Captain Obvious wasn’t nearly as subtle as she had given him credit for.
She shook her head. “Won’t work,” she said, glancing at her watch. “Besides, I’m tired and out of here.” She jumped off her elliptical. “Jerk,” she mumbled as she headed to the locker room. She wasn’t averse to exploring adventures with men she’d meet in random situations, but this one rubbed her the wrong way. One of the few that did.
Back home, she reverted to her college days when, before she’d run, she’d visualize the race from start to her winning finish. It wasn’t a perfect system, but she’d won many more races than she’d lost. Now, with her lounger tipped back, card in hand, she was visualizing.
She decided she was likely to be seen at the lockers. She’d just tell whoever it was a “dare- thing” and move on fast. Parked cars might help her get to the park, which she knew wouldn’t be a problem. She decided to scout the city block that lay between the park and the convenience store to see if there was a simple and partially concealed route she could follow. She was following the generally prescribed method here of moving along without being seen when she knew that being seen was the fun part. That’s what made it exciting.
The store itself. Too many unknowns to do much visualizing unless she tried to imagine every possibility. Even though it made her uncomfortable, she might just wing it. Thirty minutes was a long time and so much depended on who was working tomorrow night. She nibbled her lower lip. She could go early and check it out. Her sense of daring rejected that possibility. Lis decided to follow what she’d already planned and, should the convenience store seem dangerous in some way or the other; she’d backtrack and contact Poppy about drawing another card. That was an absolute last resort, but she had to retain it just in case.
Work was a fruitless endeavor, with Lis avoiding clients rather than seeking them. She scolded herself for acting like a teen going to her first prom, but that described how she felt. She was nervously excited, anticipating what lay ahead. It had been years since she’d been naked… in public, at least. She could picture it in her mind but pondered how she’d react now, at twenty-nine. It wouldn’t be long.
It had been a sunny day, and dusk was approaching. Lis had driven past the store and the mystery block and spotted a route she thought would work, then gone directly to the mall where she parked in the side lot, went inside, and got the locker key. Back at the convenience store, she debated, then decided. She’d go in and hide the key, being careful not to get a look at the clerk. If she saw whoever it was, it might make her abort the challenge before she even started.
As she watched, six or seven people entered the store. She quickly followed, picked a shelf just inside, and hid the key under a box of Captain Crunch at the back of the shelf. Back in the car, she took a deep breath. The much more interesting start was just minutes away.
At the mall, she parked in the side lot, luckily finding a spot just outside the door. She’d decided to strip in her car, just to make it a bit more daring. It was a little awkward, but she quickly shed the T-shirt, workout shorts, and flip-flops she’d worn. The sun had set, and darkness was descending, except for the bright lights of the mall. During the short trip to the door, she’d be brightly lit. It was weird, being naked in the car… without a boy there with her. It was now or never, so she checked, jumped out, clothes in hand, and in seconds was inside the mall. Naked in the air-conditioned mall, she was chilly and anxious to get back outdoors.
Lis peeked around the corner, saw two people with their backs toward her, and dashed across the open space to the lockers. She threw her clothes in the small cubicle and pushed the door until she heard the lock click. The commitment was complete. Now to complete the challenge.
Quickly back to the door and outside, she crouched beside her car, took a selfie, then dashed across the lot to the park, hearing a loud, “Hey,” as she darted behind the first bush. Glancing through the greenery, she was relieved that she saw no one. Being seen was acceptable–being chased was a no-no.
The trip through the park was unexciting, with Lis alternately walking and jogging. She was so relaxed she started when she heard the voice.
“Nude jogging. I may have to try that,” the voice said, accompanied by a chuckle.
Lis spun around to see a lady about her age in a simple sports bra, running shorts and Nike shoes, dark hair in a ponytail, and a big smile spread across her face.
“Should I give you an explanation?” she questioned.
“Probably a truth or dare thing.”
“Sort of.”
“Your jogging that I saw wasn’t jogging. You’re a runner.”
“In college, a few years ago.”
“I see your phone. Give me your number.”
The lady with the ponytail and the big smile was very pretty, the sports bra nicely filled, and the look she was giving Lis seemed unmistakable. Standing in the park naked and reciting her number to this stranger made her tingle. She’d been with a woman a couple of times, kind of experimental but not at all unpleasant.
The lady punched in the number, and Lis’s phone buzzed.
“There,” the stranger said. “Tie that number to Karla. I’m going to call you one of these days, and maybe you can talk me into running naked with you. I’ve thought about it, but…. I’m a chicken. Plus, who knows what else might happen, huh?” She chuckled.
That last comment confirmed the look she had gotten earlier and brought Lis’s antennae to attention. The stranger was a doll.
“I don’t have plans to do this again, but who knows. Call me for sure. I’m Lisbet.”
“Will do. Take care, and I hope the dare goes well.”
“Thanks.”
“Wait,” Lis called. “Stand beside me while I take a picture, so the club will know I’ve done something.” The photo was taken.
“Be sure to text me a copy of that,” Karla said. “Maybe the next one will have two naked women.” Another suggestive smile and Karla jogged off along the path.
Running naked, Lis had found a new friend. And, as the woman had said, who knows?
At last, she was almost to the edge of the park and had one block of homes to navigate before she’d be at the B & M convenience store. Lots of bushes were going to help, and she could see up the street quite a ways to spot any approaching cars. It was dark enough now that headlights were on, which helped too. She could see people in the houses as she darted from bush to bush, but no one seemed to be looking outside.’
As she looked across the small side street at the store, she wondered how many people might be inside. The parking lot was… well, empty but for one older car, probably belonging to whoever was working. With no other cars visible, she ran across the street and through the door of the B & M.
It was a guy who was working, his back to her. As she approached the checkout counter, he turned.
“May I… Whoa, hello there.”
Glancing around, Lis saw there were only the two of them.
“Hi,” she said, a little taken aback by the young and very good-looking guy facing her.