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Making love and breaking hearts,
it is a game for youth.
I'm not waiting on a lady.
I'm just Waiting On A Friend.
The Rolling Stones.

July 2020.
San Dimas, California.

"Ok, Peter. I'm going to end there, since you met Erica a few days later, and know the rest."

"Yeah, that's a good place to stop. It makes for a... happy ending."

Peter's expected lewd stroking gesture cracked me up.

That never gets old...

Peter yawned. We had only been in the park for two hours, but he fatigued quickly. "I remember meeting her, and how excited you were. You were all, like, 'Oh, this is Erica, who I love. She's my girlfriend, and she's the best, because I love her. Oh, did I mention I love her?"

His imitation was as accurate as always. "Yeah, I guess I might have gone overboard, but it was really new to me."

"Ray, I'm proud of how you grew a pair, and told her how you felt."

"Yeah, I didn't think about what would happen, I just said what felt right."

He poked my side with a chicken leg. "Hey, buddy, it's a great story. I didn't realize you and Erica were so scandalous! Doing the deed in front of Ziggy, and all over the restaurant. That had to be a health code violation, and oh, man, your poor customers... 'Hey, what's in this secret sauce?"

"Peter, they loved it. We had record comps at the restaurant that year!"

"Hahaha. I can't believe that you actually said "No" to at least a few women. Did you ever cheat on Erica?"

I made a non-committal shrug. "Not really. We broke up and got back together a few times, so I indulged in other women while we were apart. But I was completely faithful to her when we were together."

"Admirable, I guess. So you thought Erica was basically a good chick back then?"

"I did, Peter. Her intentions may not have been completely pure, but she made a lot of people happy anyways. She and I were alike in that way."

He looked at me thoughtfully. "That's cool how you found a deeper side to her. I think most people just saw a scantily clad, air-headed beauty who shamelessly wrapped herself around you. To be fair, she did seem that way, but you saw beyond that, and made a real connection with her. I loved how you never showed any embarrassment at the way she dressed or acted, or her age. Most men would have tried to mould her into something more classy, but you treated her like an equal."

I should have been used to it, but it still amazed me how much Peter was able to see inside relationships and people. "I'm not going to lie, Peter. There were times I wanted to say something about her lack of inhibitions. But it had played a huge part in attracting me, so I just accepted her. I figure she would grow out of it, but even if she didn't, I'd still love her. The hardest part was, I didn't appreciate how she made enemies of some of the women I liked at work, but I think that says more about me than her."

He gathered up the trash. I didn't think he wanted to leave, but we both had wives waiting at home. "Let me tell you something else I liked about Erica. Even though you were so much older than her, she influenced you more than you did to her. She made you a better person. Probably unintentionally, but you picked up plenty of good traits from her. Erica was a good egg."

I looked at him. Simultaneously, we gestured at our crotches, then laughed together, "I got your Good Eggs, right here!"

We hugged goodbye. "Thanks for the vittles, Peter. Tell your wife I said hello."

"Right. Give Olivia my love, Ray. Next time, tell me about how you and her ended up together. Later for you, buddy!"

I stayed at the bench as I watched him drive away, recalling how in 1985, I loaned him my Riviera, then the Thunderbird, until he bought his own car. I then pulled out my phone, and opened a new document.

I should write this down. I wonder if anyone would want to read it...

The End.

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