Chapter 21: Tasty

Justin was right about the pizza; it was superb.

Afterwards we played ski ball and challenged each other on the arcade games, then we attempted to ride the carousel, but as soon as we were saddled on our horses, the manager hit the emergency stop button.

“There’s a height and weight limit,” he explained, so we decided to leave.

The sun had set, and a clear, starry night greeted us as we exited the pizzeria. I was having a fantastic time and wasn’t anxious for the night to end.

The feeling must have been mutual, because Justin asked, “Where should we go next?”

I tucked in my lower lip, remembering my mother’s warning about being spotted on two different dates in one evening.

We had been safe enough at Pat’s Pizza Planet due to the other patrons being rowdy children accompanied by their weary parents, but it was Saturday night, and we were destined to run into other people our age.

I thought about suggesting that we call it a night, but I didn’t want Justin to misinterpret my suggestion as disinterest, so I asked, “What else does Grandville have to offer?”

Before Justin could answer, a couple carrying a screaming toddler exited the car next to us. For a moment, the woman met my gaze. She appeared to dismiss me, but then did a second take.

I was confused by her odd gaze, but then Justin greeted the couple, “Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Conners.”

I cringed inwardly. I had never met Toby’s parents, but I was certain that his mother’s eyes flashed in disapproval as Justin gestured to me.

“Dharma, have you met the Conners?” he asked. “They own that charming grocery store just beyond the square.”

“Your store ~is~ charming,” I offered. My initial instinct was not to mention my relationship with their son, but I didn’t want to appear dishonest, so I added, “I’m actually friends with your son. We attended the baseball game together.”

Mr. Conners’ eyes rolled when I mentioned the baseball game, but his voice remained friendly as he extended his hand. “You must be Dharma Dupree. Toby hasn’t shut up about you.”

I blushed and averted my eyes, but as my gaze shifted, I noticed Mrs. Conners treating her husband’s side to a subtle jab with her elbow.

“Clark, we should get inside,” she said. Then, not bothering to wait for a response from her husband, she treated me to a sidelong glance and turned to retreat into the restaurant.

Looking slightly abashed, Mr. Conners muttered, “You kids have fun…,” before he hurried to catch up with his wife and son.

Once they were inside, Justin remarked, “Mrs. Conners was being awfully rude.”

“I can’t blame her,” I sighed, then held up my hand as Justin opened his mouth to protest. “I was out with their son earlier and now I’m out with you. My mother warned me that people would get the wrong impression.”

Justin scoffed. “You shouldn’t worry about what people around here think.”

“That’s easy to say when you’re not a newbie,” I pointed out.

“True,” Justin agreed. “Perhaps we can go somewhere more discreet, like the drive-in movie theater. The first showing started at sunset, but they usually offer a double feature.”

“Grandville has a drive-in theater?” I asked, genuinely astonished. “I thought those had gone extinct.”

“Yeah, our little operation was due to close, but then Covid hit, and it regained its popularity,” Justin said as we stopped by his gleaming Aston Martin.

I scrutinized it. A drive-in theater would have typically been the perfect place to remain incognito, but if we pulled up in Justin’s car, we were certain to be noticed.

As if he had read my mind, Justin said, “Never mind, the movies may be a bad idea.”

“It’s too bad,” I sighed to display my displeasure as we got into the car. “It would have been the perfect night to sit under the stars.”

“Well, if stargazing is your thing, then I’ve got the perfect spot,” he said with a lecherous grin.

“Oh no,” I said, pretending to be worried. “Have I invited trouble?”

When he didn’t respond, I reached over and poked him in the ribs across the center console. “Seriously, tell me where we are going.”

“This town has many secrets,” Justin informed me. “I am going to let you in on one of them.”

After a few turns, Justin abandoned the main roads and started traveling through back roads that were bumpy and less well kept.

This wouldn’t have been an issue if we had been riding in my mother’s Rav, but the Aston Martin was so low to the ground that our little mystery trip soon began to lose its allure.

I was ready to put an end to the adventure when he turned onto a road that had been reduced to rubble. As I finally mustered up the courage to object, Justin came to a halt and parked the car.

“We have to walk the rest of the way. I don’t think the bridge can support the car’s weight.”

Uncertain, I climbed out of the car while Justin popped his trunk. He rejoined me a few seconds later with a flashlight and a blanket.

“Come on,” he urged me, offering me the crook of his elbow. “You won’t regret it.”

Reluctantly, I linked my arm with his and he navigated us to the end of the road. Shortly after we entered a tree line, I saw an endearing arched bridge.

“I used to fish in this stream when I was little,” Justin said as we began to cross. “But over the years, it has begun to dry up.” He pointed the flashlight over the edge so I could catch a glimpse of the thin, glistening stream below.

“That really is a shame,” I said. “It seems like it would have been a lovely place to spend the afternoon.”

As we approached the foot of the bridge, two large oaks graced the exit like a couple of guardians. The trees had each been skinned at some point and letters had been seared into the bark.

“What are all those markings?” I inquired.

Justin pointed to the tree on our left. “That one says, ‘~Make Out Point~.’” Then he pivoted to the other tree and said, “And that one is warning you to enter at your own risk.”

As we stepped off the bridge, we had a side view of the trees. Justin ran the flashlight along the length of the tree’s body, and I saw all the little hearts containing initials engraved in the bark.

I gasped in astonishment. “There are so many couples!”

“Generations of Grandville residents owe their existence to this spot,” Justin boasted.

“Is that why you brought me here?” I eyed the blanket in his hand suspiciously.

“I would never be that obvious,” he scoffed, then turned serious. “I actually wanted to show you what makes this place so special.” He danced the flashlight ahead of us, prompting me to continue.

