“Why am I standin’ here lookin’ under the hood with you? You know I have no damn clue what I’m lookin’ at.” Mary said as she lit a cigarette and watched me look underneath the hood of the Ferrari.

 “Because. I need you to hand me things. Hand me that cloth.” I said pointing to a ripped up piece of t-shirt that I had pulled out of the trunk. Mary did so and I pulled the dipstick out of its reservoir and wiped it.

 “At least tell me what you’re doin’.” Mary said taking a drag on her cigarette.

 “Checking the oil level.” I said examining the dipstick “It looks good.” I jammed the dipstick back into the reservoir.

 “And you’re doin’ this because?” Mary questioned me as she waved her cigarette around.

 “Well, Roger and I…are goin’ on a cruise tonight. Gonna’ make this thing scream.” I told her.

 “Well! That sounds simply…” I cut Mary off.

 “Don’t say anythin’. Roger doesn’t know we’re gonna’ do this yet.” I winked at her. Mary just loved that as her face lit up. She watched me adjust a filter cover.

 “And all of a sudden you don’t trust the oil?”

 “It’s not that, it’s just that when you get up to some high speeds, you gotta’ make sure everythin’ is smooth.” I said. Mary shook her head. We were both quiet for a moment.

 “What’s it like livin’ with someone?” she asked inhaling her cigarette.

 “It’s…it’s wonderful and it’s very frightening and…wait shouldn’t you be askin’ the newly engaged about this?” I smiled at Mary. She laughed.

 “I want to hear what you have to say.” She insisted. I tilted my head and shrugged my shoulders.

“I thought you were excited about movin’ in with Freddie? If you have reservations you shouldn’t do it.” I said.

 “Oh Lydia. I am excited. I’m so very excited in fact that I’m hoping he doesn’t change his mind or that I wake up from a dream or something. Tell me what it’s like.” She insisted.

 “Well it really is wonderful but it’s also an eye-opening experience. On one hand, it’s reassuring knowing that every mornin’ and every night you’re gonna’ wake and go to sleep next to him; that the two of you are gonna ‘play house’ so to speak.  But then, right before the move in actually happens…it hits you. Shit, he’s gonna’ see everythin’ about me. Everythin’. He’ll see all those things that you normally never want a man to see. Like when you wake up in the mornin’ and you don’t have a stitch of makeup or when you wear your favorite baggy sweatshirt without a bra after the shower. You’ll be terrified you’re gonna’ do something embarrassin’ in your sleep like slobber all over your pillow. He’s gonna’ see it all. When you secretly used to buy a cheesecake and then binge on half of it after only eating a few bites of dinner on your date?” I shook my head admittingly. “Yeah…that’s bullshit now ‘cause he’s gonna see you do it. When you spit in the sink after brushin’ your teeth? Guess what? He’s gonna’ see you spit; you may even spit on him a little.” Mary laughed at me. “I’m serious! But…it’s the same for him too. You’re gonna’ see everythin’. And whatever it was that made you attracted to him to begin with? Well, it changes because you suddenly find yourself desperately attracted to all the little cracks in the surface and all the so called flaws and those things that really make him…him. You know, the side of a man that he would never, ever let anyone else see outside of his own four walls. You become insanely attracted to him…wearing his own skin.”

 Mary’s eyes were twinkling as she listened to me. “Oh! Please…tell me…so you do the cheesecake thing…what does Roger do?” She couldn’t hide her big grin. I shook my head.

 “At least twice a week, Roger stands in the kitchen with a music magazine and a cigarette. He takes exactly fifteen soda crackers and spreads strawberry jam on them. He licks the jam off and then eats the cracker all the while he reads whatever magazine it is. He sings the whole time he’s in there…as loud as he can.” I smiled at Mary.

 “Oh…you love him so.” She said dreamily. I slammed the hood of the Ferrari down, ensuring it latched.

 “Who the hell ever said anythin’ about love? You asked me what it was like with Roger and I told you.” I wiped my hands as the sun sunk lower on the horizon.  Mary smiled.

 “You didn’t have to say it.” Mary said. “It’s okay. I know that you love him.” I narrowed my eyes and glared at Mary. She laughed. I never said anythin’ else.

 “Come on. I bet dinner’s close to being ready. You know they finished recording side A today?” Mary asked me as I rolled the top of the Ferrari back.

 “Yeah, that’s what Roger said. That’s really fantastic.” I said as we walked back to the house. We headed inside and sure enough, dinner was being set on the table. I glanced over at the clock: 7:10. Greg, Vivienne, the newly engaged, Brian, and Chrissie were already seated at the table.

 “Roger can you come upstairs with me for a moment?” I asked of him as I headed toward the stairs.

 “Yeah, yeah…I’ll be right there.” Roger sat a bowl down to the table.

 I made my way up the stairs and into our room. I walked over to the closet, pulling something out and sitting down on the edge of the bed. I could hear Roger’s footsteps coming up the stairs.

