Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Reading In The Park: Yeah Write Speakeasy


lydiajoyness.com

“You know, I don’t even remember his name – and I’m okay with that.” she said, lying to her roommate once again.

Natalie’s summer routine on a Saturday afternoon was always the same. After sleeping off a late night clubbing, she’d bike up to Montrose Harbor to her quiet spot, which one could get to only by bike or foot. She felt intensely possessive of her peaceful place as rarely anyone else was ever there but her.

She brought just three things in her basket…a book, a beer and a blanket. She would read, sunbathe, read, nap, and read some more seeing passersby only from a distance.

One Saturday, she arrived to find someone quietly reading under a nearby tree. Apparently unaware of her squatter’s rights to this corner of the park, she had no choice but to ignore him.

With the sun warming her nicely, Natalie covered her long limbs and face with sun lotion then opened her book.  She must have dozed off because the tree was shading her now signaling time to go. She turned over and began packing her things.

“What’d are you reading?” The guy from the other tree asked looking down at her.

“The Cider House Rules” she said shielding her eyes from the sun. “You?”

“I’ve read that it’s very good. Lie Down With Lions.”

“Are you to the scene yet?” Natalie questioned.

“Which one?”

“Oh, you’ll know when you get there.”

“Looks like you’re leaving.”

“Yeah, I’ve gotten too much sun.”

“Stay a while. We can sit in the shade.”

She really didn’t have anywhere else to be. Natalie moved her blanket to the tree and spread it out so they both could sit. So for the next two hours they talked some but read even more.

“Are you there yet?” She anxiously inquired desperately wanting to know.

“I am now.” He said blushing.

“Will you read it to me?” She said much more boldly than she felt.

“Uhhhh. Let me read it myself first then I’ll read it out loud.”

She was really just playing with him, daring him, to read it to her. She’d thrown down the gauntlet and secretly crossed her fingers.

Natalie had re-read that sex scene a hundred times and they were the most erotic combination of words she’d ever read in her 24 years. Just thinking about it had her spine tingling.

She watched him over the top edge of her book. He was reading on his back, arm folded to prop his head, when she saw his physical reaction. Seeing her take notice, he smiled and rolled onto his stomach.

Once finished, he said, “If I’m going to read this to you, I’m gonna need this.”

He pulled out a joint and with no one in sight; they both took a couple hits. Natalie felt like a naughty schoolgirl or a criminal. He brushed her long hair off her cheek as she laughed nervously.

Lying back, he began reading aloud. His voice was a little shaky at first but warmed quickly to the words as he described a scene he could envision perfectly.

Completely mesmerized, Natalie curled into him resting her head on his chest. She could hear his pounding heart and lightly brushed his muscles with her fingertips. Slowly, he guided her hand past his stomach never missing a word. She should have been shocked.

With the passage complete, he set his book aside and took her in his arms. He softly kissed her neck first then moved over her mouth like a total eclipse of the sun.

They stayed like that for hours, trading between kisses and watching the sunset.

 “Do you know of any quieter spots around here?” he asked breathing heavily.

“As a matter of fact, I do.” she whispered.

Sharing one bike, he pedaled them to a secluded place. It was thick with trees and a portal to stunning city lights. With a roaring fire in a pit on the beach as backdrop, there was just enough glow for them to look into the other’s eyes.

As the fire became embers and shouts in the distance faded, he wrapped them together in her warm blanket and pulled her on top of him. She’d never felt so comfortable so fast.

“Do you realize we’ve been in this park for 8 hours?” Squinting at her watch in pitch-black darkness.

“Don’t look.” He covered her mouth with his to stop her from thinking.

Natalie never had another rational thought for the next hour.

 ***********************

They came up stealthy, with no sound or flashlights.

“Get dressed now.” Standing over them were two policemen. 

“Shit, shit, shit!!!” he said as he rolled off of Natalie.

“Oh my God. I’m so embarrassed.” Tears filling her eyes as she shamefully pulled on her clothes.

“Names and addresses. We’re issuing you both tickets for public indecency. Your court date is at the bottom.”

“What if I can’t come back for the court date? I live in Denver.” He said with panicked tone.

“Then hire a lawyer. This is a Class A Misdemeanor.”

As soon as the policemen left, Natalie said stunned,

“You live in DENVER? Were you going to tell me that?”

“Ummm. Yes, but there’s something else I need to tell you. I’m so sorry. I’m engaged.” He said trying to hug her.

Gulp!

“YOU are getting MARRIED?” Natalie pushed him hard.

“Yes, next month.” He said sheepishly.

“Well, good luck with that jagoff.”

