“That’s okay. She was my life. It’s natural for Dad to talk about her. Not a day goes by we don’t think about her. Having your life torn apart and upended, especially by a drunk in a Mercedes, is tough.”
“If it’s any consolation,” she said as she fidgeted with the collar of her tan Giorgio overcoat, “I had the same thing happen to me when my mom died. She was my best friend. I never felt so alone. Then Dr. Wall gave me this bear hug at her funeral and told me he could be my new rock. Once again, he was there for me, saying and doing the right thing at the right time.”
“Okay,” said Nick, “let’s get back to you. Why do you never date?”
“It started in high school. There was this guy who really liked me, or said he really liked me. Then, on the night of the prom, he decided to tell me that we were going to have sex. I said no. Well, I guess he didn’t like that very much, so he decided to beat me up.”
“On your prom night?”
“On prom night. Of course, he waited until after the dance.” “How bad was it?”
“A black eye, a busted nose, a severe kick in the groin.” “Groin?”
“Yeah, I beat the crap out of him.” “You beat him up?” Nick laughed.
“No, just kicked him where it hurts. I kicked him again after he was bent over in pain. That’s how I broke his nose. He was the perfect gentleman in school that next Monday.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, wow,” she echoed.
They walked in silence for the next few minutes. As it was almost eleven thirty, they decided to head back home. Nick drove to her place and walked her to her door. Like a gentleman, he waited for a sign, an invitation for the evening to continue or a signal for it to end. Besides, all guys hate getting kicked between the legs.
“I would like to hear your speech, Nick. So come on in and let’s hear it. Or is it a pitch?”
“It is a pitch, I guess. It’s in my car. Just give me a minute to grab it.”
“I’ll make some coffee and you can pitch away.”