The Girl with The Pink Bat

Tears started to fall from his eyes. I squeezed his hand and gave Ray a sympathetic smile.

"You don't have to talk about this, Ray. I shouldn't have asked."

"It's okay, Kara. Now that I've started, it actually feels good to be talking about this. I'd been bottling it up for too long."

"Okay. So what did you do about her cheating?"

"I confronted Amy about it and she didn't deny it. She actually got angry with me for invading her privacy. She didn't apologize or make excuses, either. She was under some kind of narcissistic delusion that what she was doing was none of my business. That was the first time I saw her for what she truly was: a self-centered, spoiled brat. I guess those who said love is blind were right, huh?"

My eyes widened, "Ouch! That bitch! If she were here I'd rip her new one."

Ray's lips curved into a small smile. "I wouldn't expect less from the girl with the pink bat."

"Listen, Ray, you were not stupid. We are always blind to the ones we love and trust. She took advantage of it."

"I guess," he said with a shrug.

"What did you do next?"

"I asked her the ring back, told her that our relationship was over. She didn't believe I was serious. She said that no one walked away from her, and said I'd come back crawling to her. Talking about delusional, huh?"

"Oh, wow. She sounds like one crazy bitch."

"Yep, pretty much. She was still yelling when I packed my things and moved out of her apartment. I went to a hotel, and stopped by a local clinic to get tested for STDs. I was relieved to learn that miraculously, I was clean. The next day, I talked with her father and told him everything. I even gave him the names of the men I recognized in the pictures."

"Did her father believe you?"

"At first, he was in denial, but when I started giving him details of what I saw and read in Amy's phone, he reluctantly admitted he had heard rumors, but had turned a blind eye to his daughter's behavior."

Ray let out a long painful sigh.

"It can't be easy to discover that your daughter is a slut," I said.

"Nope. He was a good man, but he had spoiled Amy rotten. Of course, I had no option but to quit my job. I'm sure I was the laughing stock amongst the staff." Ray's face was a grimace of pain. "Three years of my life down the drain. I was dating a nymphomaniac and I didn't know it."

"You lost your fiancée, your future, and your job at the same time. I'm so sorry this happened to you, Ray," I said, sympathetically. "You deserve better than her. Looking at it on the bright side, it was a good thing you discovered she was a slut before getting married."

"I guess you're right."

I momentarily took one hand off the steering wheel to squeeze his arm.

"So, that's my sorry story, Kara. Thanks for listening," he finally said. His voice sounded void of life.

"Hey, you were there for me any time I needed you. That's what friends are for."

"That's true. You were always a true friend to me."

"And you to me, Ray. When did it happen?"

"Three months ago."

"Ray! You should have called me!" I said, a hint of reproach in my tone.

He shrugged."I wasn't in the mood to talk with anyone, Kara. I took a break from all my social media accounts and I changed my phone number and email. I felt like an idiot from getting cheated on. Not only did I feel emasculated and less manly, but I also felt like the stupidest person in the world that I hadn't noticed what she was doing behind my back."

Ray buried his face in his hands.

"How many times did I kiss her mouth after she came to our apartment from sucking someone's cock? How many times did I get sloppy seconds?" These last words had a bitter tone.

There was silence in the car, except for the sound of Ray's rapid breathing, his face red.

"Sorry, you went through that," I finally said, squeezing his arm. "It's a shitty situation, but it wasn't your fault. It was hers. You did nothing wrong."

Ray glanced over, and I wondered how anyone could look so miserable.

"How come your parents are on a cruise and not with you?"

Ray gave a slight shake of the head. "Well... They know Amy and I broke up, and I had to quit my job, but I saved them from the gory details. I think I told you they are celebrating their anniversary."

"Yes, you told me."

"I didn't want to ruin things for them."

I thought Ray should have told his parents the whole truth, but he was like this: always putting others first.

"So, what have you been doing?"

"I was emotionally drained. I couldn't sleep. I had nightmares almost every night. I had lost my hunger. So I talked with a psychiatrist. He said I was extremely depressed and gave me some pills to alleviate the problem."

"Did he help you?"

"A little bit. At least, he pulled me out of depression. I was tired of feeling down. We talked a lot about why Amy was like that. He explained to me that she seemed to suffer from a narcissist disorder. That's how he called it. Overprotective and overindulging parenting could contribute to that. People like Amy don't feel loss when you end the relationship, only anger that you dared to object to being mistreated."

