Meeting Carmen Ch. 01

"Let's go," one of the women said. I guess they didn't hear us. The door shut.

After counting to ten, I pulled out of Carmen, yanked my pants back up and peeked around the stack of boxes. "They're gone. And your clothes are still here."

"Thank God." She was slumped against the wall, head leaning forward, hair cascading over.

I fetched her sweats and she quickly put everything back on.

"You're OK?"

She smiled. "More than I bargained for. You could have got me fired!"

"We've got to stop meeting like this," I joked.

"I'm serious. You took a big chance."

"You didn't have fun?"

"You know I did," she accused.

"Well, I'd like to see you again, but a better idea would be outside the library."

"How about this weekend, we could go do something."

"How about Saturday, during the day," I suggested. This was Memorial Day weekend. "It's supposed to be about 75 all weekend. We could do something outside."

"There's a big crafts fair in Capital City."

"Sounds good. When and where should I pick you up?"

She shook her head. "I still live at home. No offense, but my parents would freak if some 30-year-old guy was picking me up. So I'll meet you at your place."

"Okay. What'll you tell them?"

"Oh, out with friends shopping or something. So how about... 10 am?"

"Perfect." I grabbed a piece of scrap paper and wrote down my address.

It was only a matter of time before the people looking for Carmen might check our room again. She poked her head out, saw everything was clear, and turned left toward the stacks, while I turned right toward the bathrooms. I didn't see her again until Saturday.

(Story will continue)