Gina & Mike (The Yearbook Series Book 1)

by Buffy Andrews

  I buried my head in Sue’s shoulder and cried for what seemed like hours. “Thank you for coming with me today.”

  “I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Ready to go home?”

  I nodded. “I guess I have to go home sometime, huh?”

  Sue nodded. “Do you want me to stay over tonight?”

  “No. I’ll be fine. You’ve done so much already. I plan to go to bed early, and I think I’d rather just be alone, if you don’t mind.”

  Sue pulled up to the curb. “Sure you’re going to be all right?”

  I nodded.

  “If you get hungry, there’s food in the refrigerator that the ladies at the church dropped off earlier. It was a lot, so I stuck some of it in the freezer.

  “Thanks.” I opened the door. “See you later, Tig.”

  Sue laughed. “No one’s called me that in ages.”

  “Well,” I said. “I’m feeling a bit nostalgic and a bit like Eeyore. And I need your bouncing Tigger self to keep me afloat.”

  Sue laughed. “See you later, Gina. Remember. Call if you need anything.”

  ****

  Opening the front door jolted me back to when I was in school. I remember coming home and Mom calling my name from the kitchen when she heard the front door close. She’d be peeling potatoes or rolling out potpie dough or making one of her yummy apple pies or a batch of soft sugar cakes. The sugar cakes were my favorite, and it occurred to me that I never asked her for the recipe, that I never actually made them myself. It was something that Mom always made, something I looked forward to eating every time I came home to visit.

  I checked the answering machine. There was a call from Judy, but I didn’t feel much like talking. Instead, I headed to the bathroom for a lavender soak. Mom always kept a bottle of bubble bath on hand for those times when the only thing that soothed you was a long soak in the tub.

  I drew the bath water and crawled in, slipping completely under with only my head above water. I closed my eyes as the warm water embraced me in a gentle stillness. When I opened my eyes, my skin was red and wrinkled. And the water was cold.

  ****

  Mike

  Jack was spending the night at Lisa’s house. It was his step-dad’s birthday and Lisa was throwing a big bash. Jack had called earlier and said Lisa had hired caterers to take care of all of the details and that the food was “out of this world.” He sounded like he was having a good time.

  I couldn’t get Gina off my mind. Even taking a shower didn’t help. I wondered if she was OK. A part of me wanted to drive over and find out, but another part of me thought that I might get the door slammed in my face. I threw a frozen chicken dinner into the microwave and followed that up with a peanut butter sandwich, and then a banana.

  I tried watching TV, but it was no use. I couldn’t stop thinking about Gina. Damn. That’s it. I grabbed my keys and wallet off of the kitchen table and drove over to her house. I thought maybe Sue would be there, but I didn’t see her car. I waited in my car, trying to get up the nerve to go to the door. I hit the steering wheel with the palm of my hand. What the hell. I have nothing to lose. I went to the door and knocked. I waited a few more minutes and knocked again.

  “I’m coming,” I heard Gina say.

  When she opened the door, she looked like she had just crawled out of the shower. Her head was wet and she looked like a kid in an oversized plaid shirt that looked like it had belonged to her father.

  “I told you I’d be OK” Gina said as she opened the door.

  She jerked back. “Oh, Mike. It’s you. I thought it was Sue.”

  “Can I come in?” I asked. “I was worried about you. I wanted to make sure you were OK.”

  “So you heard?”

  I nodded. “Jeremy called.”

  Gina started to cry and I put my arms around her and led her to the couch.

  “First Dad; now Mom,” Gina exploded. “There’s no one left.”

  “Gina, you have friends. Like Sue. And I’d like to be your friend, if you’ll let me.”

  Gina blew her nose. “This house. What am I supposed to do with this big, old house. And all the stuff? Mom saved everything.”

  “Look, I’ll help. I have a friend who sells houses. If that’s what you want to do. Sell it.”

