We spend the rest of the afternoon at the ke until Mom comes down and tells us to come to get ready for dinner. Dad grilled chicken, along with grilled corn on the cob, sautéed asparagus in butter and garlic, and baked potatoes. I ate so much I thought I was going to burst.

  The next day we’d reserved many of the horses to go trail riding.

  We girls opted for shorts, crop tops, and some 2” block heel sandals. The heels on the sandals help keep your feet in the stirrups, hence why I mentioned it to everyone. After we’re dressed, we liberally sther ourselves with sunscreen, and we head out of the RV to meet the boys. With the type of crop top I’m wearing, it has built-in support for my boobs, so I’m not wearing a bra. Not to mention that if I did, it would show, and Mom says it’s trashy to show your bra or the straps. Thankfully, the cups on it are thicker than the rest of it, so it’s enough that my nipples won’t show.

  We made a picnic after the owner told us of a great spot for one and gave us a map to find it. Anika was afraid of the horses at first, although I have no idea why. They were as gentle as they could be. Anyway, we spent the morning on the trails and stopped on the top of a rather tall hill with a great view of the ke for lunch. David and Jeremy pnted some spikes in the meadow to tether the horses while we spread a bnket and id out our lunch.

  We didn’t make anything fancy—some simple sandwiches, potato sad, chips, sodas, and chilled fruit for dessert. After lunch, we pack everything up and continue along the meandering trail back to the campsite.

  Once we make it back, we take a nap until dinner. After dinner, we form up teams and py some volleyball until it gets too dark. Dad builds a rge fire for us, and everyone, sans parents that is, sits around it talking, making smores, listening to music, and making out until it’s fairly te. It’s about 11:00 when Mom comes to tell us that it’s time for bed, so we girls go to the RV to change into sleeping clothes, which for most of us is a pair of sleeping shorts and a cami, then head into our tent and curl up in our cots. It’s been a really busy yet really fun day, so it doesn’t take long for us to fall asleep.

  Today, we pn on canoeing down the feeder river to the ke, so after breakfast and cleaning up, we load into the vans, and the owner drops us off quite a few miles up the river.

  I’m not going to go into all that we did; the time we’re here is a lot of fun, but suffice it to say it ended way too soon when Dad and Akina’s dad, Veer, who works for Dad, are called back into work, so we leave 2-days earlier than scheduled.

  ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇

  Back at home, we kids are out on a date with our boyfriends/girlfriends when Jeremy asks me out on a date with just the two of us tomorrow at the sports center. I have no idea what possesses me considering what Mom and Dad have said, but I immediately agree.

  So the next afternoon, I spent a couple of hours delving through my closet looking for the perfect outfit to wear. I finally settle on one and am just finishing putting on my sandals when someone knocks on my door.

  “Come in,” I call out.

  “Hey,” David says.

  “Hey yourself. What’s up?”

  “Well, 2 things. First, Mom’s home. Second, Jeremy is here as well and waiting in the living room for you with Mom.”

  “What! Mom’s home? I didn’t tell her that this was a date with Jeremy! I told her I was going to the sports center with Kelly and Emma. Wonderful! I don’t even want to think about the conversation that I’ll have to have with her.” I blow out my breath heavily. “Whatever. There’s no helping it now. Let’s go and get this over with.”

  I stand up and twirl for him, then ask, “Well? What do you think?”

  “You look… really good,” he replies.

  “Are you sure?” I ask while looking down at my vender babydoll dress, bck hose, and silver pumps. “I’m not overdressed, am I?”

  “Truthfully, I’m not all that comfortable seeing you look this good, but, yeah, you look great. Somewhat dressy, yet really cute and more on the casual side of things. It’s perfect for where you two are going, and I promise you that Jeremy is going to love it.”

  David offers me his elbow. “Shall we go, my dy?"

  I smile as I pick up my purse and slip my hand around his arm, and he walks me downstairs to the living room. When we enter the room, Mom and Jeremy both turn to look at us. Jeremy’s eyes bug out, and he swallows hard, even as a grin begins to spread across his face.

  “My, you look lovely,” Mom excims. “I wish you would have...”

  Her voice trails off as I see tears begin to form.

  Letting go of David’s elbow, I walk over and hug her. “I promise, we’ll talk when I get home,” I murmur in her ear.

  “You can be very sure of that. Have a good time, and be careful,” she whispers back.

  “We will, and,” I pat my purse, “I have my emergency funds and phone, too. Love you.”

  “Love you too, Rei.”

  After we exit the house, I murmur, “Jeremy, I’m sorry. I didn’t know she’d show up before we left.”

  Jeremy’s eyes look me up and down again, making me second guess my choice of clothing.

  “Your mom’s nice, and anyway, it’s worth it to get to go out with you alone,” he replies.

  Dave walks out of the door and onto the porch. He pulls Jeremy off to the side and has a quick conversation with him. I move a little closer so I can hear what he’s saying. What I overhear is him telling Jeremy, “You’d best watch out for Rei, and you’d damn sure best not try anything with her that you’ll regret ter.”

  He’s trying to scare Jeremy enough to ensure he doesn’t try anything inappropriate with me. I love him for pying the protective big brother, but I can handle Jeremy on my own. He has always been a protective big brother to me, but this? Well, it somehow feels different. Once David seems satisfied that Jeremy thoroughly understands what he can and can’t do, or more accurately, better not do, David nods, then turns around to go inside. He gives me a wink and a smile as he comes toward me.

