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Heart flip. Alex told Mikey about my wine preference. Sigh, what am I going to do about that, man? He’s sleeping off a long drunken night with a college friend in Ohio after registering voters last minute. He called while passing out to say incredibly filthy things to me. I loved every drunken second of it.
* * *
I walk into Red Rooster, and he’s got a beer and a glass of wine in front of him. He stands, and we hug more intimately than I thought we would.
We sit down, sizing each other up. He says, “So, your mom’s dead?”
I choke on my Chardonnay. “There’s an ice breaker.”
“Fast-track this friendship. No time to fuck around. Bishop’s never been like this.”
“So, you’re gay?”
He claps his hands. “Brava! Came out at seventeen to a minor parade orchestrated by my mother in the kitchen and a completely baffled father. I think his exact quote was, ‘But you don’t look gay. It’s fine, and all, but you just don’t look the part.’” I laugh easily and get the essence of the day. “Sure, laugh at my teenage pain. Your turn.”
“Uterine cancer. Diagnosis to death in eighteen months.”
“Good title of something. How old were you?”
“Twenty-four.” I sip my wine.
“Next up, most embarrassing moment.” I cue up the video on my phone.
“Brill! I’ve seen this! That’s you?” He looks to the ceiling and smiles widely.
“Everyone has. It used to be the agony of defeat footage on ABC. It’s Tessa Guare, my pro tennis name. It’s been covered. It’s out there in an interview. Alex knows.”
“You were good.” Mikey scans the menu with his finger.
“I was. Double knee surgery, rehab, then she got cancer.”
“And you never went back. Regrets?”
“Wouldn’t trade a puking, bleak moment with my mom for the world.”
“I’ve read your books.” He slams his menu down and leans towards me. I sip my Chardonnay and lean forward, as well.
“I’ve been told your mom is a fan too.”
He taps my hand and sits back. It’s like he needs to fiddle with something, so he’s in constant motion. “Joanie, that’s a proper broad right there.”
“That she is. She’s the reason I’m Tess McGuire and not Tessa Guare.”
“McGuire suits you. After Alex said he fucked you, I tried to get Mom to verify through Joan.” He’s so blunt. I run my finger around the base of my glass.
“Which is why you thought it was bullshit. Joan didn’t know.” He nods and keeps bopping his head. “How long have you been with Ari?”
“Eight years. Married two. Longest relationship?”
“Joan. Nine and a half years.” He makes a buzzer noise at me. “Fine, three years and fourteen days. He fucked my best friend as an anniversary gift.”
“Brutal. Over it?” His brow furrows in worry.
“Very much. Alex is safe. I had no time to ego stroke his mediocre mind.”
“Alex needs his ego stroked from time to time.”
“He doesn’t shy away from asking to be stroked.” I raise my eyebrows at him.
