Mike nodded, and she started. “Mom was never entirely …stable. She always had issues. When I turned 9, she began to get worse. By the time I was 12, we were homeless. We moved often. Her ‘boyfriends’ were just her dealers by then. At 15, I was dropped out of school. One day, the day after my 18th birthday, she called me into the room and told me to ‘do what the man wanted, or he would kick us out’. Yep, my Mom whored me out for sleeping places and drugs. She didn’t stop until she died. One of the guys was almost decent. He took me for a state ID, saying I needed one. He also used me, so he wasn’t truly decent. But I didn’t lie. I have never been on a date. I’m no virgin, but no one has ever loved me. I can honestly say no one has ever made love to me, so I cling to that as my last shred of virginity. Your sister, however, was a whore. Your sister has done things you will never know. Trust doesn’t come easy for me Mike. I can’t explain this, but for some reason I trust you. We haven’t known each other for long, but I trust you. You needed you to know about my life to understand some of my crazy reactions. You need to know what kind of trash your sister has been. You can let me go if you want to, I will understand. I will always think kindly of you, no matter what happens. Are you sure you want to go out with a girl like this Mike? I know it isn’t a real date, but you don’t have to.”
Mike put his finger to her lips. “Stop. We are going out. Your past was horrific for you, but had I known you existed, I would have saved you. No regrets from me.”
Jill looked at him and very softly said “You already saved me.” Both of them had tears rolling down their faces. He hugged her and just held her while she cried.
Finally cried out, they just snuggled on the couch. At about 4pm, he looked at her and said “You only have three hours to get ready. Dress up, we are going to paint the town red tonight”.
She looked up “Are you sure? You don’t have to”.
“Never more sure of anything in my life” he said.
She slowly stood up, looked at the clock, and said “Shit! Irene will be here any minute. She’s doing my makeup. I will be in the shower!”
When Irene arrived, she looked around. “Where is she?” she asked.
“Showering” he said. There was an awkward silence, the Irene looked at him and said “I meant everything I said this morning. I won’t say any more about it, but you have to know that I meant it”.
He smiled at her and said “I know. I just have to wrap my head around this. I don’t know what to do, but we will figure it out somehow.”
Just then Jill’s door opened and she came out in a towel. “Good, you’re here. I can never get the eye shadow right!” They laughed and went in the bedroom as Mike went to get ready.
“Jill, you said something last night. Something I have to ask you about” Irene said as she worked on her eyes.
“Ummm, Ok” Jill said.
“You said your brother was an ass. You were talking about Mike, weren’t you?” Irene said. Jill’s had flew up to her mouth, and quickly Irene grabbed it. “Look, girl, no judgement here. I already asked Mike and he verified it. Now, you need to shut up and listen to me. Remember when I told you he had it bad for you? He still does. I know you care for him too. I told him this same thing: We don’t get many chances at this. You guys are perfect together. Nobody knows but me, and I’m not telling. My brother and I fooled around as teens, it isn’t a strange as you think. You guys just met, it’s a totally different situation. Do the right thing, wrong or not”