Chapter 17: Anne & Stan
On Saturday morning Stan had woken with Anne, each feeling very slightly awkward with the other, not knowing what to say, and then a smile, a touch and all was well again.
Anne had looked coyly at Stan, who'd given her a long, lustful, lingering kiss. The kiss turned into a more extended make-out session, before Stan broke it off. He was a little embarrassed: he ought to have been physically aroused, but nothing was happening. 'Tempus fugit,' he thought ruefully while pulling on his trousers, 'I simply
have
to get into shape!' and got up in search of coffee.
Anne, looking worried, followed, not bothering to dress. She asked, "What're you after, Stan?"
"I need coffee to function, my sweet! – without it I'm a sloth in the mornings."
Anne embraced him and gave him another kiss. Finally, she pulled back and said, "Okay, I'm going to get dressed. Coffee's in that cupboard, you can have full-fat or decaffeinated – I want the real thing this morning." After a final peck on the cheek she flowed from his arms and back into the bedroom.
Stan got busy, and soon Anne emerged, wearing a tan wraparound skirt and white t-shirt. She got busy with toast while Stan went to put his shirt on.
They chatted about inconsequential things for a while over their breakfast, then Stan stopped for a moment and looked meaningfully at Anne.
"We need to decide what we're doing, you know."
"This weekend, or in general, Stan?" she asked, "I thought I'd made it clear what I want last night. I want to be your girlfriend, and see where it takes us..."
She paused for a moment, and Stan leapt in "I want that too, Anne. I want it so much I can't believe it."
Anne smiled back at him, eyes glistening.
"I know, Stan. I was going to say that you're the first man I've trusted, really trusted, since Daniel. I don't know how you've done it, but that's a fact I can't deny. It's...it's happened so quickly, that's all. But I want to be with you!"
Stan's more cautious nature reasserted itself.
"I want that too, Anne. But let's take things as they come, for now, and not say things we might regret later. I think we'll scandalize people at as it is, so let's slow down. We have a lot to discover about each other."
Stan decided some levity would be a good idea, so he added, "Besides, one thing you'll learn quickly is that I'm not a seventeen year old any more. I
ache
this morning, you gave me a good workout!"
Anne brightened again, "Horizontal callisthenics, you can't beat it!"
The two finished their breakfast, then Anne, looking pensive, asked Stan, "Do you have a bike? A pushbike, I mean?"
"No, I don't. I haven't ridden a bike since I left school. Why?"
"This talk of exercise reminded me that I normally go for a ride on Saturdays. It's good exercise, non-impact, works most of the muscle groups and gets me out in the air instead of being cooped up by a computer or in the lab. You should try it!"
Stan wasn't keen on the idea. On the other hand, it would be more time spent with Anne...
"Well, the bike shop in town isn't open 'til nine. I guess we could go in and get a bike for me then. Doesn't have to be expensive, does it?"
"Not for what we want, although you
can
spend a
lot
!"
"No, I can't!" Stan emphasised, grinning.
- - - - - - - - - -
Anne drove Stan back to his place and returned home for her bike. She put on exercise shorts and a sweatshirt, checked her messages and email, then rode over to Stan's house.
Stan poked around among his clothes, finally deciding on what to wear, while listening to an album by
Skunk Anansie.
By the time he'd changed clothes she'd arrived. The two of them walked into town, Anne wheeling her bike. They entered the bike shop and Stan explained that he wanted a bike to ride on the local roads and such, not expensive, off-road NOT a requirement!
Anne told him he was a sissy, but Stan wasn't having it, "It's almost 30 years since I've ridden a bike at all, and you want me to go off-road? You could at least wait until you're going to collect the insurance money!" Anne laughed gaily and told the salesman to include a helmet, knee and elbow pads in the purchase. Stan just accepted, a little tight lipped.
They walked the bikes – at Stan's insistence – around to a park, and Stan gingerly tried riding again for the first time in over thirty years. Despite what they say about never forgetting how to ride, he didn't find it easy and wobbled alarmingly. Anne's obvious amusement at his attempts didn't make him feel any better, but after a while he started to rediscover his balance.
"You're starting to get it now, Stan. Tell you what, we'll have a ride along the paths here in the park for a bit, then we can ride the bikes home to your place and order in some lunch. How's that sound?"
Stan didn't answer audibly, he was concentrating, but he did nod his head. But it wasn't long before Anne told him it was time to
hit the road
. Stan groaned and told her, "That's exactly what I'm afraid of!" The only answer he received was Anne's laugh and change of direction.
A quarter of an hour later the two reached his house. "See? It's much more convenient than walking, and better exercise. You might even consider biking into work, Stan. I ride for around an hour, normally, a