Learning to Drive... Him Crazy (4 page)

"You're right, there are a lot of buts. And
there's another one that I'll talk to you about Saturday
apparently. For now just suffice it to say it's my business because
I care about you and I want you to be safe."

She had a puzzled look on her face, so he
tried to quickly explain. "Remember when I said I'm an
old-fashioned man?" She nodded. "Protecting you is part of that. I
care about you and I want to protect you. In some ways, I need to
protect you. It's part of who I am. We can talk more Saturday, I'll
try to explain my feelings then. But until then, I know it's legal
for you to be here, but it's not safe, and that's the part that has
me worried, and why I don't want you down here at night. Okay?"

She knew she'd have to think through what he
just said, and she was sure she'd have some questions for him
Saturday when they talked. But for right now she had to admit it
felt pretty good having a man care enough about her to protect her.
She nodded and said, "Okay."

He gave her a quick kiss and said, "You call
me when you two get home tonight, okay? I'll feel better knowing
you're home safe."

She smiled now as she said, "Okay, I
will."

Cal and John waited for the ladies to leave
before starting for home. Cal knew John would be kidding him sooner
or later about asking Kelli out, so he decided offense is the best
defense. "You didn't tell me Alana's friend was so cute."

John chuckled and answered, "Alana's so
pretty I never got past her head full of pretty red curls to notice
Kelli, but now that you mention it, she's not hard to look at,
either. Especially for someone like you, who prefers girls with
darker hair."

"How did you know that?"

John laughed. "Cal, you've dated what, about
20 or so women? Name one that didn't have dark brown or black
hair."

Cal thought a moment before conceding.
"Okay, maybe you're right. But I do like her dark brown hair. And
I'm like you, I don't like the skinny beanpoles women try to be
today. I much prefer them like both Kelli and Alana, with those
wonderful womanly curves."

"I hear you there, bro."

They were quiet for a minute or so until
John asked, "So what's with you and Kelli?"

"I don't know, but I'm going to find
out."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll laugh if I tell you."

"Yeah, I probably will, but go ahead anyway.
That's what brothers are for."

Cal frowned at John but said, "Okay. When we
got there Kelli was scared and moved over closer to me."

"Yeah, I saw that. You didn't seem to mind a
bit."

"Well, I could tell she was scared, so I put
an arm around her and pulled her over, trying to let her know it
was okay, we wouldn't let those guys hurt them."

"Right."

"Well, when I put my arm on her shoulder I
felt something."

"Maybe it's love at first sight," John said,
smirking at Cal.

"See? I knew you'd laugh at me."

"And I told you I probably would." Getting
serious then, John said, "I think it's definitely worth going out
with her once or twice anyway. See what happens."

"That's what I thought," Cal said, glad his
brother was serious now.

"You know," John said, "Mom always told us
when you meet the right woman you'll know."

"Yeah, I remember her saying that." Now
smirking at his brother, he asked, "So how about you and Alana? Is
she the right woman? Did something happen with you two?"

John didn't answer, and knowing John like he
did, the lack of an answer got Cal's attention. He turned serious,
as well, as he asked, "So what happened with you two? Did you feel
something the first time you touched her, as well?"

"It was more like the first time I saw her,"
John admitted. "When I saw her sitting there waiting to take a
driving test, even though there were two of us examiners giving
tests that day and two ladies waiting to take the test, it was like
in my heart I knew I'd be the one giving her the test, and I knew I
had to get to know her. I have no idea how I knew that, but I felt
it when I first glanced over and saw her sitting there."

"No kidding?"

"No kidding. It didn't surprise me at all
when I picked up the next clipboard and called the name on it and
she got up. Then the way things happened, everything fell in line
for me to ask her out to dinner."

Cal nodded his head. "Kind of like it did
for me to ask Kelli out?"

"Yep." Both men were quiet, lost in their
own thoughts for a few minutes. Finally John said, "I guess we'll
just have to see what happens."

