I'd been trying for weeks to get a date with Gail. She was going into senior year at Colgate and acted like a high school girl who didn't want to date a guy who was behind her in school. Tall, cool and collected, doing her intern job well and not into socializing with the other interns, of whom I was one.
We were at happy hour in a small park near the office. The senior execs treated everyone to free beer on Fridays, and you were expected to be there. A chance to meet and greet, they said, in a media firm full of driven people who didn't know the meaning of time off. I suspected it was more a chance for the driven to observe whether newbies were adequately absorbing corporate culture.
Gail and I were standing next to each other, sipping lightly from cups of pale ale. It was strong and we didn't need to be shitfaced in front of the bosses.
"Fuck!"
I actually jumped. I had never heard an oath word from her, much less the F-word in public.
"What's the problem?"
She turned, looking as though she regretted what she had shouted, but frowned and said, in a quieter voice, "My fucking boyfriend sent me a breakup message. Said he is going with another girl and maybe we can just be friends."
Gail took a long slug of her beer and added, "A fucking text message. That's a pretty shitty way to do it, don't you think?"
I put out my hand, but she shrugged it off. "God damn it, Andrew, I thought I was in love with him."
I screwed up my courage. She didn't need to be seen having an emotional meltdown in front of the whole office. Taking her arm firmly, I said, "We are going somewhere to cool down. Put a smile on your face and walk with me."
We did. She put her head down and muttered, "Shit, I am such a dumb ass."
My roomie was on assignment out of town and we could walk to the apartment in five minutes. I headed in that direction.
She was still muttering at herself as we followed the sidewalk to my place, but looked up and asked, "Where are we going?"
"I am escorting you to dinner and helping you vent your anger at men."
She didn't smile, and I didn't smile back.
"Fuck."
I smiled this time. The universal epithet. Useful in many situations. Her face was pink and eyes teary. I led her up my steps and opened the door.
"This isn't a restaurant."
"You are not fit for public consumption. Sit on the sofa. I will order takeout."
I phoned the order and decided some gin was indicated for therapeutic purposes. Packaged with tonic and lime.
I sat next to her and handed over the glass. "This is medicine. Drink deeply."
She slumped back and closed her eyes. "Why are you being nice to me? I've turned down all your date offers. You must think I am a real bitch."
"Be quiet and take another slug of that."
I arranged a pillow and pushed her over onto it, gathering legs into my lap. I removed her heels and massaged the stocking'd feet.
"You are getting to me. I may not be able to be pissed off much longer. If I lift up, will you remove the panty hose? I hate the fucking things."
I stood and pulled her up. "I have a better idea. You smell of all that angry sweat. Get in my shower and wash it away, along with the boyfriend. Send it all down the drain. By the time you are done, dinner will be here."
I found a fleece top and a pair of clean running shorts and handed them in through the door.
My amateur therapy was working. She walked into the kitchen with a smile as I was finishing putting food on the dinner plates.
"What on earth inspired you to take me in? My own mother wouldn't be this nice."
"Sit and eat."
There was a long silence until I reached for her hand and kissed the back. "I'm just trying to make up a little for the way some asshole male treated you."
"Fuck!"
"You are not overusing that word, are you?"
She had my hand, bending my fingers back and forth. "Maybe."
We finished eating and I said, "Go back to the sofa. I will bring dessert."
I made one bowl of ice cream and berries, and one large cup of decaf. She was stretched out with her eyes closed, but said, "I'm feeling very guilty."
"Don't. Haven't you read about catharsis being necessary to deal with life crises?"
"But not around a guy I hardly know!"
"Sit up and have some forbidden ice cream. Your luscious hips can take a few extra calories."
"Shit."
"You are a woman of few words tonight, Gail. I am seeing a new side of the best intern in the office."
Everything overflowed at that moment. She put the bowl on the table, pushed me down, and had a good hard cry on my chest.
The sobs slowly dried up. "Fuck, fuck, fuck."