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You can take me to the skies.
It's like being lost in heaven,
when I'm Lost In Your Eyes.
Debbie Gibson.

Saturday morning, I rose early, and began preparing for my... what? I guessed it counted as a date. With a nervousness I could never have anticipated, I cleaned parts of the house that had become dusty over the year Nick and I had lived there. When Alice had visited, I had not bothered with more than clearing the clutter and vacuuming the carpet, as her apartment had also been far from spotless.

However, I suspected that Erica's house was immaculately cleaned by the maid who came by twice a week. And so, I dusted the window sills, wiped down the baseboards, and put a fresh sheet on the dingy porch couch. I smiled at the silky linen, imagining how I would be making out with her on it soon.

This is really happening...

With two hours to go, I ate a light breakfast of toast and orange juice, then took a long shower. Enjoying the watery paradise, I stayed in too long while rehearsing everything I would say and do, as if I had not dated almost forty women.

After shaving and brushing my hair, I looked through my closet for a suitable outfit. I considered a favorite of Rachel and Alice, tight jeans worn commando, with no shirt.

Erica had seemed to like it when she brought her friends a few days before, but I would feel like a douchebag sporting it two times in a row. Digging through my cabinet proved fruitful, as the tight white cotton pants looked good on me. The only remaining issue, was to free-ball or not. The thin fabric meant that as soon as I became aroused, Erica would have a detailed outline of me. I wasn't particularly proud of my average size, but I didn't try to conceal it either.

Teasing had always provided flirty fun for Erica, so I put on a sleeveless collared shirt, a remnant from my punk rocker days. It hung just low enough to mostly hide my crotch, but leaving it unbuttoned allowed Erica to see the goods, if she wanted to. Riffing on the Tom Petty song, I sang, "Now I'm freeeeeee. Free balling... "

She better look. I feel like such a tool right now...

With my wardrobe sorted out, I turned my attention to the backyard, where she would cut my hair. The beautiful spring morning provided a perfect backdrop to our date. A small oak tree would keep the sun out of our eyes, and a folding chair and table completed the makeshift salon.

My topless, black-with-flames 1970 Thunderbird took up most of the driveway in front of the one-car garage. The lower part of the front end had been severely damaged in an accident the previous August, so a 4x10 beam served as the front bumper.

Alice had loved when I brought the car on dates, but after the crash, I thought my classy and elegant lover would be embarrassed to be seen in it.

Erica might still like it...

I gave the car a quick hose-down, then put a new seat cover over the front bench seat.

All my preparations were completed, so I relaxed on the porch couch to wait for Erica. She wasn't due for an hour, but she usually showed up early for work, so I anticipated she might do the same for a date.

Erica is polite and punctual. My parents will like that...

****************

As expected, her Corolla pulled up to the curb ten minutes early. Erica's bare legs were the first part of her I saw exiting the compact car.

I bet she parked two houses up, just so I would have that view. She thinks of everything...

She had let her booth tan go, and the paleness of her thighs surprised me. I would not have thought skin that fair could turn the lovely light golden hue I had become accustomed to.

A short sleeve pink blouse went well with her knee length denim skirt and shoulder length ponytail, while plain white sandals showed off her well-pedicured toes.

Nick's question about handling a 'Woman that sexy,' seemed silly, after seeing how classy, yet still immensely desirable, Erica could appear. Just like...

...Alice. I'll be damned. That's exactly how I had described Alice's style to Wendy, and now Erica shows up looking like this. What a good friend I have...

My opinion of Erica continued to evolve. I wasn't much into demure women, but I wondered if I was seeing more of the real Erica, with her super-sexy temptress persona just an act. Or perhaps she was both. Many people had radically different experiences with me, yet it was still me with all of them. Erica and I might have something hidden in common.

Can we build a relationship on being two-faced?

I stood from the couch to greet her, but froze when Ziggy exited the passenger seat. My confidence in how the day would play out disappeared into a black hole of doubt and fear.

What the fuck? Am I about to get Friendzoned? By Erica? Ohhhh no, no, no. That's going to wreck me. I'm glad I saved Brenda's number. Maybe I'll give Wendy another chance. Or...Alice. I cut her name out of my phone book so I wouldn't be tempted to call her when I get drunk, but I can go by her apartment.

Erica, no. Please don't do this to me. Don't. I can't take it...

My stomach continued spasming as Erica stepped on the porch and took my hand to raise it to her lips. "Ray, don't worry about Ziggy. You can just pretend she's not here."

In a daze, I mumbled, "Ok. You look very nice."

Somehow Erica combined a girlish hand over her mouth with a sexy smirk, showing no hint of deceit.

Despite Erica's suggestion, I greeted her friend. "Hi, Ziggy. Good to see you. Help yourself to anything in the fridge."

As before, she seemed shocked that anyone would want to talk to her. A small wave and a barely audible "Thanks," exhausted her social output. I kindly left her alone and looked to Erica, who beamed at me.

"Did you talk to Vivian, Ray?"

"I did. She told me not to hurt you. I won't."

She blankly stared at me. Butterflies swarmed inside me, from head to toe.

Why is it so hard for me to make a move? It's just a kiss, right?

A gentler smile than I had ever seen on Erica formed her lips into soft pillows. "I won't hurt you either, Ray. I promise. Umm, where do you want to do this?"

I glanced at my bedroom door while she pulled a stying kit out of her expensive-looking purse.

Oh right, the haircut...

"The backyard, Erica. For the haircut. Yes."

