Sue and Tom (The Yearbook Series Book 2)

by Andrews, Buffy

  Everyone laughed.

  “Anyway,” Maggie continued. “We’re in bed, and before I know it, my whore heels scratch his scrotum.”

  “Ouch,” everyone said at the same time.

  “Yeah,” Maggie nodded. “It wasn’t pretty. Totally killed the mercy screw I was giving him because he had to have a colonoscopy the next day.”

  “No shit,” said Cookie, shaking her head.

  “Actually,” Maggie said, “by then he didn’t have any shit left in him.”

  I laughed so hard my jaw hurt. I think it’s true what they say about laughter being the best medicine. I know I was feeling much better than I had in a long time.

  ***

  Tom

  By the end of the night, we went through some serious suds and some not so serious talk.

  “You did it every day for thirty-one days?” Jeremy asked after listening to Keith brag about his recent feat.

  Keith grabbed a handful of Doritos. “Yeah, Kris read it in one of her magazines. She wanted to try it. At first, I thought it would be a little too much.”

  “Too much? What are you? A fucking idiot?” Jeremy laughed. “Do you think Kris would talk to Teresa, maybe suggest this 31-day deal? She’s always trying new diet plans. Hell, maybe she’d try this.”

  Keith laughed. “Are you kidding me? She’d kill me if she knew I said anything. You just got to get creative, Jer. Try new things.”

  Jeremy looked at all of us. “Am I the only one not getting fucked on a regular basis?”

  “I thought Teresa had a pole in your bedroom,” Mike said.

  “Yeah, for exercising.”

  We laughed.

  “Okay. I’m all ears. What works?” asked Jeremy, straightening up on the bar stool.

  Normally, guys don’t get into details about sex, but this wasn’t a normal group of guys. We shared a history. We had witnessed each other’s first kiss when we played spin the bottle in Becky’s garage in sixth grade. We always had each other’s back, whether it was bumming a condom on a night we didn’t expect to score or throwing a couple of bucks in the pot for gas to get to the mall and back.

  Keith crunched his Doritos. “Kris did this thing where she put a dab of chocolate syrup five different places on her body and I had to find it. She blindfolded me, plus it was dark, so I couldn’t see.”

  “Jesus fuckin’ Christ, Keith,” Jeremy said. “Now I really need Kris to talk to Teresa.”

  “Did you find all five?” Mike asked.

  Keith nodded. “And then I did it.”

  “Go Keith! Go Keith! Go Keith!” we all chanted.

  Keith shook his finger. “I swear, you better not say anything to Kris. Then I’ll be the one who never gets it.”

  “So Mikey,” Keith said. “You and Gina going to get married?”

  “Absolutely. We can’t wait. It’s all we’ve ever wanted. I’m still pinching myself that it’s really going to happen. We both want to get married as soon as possible, but we haven’t nailed down a date yet. Don’t worry, you’ll all be invited.”

  Jeremy looked at me. “What about you, Tom? You think you and Sue will end up together?”

  “I hope so. I really hope so.”

  Chapter 16

  Sue

  Gina’s living room was a sea of sleeping bags. We moved the furniture to the sides and crammed into the space just like we did when we were kids. We even ended the night with a pillow fight. I had forgotten how much fun they were. When we woke up the next morning, we looked like we were extras for The Walking Dead. Except Gina.

  Maggie yawned and pointed at Gina. “You have no right to look that good.”

  Cookie laughed. “That reminds me of the time I thought I was pregnant and wasn’t.”

  “Was this before or after the girls?” I asked.

  “After. In fact, it was last year.”

  I coughed. “What? But I thought Harry had a vasectomy?”

  “He did. About ten years ago!”

  Everyone stopped getting breakfast to listen to Cookie’s story.

  “So, I’m gaining weight, you know,” said Cookie, talking with her hands. “And I’m thinking my tits feel tender. And I can’t remember when I had my period last. Since Harry had a vasectomy, I don’t keep track of it and my periods never were real regular anyhow. And I know people who have gotten pregnant after the old snip-snip.”