"In other words, she was a psycho bitch."

"Pretty much."

"I'm sorry she hurt you, Ray. You didn't deserve any of what she did. You're better off without her."

He sucked in a harsh breath.

"I've been doing temporary jobs, but I still don't know what I want to do with my life."

I smiled at him. "I'm still struggling with the same question. Growing up is a bitch."

"How do you handle it?"

"I just live, Ray. I go through it a day at a time."

Ray gave a short nod. "I'm sorry, Kara. I've been doing much of the talking and not enough listening. You're the first person I had told about all this, besides the psychiatrist, of course."

"I'm happy you did. You needed to get this off your chest. Do you feel a bit better?"

"Yes, a little bit. Oh, we are already in Middletown! I truly missed being here. So many good memories."

I slowed down and parked the car in front of my place.

"Home sweet home," I said.

Ray got his bag from the trunk and we walked together to the front door.

I was painfully aware of my nosy neighbors watching me escort Ray toward my place.

"Thanks for letting me stay at your place, Kara," Ray said, smiling down at me.

"No problem. You were there for me when I needed you most, Ray. You were my comfort and my rock when Jenny had the accident. You comforted me when we knew she was never going to walk again. When I was scared, you made me feel safe. When I was alone, you kept me company. You offered me advice and squeezed my hand through pain and sorrow. I lost count of all the times you stayed with me when I was at the bottom of the heap. I'll never forget that."

"I'm good at being supportive. You know? Giving advice and doling out helpful suggestions. When it comes to my own stuff, though... not so much." Ray gave a dazed chuckle.

Ray was one of a kind. He was baring his soul to me. Telling me about his insecurities. Not trying to play the macho man. He opened up to me in a way that no one else ever had. He wasn't afraid to show me the deep scars of his experience with his slutty ex. I felt nothing but admiration for him.

I hugged him tightly, and said, "Thank you for trusting in me, Ray. It means the world to me."

He hugged me back briefly, and then I let him go.

"So... This is home," I said, opening my place's door, and tipping my head to indicate Ray could enter.

The first man I'd ever brought to my house.

Ray set down his bag by the kitchen table. I searched his face for some indication of how he felt about the small house.

"I know this will sound strange," Ray said, smiling hesitantly, "but do you have any ice cream?"

I smiled at him. "Always."

"Chocolate and vanilla?"

"You know it. I picked it out at the market yesterday. Best of both worlds, right?"

Ray and I used to eat a whole bowl of ice cream when I was feeling down.

I moved to the freezer and took out a pot of ice cream. I took two spoons out of the drawer and stabbed them into the top.

Over the next hour or so, we got caught up. It felt like the old times.

"You've got that look on your face again, Ray, so, spit it out, what is it?" I asked, pointing at him with my spoon.

Ray gave the briefest of head shakes. "It's nothing, Kara. I've already dumped a lot on you."

"It's me, Ray. Talk."

I ate a spoonful, inviting him to keep talking with my spoon.

"I'm stagnating and feel my life is going nowhere."

"Understandable after what you went through with your horrible bitch of an ex."

"I'm lost, Kara. Completely lost. I had a job, people I called friend, a fiancée, and I was building a future. Amy just... nuked everything around me. I need reevaluate my life choices and goals. I've been living day by day. Going round in circles. I have no idea what to do with my life. That's the reason why I came to Middletown," he said. "It was the last place where I was happy. Truly happy."

I gave Ray an encouraging smile.

"You'll welcome to stay as long as you need," I said, clearing the rust from my voice, and squeezing his hand. "You're such a great guy, and you deserve to know what it means to have a happy, lasting relationship. I'm not just saying this because you're my friend. I think you're a great catch."

Ray couldn't help but blush

"The right woman is just waiting for you to find her."

His lips spread into a shy smile. "Thanks, I needed to hear that," he said, digging back into the ice cream.

It was obvious that Ray wasn't swimming in self-esteem. He needed a boost to his ego.

It bothered me more than I could describe to watch Ray's feelings bleed out. The fact that I cared about him was even more disheartening.

CHAPTER 4

I showed Ray the guest room and told him to make himself at home.

