Goodbyes and Fresh Starts

Chapter Four



"Good afternoon, Roscoe, it's a beautiful sunny day and you're listening to 95.5 the Brennan and McGrath show. Today we encourage our listeners to call in their opinions about our topic, knowing something big and keeping it from a friend." Robbie said, "Caller you're on the air."

"Umm...Hi... my name is Jessica and I listen to you guys all the time. You make my work-day go by so much faster. Anyways, I once had a friend who kept a huge secret from me that ended up ruining our friendship. I mean if she had been honest with me like she should've been we would still be friends. I think that you should tell the other person what's up; if you don't it could end up ruining years of friendships."

"Thank you, Jessica," Robbie said. "We'll take more calls after the song."

"What was that topic all about?" Ray asked Robbie a bit puzzled. "Do you have something to tell me?"

"Yea, actually I do." Robbie began, "Lil called me last night; she's doing a show here next month. I didn't know if I really wanted to tell you that but after what Jessica said, I figure it's better if you hear it from me rather than some stranger or some flyer lying around at Mickey's."

"I'm glad you did. That's great, she's coming back! We'll have to go see her!" Ray said

"You sure you want to? Won't it bring up all those painful memories?" Robbie questioned.

"Maybe, but I'm gonna have to deal with her someday. Besides I've moved on; I'm seeing someone, she's great!" Ray explained.

"You did? That's cool." Ronnie started, "Because Lily met someone too. He sounds good for her, not that you aren't but…"

"No need to explain my friend," Ray said. "It's good she's moving on. I mean we can't hang onto each other forever can we?"

"No you can't. This is just great, Lily has someone, you have someone, Travis probably has someone. What about me?"

"Hey, Katie has a friend!" Ray exclaimed.

"Katie?" Robbie asked.

"Yes the girl I'm seeing. We could probably set you up with this friend sometime."

"Really?"

"Of course!" Ray began, "Besides I hear she likes your voice on air, she listens all the time!"

Robbie smiles at this.

"So Katie and I have plans to meet up at Mickey's after the show; should I call her and have her invite her friend?"

"Yes!" Robbie said excitedly.

So Ray did just that and they met the girls for drinks at Mickey's. The girls were already there waiting for the guys when they showed up. Both men approached the booth they were sitting at and sat down. Ray gave Katie a little peck on the cheek. He had only met her a few weeks ago and they had only been on three dates but it was going well. He didn't say anything to Robbie about it before today because he wanted to see if it would go past just one date.

"Hi Robbie, I've heard so much about you," Katie began. "This is my friend Becki."

Robbie extended his hand for a handshake. She was cute he thought. She was smart too and with every minute they spent talking he was liking her more and more. They made plans to get together later on in the week with Katie and Ray.

"So Ray, it's getting late; wanna give me a ride home?" Katie said

"Yea." Ray said as Katie got up with Becki following her soon afterward.

"No!" Katie began, "Me leave, Becki stay! Talk to Robbie some more, get to know each other."

"Ok," Becki replied happily. She didn't want to leave just yet anyway.

After Ray and Katie had left, Robbie and Becki had stayed for another two hours just talking. He was starting to really like her. Ray had driven Katie home; it was getting late so he didn't stay long.

"So, Becki?" Ray began, "Nice!"

"Yea, when you called me earlier to have me bring her I was so glad. I was getting sick of her whining about how she didn't have anyone."

"I hear ya, Robbie was getting to that whiney stage himself but it looked like they were hitting it off, so maybe we should be professional match makers!"

"No way!" Katie exclaimed. "Between your schedule and mine, we don't have time to fit matchmaking in there!"

"You're right, but it sounds fun!" Ray laughed.

They talked for awhile before Ray left. He kissed her good-bye. Kissing her was fun and so new; he had been used to only Lily for so long that he forget what it even felt like to kiss anyone else. He was getting ready to leave but before he made it out the door Katie stopped him.

"So hey, is everything ok?" She asked. "Because, it seemed like something was bothering you and I want you to know, that whatever it is, we can be honest with each other."

Ray hesitated, "Nothing really...it's just that Lily..."

"Your ex?" Katie said. "Go on."

"Yea, her." Ray replied. "She's coming back next month to do a show in Roscoe and she's so talented and I would really like to go see her play."

"You can go, just promise me that you don't still care for her." Katie said.

"I'm going and I want you to come with me." Ray began. "And I can't promise you that, because I will always care for her. But it's over between us and I want you to know that what you and I have going is really special to me."

She leaned in and kissed him. "I think so too Brennan! I'd love to go."

"Great then, I'll call you tomorrow." He smiled walking away.