  “Yeah, like within a year,” Lynn laughed. “Not a decade.”

  “Well, you never know,” Cookie continued. “Could be that old snake had some venom left in him. God knows it doesn’t seem to have a whole hell of a lot of life left in it these days, but, well, if I can get the damn thing up it does okay.”

  Everyone laughed.

  “Anyway,” Cookie continued. “The more I thought about the possibility of being pregnant, the more convinced I became that I actually was. So I buy not one home pregnancy test but two. You know, just to make sure. And I sneak into the bathroom when everyone else is downstairs and do the test. Not once, but twice. And…”

  Cookie pauses and looks at each of us. “Turns out I was just getting fat. Damn pregnancy test. Those things suck!”

  “You didn’t want to be pregnant, did you?” Gina asked.

  “Not really,” Cookie said. “But it would have been nice to have been able to blame my belly fat on something other than cakes and cookies.”

  Everyone laughed so hard we looked like we were having a group seizure.

  Cookie pinched her belly fat. “I could be a model for those belly fat ads online. Christ, every time I turn around another one pops up on my computer screen. I swear those ads have eyeballs and when they see someone fat sit down in front of the screen, they pop up. They’re evil.”

  Cookie was a character—always was and always would be.

  ***

  Tom

  I filled a huge cardboard box with empty beer bottles. We definitely went through the brew. It was already mid-morning and most of the guys had gone home, taking their hangovers with them. Mike stayed to help clean up. The kitchen looked like it had been hit by a hurricane. Guys could be real slobs.

  Mike tossed the empty pizza boxes and chip and pretzel bags into a large trash bag. “I had a great time. Thanks for having us all over. It was a lot of fun.”

  I nodded. “Yeah, it was. We’ll have to do it again. Felt like it did when we were in high school.”

  Mike laughed. “The joking and messing around did; my body did not. Definitely can’t drink like I used to.”

  “Mike,” I said. “You know Sue pretty well, right?”

  “I guess so. I mean, I knew her better in high school, but yeah, I guess I know her better than most of the guys who were here. Why? What’s up?”

  “I’m worried that if her memory of finding Rachel in my house returns, she’ll be pissed off again. I don’t want to lose her.”

  “But if she remembers that, won’t she also remember she was on her way to talk it out with you, to make up?”

  I shrugged. “That’s what I hope will happen. That’s what I want to happen. But who knows.”

  Mike shook his head. “I know you’re in a tough place. I think you’re just going to have to ride this out. See what happens and hope for the best.”

  I poured myself another cup of coffee. “What about you and Gina? How’s that going?”

  Mike got another cup, too, and sat down at the table. “Absolutely fantastic. I can’t wait to call her my wife. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

  I sipped my coffee. “And it took damn near twenty years.”

  “About that,” Mike said.

  Sooner or later I knew Mike would want to talk. I knew he would have questions about the night Gina was raped, the night I punched Coach Smith in the face when I learned what he had done. And I knew that he would go off on me for not telling.

  Mike ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t blame you. I don’t. But damn, I wish you would have said something back then.”

 
“I wish I would have, too. You don’t know how many hours I’ve spent beating myself up over the decision I made that day. I thought Gina should be the one to tell. I still think it should have come from her, but I wish I would have confronted her about it, told her that I knew. Maybe then she wouldn’t have felt so all alone. Maybe then she would have gone to the police, knowing she had me as a witness. Not to the rape, of course. But to Smith’s confession afterward.”

  Mike let out a heavy sigh. “I just wonder how my life, our life, would have turned out. Maybe we would have stayed together.”

  “And maybe not,” I said. “Sometimes I think that you and Gina splitting up was for the best. She had a lot of demons to deal with. I’m not sure she could have dealt with them like she needed to and worry about you at the same time. So she did what she had to do. And she got well and she became a killer prosecutor who puts bastards like Smith in jail. I know that it’s not the life you would have wanted for her, but she’s helped a lot of people and, besides, you’re together now.”

