Loving Liberty

by Belinda Boring

  “Meet me at the front of the Registration Building about 12.30pm.” I still couldn’t believe this was happening.

  “Then it’s a date. See you tomorrow at 12.30.” The mention of the word “date” almost made me hyperventilate. “Oh, and Liberty?”

  It took me a second to answer. “Yeah?”

  “Thanks for being brave. I can’t wait to see you.”

  I smiled at my phone as I hung up, clutching it to my chest as a goofy grin spread across my face. When it sunk in, penetrating my awareness, the realization finally struck.

  I had a date with Oliver. A date.

  Squealing with excitement, I jumped up from my bed and ran over to my closet. I needed to look my best for him. Ignoring the worry that was always at the back of my mind, I spent the rest of the night focused on how amazing tomorrow would be. No one would find out.

  Oliver.

  I’d be alone with him.

  Smiling, I twirled on the spot.

  Oliver.

  Chapter Four

  Looking at my watch, my stomach churned over and over.

  Oliver would be here any minute and I was having an extreme case of cold feet. I’d tossed and turned all night, having nightmares about today’s lunch date—ranging from my parents finding out, to my sister being where we ate, to family friends giving my secret away, and Oliver standing me up. This was the riskiest thing I’d ever done and it was making me want to throw up.

  I checked my phone, again. He hadn’t called to cancel and I fought the urge to call him. Excitement was bubbling inside me when I wasn’t overcome with fear and doubt. I was a mess. It wouldn’t take much to push me over the edge.

  Call and cancel, Liberty. Think about the consequences. Now’s not the time to be rebellious. Wait until after you graduate, then you can make whatever stand and be assertive.

  My mind refused to be silent on the matter.

  If you don’t do this now, you never will. What will one lunch hurt? You like Oliver. This is your life. Isn’t it time you started living it? Your parents won’t know; and if they did find out, you’ll be fine. You’re twenty-one years old. They can’t control you forever.

  Back and forth, I argued with myself, feeling crazier by the minute.

  Putting away my cell phone and steadying my nerves, I tried not to stew over how this could be the biggest mistake of my life. However, something deeper inside me, buried beneath the conflicting thoughts, whispered this might just be one of the greatest decisions I’d ever made.

  I’d read somewhere that freedom wasn’t always won in a grand display or theatrics. Sometimes, it was achieved by making small, courageous steps—beginning with one simple choice.

  Push away your fear and don’t think about your parents. Just take a deep breath, smile, and try to have a good time. Worry about the consequences later . . . if there are any.

  I nodded to myself and glanced around, not seeing any sign of Oliver. He’d said he was riding his bike to campus, but the bicycle rack was currently empty. I figured he’d want to leave it here while we walked to one of the nearby restaurants. Chewing on my bottom lip, there was no squashing the thought he was really standing me up.

  A loud revving engine caught my attention as a helmeted rider turned onto the street. My eyes followed, taking in the sleek machine taking the corner easily before straightening upright. The driver was dressed all in black and for a brief, insane second, I wondered what it would be like to ride on such a dangerous vehicle.

  I snorted. It was my mother, talking in my head, about how dangerous motorcycles were, and how those who owned them had death wishes. She didn’t understand how someone would willingly put their lives at risk, hurtling down roads at speeds she considered reckless. I never argued with her or told her what I thought. For me, it wasn’t about speed or danger. It was about freedom.

  My heart started racing when the motorcyclist pulled up to the curb and parked. Swinging his leg over the seat, my eyes widened as Oliver took off his helmet and looked directly at me, grinning. All this time I’d assumed he meant a bicycle. It never occurred to me that this was what he meant by “bike”.

  Laying his helmet on the seat, he began striding toward me, unzipping his black leather jacket to reveal a black t-shirt that hugged every muscle underneath. He robbed my breath, approaching me as though I was the only person in the quad and not surrounded by other students milling about. He raked his hand through his hair, fixing it, and I couldn’t help the sigh. I was in big trouble—huge trouble. My hormones were running rampant and I knew he spelled disaster to my parent’s tight control over me.

