There will be six chapters in all. You may want to read the previous chapter before reading this one. The story has been edited by Estragon.
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It was a month later when Jenny and Mark got married. She was beginning to show so they had a small wedding at the church and a reception at Jenny's home. I was one of the few people invited outside of family.
Jenny looked beautiful and seemed really happy. I congratulated them and told Mark he better treat her good or I'd beat his ass. He just laughed. I knew he loved her and now was no longer afraid of me as being his competition. I danced with Jenny and she thanked me for being her friend.
Life went on and I had a good talk with my dad and grandfather. Grandpa owned four manufacturing plants in three states, two in Michigan, one in Indiana and one in Ohio. They made auto parts for different companies. After my dad retired from the military he managed one of the plants in Michigan. They wanted to supply American made parts and to this day we do our best to supply parts made in America.
The idea was that I could work for the company as a salesman on the road and one day run one of the plants but I needed the education as well as the practical experience. Grandpa would pay for my education.
The plan, which I agreed to, was that I would go to college for two semesters and work for the company for a semester. I would do this till I completed my education and received my degree.
I would be going to college in Ohio. Leaving home wasn't a big deal for me. After all, we never stayed in one place for that long of a time for me to make close friends. My best friend had gotten married and Tina was now out of my life. I knew I would always have a spot in my heart for both of them.
The summer before I left I did go out with Mary a few times. Why not? She was a good lay and no commitments; I just made sure I used condoms. I also dated a couple of other girls from my graduation class. When reading my yearbook I read where a few girls said they wished they would have had a chance to get to know me better. I gave them that chance.
They were fun dates but I let them know in advance that it wouldn't get serious because I would be leaving the state to go to college and didn't want any commitments. They didn't seem to mind at all and the sex was good. One thing I learned is that I usually let the woman initiate the sex. I didn't want to hurt anyone the way I hurt Tina.
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College life was quite different for me. I had to really buckle down and study. My grandpa was giving me the opportunity of a lifetime and I wasn't about to let him down. I studied hard all week but Saturday was my playtime.
There were so many women who just wanted to party. They were of every race and nationality; I decided I was going to do my best to lay the world. Dad was right when he said I was pussy whipped.
Time flew by and before I knew it I was at the company's doorstep to do my first internship. I spent the next twelve weeks learning a different job each week and then it was back to school. I did go home for holidays, birthdays and such. It was always good to see my family.
It took me five years to get my degree in business management and marketing, but I also received nearly a year of work experience. For a guy of twenty-four I was doing quite well.
My first semester in college I was somewhat lonely. I wrote over a dozen letters to Tina telling her how much I cared for her and missed her. After not receiving any replies from her I stopped writing but I couldn't just forget her.
On August 21 of each year I still sent her a birthday card. I also sent both her and Jenny a card at Christmas. I did receive a Christmas card back from Jenny and Mark every year. They would tell me about their family and the grocery business. I was happy for them. I stopped sending cards to Tina after seven years.
I was home to visit the folks and read in the paper where Tina Overhalt and Ben Owens were getting married. The article said that Ben was an attorney. According to the article he was a good twelve years older than Tina. Apparently her mother approved of the union.