You arrive in plenty of time

The rest of the drive is thankfully short but you have enough time to talk. Looking for anything to take your mind off the bikers you ask Chris where he learned to fix cars.

"When I was in the Corp, the motor pool couldn't ever seem to keep the Humvees running so we got used to bringing our own fixit kits..." For a few seconds you wonder if he had been in Iraq or Afghanistan, but you decide that that is a conversation best left for a later date. A little surprised that you've already decided that Chris is someone you'd like to see at a 'later date' you realize that you've been ignoring your date. "... knows Maggie here breaks down as often as she plays nice, so I always have a few basics with me just in case." He pauses and then changes the conversation abruptly.

"Are you really a librarian?" You've heard this question quite a few times before, but never before has the man asking it looked at you so appreciatively. "When Teri told me what you did I almost told her not to bother."

"So what changed your mind?" You tease him as the car crests a final ridge and you see a broad valley open up before you.

"A picture of you dressed as a cheerleader." Chris smiles sheepishly. You know the exact picture he is talking about. Four years ago when you and the idiot had still been on solid footing you had gone to a Halloween party dressed as 'Quarterback and Cheerleader.' The snapshot caught you in the middle of a fake cheer with your pleated skirt flared out exposing most of your legs and a teasing smile on your face that you had intended for your husband, and only him.

"I'm gonna fucking kill her!" You swear and Chris smiles as he hears your lose your cool for the first time tonight.

"Why?" He asks innocently, "you looked great." And then, just when you think the matter is over he asks. "Was that your actual outfit?" It was, and you secretly take pride in the fact that it still fits after over a dozen years (well the sweater is tighter now, but that was hardly your fault), however like Chris and his possible traumatic experiences in the military, the cheer leading outfit brings up a whole cartload of emotional baggage. In hindsight, the idiot's reaction to seeing you dressed as a coed should have set off major warning bells, but the sex that night had been so hot there was no way you could have believed that you'd be divorced less than five years later.

"Something in your silence must have alerted Chris that he is on dangerous ground because before you can figure out how to respond to the good natured question he immediately backs off.

"OK, OK, I'm sorry I mentioned it. I'll do my best to forget I've ever seen it." He does seem genuinely apologetic, so you relent a little.

"We'll call it even if you bring me a shot of you in your dress uniform and your 'high and tight'." You compromise, even as you make a mental note to do whatever it takes to get that damned picture from Teri before she uses it to set you up with some other blind date.

"Deal." He says as he turns into the state park. The parking lot is crowded with all sorts of cars. Judging by the vehicles you see in the parking lot, it is an eclectic bunch of concert goers, there are a fair number of BMW's and Infinity's and the like, as well as Prius' and other green cars but there is an equally large assortment of pickup trucks, VW vans and beat up campers. As predicted there are a large number of motorcycles lined up in a neat row near the entrance, far more than the dozen or so that passed you. Chris' eyes narrow slightly as he sees the group of leather jacketed men and their women assembled near the bikes, but he remains silent as he drives through the gauntlet of suggestive comments and whistles of appreciation as the group checks you out.

Luckily Chris is able to drive straight through the parking lot and park in one the reserved section well away from the bikers.

"One of the perks of being a Parks Supervisor." Chris explains you with a much more relaxed grin as he jumps from the car to get your door.