  Be careful! He could destroy everything! I ignored those thoughts as I smiled back.

  “I hope I haven’t kept you waiting long?” he asked, finally standing in front of me. A soft breeze caught hold of his cologne and it teased me. Without the waiter uniform, he was even more attractive than I remembered. Oliver was dressed casually and I had to remind myself not to stare. He looked good, beyond good. He looked amazing.

  “Not really. I’ve only been here a few minutes,” I lied, fidgeting with the strap on my school bag.

  “Here, let me carry that for you.” Before I could argue with him, Oliver reached over and took it. It wasn’t exactly light, with four textbooks inside, but he acted like it was nothing to hold. Sliding it onto his own shoulder, he gave me that lopsided smile I remembered so well. “So, do you have anywhere in particular you’d like to eat?”

  I glanced around, not sure what to suggest. “Not really. I just thought we’d walk down either direction and eat at the first place that looked good.” I couldn’t help but stare admiringly at his motorcycle as we walked toward the street, before turning back to Oliver. He hadn’t missed my attention.

  “We could do that or . . .” He drew out the last word. “We could get on my bike and I can take you to one of my favorite places. It’s about fifteen minutes from here, but it’s worth it. Will that give us enough time to eat and get you back in time for your next class?”

  “It should. I don’t have to back until three.” A swirl of giddiness erupted through my body. It didn’t take me long to calculate I’d have two and a half blessed hours alone with Oliver.

  “Then shall we?” He stood back and gestured for me to lead the way. I inclined my head, impressed by his manners, and then flushed hard when he placed his hand on my lower back. Heat from the contact consumed me and the walk over to his motorcycle seemed endless. Not that I was complaining. Even though I barely knew him, I liked being touched by Oliver. It felt real.

  “Here, you should wear this.” He handed me his helmet and I stared at it, not sure what to do.

  “What will you use?” I asked, lifting to place it over my head. The thing was heavy. “I don’t want you getting hurt.”

  “Don’t you worry about me?” Oliver smiled as he helped me tighten the straps. “I’m a pretty good rider, so we’ll be safe.” He winked at me, his eyes twinkling with humor, as he slid the tinted visor down into place. His closeness set my heart racing again.

  He swung his leg over the bike and turned to help me. I’d never ridden before but somehow managed to get on, straddling him from behind, and wrapped my arms around his waist, my bag between us. I felt out of control as he shifted to kick-start the engine and I jumped with surprise as it roared to life.

  “You okay back there?” Oliver yelled, clearly enjoying the death grip I had on him. He stroked my hand until I relaxed a little and his chest rumbled with laughter. I leaned over his shoulder and quickly nodded, not wanting him to know I was more than a little terrified. He didn’t question it. “Okay, here we go. Tap my shoulder if you need me to stop.”

  We took off down the street and I couldn’t help but smile.

  I was riding on a motorcycle with a sexy guy.

  Me, Liberty Montgomery, people pleaser and perfect daughter.

  It is funny how one decision can change everything.

  Oliver took me somewhere I’d never
have chosen on my own, too scared and too indoctrinated by my parents’ opinions. I looked around the Bar and Grill, noting how the dark lighting and background music gave it a relaxed feel. From what I could tell, it was the perfect place for my first act of secret defiance.

  Placing his hand on my lower back again, I tried not to shiver. He definitely had the ability to create a reaction in my body. Hopefully it wasn’t obvious to him or I’d die from embarrassment. He probably had a million girls fawning over him, vying for his attention. The last thing I wanted was for him to realize just how inexperienced I was with all this.

  “Welcome to Jake’s,” Oliver whispered in my ear. “I like to come in here at least once a week and just hang out. They have amazing burgers and there’s always a pool table available.”

  I followed where he pointed and sure enough, there was a vacant table. “I’ve never played before,” I admitted.

  “Then I look forward to teaching you.” He smirked, and guided us over to a vacant booth. He nodded at a nearby waitress who beamed back at him. Sliding into the small space, Oliver took the opposite seat and handed me a menu. “Feel free to order whatever you want. My treat.”

