When the Dixie Highway veered at One-hundred-eighty-third Street, Benny turned left. They stayed off the expresswaysone of the rules Bennys mom had laid down for him being able to use the car.
Finally finding her voice, Addie said, You love me? Really love me?
Benny didnt hesitate. Sure I do.
You better not be fooling.
No way, querida , he said, his voice softer now. I told you before I dont joke about serious things. I love you.
Once Benny graduated in June, he would almost certainly be drafted by a major league team, meaning he would spend the rest of the summer playing minor league ball. Addie wasnt sure how or where she fit into that plan, but she knew two things for certain: they were going to prom together, and she was in love with Benny Mendoza.
I love you, too, she said.
He grinned at her and she smiled back.
Leaning over, Benny gave her a quick kiss.
Drive, she said, pushing him away. She wanted to pull him to her, but waiting until they werent driving in a rainstorm with cars all around them might be a safer plan.
He took the right that jogged back to the Dixie Highway and once again headed south. Addie had learned a long time ago that few things ran straight in the Chicago area. Streets veering off in odd directions all over the place was an accepted part of living in the city. She still remembered, as a child, commenting about nothing being straight in the city, and her father replying, You think the streets are something? Wait until youre old enough to understand politics.
The answer had stuck with her because it made no sense when she was six, but now, as her government class studied how things in the city worked, Addie realized what her father had meant. The streets werent the only things in the city that were crooked.
They wove southeast until Benny took the short right onto Ashland that carried them south to Joe Orr Road, then right again and back west to Travers Avenue, and a left south until the right onto her street, Hutchinson Avenue.
Technically, Addie lived on Two-hundred-seventh Street, but since she lived on the corner, Benny liked to park next to her house on the Hutchinson side. That kept her father from spying on them through the front door while they kissed good night. And kissing good night sometimes
lasted a while with Addie and Benny.
Most people, especially those from anywhere other than Chicago Heights, immediately thought slum when they were told of the suburbs location on the south side of the city. That wasnt true at all.
The neighborhood where Addie lived was a multiracial middle-class neighborhood with blacktop streets, no sidewalks, and houses varying from ranches to split foyers to the new brick castles coming up when the old houses were razed.
One of those brick monstrosities sat across the street to the east from her parents modest ranch with its one-car garage and flowers planted everywhere. Houses lined the south side of Two-hundred-seventh right up to where Hutchinson teed into it, then east of the intersection, on the south side, Swanson Park spread before them, an oasis of green with its soccer fields and softball diamonds.
Benny pulled the Tiburon in alongside Addies house and killed the lights. They were pointed south on Hutchinson, the park visible through the pounding rain, the parking lot on its far side obscured by the downpour.
She caught a glimpse of the clock as Benny turned off the car: 1:15. Her parents were going to be mightily pissed. Addie had wanted tonight to be the night, but there was just no way.
Benny undid his seat belt, slipped it off, leaned over and kissed her.
The rush she felt as his tongue snaked its way into her mouth was like nothing she had ever felt before. Heat rushed from her lips to her tongue, down her throat, extending out through every fiber of her being, to burn somewhere just south of her waist.
His arms were around her, then they were unfastening her seat belt. Next his hands were roving all over her T-shirt, leaving a wildfire trail in their wake.
Bennys hands were at her back now, sliding up under her shirt, soothingly cool as they met hot flesh. She wanted him to touch her everywhere at once. She felt the clasp release on her flimsy bra and then his hands were under the shirt in front, inching up, cupping, squeezing, all the time his tongue like a wild animal in her mouth.
Control was slipping away and even though it was nearly 1:30 in the morning on a school night, her parents less than a hundred feet away (certainly not asleep and almost certainly waiting up for her), Addie was about to let Benny Mendoza get her ready for the prom.
Not like this , she told herself as she wrestled for control. Not a quickie in a Hyundai, even if it was with Benny, the man she loved. Make it perfect , her voice said in her brain, make it perfect.
With more strength than she knew she had, Addie broke away.
Bennys concern was instant and sincere. What is it, querida ? Whats wrong?
I can cant , she said.
I thought this was something you wanted.