The Temporary Virginity of the American Player

27. Goodbye Hurts, and So Does Johnny's Left Nut.

I could tell her not to leave. I could even beg her not to leave, but I didn't want to. Instead, we went to the bank, paid Spader, and sat in a small diner to have one last lunch together.

She didn't want to leave, but I hadn't wanted her to stay just because of me. She said she'd miss me and I said I believed her. Whether she missed me or not, that was okay. She was getting the chance to do something she might not be able to do again and, even though it was without me, I'd be right here waiting for her when she came home again. And she knew it. I was whipped by this girl, and she didn't have a thing to worry about with me...I think she knew that, too.

"I'll call you," she'd told me after she'd handed Spader the check for the car. "Really, I will. Every night if I have to, but I'll call you. You won't even know that I'm gone."

"I think I might notice. I mean, I won't have anyone to make me cappuccinos with the mocha sprinkles. Then again, maybe when you leave, I can get a good influence in my life. Like Joe! At least he doesn't ruin my temporary virginity record by making love to me in a hotel room!"

She had cocked an eyebrow. "If he did, we might have to have a little talk."

Alas, there was no talk to be had. She left right after lunch, and I was there to kiss her goodbye. It sucked to watch her go, but I knew it wouldn't be long before she was back to me again, picking back where we left off.

When she left, taking her new little Honda car down the road, I immediately wanted to chase her down and pick her up and carry her butt all the way back to my apartment. But I didn't. Instead, I just stood there and waved like an idiot until her taillights had disappeared. For once, I wasn't the one leaving; Lena was. At least she was going to come back.

"So, what now, buddy," Lane asked.  He took a sip of coffee and gestured towards Lena's car. "You're girlfriend's gone off to Boston...what are you gonna do now?"

I could have said something stupid, like "I'm going to Disney Land". Maybe before I would have joked around and done that, but the truth was that I just didn't know what I was going to do. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do...go on with college and wait? Get another job? Write an autobiography? Hell, for the past month, Lena had been my main entertainment center. Now that she was gone, I had no idea what to do.

"I think I'm going to go home," I said finally, and then smiled. "Yeah. I think I'm just gonna go home. Pop in a movie, eat some dinner, see the guys...maybe go to the beach tonight."

"No partying," he asked.

"No partying," I said, shaking my head. "Not unless I have chaperones or Lena with me. I think the partying is out the window for right now. And that's okay by me."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," I said, and shrugged. "Until Lena gets back, anyway. Then we can raise hell together."

He rolled his eyes, probably envisioning that picture, and slapped me on the back. "Well, looks like everything's working out for you, man. Congrats."

"Not everything," I said, running my tongue over my teeth. "I have some unfinished business to attend to later. But for now, I'm gonna go collect my winnings and end the day on a high note."

"Wish I could come with you witness this great historical event, but I gotta go to work," he yawned. "Came over on my lunch break. Call me later and we'll do something."

"Sounds good," I called as he walked back to his car. I trudged back to my loyal Firebird and started her up, taking off in the direction of home. It took a while to get back, but when I did, the boys were finally back.