Free Love's Last Chance by Jean C. Joachim Page B

ear. He wasn’t much of a replacement for
Johnny.
    “After our fourth case of beer, we decided
to go bodysurfing at midnight…”
    Mike droned on. Dorrie tried to look
interested. Another story about a guy being drunk and stupid. I
thought these stopped at twenty-five. Then it hit her. He was
twenty-five. A giggle bubbled up in her chest and refused to go
away. I’m a cougar at thirty? She laughed aloud.
    “That wasn’t the funny part. Are you
listening?”
    “I’m older than you.”
    “Yeah? So? I love older women. They like to
teach…I’m a good student.” He wiggled his eyebrows, causing Dorrie
to double over.
    “You think I’m going to show you…teach
you…how to be a great lover for a glass of wine?”
    “Maybe two or three?”
    Dorrie laughed harder.
    “Lots of women like younger men. What’s
wrong with you?”
    “There’s nothing wrong with her, which is
why she prefers me to you. Run along, it’s time for your nap.”
Dorrie turned at the familiar, deep voice to see Johnny standing
behind her, wearing a white wife beater, a bathing suit, and a
stern expression.
    “How many times have I told you not to go
out and pick up boys? You’ll get arrested. I think he’s jail bait.”
Mike scowled, his hands fisting at his sides.
    Dorrie, still chuckling, though trying to
stop, put a hand on the young man’s arm. “Oh, please don’t…don’t
get your nose broken on account of me. I’m not worth it. Trust me.” Johnny could take him in a second.
    John took her hand and eased her off the
stool. She placed her half-empty glass on the bar. He raised his
hand in a wave to Mike while escorting Dorrie out the front door.
Once they were outside, his cool manner dissolved. “What the hell
were you doing?”
    “Talking to a younger guy. So?”
    “You can get into a lot of trouble that
way.”
    “You think he’d hurt me? Nah. He was a nice
guy. A little immature perhaps, but harmless.”
    “You don’t know that. Come on. People are
asking for you.” His grip on her hand tightened.
    “What about you?”
    “I don’t have to ask after you. I know where
you are. And you’re coming with me.”
    “Says who?” She yanked her hand from his and
rested it on her hip. “What about Mary? Won’t she be jealous?” What am I doing?
    “The only one who’s jealous here is you,” he
quipped, his eyes dancing with mischief.
    “You think so? I’d say the one who was
jealous was you…back there in the bar.” She stared boldly at
him.
    “So?” He cocked his eyebrow.
    His admission stopped her cold. She had no
comeback. He pulled her close and tightened his arms around her.
“We’re going to finish it between us this weekend, hear? Been
stewing for five years. Time to play it out, Dorrie,” he whispered
fiercely in her ear.
    She pushed away from him, trying to calm the
wild beating of her heart. “There’s nothing to play out. You made
it very clear where I stood five years ago.”
    “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking
about. If there’s nothing between us, what are you doing here?
Attending a reunion of people you don’t even like?”
    He had her there, and silence was her only
response. They stood glaring at each other in the moonlight until
she tugged on him, and headed back to the house.
    “Let’s go. Finish this later. I’m hungry.
Any food left?”
    He slipped his arm around her shoulders, and
they fell into step.
     
    * * * *
     
    When they returned, the party had wound down
for dinner. Johnny laced his fingers with hers as they made their
way through the crowd. Dorrie greeted people she hadn’t seen in
years. The enthusiasm of her old friends buoyed her spirits. Johnny
shook hands while Dorrie exchanged hugs with the old gang.
    The sound of the flimsy screen door banging
shut every few minutes marked the frequent comings and goings of
the men and women at the reunion. Beer was spilled on the front
steps and made small wet spots in the grass, where it was
immediately sucked up