More than Exist(13)

She turned and tucked her hair behind her ear, pausing momentarily. I wasn’t sure whether it was in reflection, or if her memories were starting to become painful, but I gave her a small smile of encouragement.

“Bo’s a dreamer. He always wanted to get out of Dallas, and got it in his head that if we moved to Vegas, all of his dreams would come true. I loved him, and thought we were going to get married, have kids, and spend the rest of our lives together. I didn’t care where we lived, as long as we were together, so when he asked me to go with him, I said yes. The first few days were great; we went to casinos, ate at buffets, and made love every day. But after a few weeks of job hunting, Bo decided that Vegas was a bust.” Ginger started picking the chipped nail polish off of her nails as she recounted the demise of her relationship. “We started fighting. He didn’t want to get a job in a parts store, or a garage … He said he could do that back in Dallas. No, he thought he’d strike it rich at the tables, and we’d magically have a better life. I couldn’t believe him, that he’d be so foolish, and I told him so. I told him we had to get jobs wherever we could, and work our way up. It would be hard, but we could do it, and at least we’d be together. We had one really big fight, we both said horrible things to each other, and when I woke up the next morning, he was gone.”

“Have you seen him since?”

“Yeah, I saw him a couple years later when I was home. He apologized for running out on me, and I said I forgave him, but I don’t think I ever really did. I didn’t tell him about working for Big Mike, I didn’t want to hear what he’d have to say about that, and I’ve tried to avoid him on every other trip home. My sister told me he’s seeing someone, and that it’s pretty serious. I’m really hoping I don’t run in to him … or worse, the two of them together.”

“You’re still in love with him,” I stated quietly, and her eyes flew to mine.

“I know it’s stupid,” Ginger said with a wavering smile. “He was a shit to me, and I haven’t even seen him for more than five minutes in years, but I’ve never stopped hoping, ya know?”

I nodded sadly, because I did know. I knew what it was like to love someone that completely, and not want to believe they were gone from your life forever. Of course, our circumstances were quite different, but still, love is love, and sometimes, even though your brain knows it’s not rational, your heart refuses to let go.

“Will you stay tomorrow night too?” Ginger asked, effectively changing the subject. “We’re going to get in too late to do anything tonight, and I’d love to hang out tomorrow, show you around, and take you out tomorrow night. You don’t have to hurry off, do you?”

I looked in Ginger’s sweet, honest face, and realized I wasn’t ready to leave her yet. I didn’t know when, or if, I’d ever see her again, and I couldn’t deny that delaying my trip to my parents sounded appealing.

“I’d like that,” I replied with a grin, and was rewarded with Ginger’s answering one.

“Yes!” she shouted with a laugh. “The men of Dallas aren’t going to know what hit ‘em. I’m going to take you to Neecey’s and we’re going to get worked over from head to toe. We’ll stop off at the mall and pick up some hot new clothes, and tomorrow night we’ll go to Jasper’s and get you laid.”

“Whoa,” I said, laughing at her exuberance, but stuck on her last statement. “I’m down with getting my hair and nails done, but who said anything about getting laid?”

Ginger turned her body in her seat so she was facing me. My eyes flitted nervously from the road to her beaming face.

“You said you’ve only been with two guys, right? The guy in high school, and Ricky.”

“Yes?” I replied, the word coming out more like a question than an answer.

“So, not only have you only been with two men in your life, you haven’t had sex in over a year,” Ginger presumed correctly.

“Yes.”

“Then, sug, it’s time to get you some highlights, dust off those cobwebs, and get you a man.” Ginger clapped her hands excitedly as a giggle escaped her lips, and I felt whiplash from her rapidly changing emotions.

“I don’t know…” I started to say, but she patted my leg and leaned in closer.

“Well, I know. You just leave it all to Ginger, I’ll have you feeling like a new woman in no time.”

I turned my attention back to the road, and left Ginger to her maniacal planning, as I tried to figure out a way to avoid staying in Dallas.