ahead.”
“Lizzie’s a lot of fun,” he said, as he exited. “She’s just…out of my league.”
What in the hell did that mean?
***
Jill was packing up her things when her phone rang, with the display showing an outside line. “Jill Henry.”
“Hi, there, Jill Henry. Lizzie Davis. Is it too early for a university administrator to have a drink?”
Jill looked at her watch. “It’s five o’clock. I think that’s viable. Are you close by?”
“Uh-huh. I was meeting with your director of special events about a couple of things. I’m in Waterman. I assume you’re somewhere around here too.”
“I am. Why don’t I meet you on the front steps? I’m ready to go.”
“Great. See you in a few.”
Jill hustled down the stairs, blessedly free of the usual gaggle of students moving between classes. She reached the front stairs and breathed in the fresh, sweet air. Now it was spring. A tap on her shoulder made her turn to find Lizzie, once again looking like a fully-accredited adult. “You cut your hair,” Jill said, admiring the now chin-length bob. “It looks really good.”
“Thanks. I’m in the water all of the time in the summer. When it’s this length, I don’t have to blow-dry it.”
“Whatever your reasons, it looks good. I’m about ready to change stylists. Do you go to someone you like?”
“Uh-huh. I’ll give you her number. As soon as you buy me a drink.”
“ I’m buying?”
“Uh-huh.” She put her hand on Jill’s elbow and led her towards a parking lot.
“We’re driving?”
“No, I’m driving. Let’s head down College. There’s a new place I like that’s for adults.”
“We could walk,” Jill said. “It’s not that far.”
“I’m wearing heels,” she said, sticking a foot out as a visual aid. “And why would I want to walk down, only to have to walk back to get my car? Use your head, woman!”
Jill laughed at her chiding and followed along. Lizzie pressed her key fob when they got near a cute, small car in a unique shade of blue. The lights flashed and a “thunk” indicated the doors were unlocked.
“Is this a plug-in?” Jill asked as she got in and realized something was missing. Instead of a shifter, there was a silver button between the seats.
“Yeah. But it only gets about seventy miles to a charge. Works great for driving to and from work, but I have to take the train to visit the old homestead.”
“Where do you charge it?” Jill fastened her seat belt, and shifted around in the surprisingly spacious interior.
“There’s a public charging station only five blocks from my apartment.” She shrugged. “It would have been nice to live in Jon’s house. He installed a 240 charger just for me.” Sighing, she added, “His big plug just wasn’t big enough.”
She wore a playful smirk, and Jill would have made a suggestive comment to her other friends, but she didn’t yet know Lizzie well enough to do that. “I think it’s really nice that you care about your carbon footprint.”
“Someone has to,” she said as she pressed that silver button and a muted chime sounded. The absence of engine sound was a little odd. More like a golf cart than a car. As they pulled out, the car really zoomed, no delay for the gas to reach the engine.
They glided down College, with Lizzie on the alert for parking. When she found a spot, she maneuvered the car into the space and turned it off. “The place I’m thinking of is about four blocks away, but I hate to waste power looking for parking. Is that cool?”
“Sure. You’re the one wearing heels.”
They got out and started to walk down towards the lake. “You’re dressed pretty casually,” Lizzie commented as she turned and assessed Jill’s clothing. “Can you always wear khakis?”
“No, I get dressed up sometimes. But if I don’t have to, I stay casual. I ironed my shirt though. I think that counts as dressing up.”
Lizzie grasped the fabric at the cuff and rubbed it between
“Lizzie’s a lot of fun,” he said, as he exited. “She’s just…out of my league.”
What in the hell did that mean?
***
Jill was packing up her things when her phone rang, with the display showing an outside line. “Jill Henry.”
“Hi, there, Jill Henry. Lizzie Davis. Is it too early for a university administrator to have a drink?”
Jill looked at her watch. “It’s five o’clock. I think that’s viable. Are you close by?”
“Uh-huh. I was meeting with your director of special events about a couple of things. I’m in Waterman. I assume you’re somewhere around here too.”
“I am. Why don’t I meet you on the front steps? I’m ready to go.”
“Great. See you in a few.”
Jill hustled down the stairs, blessedly free of the usual gaggle of students moving between classes. She reached the front stairs and breathed in the fresh, sweet air. Now it was spring. A tap on her shoulder made her turn to find Lizzie, once again looking like a fully-accredited adult. “You cut your hair,” Jill said, admiring the now chin-length bob. “It looks really good.”
“Thanks. I’m in the water all of the time in the summer. When it’s this length, I don’t have to blow-dry it.”
“Whatever your reasons, it looks good. I’m about ready to change stylists. Do you go to someone you like?”
“Uh-huh. I’ll give you her number. As soon as you buy me a drink.”
“ I’m buying?”
“Uh-huh.” She put her hand on Jill’s elbow and led her towards a parking lot.
“We’re driving?”
“No, I’m driving. Let’s head down College. There’s a new place I like that’s for adults.”
“We could walk,” Jill said. “It’s not that far.”
“I’m wearing heels,” she said, sticking a foot out as a visual aid. “And why would I want to walk down, only to have to walk back to get my car? Use your head, woman!”
Jill laughed at her chiding and followed along. Lizzie pressed her key fob when they got near a cute, small car in a unique shade of blue. The lights flashed and a “thunk” indicated the doors were unlocked.
“Is this a plug-in?” Jill asked as she got in and realized something was missing. Instead of a shifter, there was a silver button between the seats.
“Yeah. But it only gets about seventy miles to a charge. Works great for driving to and from work, but I have to take the train to visit the old homestead.”
“Where do you charge it?” Jill fastened her seat belt, and shifted around in the surprisingly spacious interior.
“There’s a public charging station only five blocks from my apartment.” She shrugged. “It would have been nice to live in Jon’s house. He installed a 240 charger just for me.” Sighing, she added, “His big plug just wasn’t big enough.”
She wore a playful smirk, and Jill would have made a suggestive comment to her other friends, but she didn’t yet know Lizzie well enough to do that. “I think it’s really nice that you care about your carbon footprint.”
“Someone has to,” she said as she pressed that silver button and a muted chime sounded. The absence of engine sound was a little odd. More like a golf cart than a car. As they pulled out, the car really zoomed, no delay for the gas to reach the engine.
They glided down College, with Lizzie on the alert for parking. When she found a spot, she maneuvered the car into the space and turned it off. “The place I’m thinking of is about four blocks away, but I hate to waste power looking for parking. Is that cool?”
“Sure. You’re the one wearing heels.”
They got out and started to walk down towards the lake. “You’re dressed pretty casually,” Lizzie commented as she turned and assessed Jill’s clothing. “Can you always wear khakis?”
“No, I get dressed up sometimes. But if I don’t have to, I stay casual. I ironed my shirt though. I think that counts as dressing up.”
Lizzie grasped the fabric at the cuff and rubbed it between
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