Gina and Mike by Buffy Andrews Page A

I became a prosecutor in the sex crimes unit was to put people like him away. I kind of feel like each time I’m in court and the outcome is in my favor I not only win for the victim but also for me. You’re right. I should have said something. I was a naïve 17-year-old who thought that Smith really had the power to ruin Mike’s life. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized that I was the one who had the power, that if I had reported what he had done, Smith would have been done for and Mike would have had another coach. I was so stupid.”
    “No, you weren’t stupid,” Tom said. “You were seventeen. And besides, if you were stupid, I was stupid, too. I should have talked to you about it then, but I just couldn’t. But I’ve waited twenty years to tell you I’m sorry. Sorry that I wasn’t a better friend.”
    My eyes were swimming in tears. I couldn’t help leaning over and hugging Tom. “You’ve always been a great friend. Just look at all of those unknowns you solved for me?”
    Tom smiled. “Yeah, guess that’s true.”
    “Besides,” I hit his arm playfully, “you’re not the only friend who’s upset with the way I handled the situation.”
    “But I thought you never told anyone,” Tom said.
    “I didn’t, until last night when I confided in Sue. She went ballistic. Cussed a firestorm of words I never heard coming out of her mouth before. She said if she would have known what he had done she would have made me tell.”
    “Good for her,” Tom said.
    “Enough about me. What about you. Why haven’t you ever married?”
    “Never found the right girl. There was this girl in high school that I always liked. You know her well. She was always dating someone else, though, and I never had a chance.”
    “And who would that be?” I asked.
    Tom put his glasses back on. “Sue.”
    “So why not ask her out?”
    “I don’t know. For one thing, every time I see her she’s always in a hurry.”
    “That’s just Sue. She’s a ball of energy. Remember we called her Tigger in school because she was always bouncing?”
    Tom smiled. “I had forgotten about that. But I also rarely see her.”
    “That’s no excuse,” I said. “Pick up the phone. You’re a big boy.”
    “I know. But for some reason around her I can’t seem to get the words out. Christ, I’m almost forty and I still get that way.”
    I smiled. I had no idea Tom had carried the torch for Sue for so long, and I knew that Sue had no idea.
    “Tell ya what. She’s coming later. Hang with me and maybe you’ll get comfortable enough to ask her.”
    I felt like I was back in high school playing matchmaker. And I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t think Sue would be interested, but I knew that she would be. Just the other night we had talked about high school and the guys we would have dated and Tom was on her list. Sue said she always thought he was nice. Now it was just a matter of getting them both together. And I knew I could do that.
     
    ****
     
    Mike
     
    I pulled into the hotel parking lot and parked beside Jeremy’s red Mustang. He was probably on his second gin and tonic. I didn’t drink much anymore and, when I did, it was a Yuengling lager. I turned off the car and looked into the rear-view mirror. Nothing hanging out of my nose; good. I grinned. Nothing sticking to my teeth; good. I remember one date I had a piece of green lettuce sticking to my front tooth and didn’t realize it until I got home and went to brush my teeth. My date never said anything; it might just be why she turned me down when I called to set up a second date.
    I reached for the door handle and looked in the side view mirror. Sue pulled in behind me. I opened the door just as she was turning off her car. She tooted the horn.
    I turned around and waved and Sue held up her index finger and mouthed “Wait!”
    She grabbed her purse and hopped out of the car.  “Michael Parker. I wondered if I’d see you here.”
    She hugged me like we were old