  “Thanks a lot,” I whisper sarcastically as he walks past.

  Jeremy walks over to me and reaches up to tuck a few loose strands of my hair behind my ear. “Well, that was certainly fun.”

  Since neither of us is old enough to drive, Jeremy called for an Uber to take us to the sports center. Settling into the back seat with Jeremy, we buckle up, and we head out. Now, I’ll have to figure out how to expin my agreeing to a date alone with Jeremy since Mom knows, and unfortunately, Dad probably will as well long before I get back.

  I look at Jeremy, who smiles at me, and I have to wonder what he would think of me if he knew the truth about me. Would he still like me? Or, would he be disgusted? Should I ever tell him? I mean, what if we stay together? What if he eventually asks me to marry him?

  Maybe one day, far into the future, I’ll tell him, but for now, I’m enjoying my life as a girl without anyone else knowing that I was ever considered to be ‘a boy,’ other than my family.

  Who knows, I may go through the rest of my life without ever telling anyone else, but happily, that’s a decision I don’t have to make right this second. Right now I have more pressing things to deal with. Like how I’m currently sitting in the back seat of an SUV snuggled against my boyfriend as we head to our first date alone.

  The reality of that statement hit me then. Sure, I had thought about what it would be like to go on dates alone with him, and the thought makes me a bit apprehensive. Honestly, I almost backed out earlier, but now it’s actually happening, and regardless of the reasons I’m doing this, right now I’m definitely looking forward to it.

  I look at the driver to find she was looking back at us through the rearview mirror and saying something I didn’t catch. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I didn’t even realize she was talking.

  I take a deep breath before I respond. “I’m sorry, I was spacing out. What was it that you were saying?”

  “No problem. I simply asked how long you two have been dating.”

  “Not too long. A few months.”

  I see her crack a huge smile as she replies, “Well, you two look really good together. I can just imagine how adorable your babies might be.”

  Say what? Babies?! Did she really just say that? Oh my Gawd, hell to the no! Not happening!

  Who knows what she said before I was paying attention. That statement alone is enough to make me blush furiously, and make me very self-conscious. Can you bme me? It’s embarrassing as hell.

  From the look on Jeremy’s face, I can see I’m not alone in my reaction. He gives me a nervous smile, then quickly looks away. By the time we pull into the sports center (I've no idea why they call it that since it offers a variety of games to py, not sports), I’ve managed to calm myself down. Well, for the most part anyway. However, as we exit the vehicle, some of the apprehension returns when she makes another remark, “You two make a super cute couple. Have a wonderful time on your date.”

  Jeremy mutters, “Thanks,” steps out, comes around to open my door, and offers his hand to me to help me out of the vehicle. He doesn’t let go after he shuts the door; he interces his fingers with mine as we head to the entrance.

  As much as I’m probably going to enjoy being alone with him, I’m still a bit uneasy about this, but as he led me through the sports center towards the ser tag, I try to calm myself, go with the flow, embrace the experience, enjoy our date, and maybe learn even more about my Jeremy. After all, that is why I agreed to go on a date with him alone in the first pce.

  Doing my best to put a stop to my swirling desires of wanting to be alone with him one moment and regretting agreeing to the date the next, I remind myself that we’re about to py many of the things I’ve always loved. Laser tag, skeet ball, mini-golf, go-carts, and as a huge plus, Jeremy is paying for it all. The least I can do is give him the courtesy of my full attention and have fun like we usually do.

  “Rei?”

  Hearing my name jolts me out of my introspective thoughts, and I look at Jeremy to see him putting on his ser tag vest.

  “You need to put your vest on,” he states. “You’re kinda spacing out there.”

  “Right, sorry.”

  I reach out to take a vest off the hanger. He catches my hand, grins as he brings it towards his lips, and softly kisses my palm, which makes me want to melt into a puddle of goo.

  Releasing my hand, he looks me in the eyes and asks, “Where’s my girlfriend? You know, the one who was bold enough to basically jump me in the pool after the dance? There’s really no need to be nervous, so rex, I don’t bite. Unless you really want me to.” He winks and grins at me. “You have nothing to worry about.” He takes my vest away from me, helps me into it, and then zips it up. “Now, what do you say we go kick some serious ass?”

  An hour ter, we exit the arena after pying several rounds. Both of us ughing and talking about how we, along with another couple on a date as well, had totally dominated the other teams that were pying.

  “We’re about to head over to py a round of mini-golf,” the girl that was on our team tells us. “Would you like to join us?”

  I smile as I look at Jeremy and nod. I wanted him to know I’m good with us joining them.

  “Sure, sounds like a great idea.”

  “So, how long have you guys been dating?” She asks while the boys get our clubs and balls.

  “Several months,” I reply. “How about you two?”

  “Four days shy of nine months. Y’all make a cute couple. I hope you’ll still be together then, too. I can tell he really, really likes you, and he seems to be one of the good guys. Guys like him and my Carl are few and far between, so keep a tight hold on him. Far too many of them only want only one thing from us.”

  “Are you talking about me again, Desiree?” Carl asks as they come back.