Page 463 of S is for SEX

BABY GIRL III

(Erik Ead Trilog

KELLI. “To make a long story short, we didn’t come here to get sober. After this one, we’re going to take a little break,” Timmy Jonas said into the microphone.

“This one is for Doc’s baby girl,” his voice crackled through the speakers as he began to play Stony Larue’s Long Black Veil.

“Shit Doc, you gotta dance to this one,” Teddy said as he grabbed Heather’s hand.

Erik placed his right hand over my shoulder, and we began to dance. As we did, Teddy and Heather joined in beside us. Dancing with Erik seemed surreal. I never would have guessed my life would come to a point that something like this would be happening to me.

I was in love.

In love with a man that loved me back. Just like it was in the book.

Trying to make sense of everything was overwhelming and I wondered when something was going to go wrong. Some part of my life had to fall apart sooner or later; this was too good to be true. Erik and I went from meeting each other to this in six months. I was living in a dream, and I never wanted it to end.

Erik moved my hair away from my ear and his mouth moved close enough I could feel his breath.

“Who baby girl?” he whispered into my ear.

As we danced, I poked him in the chest with my index finger.

“I like to hear you say it. Who baby girl?” he asked again.

I love it when he asks me this.

“You do,” I responded.

“That’s right baby girl, I do,” he whispered into my ear.

As the song ended, Erik placed his hands on each side of my face and kissed me on the lips.

“I love you, Kelli,” he said.

“I love you back,” I said.

“We’ll be back after a short break, thank you,” the singer said.

I don’t know how many people had shown up at our party, but the house was full, the shop was full, and the yard was full. There were motorcycles everywhere, and cars and trucks that lined each side of the street. Erik said a few hundred would show up. It seemed like many more than that. All of these people coming to see us made me happy and nervous. Erik seemed like he didn’t really care.

“Hi Jake,” I said as Jake walked up to beside where we were standing.

“Sis,” Jake nodded his head and smiled.

Jake was so cute. I wish he had a girlfriend. He was shorter than everyone else Erik rode with. He said he was five foot ten, but Erik said he was a stretch at five foot nine. He was stocky and had short kind of curly hair.

“Doc, there’s a Lisa Williams and a Michelle Robinson here to see you. Said they know you from school,” Jake said.

“Oh shit. Really? Hell, I was sure they wouldn’t make it. Come on, Kelli. You need to meet these girls,” Erik said as he grabbed my hand.

We walked out of the shop and along the sidewalk toward the house. There were picnic tables set up in the yard, and people were sitting at them talking and drinking. Our porch was lined with people. This was crazy. Crazy in a good way. As we followed Jake toward the house, two women recognized Erik and smiled. One was wearing an OSU shirt, the other was blonde and wearing a dress.

“Wow, nice place, Erik,” the girl wearing an OSU shirt said.

“Lisa, I’m surprised they let you cross the border in that shirt. Oklahoma? Really?” Erik asked as he opened his arms.

She smiled and hugged him.

---