  “Thank you,” I replied, already reading through the different sections. My parents would definitely hate this place. There were none of the rich and fancy entrees they preferred. Oliver was right, Jake’s specialties were burgers and I counted at least fifteen different choices. Each came with a side of fries or onion rings and coleslaw. My mouth watered just checking the different options.

  “Do you see anything you like?” Oliver asked, peering over his own menu. “Don’t get overwhelmed by how many burgers there are. I’ve tasted them all and each one is the best.”

  I stared back at my menu and frowned. There was no way I could choose, not with the anxiety I felt. What if I picked the wrong one or didn’t like what I got? Suddenly, I longed for the simplicity of dining with my parents. There was no looking like a fool with them; I always knew exactly what I was getting.

  “How about you choose for me?” I placed the menu on the table, pushing it away. I felt ill, incompetent, and foolish for thinking something as easy as eating with him could be manageable. I was used to certain things and as delicious as the food smelled, there was no shaking my insecurity. Oliver was definitely going to think I was a child.

  He tilted his head, studying me for a moment. “Hey, what’s the matter?” Dropping his menu on top of mine, he took hold of my hand. I didn’t pull away but I was already embarrassed that my distress was so obvious.

  “I’m fine. There are just a lot of choices, that’s all.” A tear slid down my cheek, betraying my false bravado.

  “Liberty?” He leaned over and brushed the tear away. Sitting back, he didn’t let go of my hand and I could see he was trying to understand what had happened. I continued staring down at the menu, wishing it would disappear, all the while cursing myself. This wasn’t how our lunch together was supposed to go.

  “I’m okay, really.” I offered him a smile and nodded my head as if it would convince both of us.

  “You don’t seem okay to me. Do you not want to eat here? We can go somewhere else. I just want to spend time with you.” He ducked his head so he could get a better look at me. “Talk to me.”

  “It’s stupid. You’re just going to laugh. I want to laugh at how dumb I’m being.”

  “I would never make fun of you. Trust me.” He rubbed his thumb over the back of my hand. It struck me, again, how incredible he was. He barely knew me, yet each time we met, he showed sincere concern.

  Looking up, I met his eyes. “I’m not used to having so many choices. It freaked me out a little. Usually when I go out, it’s with my family and I have whatever they’re having.” Another tear fell and I wiped it away. “Whoever heard of a twenty-one year old having a hard time deciding what to order?”

  Oliver gently squeezed my hand and the gesture threatened the thin control I had over my emotions. “I think I get it, Liberty, and it’s okay. How about I make this easier for you?”

  My relief was instant. He wasn’t laughing or wanting our lunch to end. “No, I can do this. It’s not like a life changing decision. It’s just a burger.” I picked up the menu, determined, and scanned the list again.

  “Do you want to know what happened the first time I came here?” Oliver’s question dragged my attention back to him. “I had a hard time picking one, as well. They all looked good. So, I asked the waitress to pick me whatever they were selling the most of.”

  “Really? And they didn’t think you were crazy?”

  Oliver chuckled softly, shaking his head, his light brown hair falling across his brow. “She told me lots of other customers did the same thing. She said that she actually enjoyed it because she liked figuring out what each person would prefer. Jessica’s pretty good, too. She’s never steered me wrong and always seems to know what I’m craving. Shall we continue the tradition?”

  The heavy weight pressing against my chest lifted. “That sounds perfect,” I replied, slumping back in the booth in relief. I must have looked ridiculous because Oliver started laughing. Realizing it was pretty funny; I let out a small chuckle, too. “You promised me you wouldn’t laugh,” I scolded.

  “I’m not making fun, I swear. It’s just you looked so cute, like you’d escaped a firing squad or something. It made me want to . . .” He didn’t finish his sentence.

  “Made you want to what?” His blue eyes were focused on my mouth for a second before he shook his head.