 “What’s up, babe?” he asked me hanging on to the doorframe and leaning forward. I could hear him tapping his fingers on the frame. I smiled and patted the spot on the bed beside me. He looked at me and came over to sit beside me, plopping down on the bed in a heavy thump. “What’s ‘at there?” he pointed to the box I had on my lap.

 “Here.” I handed it over, not offering any information. “Open it.” I encouraged him. Roger looked at me with that stupid look he got on his face sometimes when he didn’t know what was going on. I watched carefully as he pulled the lid off the box. He handed it to me and I placed it on the bed behind me. He pushed open the layers of tissue paper until he came to the layer sealed with round foil sticker. He stopped here and looked at me.

 “Go on!” I encouraged him. Roger smiled at me and tore open the white tissue paper with the seal. I head him gasp and he covered his eyes with his hand, leaning over against my shoulder.

 “Oh my god, Lyd! Ooooh my god!” He laughed as he leaned on me. I couldn’t help but laugh with him as I put an arm around him. “Shit…god, it’s beautiful, Lyd. It’s beautiful.” Roger leaned back up from my shoulder and reached his hands into the box.

 “Of course it’s beautiful! It’s 100% Italian leather! The same one you tried on.” I assured him. He stood up and put the box on the bed as he pulled the black leather jacket out of it. He slipped it over his shoulders and it glided on him like butter on a baking dish. God, that was a hard feelin’ to fight.

 “Shit, Roger…” I mumbled.

 “It fits well doesn’t it?” There was that stupid look again, that half giddy half ecstatic look. I shook my head.

 “Come here. Roll these sleeves up, that’s why it’s made like that.” I said as Roger stood in front of me. I took his left arm and rolled the sleeve up to his elbow, doing the same to the right. He leaned forward and kissed him. I could feel the ends of his hair touch my neck. “I love you.” I told him softly.

 “Do you love me more in leather?” he asked, barely pulling his lips away from mine.

 “No, I love you more out of it. Listen, you’re gonna’ need that. We're taken' the Ferrari out tonight. Those flat country roads, Rog…they’re ready for some rubber.” I wish I could have sketched the look on Roger’s face at this very moment.

 “You…you serious?” Roger leaned his forehead in against mine. I put my hands around his neck.

 “I checked the oil and the brake pads and the filter today. She’s ready to be driven a little dirty.” I assured him.

 “Can I drive you a little dirty too?” Roger kissed me again.

 “You already know the answer to that.” I assured him.

 Roger and I returned downstairs and took our seats at the table. Naturally, the comments from around the table were overwhelmingly positive for Roger’s jacket... especially Vivienne. She petted and pawed all over him. Since it was buttery soft leather, she slid right off. Roger and I absolutely inhaled our food.

 “Greg? Where are the flattest roadways out here?” I asked swallowing an entire glass of red wine in three gulps.

 “Pretty much everywhere around here is very flat and straight. When you leave the farm, turn right and go out about ten kilometers and the roads out there are a straight stretch. Why do you ask?” Greg wondered.

 “Me an’ Lyd are takin’ the Ferrari out tonight.” Roger said downing his wine as quickly as I had. He stood up from the table. Vivienne gasped.

 “You’re….you’re takin’ the Ferrari out!? Oh! Oooooh! Hold on! I’ll get my coat!” Vivienne threw her napkin onto the table and shuffled her chair. Roger put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back down.

 “You’re gonna’ stay right there and finish your wine with these fine people.” Roger patted her shoulders. Chrissie, being already a little drunk, laughed at Vivienne’s utter disappointment. The time was 8:37 and the nighttime sky had enveloped the land. I left my mostly empty plate, ran upstairs, tied a hairband around my hair and grabbed my own leather out of the closet. When you really road tested a Ferrari…you needed something to keep the wind from stinging. I hurried down the stairs. Roger already had the door open. Everyone else watched rather speechless at just how quickly we had left the house.

 It was a clear night and a full moon hung in the sky. I looked up and watched it a Roger and I started down the read that lead away from the farm. The cool, crisp night air beat against us both. I turned and looked at Roger, his hair blowing backward as he watched the road. He reached over and put his hand on mine since there was no need to shift into another gear for a while. We were blowin’ the roof back and letting in the night sky. God, Roger looked good behind the wheel of this car. We had the heater on, pointed toward the floorboards. You needed a little heat with all the road wind coming in like it was…even wrapped in leather the way we were. We followed the endless fences that were on either side of the road. The long country roadways were empty tonight. We had about five more kilometers to go until we would reach the really straight stretches in which Greg referred.

 I looked over at Roger again, the pale moonlight casting its glow over him, the beams reflecting off the smooth leather of his jacket…and the leather of the bucket seats. I wanted him so miserably right now. Sure, I could have leaned over and blown him…but I really didn’t want that damn gearshift in my rib cage. Roger slowed down as we noticed the land around us getting flatter and flatter. He had rolled to a near stop and put his foot on the brake. I took my hand away from his and squirmed to stand up as best I could without putting my feet in the seat.

