"Hi, good looking!" she said fondly.
"Hi, Sis!" he responded casually. The tone would have hidden his anxiety to anyone but her.
"Right on time I see," she said trying to look forlorn. She wanted to keep him guessing for awhile.
"Yeah." He wanted to stay cool, but he was having a hard time containing his disappointment. "You look nice…"
"Thanks. So do you. How are you fixed for money?" she questioned without explanation.
"I've got ten bucks left. You need it?" He started to reach for his wallet.
"No," she answered, then dropped the subject. She looked past Kevin and up the street. He turned to see what she was looking at. "Ward's picking me up. He should be along soon," she said looking back to her brother. His expression was strained, and she couldn't go on torturing him any longer. She reached into her purse and pulled out a ten dollar bill, handing it to him.
"What's this for?" he asked, his eyes fixed on the money as if it contained some mystery.
"You'll need it tonight… for your date!" she smiled, seeing his eyes widen.
"Oh… thanks," he said, but his voice was strained, giving away his excitement. He wanted to know more; what the girl was like! "You… ah… sure you won't need this?" he asked, indicating the money in his hand.
"Her name is Susan Hatton," she replied, shaking her head negatively to answer his question. "You're taking her out to dinner, so you'll need more than ten dollars!"
"Oh, great, swell! Susan Hatton, huh?" He wanted to come right out and ask his sister if the girl was a willing type, but he didn't have the nerve. He was excited enough just knowing that the date was on, and he had a million other questions.
"It's quite simple," she said seeing that he was still confused. "Susan is going to pick you up here… She'll be driving a white Cadillac. Anyway, I told her to meet you here at five-thirty! She'll probably be late, so don't get antsy and leave." There was a burning question in his mind, and she knew it. But she was determined to leave it for him to ask.
So that was it. The girl, a big car, it was all perfect, and he hoped he was ready for it. His seventeen year old sister was far wiser and aware of such matters, and her reassurance would be a big help. It was a question of time enough to discuss it, and he looked at his watch, seeing it was five-fifteen.
"What time you expecting Ward?" he asked trying to sound relaxed.
"He's late now." She waved one arm toward the apartment building. "Sorry I don't have time to show you around. It's 8-A."
"Great. It's okay." Kevin swallowed, then cleared his throat. "I guess you've had a lot of experience these past few months…"
Sheri cut him off. "I'm still a virgin if that's what you mean!" she said, and when he started to nod his head, she continued. "But I don't intend to stay one much longer!"
He didn't know what to say then. He could only stare at his pretty sister, wondering what came next.
"When I meet the right guy… well, you don't have to look so worried," she protested on seeing her brother's expression. "Ward isn't the one! At least I don't think so… I just don't believe virginity is a prize I should cling to forever," she added defensively.
He was impressed by her decisive attitude, and actually surprised that she still was a virgin. Most important at that moment, it gave him the opportunity he was looking for. "Is that the way Susan Hatton thinks?" he said unable to disguise a sheepish expression.
Sheri laughed out loud, realizing that he had succeeded in getting to the point. "Maybe she doesn't have to worry about it anymore," she said to stimulate his imagination. "You'll like her well enough, I'm sure. Just let things happen as they will."
He wanted more details, but she spoke as if that was all she would give him. Maybe knowing too much was bad, at least that was what she seemed to be getting at. "I sure appreciate your fixing me up this way… if there…"
"Just have a good time and get what you want!" she interrupted hurriedly, and she leaned up to kiss him on the cheek. "I see Ward's car coming… come on and I'll introduce you." She walked to the curb pulling him with her.
Kevin looked up the street, and his eyes followed the expensive sports car as it pulled up along side them. He was impressed by the car alone, but the guy behind the wheel really surprised him. He was sharply dressed, "suave" was the word that came to his mind, but Kevin guessed the man had to be at least in his middle thirties. Probably old enough to be his and Sheri's father, he thought.
Sheri didn't wait for Ward to get out of the car, but opened the passenger door and slipped onto the seat. "Ward Murdock… my little brother, Kevin!" she said motioning toward each.
Since there was no top on the car, Kevin reached out over his sister's blonde head to shake the older man's hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Your sister has talked about you so much, I feel like I already know you," Ward answered the greeting, shaking the boy's hand firmly.
He had a pleasant, sincere smile on his face, and Kevin couldn't help but like the man immediately. "Well don't let me hold you up. Thanks again Sheri!" he said giving his sister a meaningful look.
"Just have a good time, little brother!"
"See you later." Ward said, and he started to pull away from the curb.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Kevin yelled after the car, but he guessed they didn't hear him. He watched as the car disappeared from view, his mind placing himself behind the wheel of an expensive sports car. With a machine like that, he thought, making out with chicks would be easy.
He moved back away from the curb after looking up and down the street, but there was no sign of a Cadillac in either direction. The idea of him being picked up by his date made him feel a little self-conscious, but he knew that the chances of sexy things happening were far greater in a car than walking. He looked at his watch, and as there was still several minutes left before Susan Hatton was due to meet him, he walked toward the apartment building, wondering what she looked like. He reached the apartment and, after quickly glancing at the furnishings, moved to the front window with its view of the street. His gaze followed the direction the sports car had taken and he wondered how much longer his sister was going to remain a virgin. Not long, he finally concluded. Not long at all, judging by the look in Ward Murdock's eyes.
And not long for himself either – he hoped.
CHAPTER TWO
"What is it your brother wouldn't do?" Ward had to raise his voice above the noise of the freeway as he shifted into fourth gear, the sports car running smoothly in the direction of his apartment. He had carefully arranged everything before going to get Sheri at her apartment, and he felt certain the steak dinner and candlelight setting would provide just the right atmosphere for an intimate seduction.
"He's young and adventuresome. Does that answer your question?" Sheri was used to his attempts at guiding their conversations toward sex, and she recognized the implications in his question. Usually she squelched his efforts, though she did enjoy discovering his different approaches. Dating him was like a continuing lesson in the techniques of seducing a girl, and in some ways she was proud of his failure to win her over. Yet he never pushed, but instead was cool and mature, and she liked that in him too. Though convinced she would never give in to his advances, the young teenager also became more and more sure he was the type of man she would eventually want to lose her virginity to.
"Well, I hope you feel like an adventuresome dinner tonight," he said after a moment, "I'm going to treat you to the experience of my own cooking…"