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friends.”
    I coughed. “Friends? What made you think that?”
    “Oh, I don’t know,” Gina said. “I know her parents and your parents are friends, so I figured you were friends.”
    “I’m not friends with Patty Monroe.”
    “Well, maybe she wants to be friends,” Gina said.
    I cleared my thread. “Maybe. I don’t really know. Enough about Patty; I’d much rather talk about you.”
    I dipped a couple of fries in ketchup and popped them in my mouth. “Sure you don’t want a fry?”
    “Too greasy,” Gina said. “I don’t want to eat anything that’ll upset my stomach. I don’t want another night like last night.”
    Neither did I.
     
    ****
     
    The food court was packed with high school kids, and the noise made my ears thump.
    I leaned in to speak to Gina so she would be able to hear me. “See Sue anywhere?”
    “We always sit across from the Chinese place,” Gina said.
    I followed Gina toward the opposite end of the food court.
    “She’s over there,” Gina pointed. “Eating an egg roll.”
    We weaved through the crowd, having to shove one or two who were rude and refused to get out of the way.  Sue didn’t see us until we were practically on top of her table.
    “It’s about time you guys got here,” Sue said. Sue flashed me a half smile and hugged Gina. They have been best friends since kindergarten. And if I ever doubted Sue’s loyalty to Gina, last night and today took care of that.  
    “You guys want to wait here while I show Gina the suit?” Sue asked.
    “Great idea,” Ron said. “Although I wouldn’t mind seeing you model it.”
    Sue hit Ron’s arm playfully. “You’ll see it – eventually.” She winked her eyebrows. “Be back in a jiff.”
    Ron and I talked baseball while the girls shopped. Even though he didn’t play for his school team, he liked watching games.  His favorite team was the Red Sox and I loved the Yankees. 
    We went from talking baseball to talking about senior week at the beach.
    “Are you going?” he asked.
    “I plan on it. Been trying to save money. How about you?”
    Ron shook his head. “Can’t. Cost too much, and I gotta start work right after school’s out to make some money for college. But can you do me a favor?”
    “Sure.”
    “Keep an eye on Sue at the beach. I don’t want any guys hitting on her, trying to pick her up. Not that I think she would go with them, but just don’t want to give them a chance, you know? She can get a little loose when she drinks.”
    “No problem. I’ll look out for her,” I said. But I knew he didn’t have anything to worry about. Sue was not only a faithful friend, but also a faithful girlfriend. Of that, I was certain.
     
    ****
     
    When Gina and Sue returned, Sue held up a plastic shopping bag about the size of a sandwich bag. “Got it,” she said.
    “You got an entire swimsuit inside that bag?” I asked.
    Sue winked at Ron. “Doesn’t need to cover much.”
    Ron snatched the bag and peeked inside. “You can model it for me later. I have to approve, you know.”
    Sue grabbed the bag back. “Yeah, right.”
    “It can’t be too sexy,” Ron said. “Don’t want other guys eyeing up what’s mine.”
    “You have nothing to worry about,” said Sue, kissing Ron on the cheek. “I would never cheat on you.”
    I squirmed in my seat. I knew Sue’s comment was directed at me. She was never going to let me forget what a creep I had been. And I would never forget how she saved my ass and prevented me from making one of the biggest mistakes of my life. 
    There was an awkward pause before I suggested we head to the movie theater across from the mall.  I was looking forward to the movie. Normally I’m not a big fan of romantic comedies, but Gina likes them, and I was hoping that the movie might get her in the mood to make out afterward.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
     
    Mike
     
     
    I couldn’t wait to tell Gina about my day. I was with my parents at Madison, my