  Chapter 13

  Gina

  When I opened the door and saw Mike, I couldn’t stop the tears from taking over. It was like everything I had been feeling – the desperation and loneliness and uncertainty – fizzed and blew the lid off my emotions. My whole body wracked with mournful sobs that started way down deep, so deep that by the time they reached the surface their power scared me.

  Mike put his arms around me and I felt as though he was pulling me onto a life raft. I felt safe and protected. Maybe even loved.

  When he offered to contact one of his friends about the house, my sobs crescendoed. My world had changed tempo overnight and I was thrust into a mournful lament.

  “But if you don’t want to sell the house, don’t,” Mike said.

  “What would I do with it?”

  “Ever think of moving back?” he asked.

  “Are you kidding me? I have a great job. To leave everything I’ve worked so hard for and move back here. Why would I? Especially now that Mom’s gone. And Sue and Chloe fly down to see me a few times a year.”

  As soon as I said it I could see the hurt on Mike’s face. His furled brows always gave him away.

  “I thought maybe seeing everyone at the reunion might have given you the itch, you know, to move back.”

  “Seeing everyone also brought back a lot of pain,” I said.

  “What do you mean pain? Do you mean me?”

  His eyes searched mine.

  “No. You never caused me pain. You were among the good parts of this place.”

  “So why’d you dump me?”

  I bit my bottom lip. I knew sooner or later it was going to come to this, and I really wasn’t up for talking about it.

  Mike caught my sigh. “I’m sorry, Gina.” He touched my arm. “I didn’t mean to go there, especially now.”

  “That’s OK,” I said. “I knew you’d ask sooner or later.”

  “That’s what you wanted to talk to me about the other night, wasn’t it?” Mike said.

  I nodded. “But I’m too tired to go into it right now. Can we talk later? Maybe after the funeral. I need to make it past that.”

  “Sure. I understand. Need help with anything?”

  I shook my head. “I think Sue has everything under control. The ladies at the church are doing the funeral luncheon in the church social hall. Mom would have liked that. She always helped with the funeral luncheons.”

  Mike looked around the living room. “Do you remember the last time we sat together on this couch?”

  I bit the inside of my cheek. “How could I forget?”

  “Believe me, I’ve tried to forget many times,” Mike said. “But you don’t forget the love of your life breaking up with you.”

  “Oh, come on,” I said. “It wasn’t that bad.”

  “It was, too,” Mike said. “Damn near made me want to become a priest.”

  We both laughed. “Somehow I can’t see you being a priest.”

  “Guess I would have an awful lot of things to repent for.”

  “No more than the rest of us,” I said. “Well, most of the rest of us.”

  ****

  Mike

  I love hearing Gina’s bubbly laugh. She’s right. I wasn’t priest material.

  “In all seriousness, I can’t believe twenty years have passed since BMH day,” I told her.

  “BMH day?” Gina asked.

  “Yeah. The day you Broke My Heart.”

  Gina playfully hit my arm. “A lot’s happened in those twenty years.”

  “Yep,” I agreed. “A lot’s gone down. But some things haven’t changed.”

  “Like what,” Gina asked.

  “Like how beautiful you are.”

&
nbsp; Gina blushed red tulips. “Oh, come on. Guess you haven’t noticed the wrinkles hugging my eyes.”

  I smiled. “Those?” I touched the corner of her eyes. “They’re laugh lines. They add character.”

  “Character, huh? You always were a smooth talker.”

  “When it came to you, I always told the truth. There was never any bullshit. It’s still that way. You breaking up with me really pissed me off, especially since I had no idea what I did wrong.”

  “Stop,” Gina said. “Not now. No talking about that now.”

  I ran my fingers through my hair. “Jesus, Gina. You’re more beautiful than I remembered.”

  “Even with no makeup on?”

  I touched her cheek. “You’ve never needed makeup.”

  Gina looked down. “Thanks. I haven’t felt beautiful in a long time.”

  I lifted her chin and stared into her green eyes. “You’re more beautiful that you’ve ever been.”

