Chapter 5
Mischa
Even with my scarf wrapped around me tightly, the ocean winter breezes cut through.
I'm not sure what possessed me to take a walk along the Sea Glass Boardwalk, but I had the urge to do it as soon as I woke up today.
When I reach the beach, a familiar curvy body in a long winter coat is walking toward me.
"Mischa?" Lorna says with surprise.
Her nose and cheeks are pink from the chill, and she looks absolutely stunning.
"I see you had the same crazy idea as me."
"I just needed to get out of the house, but you're right. It is pretty cold," she says.
"Heading back to your warm home?"
"Maybe you'd like some company?" She says, and her words make my cock harden.
"I would love some company."
We walk along the dunes in silence for a few minutes.
"So I'm working on your piece," Lorna says after a couple of minutes. "I really hope you like it."
"I'm sure I will," I say, smiling down at her.
When we catch sight of the bridge, we turn around to head back to the boardwalk. Lorna trips over a piece of driftwood, and I catch her arm, helping her steady herself.
"Thank you," she says, staring up at me, and I watch her eyes fall to my lips.
I was an awkward kid in high school, so girls weren't interested in me.
Granted, I was more interested in my sci-fi books than girls at the time, anyway.
Granddad, who raised me after my mother's death, insisted I join the Army like he did to, per his words, "become a man.
" Just two years later, I found myself honorably discharged with massive damage to my thighs from the explosion my team suffered in Kosovo.
My twenties were consumed in excruciating pain dealing with multiple surgeries.
And then my thirties were spent in constant therapy, dealing with my PTSD and my anger at having my youth essentially stolen from me.
By the time I was mentally healthy enough to date, I was still too self-conscious because of my scars. Nevermind the fact that I was a virgin.
But looking down into her warm brown eyes, I feel like I'm suddenly home.
Lorna places her hand on my jacket, looking up at me intensely.
"Do you want to kiss me?"
Nodding, I lean down as she grabs my jacket's collar, pulling herself up on her tiptoes. When our lips touch, I feel like an electrical fire is exploding all over my body. Lorna wraps her arms around my neck, pushing up against me as we continue to kiss, and I slide my arms around her waist.
This is the best feeling I've ever experienced.
When we finally part, we walk hand in hand back to the boardwalk. The wood creaks under our steps as we make our way to the parking lot. The silence is comfortable until my brain snaps to attention.
You have to tell this woman you're a virgin.
The joy I felt from our kiss dissipates as sickening anxiety pools into my gut.
We reach the parking lot, and seeing that no one is around, I blurt out, "I need to tell you something, Lorna."
She looks at me with concern.
"Listen, Lorna. That kiss was amazing, and I would like to ask you out on a date."
Her beautiful face breaks out into a grin.
"But I should probably first tell you I'm a virgin. Actually, that was literally my first kiss ever."
She half laughs, half gasps, and then looks at me quizzically.
"How old are you?" She blurts out.
"I'm 49," I say, surprised at the irritation I'm now feeling.
"That was your first kiss?" Lorna asks, touching her lips and looking towards the boardwalk.
"Yes. It's a long story as to why," I say, but she interrupts me.
"Okay. I mean, just... a 55-year-old being with a virgin?" She says, then looks at me with horror.
I don't think she meant to say that. I think that was meant to be a thought and not verbalized.
"Well, I got to run," I say, and spin on my heel, walking to the other end of the parking lot where I parked my truck.
When I pull away, I see that she's watching me with a confused expression.
Fuck.
That was a mistake.
Frederick and I close up the ice cream shop that night, and the anger I've been ignoring all day reaches a boiling point. Slamming down the drawer of the cash register, Frederick looks up at me in shock.
"Whoa, man. What's up?"
"You know how I met Ada's friend? The one who is making me that glass piece?"
"Yeah, Lorna."
"Well, she and I kind of had a connection."
"No shit," Frederick says, grinning.
"Yes. Well, we kissed today."
"Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. You kissed her?" He says, slapping me on the shoulder.
"Yes. I had my first kiss today, but that's not the point," I say, dismissing his celebratory nature.
"What's up? You seem pissed."
"Well, I stupidly told her I was a virgin, and her reaction was shitty."
"Oh, man. I'm sorry. Did you tell her why?"
"No. I said there was a story and stuff, but that's not really the point. She seemed really freaked out by it. Actually, I felt like she treated me like a weirdo."
"I'm sorry, man. I don't know her as well as Ada, of course, but she's always seemed pretty cool to me. Maybe she was just in shock?" He suggests with a shrug, adding, "But, anyway, it wasn't stupid of you to tell her. Good for you for being up front about it."
Once we are finished with the closing routine, we lock up the back, and I hop into my truck, taking a deep breath as I turn on the heat.
Goddamn. That kiss was magical.
Fuck.