 “I think this is the place.” He said looking over at me. I put my hands on the windshield and looked around: Endless flat grasslands with the road cutting through the middle. It was so dark out here but the moonlight blanketed the countryside in a ghostly white that combined with the lights of the car. I squirmed around and sat down once again. I shook my head.

 “This is it.” I leaned over, as did Roger. Our kiss was heatedly brief. He pulled away from me and took a deep breath. He actually looked nervous.

 “Watch the speedometer, okay?” his voice was soft and serious. I shook my head.

 “Yeah.”  I answered him.

 “Alright.” He swallowed hard. I looked over at the lighted instrument panel. He got on the gas gradually: 25, 35, 45, 55…. we could feel the road wind whipping through us faster. 65, 75…85. I watched the needle climb as the engine purred like a kitten. As we broke 100, I looked over at Roger. He was breathin’ heavily. After 100 was when you really started seein’ the performance of a car like this. 110….I could feel my heart racing with the pound of the pistons. 115…120…Roger was grippin’ the wheel with clenched fists. I could tell by the look on his face he was nervous and exhilarated at the same time. Tiny beads of sweat were formin’ on his skin just above the neck of his tank shirt he was wearin’ underneath his jacket. 125…130…oh shit…oh…135…

 “Rog…Rog…oooh…140…” the force of roaring down the road at 140 was indescribable…and the Ferrari ate it alive.

 “Oh fuck…how fast, Lyd?” he asked me. He couldn’t take his hands from the wheel.

 “150…” I uttered. I watched the dial again. 145…I tilted my head back slightly an watched the sky above us turn into an endless blanket of black.

 “Shit Lyd…150….1….150 lyd…oh my god….one-fuckin-fifty.” Roger choked out.

 “Hold it. Hold it there…” I panted at him. Roger’s hair was everywhere and I swear I felt like my heart was gonna’ leap outta’ my chest. “Now coast it…coast it, sweetheart.” I told him breathlessly. Roger pulled back on the gas pedal very gradually. I still had my eyes glued to the needle: 140……130…….120……110…..100. God, 100 felt like we were moving at a snail’s pace. 90……….80……..70…..60……50…….40…….30…….20…..and then, there in the English countryside we stopped. My heart was still racing. I looked over at Roger…he looked at me as the engine idled. We just stared at each other a moment before he burst into laughter and leaned over on the steering wheel. His laughter made my laugh like crazy. He had his foot on the brake.

 “Shit….shit look at my hands, babe! They’re….they’re fuckin’ shakin’, Lyd! Look!” Roger finally took his hands off the wheel. I laughed even harder when I saw how terribly his hands were shaking. I reached over and threw the gearshift into park. I think it relieved Roger. “Ooooooh my god!” Roger was breathing hard as he took his foot of the brake and let the weight of his body sink into the Italian leather bucket seat he was in. “God, Lyd. She eats the road…alive.” He said. We could smell the hotness of the tires but the engine acted as if nothing had happened. He looked over at me in the pale moonlight and shook his head.  “it didn’t even phase it…” he whispered. I shook my head.

 “No.” I answered. Roger reached up and turned the ignition off. I leaned over and did my best to tune into whatever radio station I could find. I wasn’t very successful as this far out in the country it was mostly static.

 “Pop the trunk.” I asked of Roger as I opened up my door. He did so and I got out and walked around the to back of the car. The light in the trunk came on and I pulled a heavy blanket from the inside. I closed the trunk and walked back around to the front of the car.

 “What are you doin’?” Roger asked still trying to regain his composure.

 “Come on. Can you even walk?” I smiled all over as I spread the blanket out over the hood of the Ferrari. Roger opened his door and got out, taking a moment to lean up against the door. I went over to him and slipped my jacket off, throwing it in the seat behind him. I threw my arms around him, letting the weight of his body rest into me. I pushed his jacket off his shoulders; he was sweating a little underneath. “You okay?” I asked as I felt Roger’s arms tighten around me.

 “Yeah…yeah…I’m…I’m okay.” He said, still not being able to wipe that smile off his face. I helped him slip his jacket off and he threw it on top of mine. The kiss that followed was unlike any other. I pulled him up from where he was restin’ on the door and walked him around to the front of the Ferrari in the moonlit path. The more intensely he kissed me, the more I pawed at him. His tongue collided with mine as he pushed be back onto the blanket covered hood. I carefully pushed myself back a little, feeling his teeth on my collarbone and his heavy breath on my neck.  I raked at his shirt with my fingers and felt the button of my jeans come undone. I pushed myself back a little further and pulled Roger down against me; feeling a sea of hair over my neck. I did my best to help work my jeans down my hips as my breath collided with his. Roger locked his eyes on mine as I heard him unzip his pants. I moved my hands and dug my fingers into long, wind-tangled hair.

 “I love you.” I moreso lipped the words because hardly any sound escaped me I was so caught up. Roger kissed me hard.

 “I love you too, babe.” His lips moved against mine before I moaned into his mouth. I gripped his shoulders tightly. It was time to go 150 again.