"I guess so," Cal agreed.

* * * * *

The next night was fun for all of them. The
girls were ready when the men got to Alana's apartment. They went
to an outdoor cafe to take advantage of the nice weather. All four
of them got along real well, and there was lots of laughter as they
all got to know each other better.

Then they went to the mini golf course. From
the first hole Kelli turned into a different person. She hit a
lucky shot and got a hole in one, while the others needed two or
three shots apiece. She proudly said, "Good start for me. Catch me
if you can, losers!"

They all chuckled and brushed it off, until
she missed a shot on the second hole. "Damn. That must slope to the
side or something. Otherwise it would have gone in."

Both men's eyebrows raised, and Cal quietly
told her, "Watch your language, Kelli. You got it in in two. That's
as good or better than any of us. Congratulations."

"Yeah, well, I guess it'll do. It's just
frustrating if it's sloped." Cal didn't say anything as they went
to the third hole, which had a windmill in the fairway. The blades
of the windmill were going in a circle, and when they were at the
bottom they covered the hole the ball had to go through. The idea
was to time the shot so the windmill blades weren't covering the
hole and the ball went through the windmill and out the other
side.

Alana made it through on her first shot.
"Way to go," John congratulated her.

She took two more shots to finish the hole,
and breathed a sigh of relief as she picked her ball back up. "Glad
that one's done. I figured it'd take me half a dozen just to get it
through the windmill."

John tried next, and the ball hit the blade
of the windmill and bounced back. They all laughed as he tried a
second time, with the same results. He finally made it through on
his third shot and finished the hole with a five. "I'm glad I'm
done with that hole, too," he said with a smile. "Who's next?"

"I'll go next," Cal offered. "After yours I
won't look so bad if I miss it, too."

"Ha ha ha," John said with a grin. Cal hit
the windmill blade the first time, but got it through on the second
try. It took him an extra shot on the other side, though, and he
also got a five.

Alana laughed as she said, "I'd like to
thank you boys for making my three look so good. I appreciate
that."

They were all three laughing, but Kelli
said, "I'll show you how it's really done." She lined up her shot,
watched the windmill a few seconds and hit the ball. It hit the
blade and bounced back. They all smiled, but no one said anything.
Kelli, however, was upset. "Well, shit." She quickly lined up and
hit it again, and it went through this time. She also got a three,
and said, "Well, that sucked." She turned around and saw all three
of them looking at her, none of them smiling. "What's wrong?"

John and Alana went ahead to the next hole,
but Cal caught Kelli's arm and held her back. "Kelli, what's gotten
into you?"

"What do you mean?"

"This is just a game. We're supposed to have
fun. You're taking it too seriously, and what's with all the
cursing? There's small kids out here and they don't need to hear
that kind of language."

Kelli started to object, but stopped. Her
shoulders slumped and she quietly said, "I know. I'm sorry, Cal. I
always get too competitive. I don't know why, but I've always been
like that. I'll try to watch it."

"Good," Cal said. "It's just a game. It
doesn't matter who wins or loses. We didn't even want to keep score
because we're just doing it to have fun. Lighten up a little bit,
Sweetie." He kissed her forehead quickly.

She smiled up at him. "I'll try. Thank
you."

They went to join the other two. John had
already played and had gotten a four. Alana was in the process, but
not having much luck. The hole was at the top of a small mound, and
you had to hit it just enough for it to get in the top and go in,
but if you hit it too hard it went up the hill too fast and down
the other side. She and John were laughing as she kept trying,
until she finally made it in.

"How many times did you have to try before
you finally made it?" Kelli asked.

Alana looked up at John and laughed. "I have
no idea. Do you?"

John laughed, too. "Not really."

Kelli asked, "How many should I put?"

Alana gave Kelli a look John couldn't quite
read, and said, "I don't know, Kelli. It doesn't really matter."
She emphasized the last sentence, but then added, "If it's that
important to you, put ten."