  I couldn’t help myself. I had to kiss her. I had to feel her silky skin next to mine. I ached to hold her in my arms, to kiss her everywhere. It was all I could do to hold myself back. It’s was like seeing an opening during a basketball game and wanting to run through it and make a basket. Only I didn’t want to screw up and miss. Oh, what the hell. I went for the shot.

  ****

  Gina

  When our lips touched, I felt things I hadn’t felt in 20 years. My body tingled. I wanted him to touch me, undress me, and make love to me. No guy I had ever been with ever made me feel this way. Other than him. I was awakened and suddenly the only thing I could think about was Mike being inside me, making me feel the way I knew I could feel. God, I missed that.

  I felt like I was at the edge of a cliff. I knew that if I jumped I could land on jagged rocks below, but I didn’t give a damn. I jumped. Fast. I wanted more. I needed more. I needed Mike. I wanted to feel him inside of me. I wanted him to take me. I unbuttoned his shirt and planted a trail of kisses down his chest. He moaned as I reached for the top of his jeans and ran my hand over his bulging crouch.

  Mike pulled back. “Gina, you’re driving me crazy. Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you.”

  I answered by pulling his head toward mine and kissing him hard and deep. He tasted good. Sweet. God how I missed that sweetness.

  He pulled back again. “Not here. I want you to be comfortable.”

  “I am comfortable,” I said, slipping off my oversized shirt and exposing my breasts.

  “Oh, Gina, baby.” Mike’s mouth found one breast and I moaned as he kissed and sucked while rolling the other nipple between his two fingers. My nipples hardened in response and my body felt like it was doing cartwheels. I was head over heels for this man. Still.

  And then I felt Mike lift me off the couch. He carried me upstairs to my bedroom, which hadn’t changed in twenty years. Cheerleading trophies sat on my white dresser and my porcelain doll collection filled the shelf Dad had built. My violin and music stand were by the window. Everything was the same.

  Even this.

  Mike laid me down. I pulled him toward me, devouring his mouth with mine once again.

  “Oh, God, Gina.”

  He undressed and lay down beside me, kissing my jaw line, his sweet mouth trailing down to my breasts. Our bodies tangled, rolling one way and then the other. I had never felt such electricity in all my life. It was like twenty years of longing came pouring out in seconds.

  Mike was kissing me in places that hadn’t been kissed in forever. I felt his hardness on my inner thigh and begged him to enter me.

  “You’re torturing me,” I said. “I can’t take it. Please.”

  “Oh, sweet baby,” he moaned and he found his way inside me. I had forgotten how good he felt. He toyed with me, pulling back. I couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed a hold of his back and force him in as deep as I could. Our bodies fell into sync and just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, we came together. It was the most incredible feeling in the whole world. I never had sex this good – ever. It was as if our bodies were meant for each other. A perfect fit. I fell asleep, wrapped in his arms.

  ****

  Mike

  I kissed the top of Gina’s head, cradled in the crook of my arm. Holy Christ. I can’t believe what just happened. This woman, this crazy woman that I never stopped loving wanted me. I came so hard and it felt so good. But then I started feeling guilty. I wondered if I had taken advantage of Gina’s fragile emotional state. What if she woke up and was pissed and blamed me for us ending up in bed together? But she was the one who forced it when I tried to stop. And her response to me was so strong that it almost bowled me over. Her body beckoned mine.

  I brushed her long red hair with my fingers. At that moment, everything seemed perfect. But I knew the moment wouldn’t last. Gina would wake up. She had her mom’s funeral to get through. She would be selling this house and moving back to Florida. And I probably wouldn’t see her again until the next class reunion.

  I laid there for a long time listening to her breathing. When I woke up, I heard birds chirping outside her bedroom window. I rolled over and saw that Gina was gone.

  “Christ,” I jumped out of bed. I didn’t realize that it was already 6 o’clock. I had to get home, shower and pick Jack up for school before 8. I pulled on my jeans and ran down the stairs pulling my shirt over my head.

  Gina was sitting at the kitchen table reading the paper and drinking coffee. Her hair was messy and she was wearing an oversized T-shirt than hung from her shoulders.

