“Yes, we do represent you, and I apologize for not being up-front with you. I think I’ve lost track of what’s important to me. Why don’t you come over Monday, and you and Mary can cook. Afterward, we can sit down and have a heart-to-heart.”
“I’m fine with that,” I said.
I could see Tracy get a satisfied look on her face. She’d been listening to our conversation.
For the first time since the avalanche, I had a strong emotion. It caught me by surprise. She made me so angry!
“I have one condition, though, and you’re not going to like it: that heart-to-heart is you and me, and only you and me!”
“Why?” Mary asked, as her head snapped around.
“I don’t think we need to have that conversation here,” I said, as Tracy stormed up.
“No, I think you need to explain yourself,” Tracy said as she glowered at me.
“Okay, if that’s what you want, then so be it. Tracy, if you’d just broken up with me the last two times, I’d be all right. I know you have more issues than any three girls I know. What I will never get over is how you belittled what we had. The first time it was less than eight hours and you were in bed with Jim. This time you went out of your way to hook up with one of the guys I can’t stand. Next to Luke, the only guy that would make my stomach turn faster would be if you were with Bill Rogers.”
I felt myself losing control. I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down some.
“I loved you with all of my heart. I held your hand through your issues. I met with your therapist. After all that, it took only one phone call from your father to convince you to dump me. Something we agreed upon this time was to have open communication. However, you turn around and get someone else to do your dirty work. For cripes sake, I could’ve handled you saying we weren’t working out.
“While I was in Colorado, I had a lot of time to think. I have enough friends that like me for me. I don’t need people like you and Luke trying to hurt me. I’m sorry if your feelings are hurt. Nevertheless, I have too much going on in my life right now. My mom is fighting for her life. Nearly dying made me realize life is too short to have to deal with someone who treats me like you do. So, does that answer your question?”
I guess I’ll never know because she burst into tears and ran to the bathroom. I looked around and didn’t see Beth or Tami. Oh crud, Tracy had no idea what she was walking into. I was sure I’d get a full report later.
I was surprised when Mary pulled me into a hug and whispered in my ear.
“Thank you for not losing your temper. I could see you trying. I’m so sorry, David.”
To Tom’s credit, he wouldn’t look me in the eye.
“How about you come to my house and we cook on Monday?”
“I’d like that,” Mary said.
After she released me, I found myself in Angie’s arms. April didn’t seem to know what to do and I couldn’t blame her. I looked around and realized everyone in the banquet room had heard what I said. I wasn’t surprised when Tracy came running out of the bathroom and went towards the front door. Tami and Beth soon emerged, looking satisfied. Mary and Tom followed their daughter out of Monical’s. I don’t know about them, but I felt better.
The rest of the evening was a lot of fun. I was surprised to find that Tom had paid for the evening.
April was a little standoffish after that. I guess I messed that up.
BETH AND TAMI BROUGHT me back to my bachelor pad after we dropped off April. I followed them up to my place and they went straight to my bedroom. I found Tami at my dresser, pulling out shorts and t-shirts. I was kicked out so they could change. They came out to the living room. I pulled out three bottles of water from the refrigerator, and we kicked back to relax. Tami curled up under my arm on the couch.
I was dying to hear what was said to Tracy to make her flee Monical’s.
“Not to be a mood killer or anything, but what did you say to Tracy?"
“She came into the bathroom crying. She told us you’d been mean to her and told us some of what you said. Did you really tell her that she had more issues than any three other girls?” Beth asked.
I blushed.
“Okay, not my best moment. But yes, I did.”
“If what we heard was true, I have to say I’m impressed. Who knew you had the backbone to stand up to a girl? I think you may be growing up,” Tami told me.
“No, I kind of lost it. Since I’ve gotten out of the hospital, I’ve been sort of off. I don’t know the best way to describe it. I guess you’d say my emotions have been muffled. No highs or lows, just somewhat blah. When she got in my face, something snapped. I shared things with her that I definitely felt; I just would never have said them out loud before. It was like when I took those muscle relaxants.”
“All I know is everyone is very clear that Tracy Dole pissed you off, and everyone agrees she had it coming,” Tami said.
“Enough about me going nuts, tell me what happened.”
“She came in thinking we’d feel sorry for her. I asked her if it was true that she didn’t have the guts to break up with you in person. She admitted that she had Kendal do it. I then asked her if she asked Luke out. Tracy said she did. I asked if the rumors were true that she was doing the deed with Luke and she admitted it,” Beth said.
“What made her run out?” I asked.
Somehow it didn’t feel better to have my worst assumptions confirmed.
“I asked her why she dumped you. She said she didn’t want to hold you back. So I asked her why she went out of her way to hurt you. She looked at us as if she didn’t realize that she had. Even after you had just ripped her a new one, I don’t think she knew she hurt you. I asked her why she hurt the one guy who was good for her. Why did she make a spectacle of herself when the reporters hit town? I think she finally realized that it wasn’t just about her,” Tami said as she shook her head. “I think she’s not right in the head. I’m going to talk to her parents tomorrow. She needs help.”
“Crud! Now I feel bad.”
“Don’t you dare feel bad for her. Tracy Dole needs to learn to take responsibility for her actions. If you keep forgiving her, nothing will change. You have to stay strong,” Beth warned me.
I took a deep breath.
“I’m beat and I still ache all over. Could I talk one of you into putting some medicated massage cream on me?”
“If you get naked,” Tami said.
Beth just nodded.
“I have to warn you guys. I haven’t, you know, since I was in Florida. So something might ‘come up.’”
“That was what I was hoping for,” Beth told me.
Neither of them was as good as my brother at giving a massage. I have no idea when it switched to Beth giving Tami blowjob lessons, but I was willing to help. After they brought me off for the second time, I fell asleep on them. Yes, men are pigs, but I really was tired.
Saturday January 11
BY THE TIME I WOKE up, both Tami and Beth were gone. I looked at the clock and it said 9:57 a.m. I hadn’t slept that late in almost seven months. As I rolled out of bed, I felt better than I had since I got back. I decided to go to the gym. I skipped down the steps and was rooting through the fridge when Angie goosed me.
“Hey, I think you have a boyfriend.”
“I have him giving our son a bath, so we have time to make out.”
Greg walked in with Kyle.
“Angie, I’ve warned you not to tease him,” Greg said.
Angie gave me a kiss on the cheek and ran for the stairs.
“Sorry about that,” I said, once she was out of earshot.
“Hey, dumbass, Angie wasn’t bluffing. You have to be the strong one. If you offer, she’ll say yes. Then I’ll kick your butt.”
“Got it. Go make her forget my name.”