"Take whatever time you need to freshen up and get settled. There are towels in the closet. I'll be doing some work in the living room. Don't hesitate to holler if you need anything."

"Thanks, Kara. For everything."

I dug my hand into my pocket and withdrew a key. "Here's a key to the place."

He smiled at me. "I'm officially your guest."

I went back to the living room and worked on a budget for a home-renovation project.

When I finished, I thought Ray had had enough time to freshen up and unpack his clothes.

I knocked on his door. "Ray, I thought about having dinner at the local restaurant. Why don't you come along? Keep me company."

He shook his head. "I'm not hungry."

He looked pretty thin. He'd always been a slim man, but now he looked... hollow. He was definitely leaner than when I'd last seen him.

I wondered when was the last time he had a proper meal.

"When you taste Tony's pasta, you will get hungry," I assured him jokingly. "He is the best chef in the state and he became one of my best friends after you left town."

I hooked my arm through his and started walking us toward the front door.

He could've been rude and pull away. But, he followed.

"Don't matter none if you're not hungry," I said. "You just sit there. I'll eat enough for the both of us. I hate eating by myself." I grinned at him. "I won't even make you talk if you don't want to. I've been known to carry on a whole conversation by myself. So you don't have to worry about a thing. Just having you around will do me well enough."

"It's been a long day," Ray said, as I stopped to open the door. A last attempt for escape. "I'd like some rest." He unhooked her arm from mine.

I knew it was an excuse. I wouldn't let him wallow in his misery.

I grinned up at him, my eyes hopeful and encouraging. "You can sleep the whole day tomorrow if you like," I told him. Then I gave him a serious, probing look. "Just don't make me eat alone, Ray."

I was sure he knew exactly what it was like to eat alone every night.

"Okay," he relented. "Let me get a jacket."

The night was cloudy, the wind was soft. We walked side by side in the cold evening. I was close enough to him to smell his scent. A wave of memories assailed me as my nostrils filled with his scent. He smelled exactly as I remembered. It was so startling; I didn't even register when he hooked his arm with mine again.

As the nostalgia hit, I remembered distinctly what it'd been like to go through high school together. I recalled the sharp feeling of excitement I had experienced when I realized I was in love with him. How I'd lay awake at night, hugging my pillow, imagining it was Ray.

Every once in a while, I glanced over at Ray only to be met with his eyes focusing ahead.

We carried on walking in the deafening silence.

"There's the restaurant," I said, pointing across the square.

"Oh, good," Ray said, following me as I made my way toward a crosswalk. "The Jammed," he said, reading the big sign in the front of the restaurant, "I can relate to the name."

"It's owned by Red Harding and Tony Marino, the chef I told you before. The restaurant brought new life to our town."

"Red Harding? I remember him from high school. He was a farm boy, he and Kat were inseparable."

"They are married now," I said.

"Oh, I'm happy for them."

Ray moved aside to let me precede him. It felt funny, being the recipient of his chivalry. He'd opened the front door for me already, and then he was letting the lady go first. It was disconcerting and boldly reminded me how male he was.

The hostess smiled at our approach.

"Good evening, Kara. Is it the two of you tonight?" she asked, already grabbing a pair of menus.

"Yes, Kat. Thank you. Remember Ray Clarke?"

Her forehead folded in a frown. And then, her eyes shone with recognition.

"Of course, welcome back to Middletown, Ray. You two were joined at the hip back then. I hope you enjoy your stay in our town."

"Thank you," he said. "I'm sure I will."

When we were seated near the dance floor, I plopped down in my seat before Ray could do something crazy, like hold out my chair for me.

I watched some couples dancing. I could imagine myself in his arms, pressed against him. Ray was also watching the dancers with a pained expression on his face. Suddenly, he shivered and glanced away. I couldn't help but wonder if his thoughts veered toward his cheating ex.

I was half tempted to stand, shouting for the music to stop, so he wouldn't be assaulted with any bittersweet memories. Just then, the waitress appeared at my side. "Ready to order?" she asked.

"Yeah," I said. "I like medium-rare steak, a bottle of red wine, and a heaping pile of onion rings."

Ray looked at me in surprise.

"What? I have a healthy appetite. Did you expect me to order a salad?"

After I put in my order, the waitress glanced toward Ray. He shook his head.

"You want something to drink, Ray? I'll pay since I dragged you out here," I said.

He glanced at the waitress.