  “You finally got up,” she said.

  I walked over and pulled out a chair. “Are you OK?”

  Gina smiled. “Yeah, I’m great.”

  “You’re not mad that we, that we, you know…”

  Gina smiled. “No. I’m not mad. I’m sorry that I came on so strong last night.”

  “You were fine. I like strong.”

  “Well, I’m usually not that pushy.”

  “Look,” I said. “There’s no need to explain. I hate to run but I have to go. I need to shower and get ready for work and pick Jack up at 8.”

  Gina smiled. “No problem.”

  “Can I see you later?”

  “I’m having dinner with Judy.”

  “How about the next night?”

  “The next night is the funeral.”

  “Oh, yeah. Right.”

  “But I’ll definitely see you before I go back home.”

  “OK, great,” I said. “About last night, though. I hadn’t felt that way in a very long time. You’re more beautiful than you’ve ever been. I just wanted you to know that.”

  Gina smiled and walked me to the door. “Thanks for being here last night. It meant the world to me.”

  “I’ve always been here for you, Gina,” I said. “You just didn’t see me.”

  ****

  Gina

  Watching Mike drive away left me feeling lonelier than I’ve felt in a long time. I’m still not sure what came over me last night. It was like my body and my heart were in control and there was no fighting their urges. Feeling Mike deep inside of me, being connected to him so perfectly, took my breath away.

  I had been running scenarios over in my mind all morning. Playing the what-if game. What if I moved home? What if I didn’t sell Mom’s house? What if Mike and I started dating? Oh, that was silly. We screwed. It was just one night. He needed someone and I needed someone and it was all in the timing. It probably didn’t mean much to him. I tried lying to myself and telling myself that it was nothing more than a hook-up. But I knew better. I wanted to make love to Mike the moment I saw him at the reunion. And I knew that I would want to make love to him again. But I couldn’t let that happen. I was going home. I had cases to prosecute, a life to live. And Mike’s life was here, with his son.

  I knew that I would have to tell him about the rape before I went home. I wondered how he would take it. Would he be mad? Think that I should have told him when it happened? Understand wh
y I didn’t? In my mind, I always rationalized that I didn’t lie to Mike I just kept some things from him. But I wondered if he would see it that way. What happened last night made me even more unsure. I don’t regret last night. It was the kind of lovemaking that you dream of, soft and tender yet urgent and full of passion.

  I filled my mug again with hot water and unwrapped another tea bag. I grabbed Mom’s purse off the kitchen counter. I swear the bag weighed fifty pounds. I dumped the contents onto the table.

  Lipstick. Checkbook. Pens. Kleenex. Datebook. Wallet. Fingernail file. Sewing kit. Paperback book. New York City map. Photo book. Keys. Brown coat button. Grocery store receipt. Notepad. Tape measure. Band-aids. Chapstick. Sunscreen. Pack of crackers. Gum. Mints. Rolo. Paper clip. Pin.

  I picked up the pin and smiled. I had made it for her when I was in elementary school. It was a sun brooch. I had cut a circle out of yellow felt. Using gold glitter glue, I drew a circle in the middle of the felt and rays. Then I finished it by adding a smiley face and a pin to the back. I had no idea Mom had kept this all of these years. It was a little faded. I remember when I gave it to her she said, “I will wear this pin over my heart because that’s where I will always carry you.”

  I reached for the box of tissues. There were so many things I wanted to tell her, so many things I wanted to say, and now I’ll never get the chance. We never talked about her dying, other than her telling me about the envelope in her drawer that contained important information.

  “Damn you, Mom. Damn you for leaving me.”

  ****

  Mike

  Driving home, I couldn’t get last night out of my mind. When I woke up and Gina wasn’t beside me, I thought, Oh, Christ, is she pissed? Because I was pumped. Last night was incredible and I was kind of hoping for a repeat in the morning. I couldn’t help wanting Gina again. God, this is what she did to me. This is what she always did to me. My groin ached just thinking about her.