As she went into the house, he wandered up to the deck. Inside the place looked neat, well-picked up and not at all like the mess most people have in a vacation home.
“Here’s your Coke.”
“Thanks. Uh, I’m Will, by the way. You?”
“Hi, Will. I’m Charity, but my friends call me Chari.”
“May I call you Chari?”
“Of course,” she paused, “Now, Will, that was good. You quickly moved yourself into a friend zone with that question. Nicely done.”
Will stood there staring at her for a few seconds before she went on, “Now it’s your turn to talk, so…”
“Uh, where are you from?”
“Army brat. I grew up everywhere. Home now is right here but I’ll be leaving in a month or so and find someplace else. You?”
“Centerton originally, but I’m going to school at Geyser College.”
“Neat. What’s your major?”
“Civil engineering. Maybe kinda boring but I like it.”
There was another pause in the conversation before she went on, “Will, keep it going. Answer a question and then ask one. Makes a girl think you’re interested.”
“Civil engineering. Maybe kinda boring but I like it. What about you? Going to school?”
“Not anymore. I graduated a few years ago from the U.”
“In what?”
“That’s better, Will. Nice follow-up question… Uh, my major was the most useless one of all: Psychology.”
“I thought it was Art History but why do you say psychology?”
“Unless you’re gonna be a psychologist, there’s not much work. I guess it tells employers I’m smart enough to finish college, but have no usable skills.”
“What kind of work do you do now?”
“I’m between jobs. Once I leave here I’ll be looking.”
“Uh, what was your favorite job?”
“Good. Good question. Let’s them know you’re interested in them… Uh, my favorite was working the call desk at a suicide hot line. I think I did a lot of good and helped a lot of people.”
“Why’d you quit?”
“Burn out. It got to me after awhile listening to all those people and their problems. I desperately needed a break. That’s kinda why I’m here now.”
“Uh, do you go swimming much?”
“No, not really. I’ll wade but I don’t like swimming alone. Not smart.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Say, wanna go swimming with me?”
“Good question. Moves things along and lets you stay around a little more. Keep it up,” she paused before answering, “Sure. That would be nice. Let me get some towels.”
A few minutes later as they were walking to the water’s edge, she gave him a little pep talk. “You’re doing fine. Answer questions, ask questions, let the girl know you’re interested in her. You know, Will, you’re a nice guy and with a little encouragement, you should do well.”
“Thanks. Means a lot to me. I, uh, I really appreciate your doing this. Maybe I’m just a psychology experiment you’re doing,” he laughed.
“No experiment. You’re fun to be with, kinda cute looking with your runner’s bod and I’m glad to help. Last one in’s a rotten egg,” she shouted as she ran towards the water.
Will let her have a head start before chasing her but purposefully didn’t catch her until she had already splashed into the water.
“Hey, Mr. Track Star, you’re kinda slow,” she laughed.
“Maybe I let you win!”
“I know you wanted to watch my ass.”
“Madam,” he said with a fake British accent, “Your derriére is jolly well enticing, if I say so myself.”
“Why, thank you, kind sir,” she laughed. “Now see, Will, you’ve already let her know she’s attractive without being boorish. I think you’re a natural.”
“Thanks. Uh, do you swim much?”
“No, I like to splash around to cool off, but I’m no big swimmer. You?”
“Me either. I’m too skinny and don’t have enough fat to float well.”
“You are definitelynot skinny. You are a mean, lean love machine. Keep telling yourself that and you’ll forget about having a runners bod, which, by the way, is sexy.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Shit, if I’d’ve met you in college, I’d’ve come after you. OK, we’re getting away from your assignment so let’s get back to practicing. You’ve established she doesn’t swim much, so what do you do now?”
“Uh, I don’t know.”
“Well, sun cream washes off in water, so…?”
“Oh, yeah. Say, we’d better be careful not to burn. Do you have any sun cream I could borrow?”
“Sure, back at the house. Come with me.”
Once they walked up to the deck she showed him the outdoor shower hidden behind an opaque screen. “You can rinse off there while I get the cream.” After he was done, she walked behind the screen and as the water was running, he saw her bikini top flipped over the top of the modesty screen.
“Can I help you at all, Chari?”
“No,” she laughed, “Nice try, though. I like to completely rinse off and get rid of any sand.” The bikini top was disappeared and the bottom took its place. “Now, Will, a lech would have asked a second time to ‘help’ and I’m glad you didn’t. It’s fine to joke once, but if a girl says ‘no,’ the answer’s no.”