"I'll take a glass of water."

I rolled my eyes. "He'll drink wine, too."

He didn't say anything to contradict me, so the waitress moved away with a nod.

The waitress brought our wine and poured two glasses. I drank half of mine in one great swallow.

Ray surprised me when he said, "I'd like to try the pasta."

"You won't regret it," I said. The waitress wrote down Ray's order and left.

He silently reached out to catch a trail of condensation dripping off the side of his bottle. How he could make the move look as sensual as it did, I'd never know. But, Gosh, I wanted to experience the feel of those long fingers trailing down my skin that way.

I shook my head. What was wrong with me? My friend had lost his fiancée and his job. There had to be a gaping hole right smack through the middle of him. I was pretty sure sex was the last thing on his mind.

I found myself watching his gaze move around the room, studying the different tables and different people. I could see his mind work, but couldn't even guess what thoughts emerged from his detailed inspection. I found myself resting my chin on my hand and my elbow on the table to watch him scrutinize his surroundings.

He was in dire need of a haircut, but I liked the shaggy look he had going. He was incredibly gorgeous... in a sad, depressed sort of way.

Our food came and I tucked into my meal, cutting the beef into bite-sized pieces and drinking a new glass of wine to wash it down.

I left Ray alone. He looked like he wanted solitude. I was already torturing him enough by hauling him out with me.

However, I couldn't keep my eyes off him. He quietly poured himself a new glass of wine, chugging down three big sips.

I pointed my steak knife at his plate and, with my cheek full of meat, asked, "How's your pasta?"

"You were right. It's the best pasta I've ever tasted."

I winked at him, and said, "Told you."

We'd downed the entire bottle of wine by the time we swallowed our last bite. Feeling relaxed and loose around the tongue, I grinned at Ray and sat back in my seat, patting my flat belly.

"Let me ask you something, Ray. If it's too personal, just tell me to shove off. Okay?"

Ray looked at me warily. "Okay."

"Have you gone without sex since you broke up with Amy?"

As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew they were a mistake.

Ray shook his head. His jaw hardened and his nostrils flared. He jerked his gaze away, and I watched his throat work while he swallowed.

"When you say personal you go straight to the jugular."

"Oh...my...God," I whispered, stunned for a moment. "I'm sorry, I'm backing off. I've overstepped my bounds."

"You want to know about my sex life? Well... The thing is... I can't..." he said in a whisper, looking down, almost to himself.

"You can't...?" I repeated, in a puzzled hush.

"Since I knew Amy cheated on me," Ray replied with a red face.

Then, it dawned on me. "Oh, you can't...?" I lifted my index finger.

Ray made a sound that wasn't quite an incredulous laugh and not quite a sob. "I can't believe I'm telling you this."

His face was red. He pushed his chair back and stood up.

I swallowed as he glared down at me. I wanted to apologize, but I was too ashamed to even speak. Lowering my face, I listened to him snort out a scathing mutter before he strode off.

"Everything okay?" the waitress asked, appearing at my side.

"Yeah," I mumbled. "He's not feeling well."

I rose to my feet and pulled enough money from my wallet to more than cover the bill. Glancing over, I watched Ray stride from the restaurant and gritted my teeth.

Damn it! Me and my big mouth!

CHAPTER 5

Ray had already crossed the town square when I came out of the restaurant.

It had started to rain, and a drizzle coated my face. Pushing my drooping bangs out of my eyes, I dashed after him, streaking across the square and jaywalking to catch him before he made it to his room. When I finally caught up with him I was soaked. The miserable shower had drenched him too, but he marched determinedly along the empty streets.

Never one to bother with propriety, I cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled, "Ray, Stop!"

He didn't break stride, pause, or give any indication he'd heard me. I knew he had, mainly because I saw some faces peeking out of the windows of their homes.

I ignored the nosy neighbors and raced after Ray. I hollered, "Wait for me, please!"

I was only able to catch up with him when he stopped at the entrance of my place.

"I'm sorry," I said breathlessly.

I put the key in the lock and opened the door. Then I looked into his eyes waiting for him to enter.

He continued to stare at the open door, but his jaw worked furiously, tightening and loosening, tightening back into a knot and then loosening again.

"I'm truly sorry," I repeated. "I didn't mean to be nosy. I shouldn't have asked that. I was out of place."