Ruben got in the car and the engine started with the satisfying varuumm of a powerful machine. Ruben didn’t know the first thing about cars, but he had his Chevy checked every other month by the same mechanic and spared no expense in taking care of it.
As he pulled away from the curb, he looked over at Georgia. She looked like she was studying him.
“You’re everyone’s friend, aren’t you? I mean, you’re for real. Most people say you’re a nice guy. Like, you’re not a phony. You’re not nice to people and then talk crap about them. Some people don’t like you, but some people don’t like anybody.”
He switched his eyes between the road and Georgia. “You know, all the guys say you’re the cutest girl in school.”
“What do you say, Ruben?”
Ruben thought about what would sound good and decided on the sincere approach. “I think you are. And you’re nice. All the guys call you Sweet Georgia.”
Georgia smiled and slid over to sit so close to Ruben that he could smell liquor on her breath.
“Let’s go to my house,” she said. “My mom’s gone for the weekend with her boyfriend.” She gave directions and Ruben followed them. He parked in front of the house and turned to Georgia.
“I’ll get the bag and the door. You just sit tight.” Ruben got the bag from the back seat and walked around to Georgia’s side. He opened the door and helped her out. His mother was a fanatic about boys opening doors for girls.
They walked to the door and Georgia unlocked it, stepped in, and turned on a light. “Come in and make yourself comfortable. I’ll get some real glasses.” She took off her coat and threw it on a chair. Ruben watched her as she walked to the kitchen, sex dripping off her like she just climbed out of a pool full of it.
Ruben retrieved the cokes and brandy and put them on the coffee table. As he sat the bag aside, he heard the tinkle of ice in glasses. He got out a bottle opener from a side pocket of the bag and opened the Cokes.
Georgia came in and sat the glasses on the coffee table. The three top buttons on her blouse were unbuttoned. She left the kitchen light on and turned off the light in the living room. Ruben knew he was in the middle of a real live fantasy but he was scared – he couldn’t help it.
Georgia went to the stereo, put on a Burt Bacharach album, and turned it down low. The words and melody fell on Ruben’s ears like a maiden’s touch.
“What do you get when you fall in love….”
She walked over to Ruben, grabbed his lapels, and pulled him gently to his feet. “You don’t need this,” she said, bringing her lips very close to his as she slid the blazer off and put it on the arm of the couch. She pulled his shirttails out of his pants and unbuttoned his shirt.
“I’ve always wanted to do this,” she said. Georgia kissed him with lips so soft they felt like tiny heated pillows. He tasted her breath and then felt her tongue enter his mouth. Her arms encircled him and urgently pulled his body into hers. He put his arms around her and felt the smallness of her waist. She suddenly broke away and pushed him so he fell back on the couch. Ruben knew he was in way over his head.
“Georgia,” he whispered.
“Shhhhhh,” she said. “Don’t say anything.” She kneeled in front of him and took his left hand. “Let me touch those great hands.” She felt the calluses on the ends of his fingers and kissed each tip. “I love to watch you play.”
Ruben felt like he was floating above the couch, like he was outside of his body looking at what was happening, like he was slowly being electrocuted with sex.
“Ever done this before, Ruben?”
Ruben couldn’t even begin to lie. “No,” he said
“Thought so. It’s OK, I have.”
She moved her lips to his ear and softly whispered, “Let me take care of everything. I really like you, Ruben. Do you like me?”
“Oh, yes. I’ve never met anyone like you before.”
She laughed, “And you never will again.”
She stood up and, putting one knee on the couch, began to swing the other leg over to straddle him. Ruben jerked forward.
“Wait! I can’t do this. I can’t, Georgia.”
“What?” Her voice changed to a surprised question. “What do you mean you can’t?”
“I mean I can’t. I want to. Believe me, I want to. But I can’t.” Georgia sat back with one foot underneath her. Her voice told Ruben she was not happy.
“Why not? I don’t understand.”
The only response that came to Ruben’s mind was the truth. It all came out about twice as fast as normal. “I can’t. I know this sounds crazy, but I promised my father before he died that I’d wait until I was married. I’m sorry, I just can’t.”
“So, you’re going to stay a virgin until you get married?”
“I promise you, Georgia: if I didn’t give in tonight, I’m never giving in. One day I’ll probably look back at this and hate myself.”
She snorted a short laugh and stood up. She walked over to a drawer and opened it. “You want a cigarette?”
“No, thanks.”
Georgia came back and sat down, put the cigarette in her mouth and gave him the lighter. Ruben lit her cigarette and put the lighter on the table. She inhaled the smoke and flicked the fingernails on her thumb and third finger, making a click-click noise Ruben knew was from aggravation.
“You know,” she said, “I don’t appreciate being built up and then let down like this.” He knew exactly what she meant.
“I didn’t mean for this to happen, Georgia. I’m sorry. I think you’re great.” Georgia moved until her back was resting against the arm of the couch and her legs were stretched out across Ruben’s knees.
“Pour us some drinks.” Her eyes never left Ruben as he poured the cokes over the ice.
“You want some brandy?” he asked.
“Just a little,” she replied. Ruben poured a little in each cup and handed one to her. She motioned to put it on the table.
“Tell me about your father. I’m curious. No one has ever told me no. I’m the one that usually says that.” She smiled and slowly shook her head. “You’re something else, Mr. Guitar Man. Your Dad was killed by a cop or something, wasn’t he?”
“A CHP plowed into him and he died three days later.”
“My dad left us when I was six for some slut back East. We haven’t seen him since. He never writes or anything. I’d say you’re the lucky one.”
“Oh? How’s that?”
“Because you had a great father and he died. But you know he loved you. My father is alive