“Sure. Got it.”
A few minutes later she finished the shower and came around the screen, grabbed a towel and dried herself. Will was amazed at how comfortable she seemed standing there knowing she was being stared at. Suddenly, he realized hewas staring and turned his head away and grabbed the last of his drink. He felt her behind him before she spoke.
“You need some sun cream here on your shoulders. Can I help you with that?”
“Yeah, thanks.” After she finished with his back and shoulders, he turned to her and asked if he could help her. She nodded, untied the straps and held the top to her chest. Since he had put cream on her the day before, he wasn’t so nervous and was able to do a decent job, he thought, in no time at all. Once she lay down on the lounger, she turned slightly to him and asked if he would put a little bit more on her low back and thighs. “Will, that’s a sign the girl is definitely interested. It doesn’t mean you should jump on her, but it means she’s wanting a bit more.”
“Yeah, here…done.”
“Thanks. Now I’ll catch a few more rays. Say, Will, do you run every day?”
“Yep. Helps me get back into shape after spending the entire summer working in a hardware store.”
“You’ll be by again tomorrow?”
“If you would like…”
“Perfect. That tells her she’s in the driver’s seat and isn’t threatened…Yes, I would love it if you could come by again. What time?”
“Whatever works for you.” They kicked it around and agreed he should come by around three or four pm. “Well, I’d best be going. See you then.”
“Thanks for dropping by…And, Will, nicely done. You’re picking up on the things that show you’re a nice guy. Bye now.”
—–
The next day his mother wanted to take him into the little town for shopping but he begged off saying he wanted to do some more running and relaxing. And shopping was definitely not a relaxing pastime for him. Around three-thirty he put on his running shoes, grabbed a T-shirt to wear over his swimsuit and took off. He slowed down as he approached the Gunderson place and was pleased to see Chari reading under a large beach umbrella.
“Hey, Chari, sun too bright for you?”
“A little. My back-sun-cream-guy hasn’t been around yet today so I had to avoid too much sun.”
“Since he’s not here, could I help?” he chuckled.
“Sure, but actually, I’m fine in the shade. Care to join me?”
“Thanks. That’d be great,” he responded as he scooted a second chair under the umbrella. “What cha reading?”
“Nice, Will. Start off by engaging her, asking her a question…Oh, I’m readingThe Pelican Brief.”
“Who’s it by?”
“John Grisham. Pretty interesting book, too. What do you like to read?”
“I’m into science fiction, I guess. I also like a good biography now and then but I don’t have a lot of free time for reading with college and all.”
“Yeah, I remember those days. But don’t forget, a few minutes of a good book right before bedtime is a great way to clear your head. Helps me sleep.”
“Maybe I’ll try it sometime.”
She put the book down and they talked for nearly an hour telling things about themselves and joking. At one point she talked about shopping. “I love to shop, even if I don’t buy anything.”
“That’s gotta be a girl thing. Even Mom wanted me to go with her today and shop. Most guys basically want to buy what they need and leave.”
“Then I guess you’re not interested in that new mall up in Minnesota.”
“What new mall?”
“The Mall of America. It’s huge, opened last month. I might drive up there to check it out.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“No. Look, it’s got over five hundred stores! Can you imagine?”
“No, and I’m gonna try not to,” he teased.
“Oh, you’re such a guy! I can’t believe it.”
“OK, so we agree to disagree. What about politics? Who’s gonna win in November?”
“I hope Clinton will. Three terms of Republicans are enough. What about you?”
“I don’t really know. I know Mom and Dad want Bush to stay in office. I don’t have much of an opinion.”
“Now, Will, it’s important that you have a way of talking with girls about possible hot topics. You wouldn’t want to lose out just because of a different opinion on something like this but on the other hand, it’s important you be true to yourself. So, how could you handle it if the girl is clearly on the opposite side of things politically?”
“Maybe listen to her, not interrupt and agree she has some valid points.”
“Right! That way, you haven’t conceded anything and you’re still talking with her. You’ll do fine with this, I know it.”
“Thanks. You know, you’re so easy to talk to…”
“I think you’re actually learning something. Compared to when we first met, you’re a champ any girl would like to go out with. Speaking of going out, when will we be going out?”
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