  Mike smiled. “Yeah. Crazy how it all happened so fast and yet it seems so right.”

  “I think that’s called love, man.”

  “I think you’re right.”

  ***

  Sue

  “What’s all the laughing about?” said Mia, walking into the kitchen dressed like she was headed down the runway at a New York fashion show. She wore a black sleeveless split-neck jacquard dress with a pleated skirt. The woman was drop-dead gorgeous.

  Cookie whistled. “Man, oh man, Karen. If I were gay, I’d be fighting you for some of that skin.”

  “Well, then it’s a good thing you’re not,” said Karen, kissing Mia on the cheek.

  Everyone laughed.

  Mia had showered and dressed because she had to leave to show an out of town client some properties.

  “And look at those heels,” Cookie said. “They must be eight inches. I sprain my ankle just looking at those suckers.”

  I looked at the strappy heels. They looked familiar. I had seen them before. I put my hand to my head and a memory flashed before my eyes.

  “You all right, Sue?” asked Gina, grabbing my arm to steady me.

  I shook my head. “It’s a memory. A flash. Those heels. I’ve seen them before.”

  Mia held out her leg so everyone could see the black strappy heels that had triggered my memory.

  “Do you want to sit down?” Gina asked.

  “Yeah. That might be good.”

  Gina walked with me into the living room, navigating us through a sea of goodbyes and hugs.

  “You guys don’t have to leave,” I said.

  But no one listened. I think they wanted to give me some space and give me time alone with Gina. I was actually grateful, because I became a wet rag of tears that felt as heavy as cement blocks.

  ***

  Tom

  I was glad Mike and I talked about the rape. It was unfinished business. It was important to me that he understood why I didn’t do anything twenty years ago. Doesn’t make it right, but at least he knows where I was coming from. I think he needed to clear the air, say some things that were on his mind. I got that and I wasn’t mad. But I was glad he was moving on, trying to put it behind him.

  I wasn’t lying when I told Mike that I thought it was better he and Gina didn’t stay together. I don’t think it would have worked. There was too much trauma that Gina had to work through, and she needed to do that alone.

  But I had to smile. Who would have thought twenty years later that they’d be back together—and be having a baby! And who would have thought I’d be dating the girl I’ve had a crush on since junior high earth science class.

  I grabbed Klondike’s leash. “Come on, boy. Let’s go for that walk.”

  It was a beautiful Saturday and the park was full of people. There were a lot of Little League baseball games going on. Seeing those little kids in their baseball shirts and hats always made me smile. Reminded me of when I was a kid. I loved baseball. Was never any good at it, but that didn’t stop me from trying.

  I figured by the time Klondike and I got back from our walk, Sue would be home from Gina’s. She was expecting me and Klondike around 3. I told her I’d make my killer lasagna for her and Chloe and then maybe we’d go for a drive afterward.

  She was getting stronger and I knew by the way she kissed me that she wanted more. I was the one holding back. I just didn’t feel right making love to her knowing our relationship had been strained prior to the accident. I kept thinking that when she remembered the Rachel fiasco, she might think I had taken advantage of her memory loss by having sex with her while knowing that we were no longer at the having sex stage.

  Chapter 17

  Sue

  I sat down on the couch and sobbed so hard my chest hurt. Finally, the dryer door was opened and I was free, gasping for air, clawing to make sense of what I had remembered.

  Gina brushed back my hair. “So, did you remember, Sues?”

  I nodded. “Rachel. She was at Tom’s house when I took Klondike home. He was coming home from a conference and I had this great evening planned. Even bought some sexy lingerie. But when I got there, I found Rachel, wearing a lacy thong and heart-shaped nipple covers with tassels.”

  I sniffed and Gina handed me some more tissues.

  “And I couldn’t believe it was happening to me all over again. It was worse than when I found Steve screwing Little Miss Pierced Nipples. By the time he and Pierced Nipples had their mid-day fuck, I had already suspected the creep was cheating. But Tom, no way would I ever have imagined Tom would do such a thing. I was crushed and left.”

