PS32

Johnny nursed his coffee as he waited for Sandy, he didn't mind waiting for her. Somehow she made life a little more bearable. Looking up, Sandy waved from the front of the diner and headed to his table. She was wearing a printed yellow sundress, which made her hair shine brighter along with her smile. To him she practically glowed.

He started to stand up.

"Johnny, how many times do I have to tell you, you don't have to get up," Sandy said as she slid into the booth.

"Sorry," Johnny shrugged, "manners are too ingrained I guess. So how was your week?"

"Can I get a cup of coffee first?" Sandy giggled.

Their waitress came over and got their orders. Regulars now she didn't even have to write it down. Leaving them alone Sandy sighed.

"Oh Johnny the conference was just the best," Sandy grinned, "I met another social worker by the name of Gerald McRaney, he has opened my eyes."

"Really," Johnny asked, wondering how working in the hell hole of the county wasn't enough to open anyone's eyes.

"Oh, silly, I don't mean that, but there are some new policies and procedures coming which will change my job and social work in its entirely," Sandy said as her pie and coffee were delivered.

For the next hour, Sandy went on and on about her new friend, Gerald, but Johnny didn't care since seeing Sandy was always the highlight of his week

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Johnny slowly sipped his beer as he watched Roy grill the burgers, he had offered to help many times but Roy had refused.

"C'mon Johnny you look beat," Roy offered as he sat the cooked burgers on the picnic table in the backyard. Joanne and the kids eagerly filled their plates, and then Johnny got up and fixed his.

Two burgers with everything, potato chips, beans, potato salad and Waldorf salad filled his plate. It was the 4th of July and thankfully both of them weren't on duty. He has asked Sandy to join him and the DeSoto's but she was doing something with Gerald. Lately for the past few months it was all he heard about Gerald, it didn't bother him for the time being. Just seeing Sandy was enough.

But as the day progressed, he watched Chet with his new girlfriend, Marco with his and Mike with his wife. He kept his thoughts to himself as he joked and laughed with the rest of them.

"Hey, Gage," Chet came over with another beer for him. "When will you be bringing a girl here?"

"Hey, Chet," Johnny hissed. "Give me a break will ya. I'm still trying to keep my job."

Chet raised his hands up.

"Sorry babe, I was just asking. You do deserve someone Johnny you really do. You've been through the ringer and back again," Chet said solemnly.

"I know Chet," Johnny sighed and wished Sandy had said yes to the bar-b-que.

Hours later as he was helping the DeSoto's clean up after another successful bar-b-que, Johnny sat down on the grass.

"Damn. Damn. Damn. I could I have been so stupid. Damn I'm in so much trouble!" Johnny lamented as he started picking at the grass.

Hearing the commotion and the word trouble Roy walked purposefully to his friend.

"Johnny," Roy said laced with worry. "How are you in trouble?"

Roy joined Johnny on the grass.

"You know Sandy?" Johnny said frowning.

"Yeah your social worker friend, why?" Roy asked gently.

"Well Roy I think I've fallen in love with her," Johnny sighed heavily and concentrated looking at the back of his hand.

"Well I don't see a problem with that," Roy grinned hoping his friend had found some much needed happiness.

"Weeelll I think she's in love with someone else. You know Roy my timing always stinks," Johnny shook his head, wondering why he tried at all.

"Taking a break, "Joanne came over and looked at her husband and Johnny.

"Johnny's in love!" Roy said and grinned.

"That's great Johnny. She's one lucky girl, "Joanne joined the men on the grass.

"No, I'm afraid my timing's off. She's in love with someone else." Johnny sighed.

"What makes you think that?" Joanne asked

"Uh I don't know anytime we meet, she goes on and on about this guy. That's the reason she's not here. She's with him. Forget it," Johnny stood up, wiped the grass from his pants. "It's hopeless. You know, three strikes you're out, only I was never in the game. I got to go."

"Now, wait one minute, Johnny," Joanne stood up and grasped Johnny's forearm. "It may be an infatuation; she may be trying to get you jealous."

Roy stood up too and stood beside Joanne.

"Joanne," Johnny protested.

"The only way you're going to know for sure is to ask her." Joanne stated with finality.

"Sure, why not," Johnny whined, "I mean what's another broken heart with all the shit I've been through."

"Johnny, wait. You know Joanne has a point," Roy had taken his wife's hands. "Remember we'll be here for you either way."

Johnny looked at both of his friends. He knew in his heart they were right. He couldn't go pining for a woman he could never have and if need be he would move on.

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Johnny waited nervously for Sandy at the diner. The last three times she had canceled saying she was busy. Busy with Gerald no doubt.

As she walked through the diner door, Johnny stood up and then sat back down again. How was he going to get through this? He tried to act casual as he sipped his coffee, his leg bouncing up and down and watched as she walked to their booth.

"Hey," Johnny said as Sandy slid into the booth.

The waitress showed up and took Sandy's order.

"Um, iced tea and a fruit plate," Sandy said and blushed. "Gerald thinks I should be eating better."

Gerald. I'm doomed.

"So how have you been?" Sandy said as she sipped her glass of water.

"Um, fine and you?" Johnny said and looked into Sandy's eyes. He was going to wait until after they had eaten but he couldn't wait.

"Um, Sandy, can I ask you a personal question?" Johnny asked as he played with his coffee cup handle.

"Johnny, we can talk about anything," Sandy giggled.

"Well, um, it's about Gerald," Johnny said feeling like an ass. He cleared his throat.

"What about Gerald?" Sandy asked defensively.

Johnny knew he was in trouble but continued on.

"Do you love him?" Johnny blurted out and waited.

What seemed like an eternity , Sandy answered.

"Yes, I think I do. Why?" Sandy questioned as Johnny's heart busted up into a million pieces.

"I've got to go," Johnny slid out from the diner, knocking his coffee on the table.

"Johnny," Sandy called out and he stopped.

"Oh, yeah," he pulled a $5 bill out of his pocket and threw it on the table. He walked deliberately out of the diner. Getting on this cycle he revved it up, burned rubber on the asphalt and headed his bike towards the mountain