I couldn't wait to go away to college in the fall, but until then, for the entire summer, I still had to live under Daddy's thumb. That meant doing whatever Daddy wanted me to do, including going with the rest of the family to the Save Our Beach car show. I didn't mind the beach at all, but I did mind not being allowed to sun in my bikini, listening to my iPod and vegging out for the day. Instead, I had to walk from shiny car to shiny car while Daddy talked with mechanics about Mopar parts and HEMIs and intakes. The sun beat down, glinting off all the chrome and glass and mirrors. I felt a small breeze move the hem of my sundress, but it wasn't enough to bring any relief. My little brother occupied our mom by wanting to touch everything; she had to stop him. I followed Daddy around, a few steps behind him, trying hard to make sure my face clearly displayed my boredom.
I think Daddy resented me, and this was one of his final ways to show it before I escaped the nest. Whenever he opened the paper to the automotive section, found an old hotrod or muscle car, and pointed it out to Mom, she'd say, "We're saving for Nora's college. When she's done, you can get a car." I think he wanted his car more than he wanted me sometimes.
I could almost hear his thoughts as he stared at the old Fairlanes and Road Runners: "Four more years. Four more years." He'd count the days; I'd better finish my degree on time or risk losing my support.
As he talked with some guy who did custom body work, I let my gaze wander. The light flashing off all the polished vehicles dazzled me to the point of wooziness.
And then I saw him. I didn't know his name, but this was not the first car show that I'd spied him at. He stood there, buffing fingerprints out of the fender of a restored pearl-white Chevrolet panel truck. He looked like a fucking Aztec god: dark bronze skin, silky black hair tucked behind his ears, muscles rippling beneath his blue mechanic's shirt. My gaze drifted past the chrome wallet chain, down his long legs, clad in dark blue denim. He turned as he worked on the car, and I caught a glimpse of his tight ass in those jeans. I wondered what it would feel like to dig my fingers into that firm flesh as he thrust into me. I knew I wanted him, had played with the idea on several occasions, imagining -- as Daddy talked about exhausts and after-market additions -- how I would approach the man. I knew now that I didn't have much time left to act on that particular fantasy. If I left for school in a couple of weeks, I wouldn't be seeing him at the car shows any more.
My mouth suddenly went dry; I needed something to drink. "Mom," I said, turning to find her. She had both my little brother's hands in her own, and she was berating him for touching the cars. Again. "Mom, I need something to drink."
"Okay." She let go of my brother, but he held his arms up just as if she still clutched them. Mom reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet. She took out a five-dollar bill and offered it to me, but didn't move. I crossed the space to her and grabbed it.
A few yards away, behind a barrier of trash cans and yellow tape to keep the greasy food away from the pristine cars, sat the concession stands. I thought about nonchalantly trying to buy a beer but decided on fresh lemonade instead. I paid and waited for the girl in the stall to make it for me. When she finished, I took the glass and turned.
He stood right there, and I nearly walked right into his broad chest.
"Hola, chica," he said, smiling down at me.
My breath hitched.
"I'm Eddie."
"Nora," I said through a tight throat.
"I seen you at some other shows, and I saw you checkin' out my ride earlier. You wanna look at it up close?"
I wasn't certain if that was his pick-up line or if he was serious. I didn't care. I certainly did want to see something up close, but it wasn't his truck. "I'd love to take a look," I told him.
I followed him back to the truck, and he opened up the back. "Custom interior," he said. I eyed the blood red carpet, red and pearl vinyl padded sides, and velvet headliner. He'd certainly put a lot of work into the car. Eddie led me around the truck, pointing out his rims, the paint job, what he had under the hood. I smiled, nodded, and sipped my lemonade.
"Now you gotta hear the sound system," Eddie told me. He opened the passenger door and told me to climb in. Then he went around to the driver side and sat down.
The interior of the car seemed hotter than it should, and I wondered if my proximity to Eddie caused it or if the sun overhead was the culprit. He turned on the stereo and some fast-paced, Latin-style music with horns filled the cab. I felt my body want to move with the music. I imagined Eddie beneath me as I writhed to the beat.
"It has its own power source, so I don't drain the battery. It can play all night, just like me." Eddie looked at me with a lopsided grin. "Listen, I don't usually do this..."
"Neither do I," I said; I set down my lemonade on the floor and grabbed his hand. I pulled him between the passenger and driver seat and into the back of the truck. Drapes hung against the back of the seats, and I closed them, blocking off anyone's view through windshield.