him away. “Take me home,” I said quickly.
It was nearly eleven-thirty when I finally climbed into bed. Rick’s presence was still inside my head. I was angry with myself for allowing him to kiss me. I had lied to myself thinking, I’m not attracted to him. Yet, Rick had flipped on a switch and I wasn’t sure if I could turn it off. Why did I have to meet him?
I closed my eyes trying to imagine my life with him and just like that, it was all very clear. Rick Steel was a major distraction, a set-up, perhaps by Ian. The ugly truth was that I had no future with Rick. Really, how could I be with someone so opposed to my faith and everything I stood for? I was the demon killer, and he had joined forces with my enemy.
So whatever this attraction was, it was only superficial, temporary at best, and I would be careful to keep my head when I saw him again.
* * *
Chapter 13