I pointed to the back door, where Ziggy stood, engrossed by a squirrel on the lawn. "Uh, Ziggy? Can I get you something to read?"

She nodded, so I hurried into my bedroom, then dug out one of my favorite books.

Richard Halliburton's Complete Book of Marvels had taken me on many imaginary journeys all over the world as a boy. My grandfather had given it to my teenage father, and I had received it as a Christmas gift when I was six years old. The author, a 1920's adventurer, became a great friend, and sparked an interest in history and geography that stayed with me into my old age. By 1985, the cover had torn off, but the sturdy paper used in the late 1930's printing remained in pristine shape. I opened it to one of the most vivid chapters, and read a few lines before remembering Erica awaited me.

Sorry, babe. I get lost in my head. Better get used to it...

Erica's smile didn't convey the same mild annoyance that her eyes threw at me. I tossed a wink her way, and she softened when she saw I had brought a book for Ziggy.

"Here Ziggy. I think you'll like this. It's a young man's journal of his travel to fascinating places around the world. I recommend starting with the Great Wall Of China chapter."

She took the book, and grabbed the beer she had been swigging, then waddled onto the porch to flop on the couch.

No Ziggy, that's the makeout couch. Erica and I are going to... Ahh, whatever...

Erica beckoned me through the back door. "Thank you for being so nice to her. It means a lot to me."

Nick's a fucking genius!

I had nothing safe to say, so I just smiled at her as I sat in the chair. My heart jumped when she stepped into the backyard, where the spring morning sun deepened the blue of her eyes. Clearly aware that my gaze had locked on her, Erica slinked over to the open top car. She ran her fingers along the white, yellow, orange and red flamed hood, then gracefully leaned over the driver's door to peer inside.

She will look so perfect in it, riding snuggled up to me...

"Ray? Do you ever drive this to work? I think I would remember it."

"Not for about six months. I last took it to work shortly after you started. We could..."

"Yes, let's do that sometime."

Ok, then. That was easy...

The dew on the grass misted as she approached, bringing to mind an angel floating on a cloud. The next half hour became a blur of ecstasy and emotions as she cut my hair. There was really no plausible reason for her to touch me with as much of her amazing body as she did, but each bit of contact bonded me to her, until I became putty in her hands.

Finally she gestured for me to stand, then circled around to check her work. Her fingers lovingly ran through the curls at the back of my neck, and she breathed, "Now, you're perfect."

One hand reached to her waist, the other stroked her cheek, then my lips softly met hers. Our mouths slowly opened into a lover's passionate kiss, and Erica melted into me. I felt her ankle on the back of my leg, pulling us tighter and tighter, until no gap remained between any part of us. After a thousand years, we gently parted, and stared into each other's moist eyes. Simultaneous relaxed sighs brought satisfied grins to our faces.

That was not what I expected from her. It was beautiful...

I had pictured our first kiss as a torrid, pin her to the wall, and intense sort of thing. Instead, Erica showed me a sweetness, vulnerability, and depth I never could have imagined. No words seemed appropriate or needed, so I took her hand and led her inside. Through the front screen door, we watched Ziggy lying on the couch, immersed in one of Richard's perilous tales. Erica snuggled tightly against me, in a preview of how clingy she could be throughout our time together.

"Hello Ziggy. May I introduce my girlfriend Erica?"

Ziggy rose from the couch and studied us. "You kissed her?"

"Yes I did. It was wonderful."

Erica nodded and squirmed like a cat being scratched behind the ears. Making her so happy meant the world to me.

Ziggy scrunched her face into what looked like a smile. "Cool."

She had her thumb in the book's pages almost a third of the way through. Because it was written for teenagers of the 1930's, the chapters flew by quickly. "Do you want to take that book with you?"

"Really? Yes. Thank you."

"No problem. What was your favorite chapter?"

She leapt up on the couch. "I loved when he jumped into the Mayan sinkhole, like one of their sacrificial virgins!"

She hugged her short pudgy arms around her short pudgy torso, then took a step off the couch, with a small mock scream. "Kersplash! Help, these chains are making me sink! Blub blub blub..."

I loved that chapter too, Ziggy!

Despite accompanying Erica on most of our outings for the rest of their school year, it was the most animated I ever saw Ziggy. I didn't know how to react to her role-play, so I kissed Erica again. "Well, I have to get ready for work."

Erica gathered her tools, and I walked them to her car. Earl, an ancient coal black man who lived by himself a few houses up the block, caned his way by. He had occasionally joined Nick and I on our patio for beers, and loved to tell us stories of "Back in the day."

Earl's constant strolling through the neighborhood, meant he had seen most of the women I had entertained over the last year, but he never mentioned them. He gave Erica a detailed once-over, then coughed, "Dayyyyummm, boy. She's your best one yet! Mmm, hmm."

"Thanks Earl. This is Erica, and..."

Ziggy had already disappeared into the car, so I let it trail off. Earl didn't like to stop until he completed his walk, so our conversation was apparently over. Over the next few months, he ended up visiting a few times when Erica was at my home, and would be a perfect gentleman. However, if she wasn't with me, Earl would say things like, "Boy, that fine-ass white girl, she got some serious booty on her. Don't let that honeypot go, you hear?"

All the emotions had tapped me out, so I just briefly kissed Erica, then watched her drive away.

Erica and I. Together...

A/N: I realize my portrayals of Ziggy seem caricatured, but she was exactly like I wrote.

Richard Halliburton's Book Of Marvels greatly influenced how I write my memoirs.

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