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I shook my head at him, but I couldn’t stop the tears. I ran upstairs to my room and slammed the door. I’ve always been good Cindy, Yuppie Cindy, Nerd Cindy, doing everything my parents wanted me to do. I kept my grades up well above a B+ in high school and into college. I wasn’t popular like Angie was. My nose was always in between the pages of a book. But everything changed the moment I saw Eric. I got lost in the depths of his blue eyes and the tingling sensations that ran through my body.
I sat on my bed and grabbed the telephone from my nightstand. I dialed Angie’s house number and she answered, “Hello?”
“Hi, Angie. It’s Cin. Guess who just called me?”
“Who?”
“Eric! From Ocean City!”
“The guitar player from Steel Dragon?”
“Yes!”
“Oh, my Gawd, Cindy! That’s bitchin! But he didn’t score with you, did he?
I blushed at Angie’s question, feeling a little embarrassed. “No. I’m still a virgin, Ang. But I’m seriously thinking about going all the way with him.”
“But he lives three hours away. How are you going to make that happen?”
“The band just signed a contract with a record label! They plan on touring, and booking gigs up and down the East Coast! They’ll be coming to DC in a few weeks!” We both squealed at the same time over the phone.
“That means I’ll get to see Zeek again, Cin! He’s such a bad boy headbanger!”
Before I could even ask, Angie beat me to it, “And yes, I did score with him that night you rode off with Eric! There was no way I would miss out on that!”
I giggled, “How do you do it, Angie? Guys are always falling at your feet.”
“It just comes naturally to me. And don’t think you can’t do it too, hun. You are one hip chick. Look at yourself in the mirror, Cindy. You’re drop-dead gorgeous! You’re super smart and you’re going places. It’s no wonder Eric has fallen for you! But don’t give yourself to him unless you want him. The first time should be special. If I could go back and save myself for someone special, I would. Give yourself to someone you really care about.”
I’d never heard Angie talk this way, with such good advice. We’d been friends since grade school. But we were total opposites—she was wild and carefree, whereas I was more subdued, always behaved, and did as I was told. But I wasn’t a teenager anymore. I wanted to break free from the restricting rules my parents put on me. To be a free spirit like Angie. I wanted to know what it felt like to go all the way and have sex. But not with any guy. Only with Eric.
“Thanks, Angie. You’re the best friend anyone could ever have.”
Angie’s laugh came through my phone receiver, “Awe, Cindy. You’ve always been my best friend too.”
I heard three soft knocks on my bedroom door, “Cindy? It’s Mom. Can I come in?”
I hung up with Angie. “Sure, Mom.”
She came in and sat next to me on the bed. “You know both me and your dad really care about you right?”
I looked down at my lap feeling bad about how I just behaved downstairs. “I know Mom. I’m sorry for flying off the handle. It’s just sometimes the pressure I feel being totally focused on my college education gets to me sometimes. I’m not a teenager anymore. I never had a guy interested in me. I met Eric during spring bank. He plays in a band . . .”
My mom placed a hand on her chest, “He’s one of those ruffian types?”
“No, Mom, he’s a nice guy. He’s very talented and plays guitar in his band. He was a total gentleman. We sat on the beach together and watched the sunrise. It was romantic.”
“Well, you know your father will want to meet Eric. He should come to our house to meet us both if he wants to take you out on a date. And Cindy, don’t let this Eric push you into doing anything you don’t want to.”
I reached out and wrapped my arms around my mom, hugging her tight, “Oh thank you, Mom! You will like him. I guarantee it!”
Chapter 6
Eric
AfewweeksafterI spoke with Cindy on the phone, the band recorded our very first album in the studio. Our manager booked us some gigs at local nightclubs in Washington, DC, and all along the East Coast from Baltimore, Maryland to New York City. I left my bike at home, and the band piled into Toby’s van, with all the instruments and equipment, or rode with me in my old Ford Mustang. It was a clunky piece of shit muscle car. I couldn’t afford to fix it up, but it got us where we needed to go.
After a three-hour-long drive to Northern Virginia, we got some rooms at a not-too-shabby hotel outside the DC line. I couldn’t wait to check in and lug my guitars and other things to my room. I wanted to be alone, so I could call Cindy and let her know I was in town. She had written me a few more letters over the past month, and I called her as much as I could.
