CHARLIE'S PROMISE - 3             He looked at me.  "You mean nobody's ever touched your breasts before?"         "Well, um, no, not really," I admitted.        "I thought you lived in an apartment?"        "I did," I said.         "Jees," he said, "I thought you were experienced."        "Well, you were wrong."  I said.         "Becky," he was excited, "I can help you with this problem!"         "What do you mean, problem?"         "Becky, you’re 18 and nobody has touched your breasts."        "Well, I never met anyone I liked that much," I stammered.         "Becky, they’re just breasts."         "Oh, is that so.  I guess you've touched a lot of girl's breasts?" I asked.         "A couple," he shrugged.  .         "And how long did it take until they let you touch them," I asked.         "The first date," he said matter of factly.         "The first date?" I asked.  "You don't even know if you like someone after the first date."         "You knew you liked me after the first date, Becky," he said.  He was looking pleased with himself.        "How do you know that?" I asked.        "Now, Becky," he began, "I know you well enough..."        "You don't know me at all,"  I interrupted.        He ignored me, "I know you well enough to know that if you didn't like me you wouldn't have let me spend the first night with you."  He was looking very pleased with himself.        "I was just worried about you," I said.        "That's exactly my point," he returned.        "This was too much.  How had he turned the tables on me?  "I'm  supposed to be breaking up with him," I thought.  I started to walk away.         He took my hand.          "No, Paul," I said pulling my hand away. "You think I have a problem."         "I was kidding," he said.        "Excuse me?"         "Becky, I was kidding."        It took a minute to sink in. "So you don't really think I have a problem?" I asked.        He laughed, "No, Becky, actually I think it's kind of sweet.  And it means I'll get to be the first one."        Oh, he was impossible.  "Maybe you’ll get to be the first one," I said pointedly.         He ignored me.  "It's a big responsibility," he paused, "but I think I'm up to the challenge."         "Up to the challenge, indeed," I muttered.         He kissed me. "That's not fair." I said, "I was about to let you have it."         "I know," he smiled, "Why do you think I kissed you?  It was a good kiss, wasn't it, Becky?" he asked.         "Yes, Paul," I said.  I was beaten. "It was a good kiss."        "Becky, we're perfect for each other," he said.        "We are?" I asked.        He nodded.  "You saw through all that military stuff the very first night.  And I saw through your sarcasm meant to keep people away."                 "You did?" I asked.  "Boy, some people never see           through that.  Paul, don’t you ever worry that you're going to           get hurt?" I asked.  "You're so open about everything."                  He shook his head, no.  "I'm a nice person, Becky.            I've had a good life - nothing bad has happened to me.            I don't worry about being hurt."                  I just looked at him.                       "See," he said again,  "We're perfect for each other.            I'll introduce you to the world and you can protect me from it."                  "Are you coming tomorrow?" I asked.                  He nodded, "yes."                  "Good," I said.    TO BE CONTINUED...