  Gina bit her lower lip. “Do you remember what happened after that?”

  “A little. I know I was pissed at Tom because Rachel had the key. But I don’t remember the accident or being in the coma.”

  “Yes,” Gina said. “You were pissed at Tom because he hadn’t taken his key back from Rachel. But you were getting beyond it, and in fact, you were on your way to see him when the accident happened.”

  “I was?”

  “Yes. You had gone to Tom’s house to talk things out. He had gone to your house. When you both realized that you were at each other’s houses, you told Tom to wait at yours and you would be right over. But you never got there—obviously.”

  “So we never did get to talk things out?” I asked.

  “No,” Gina said. “But Tom is the best thing that’s ever happened to you, Sues. Don’t let that man walk out of your life. He was by your side every day. He talked to you. Read to you for hours. Ask Chloe. She’ll tell you. The man is head over heels in love with you, and I think if you’re honest, you’ll admit that you love him, too.”

  ***

  Tom

  I was shopping in the pasta aisle, trying to decide between two brands of lasagna noodles when I heard Cookie’s booming voice coming from the next aisle.

  “Why does it have to be Heinz? Ketchup is ketchup. It’s all alike. Just like men. You all drive me nuts.”

  I turned the corner to find Cookie staring at the rows of ketchup, talking on her cellphone.

  “Okay. I’ll buy the damn Heinz.” She grabbed the bottle off the shelf and saw me when she turned.

  “Hey, Tom. Have a good time last night with the guys?”

  I smiled. It was great. “How’d the girls make out?”

  “Had a blast. I don’t think I’ve laughed so hard since high school. Have you talked to Sue yet today?”

  I shook my head. “No, why?”

  “Just wondered.”

  “Oh, no, Cookie. I can tell by the way your eye twitched you asked for a reason. Did something happen last night?”

  “Not last night; this morning. But I don’t want to be the one to say anything. I think you should talk to Sue or Gina. When I left, they were sitting on the sofa talking.”

  “Can you tell me anything?”

  “I’m really not sure what happened. Mia, you know, Karen’s partner,
came down the stairs dressed for work. She was meeting a client from out of town. Anyway, she had on these strappy spike heels and Sue said something about them looking familiar. After that, it got a little chaotic. I’m pretty sure Mia’s whore heels must have triggered some sort of memory in Sue.”

  “Ah, fuck.”

  “Yeah, you probably would have wanted to fuck Mia. I told Karen that if I were gay I’d be giving her some stiff competition. That Mia is built, baby.”

  “No, I didn’t mean that.”

  Cookie looked puzzled.

  “How long ago was this?” I asked.

  “Not that long ago. I stopped to get gas and came here after I left there, so maybe a half hour. Why?”

  “I gotta go. I’m supposed to make dinner for Sue tonight, and I gotta make sure it’s still on.”

  ***

  Sue

  I hugged one of Gina’s throw pillows. “I guess Tom and I have some talking to do, huh?”

  Gina nodded. “Tom was furious when he learned what Rachel had done, Sues. By the following morning, he had changed all of the locks.”

  “It’s just that it took me so long to allow myself to love again, you know? And when I finally decide to open my heart so honestly and completely it gets squashed.”

  “But Tom wasn’t the one who squashed it,” Gina said. “Rachel was. And Rachel only succeeds if you allow her to succeed. Don’t. Don’t walk away from this guy who has adored you forever, who loves you and wants to spend the rest of his life with you.”

  I sniffed. “Did he say that?”

  “He didn’t have to, Sues. We all can see it. The way his face brightens when you walk into a room. The way his eyes follow you. The guy has it bad.”

  “I think I have it bad, too.”

  Gina smiled. “Then tell him. Tell him how you feel.”

  I looked down at the couch.

  “Look at me,” Gina said. “I never thought I’d get a second chance with Mike. And here we are, going to get married and have a baby. Yes, I’m giving up a lot. I’m taking a chance. But I’d rather take the chance than spend any more of my life wondering what might have been.