Feeling beyond foolish, Natalie couldn’t escape quickly enough. She rode home as fast as she could, leaving him standing in the secluded park.

Erasing all memory of him and that day would prove very difficult for Natalie to do.

28 comments:

  1. good old Montrose Harbor! ;) i love the pace of this. and now i want to read Lie Down with Lions. ;D

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    1. I had a Summer Saturday spot in Montrose Harbor and a place where I watched a whole lot of sunrises. The rest is fiction, though. I haven't read that scene since the mid-80s when the book came out but I will NEVER forget it. I think I need to go find it and see if I feel the same way.

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  2. D'oh! I'm both laughing and ticked off for her...

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    1. Me too! A little (big) omission of some important details. I probably wouldn't have had the courage to slug him hard before I turned on my heels and left. Karma's a bitch.

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  3. Oh boy. The police were the kicker. Loved that twist!

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    1. The police are very stealth from what I remember from the old days. I'm glad you liked the surprise. Literally caught with their pants down. My guess if the police didn't bust them, most of that info wouldn't have come out.

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  4. Great story! I love the twists and turns, the slight hints at what might happen, and the totally unexpected ending.

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    1. Thanks, a.eye! I gave it a shot and I'm very happy you were surprised.

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  5. Oh my goodness talk about a surprise ending, some guys are real jerks!

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  6. This is so realistic. It happened to a friend of mine in Europe. Not me, I was too frigid for that, but she was totally had by a jagoff. I love Montrose Harbor. Great, great post.

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    1. Oh good! Yes, it does sound quite European but I'm sure it happens EVERYWHERE! Your poor friend. That had to have rocked her socks and hurt a ton. I probably could have gotten sucked in by a romantic, book loving guy back in the day. I was definitely a product of the 60s, 70s and big 80s.

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  7. And we should totally meet to have coffee sometime SOON!!! Also, also, how can I get your posts via email?

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    1. I would LOVE that. I have returns to do in the city soon so I will let you know ahead if that happens. You and Kathleen should still meet me at The Stairs sometime! I don't know the answer to your email question. I will figure that out. I'm thrilled you want them in your inbox! Happy dance!!!

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  8. Oh man, the cop thing! I got caught necking in a car once as a teenager. It's so embarrassing. All they made us do was go home though! You did a great job with this - I love the tie in with the books (although believe it or not, I've not read Lie Down with Lions, which is REALLY strange b/c I'm the biggest Ken Follett fan ever. Not sure how I missed that one!)

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    1. As did I with the same result. Go home. Then we moved spots, not too far away (dumbasses), and he must have followed us. He was a little more mad the second time. I used to read there on Saturday afternoons and get asked what I was reading every so often so that part seemed natural to me.

      I read LDWL a few years out of college (85-ish) during my single days. I don't remember a ton about it except for the sex scene, of course. I remember really liking it though. Have you read his newest yet Winter of the Worlds? I have not. I wonder if I need to read Fall of Giants first.

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    2. Fall of Giants is awesome - totally worth reading! I bought Winter of the Worlds but haven't started yet. I do better with tomes if I have a good chunk of time to get started! I'm thinking over the holidays :)

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    3. And Pillars of the Earth may be my favorite book ever!

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    4. I have Fall of Giants but I haven't picked it up yet. It's soooo big! Maybe for vacation or with free time now that NaBloPoMo is over. Then I can roll right into Winter of the Worlds. I read Pillars of the Earth and liked it.

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  9. I love, love, love this! I am a sucker for romance novels, and this could be a scene right out of one. I think there is more to the story though...You should write the rest of it! Their connection makes me wonder if he will actually go through with his marriage.

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    1. Thanks, Samantha. I remember you are a sucker for romance novels. I'm a sucker for romance PERIOD! There is quite possibly more to this story. I wonder if he actually goes through with his marriage. Hmmmmm...

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  10. Engaging story. Also, looks like I've got another book to add to my "to read" pile...

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    1. It's an oldie. Haven't re-read it in years. It was the book that started my love for Ken Follett. Thanks for being engaged...the right way.

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  11. Okay first off -- Well, I'll have to check out Lie Down with Lions. And I agree with the comment that you've got more with this story. You had me the minute she stretched out in the sun and put lotion on. So keep writing Missy.

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    1. You are so funny. I will oblige with more at some point. I love writing about summer and heat and all the steamy things that go along with it. And of course, reading. There always has to be reading in my plotlines!!!

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  12. What a perfect day...until the policemen popped out of nowhere! You had me hooked right away!

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    1. Thanks, Ginny. Those Chicago cops are sneaky. Always have been and always will be. Let's call them fun stoppers but in this case, in hindsight, I'm sure the she appreciated the light they shone on this dude.

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