for
a moment. “Just tell me. I’ll remember it.”
She didn’t want
me to have her phone number, for God’s sake. I really had some work to do.
“I’m on Willow Grove. Number 25. It’s a grayish split level with green
shutters.”
Jane nodded.
“Okay, Dusty. Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
She turned and
walked out the door, just like that. I stood leaning against the wall like a
dope.
What was I
thinking? I knew what I was after. Despite the fact that it could fuck up
my relationship with Michelle and fuck up Jane’s relationship with Johnnie, and
undoubtedly have Johnnie gunning for me, I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted
inside Jane Brown’s pants. And it was a really stupid idea.
Chapter 5
Jane
I sat on the park
bench the next morning impatiently waiting for Millie to show up. I desperately
needed to tell her about my adventure the night before and I didn’t want my
mother to overhear anything. She would definitely try to listen to my phone
call as my ‘date’ with Johnnie had her pretty rattled already.
Millie finally
arrived and plopped down on the park bench beside me. “Spill it! What happened
with Johnnie? I’ve been dying all morning to find out.”
I loved drawing
out this part; I rarely had good gossip or stories to share, so I milked this
one for all it was worth. “First, let me just say, that Johnnie is looking
mighty fine. Super ‘yummy’ as you would say.”
Millie’s eyes
sparkled as she squeezed my knee in excitement. “I knew it! Aaaand?”
“And we talked for
a long time. Got caught up on the last few years.” I knew the suspense was
killing her.
Millie urged me
on. “Okay, skip to the good part. Did he ask you out again? Did he kiss you?
C’mon, Jane. I gotta know.”
“Yes and no. And
you won’t believe the bombshell he dropped on me.” I was enjoying my little
moment.
Millie’s eyes
bugged out. “What?! You’re killing me. Yes, what? No, what? What are you
talking about?”
I laughed. “Yes,
he asked me out again and no, he didn’t kiss me.”
Millie frowned.
“Darn. But maybe he’ll kiss you next time? Where’s the next date going to be?”
“He asked me to
have dinner over his parent’s house tonight. And, I don’t think there’s going
to be a kiss. We’re just going to remain friends.”
Millie was upset
at my news. “Jane, don’t give up so easily! Does he have a girlfriend in
California? Still, who cares? You’ve got to go after what you want in life or
you’ll always be sitting on the sidelines.”
“I would never go
after Johnnie if he had a girlfriend. But, he doesn’t.” I paused a moment to
let the full impact of my words hit her. “He’s got a boyfriend.”
Millie looked
puzzled. “A boyfriend?”
“Yep.”
Her eyes widened
in surprise. “As in, he’s gay?”
“Yep.”
“No!” She shook
her head in denial.
I nodded. “Yes,
it’s true. But he hasn’t told anyone at home yet, so keep your mouth shut. He’s
pretty torn up about revealing it.”
“Oh my God. I just
can’t believe Johnnie’s gay.” She sat back against the park bench. “I guess
that explains the fiasco on prom night.”
I winced
remembering how utterly devastated I had been that night and for weeks to
follow. His rejection had seemed soul-crushing back then. “At least now I know
it wasn’t me.”
Millie still
looked shocked. “Wow. That is some really big news. I’m sorry, Jane, if you got
your hopes dashed with Johnnie.”
I smiled secretly
to myself. “I saw Dusty last night, too.”
Millie’s head
swiveled toward me, and her mouth dropped open. “Dusty Hamilton?”
“Do you know any
other Dusty?” I replied dryly.
Millie rolled her
eyes. “Did you talk to him?”
“He came over to
say hi just as we were leaving.” I tried to sound as if it was just an everyday
occurrence.
Millie’s brow
creased. “So, he remembered you?”
“Apparently.” He
remembered. And he seemed interested