Kelli didn't say anything, but wrote
something down on the scorecard. Cal told her, "You can go next if
you want."

"Okay," Kelli said, and placed her ball at
the beginning. She hit it once and it got down to the mound, but
stopped. She went to it and hit it again, but it didn't go clear up
the mound, and rolled back down. She tried again harder, but it
went up and over. She went to the other side and tried again. Again
it didn't make it clear up and rolled back down. After another
attempt with the same result she muttered, "Damn thing."

Cal went closer to her and said, "Kelli,
language."

Kelli tried again and when it went up and
over, she said, "Well, hell."

Before Cal or anyone else could say
anything, Alana said, "Guys, I know this is bad timing, and I'm
sorry, but could we go home, please? I have an awful headache."

All three of them looked at her with curious
expressions. She reached up to hold her head. All three of them
knew she didn't have a headache, but everyone was curious as to
what was going on. John said, "Sure, honey, if you have a headache
we can leave."

They made their way back to the building and
turned in their golf clubs and left. It was a pretty quiet ride
home. John asked if Alana was feeling any better, and she assured
him it was starting to ease up.

As they pulled into the apartment complex
Kelli said, "We'll have to go back there when you're feeling
better. That was a fun golf course." No one said a word. As Cal and
John were helping the ladies out of the car Kelli said, "Unless you
guys are afraid I'll beat you again."

As they neared Alana's apartment she asked,
"Do you guys all want to come in for some coffee or iced tea? It's
still early."

Cal immediately said, "I think I'll take
Kelli on home. I'd like to talk to her a little bit."

John had a pretty good idea what he wanted
to talk to her about, but he kiddingly asked, "Are you wanting a
little time alone, without us, to get to know each other a little
bit?"

Cal mumbled, "Something like that." He'd
been holding Kelli's hand since they left the car, and John had to
smile. He knew it was to make sure she didn't go anywhere before he
had a chance to talk to her. Kelli led Cal off toward her
apartment, while John and Alana went in hers.

Once inside, John said, "Okay, I know you
didn't have a headache. What was that all about?"

"I'm sorry, John. Kelli gets way too
competitive at times."

"I noticed."

"She was headed that way, and when she gets
that way no one wants to be around her. I didn't want her to
totally ruin the whole evening, so I asked to leave then.
Sorry."

"You said she was headed that way. You mean
it gets worse than it already was?"

She giggled as she assured him, "Oh, yeah,
it gets worse. And I didn't want any part of it. I was having such
a good time tonight."

"I'm glad you were. I was, too. It's a shame
Kelli put an early end to our night."

"Yeah, it is," Alana said sadly. "I've
talked to her about that, but it doesn't do any good. Someone else
needs to try to get her to understand that no one likes to be
around someone like that."

"I have a feeling that's exactly what Cal's
talking to her about right now."

"Really? I hope he can get through to
her."

"Oh, I have a feeling he might. He has a way
of getting his point across."


John and Alana sat
down on the couch to talk while they waited for Cal. After a couple
minutes Alana got fidgety and John knew something was on her mind.
He asked, "Penny for your thoughts?"

She looked at him, but didn't say anything.
He said, "Honey, I can tell you're thinking about something. Why
don't you just ask me what's on your mind and we'll talk about
it."

"How did you know?"

He put his arm around her shoulder and
encouraged her to lean against him, which she did. He said, "I care
about you. That means I pay attention to you, and it's quite
apparent to me that something's on your mind. Ready to ask me
yet?"

"Okay. You said you want to talk to me
tomorrow when we have some privacy."

"I do."

"You said it was about me being there after
dark."

"I think we talked about that enough that
you know I don't want you there after dark any more. If you want to
go there, tell me. We'll find a time that we're both free and I'll
take you. But if you and Kelli want to go there for a big sale or
something, just please make sure it's during the day and you stay
together and have a fully-charged cell phone with you in case you
have any problems, okay?"