  “Nothing. You looked cute is all.” Oliver raised his hand, signaling to the waitress we were ready. “You’re doing okay, Liberty. Just be yourself. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  I wanted to tell him how hard that was for me, but Jessica appeared with her notepad and pen. We ordered drinks, a soda for Oliver and sparkling water for me. Cocking his eyebrow, I changed it to pink lemonade, giving myself completely over to the moment.

  “This is Liberty’s first time at Jake’s and she’s willingly agreed to follow with tradition.” Oliver grinned and I waited for Jessica to roll her eyes. It was natural for me to assume the worst; but true to his word, she turned her focus to me.

  Jessica didn’t speak a word. She simply stood there chewing on her bottom lip while she decided. She even squinted like she was trying to read my mind and then a wide smile broke across her face.

  “I know exactly what to order. Don’t you worry about a thing! This will be the best burger you have ever tasted.” She scribbled something down on her notepad and then looked at Oliver. “You want your usual or can I decide? Something tells me you’re craving something new.” She winked and to my amazement, Oliver was the one now blushing.

  “Bring me whatever you think I need, Jessica. As always, I place my appetite in your capable hands.”

  Watching as Jessica left our booth and entered the kitchen, I was excited to see what she’d chosen for us.

  Chapter Five

  I was a little unsure when Jessica finally brought out my food—a large patty with cheddar cheese, bacon, fried onions, and a thick pineapple slice. Adding the usual lettuce, tomatoes and pickles to the mix, it was beyond intimidating. There was no doubt I’d end up wearing some, if not all of it, before lunch was over.

  Oliver shook his head when I picked up my knife and fork. Signaling for me to copy what he did, he demonstrated how to eat it. He took a huge bite, some of the insides falling out; and when he lowered the burger to his plate, I started laughing. Ketchup coated the corners of his mouth and when his tongue darted out to lick it away, I blushed.

  Barbeque sauce dripped onto the plate in thick, heavy drops while I contemplated where to take my first bite. “This is going to be so messy.” I cringed, the burger large in my small hands. “Can’t I at least cut in half?”

  “Nope, it’s part of the experience. Now quit talking and eat.” Oliver smiled, taking another large mouthful from his own.

  I closed my eyes and d
id what he said. My reaction was instant and very loud. Moaning with pleasure, I chewed as the most incredible flavor exploded over my taste buds. It was riot of seasonings and the perfect blending of fixings.

  “That’s amazing!” I exclaimed, looking at my burger with a newfound appreciation. “Just wow!” I moved my hands, trying to find the best place to take another bite. “This is incredible.”

  “I told you so. I’ve been coming here for years and I’ve yet to find any place else that compares. Wait.” He lowered his food, wiping his hand quickly on a napkin, and reached over. Unsure, his thumb wiped across my bottom lip and came away with a streak of sauce. “You had a little something on your mouth.”

  I tried not to choke when he sucked the condiment from his thumb. “You really shouldn’t do stuff like that,” I croaked. “I’m not used to guys like you.”

  “Like me?” Oliver asked, dipping some fries in ranch before popping it into his mouth.

  “Yeah, you’re different from the guys my parents let me go out with. You’re more,” I wanted to use another word but there was only one that seemed appropriate. “. . . dangerous.”

  Oliver tipped his head back and laughed out loud. “Oh, Liberty, I’m not dangerous at all. You’ve got nothing to worry about with me.”

  “I beg to differ,” I murmured, sipping my lemonade. “You do things I wouldn’t even dream of doing.”

  “Like what? Believe me, I’m pretty normal.”

  “You ride a motorcycle. You give strange girls your phone number. You let waitresses pick what you eat. You look like you could do anything you wanted. I can’t even begin to imagine what that feels like.” I sighed, dramatically. “It makes me realize how truly sheltered my life is. You make me want more. Look at what I’m eating!” I pointed at my burger. “I would never have had the courage to order this with my family. My mother would have a coronary at the thought.”

  “There’s nothing stopping you from doing the same things. You’re young, free and twenty-one. There comes a time when you need to stop following in your parents’ footsteps and start walking your own path.” Oliver picked up a fallen pickle and chewed on it, thoughtfully. “What’s the worst that could happen?”