I allowed him to lead me to a large clearing. Though the grass was overgrown, the deep ridges in the ground were evidence that Make Out Point was busy in its heyday.

Justin led me to the far edge of the clearing, where the tree line thinned out to reveal a magnificent lake.

“Oh, Justin…,” I sighed. “It’s beautiful!”

“Do you want to go on the dock?” he asked, motioning his beam to an extended deck that graced the water.

“Is it safe?”

Justin nodded. “It’s regularly maintained because the lakeside residents like to take their boats out.”

“I would too if I owned a lake house,” I said, following Justin as he led the way to the edge of the deck.

He laid the blanket out so we could perch on the edge of the planks and dangle our feet above the water.

As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I could make out the tiny houses across the water. One structure stood out among them, though; it was massive and perched on the highest hill.

“Is that the Grandville Country Club?” I ventured.

“No, that’s a house. The country club is on the other side of town.”

“That place is huge,” I remarked. “I wonder who lives there.”

Justin surprised me by saying, “I do.”

I gaped at him. “You live in that giant house?” I had expected Justin’s house to be nice, but even from a distance, it was impressive. “How many siblings do you have?”

“None. I’m an only child.”

“I guess that makes us both members of the only-child club,” I told him. “I wanted siblings when I was younger. I have to admit, my mother smothers me at times. I bet you can relate.”

“No, I can’t.” He stiffened beside me. “My mother died when I was young, so it’s just me and my dad. Well, mainly me. My dad is out of town most of the time.”

I couldn’t help but give him a pained look, but he waved off my concern. “Don’t feel too sorry for me. I have a house full of servants and an incredible nanny named Marla.”

“You still have a nanny?” I teased.

Justin butted my shoulder with his arm. “She’s more of a staff manager now I’m grown. She only takes care of me when I’m sick.”

I nodded through an awkward silence. “I didn’t mean to mention your mother,” I said. “I didn’t realize—”

“It’s all right,” he said, throwing his arm around me to give my shoulders a tight squeeze. “You couldn’t have known. It’s not a topic for light conversation, remember?”

“Do you and your father get along?” I asked, wanting to kick myself for being so curious.

“Yeah, Dad is great,” Justin said, not seeming the least bit perturbed. “He’ll be in town this week if you want to meet him.”

“Don’t you think it’s a bit early to introduce me to your dad?”

“Why not?” Justin shrugged. “I met your mother.”

“That is different,” I pointed out. “You are our landscaper.”

“Is that all I am to you?” Justin withdrew slightly, feigning offense. “The hired help?”

I bowed my head and pinched the bridge of my nose. “You know what I mean,” I lightly scolded him.

“But seriously,” he said, cupping my chin in his hand. He tilted my face so we were gazing into each other’s eyes. “Would you like to meet my dad?”

“I’m nervous about meeting him,” I confessed, “but I would love to get a peek inside your house. I thought the place I lived in was huge, but yours takes the cake.”

“I’m going to inherit that house one day,” he informed me. For a moment I thought he was trying to impress me, then he added, “And I’m going to fill it with children so that I never have to come home to an empty house ever again.”

Though he had been so nonchalant earlier, I detected sadness in his voice. My heart went out to him.

He must have felt the shift in my emotions, because he leaned over and brushed his lips against mine, but not quite making contact, as if waiting for my consent. So, I pressed my mouth against his, parting my lips slightly as I felt his tongue linger.

He contorted his body and cocked his head, intensifying the kiss. His right hand moved up my back, and he grasped my hair lightly, tilting my head back to expose my neck.

His mouth moved to my jawline, where he teased the delicate skin with the tip of his tongue before lightly sucking and nibbling the most sensitive area.

His teeth grazed my earlobe, and I felt myself stir down below and my nipples stiffen in response. His left hand moved up my rib cage, and I was so entranced that I didn’t bother to stop him as his fingers traveled to my shoulder and lowered the strap of my top, exposing my right breast.

My chest was sore due to my period, so I flinched slightly as he squeezed the mound of soft flesh, but I was glad I endured the pain when his fingers stroked my nipple, sending a ripple of pleasure through my body.

My inhibitions were waning as I allowed my hand to travel from his hip to the center of his jeans where I could feel the outline of his engorged member. He hissed in my ear as I began to stroke him, the effect empowering me.

He withdrew and gazed at me wide-eyed, his pupils so dilated his eyes appeared black. For a moment I was afraid I had done something wrong, but then he lifted the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head, revealing his well-built chest and abdomen.

In response, I lowered the other side of my shirt, exposing my other breast. He gazed at me with desire before he leaned over and seized my nipple in between his teeth. I yelped in surprise and pain, which dissolved into lust as he gently began to suck.

My head was spinning, so I didn’t mind when he gently laid me on my back and separated my knees so he could hover above me, tickling my neck with kisses and teasing my breasts with his tongue.

It felt wonderful as his hands explored my body, but I felt silly for not participating. I reached for his hips, grasping them tight as I ground into him, and gauged his reaction, since I was just imitating what I had seen in movies.

After a few apprehensive moments, I was rewarded with a groan from Justin, which lent me the confidence to proceed.

His lips moved from my breast down to my navel, where he paused to trace it with the tip of his tongue. Soon I became aware of his hands on my thighs as his fingers found the band of my panties.

I suddenly sobered up.

“Justin, we can’t.”

“Dharma,” he breathed, kissing the inside of my thigh, which twitched in response. “Do you really want me to stop?”

“I don’t ~want~ to, we ~have~ to.” I exhaled. “It’s that time of the month…”

I expected Justin to withdraw with a look of disgust, but instead his lips spread into a wide grin. “Please. Let me have one little taste.”