Chapter 14 #2
On some level, Mikey knew he should’ve had this conversation with his mother a long time ago.
On another, he knew it wasn’t going to get him what he wanted: her acceptance.
He had no doubt she loved him–or at least, most of the time he had no doubt–but the truth was she had her limits.
He suspected she saw his pansexuality as a temporary thing, since it left open the possibility he might still end up with a woman.
Silence on the other end of the line, and then she finally spoke again.
“I know that, Michael,” she said. “It’s just…it’s a lot to take in.” Another pause. “I just want you to be happy, and so does your father.”
Mikey held in a snort.
“I know what you’re thinking,” she said, “but it’s true. Your father…he just doesn’t always know how to tell you what he’s really feeling.”
I believe it, he thought.
By now he was itching to get off the phone. He’d gotten as much out of the conversation as he was likely to and, to be honest, it was more than he’d been expecting. It could’ve gone a lot worse.”
“Well,” he said. “I guess that’s all I have to say,” he continued.
“Mikey,” his mother said, softly now, and with a note of emotion in her voice he’d never heard before, “just be careful, okay? I love you, and I don’t want you to get your heart broken, by Luke or anyone else.”
“Thanks, mom, I love you, too. I’ll…I’ll call you later.”
“Alright,” she said, and then he hung up.
For a few minutes after the call ended he tried to wrap his head around what had just happened.
The tightness in his chest as the conversation had gone on had started to loosen, and he actually felt, if not relieved or happy, at least not upset about how it had gone. It wasn’t much, but he’d take it.
Gathering himself, he decided to just go right on with the next call he needed to make. This one, at least, should be enjoyable.
Back when he’d been a member of the Heartthrobs he’d spent a couple of years dating Mindy Mace.
Like Mikey, she’d had to deal with the challenges of the spotlight and, like him, she’d been kind of a wild child.
They were the picture perfect couple in almost every way: both blonde, both polished and beautiful, both the epitome of 2000s pop music celebrity.
A lot of people had assumed their relationship was a publicity stunt, but the truth was the two of them had really understood one another.
Of all of his girlfriends, she’d been the one he’d really loved, and the sex had been pretty great, too.
Ultimately, though, their passion had cooled, and it had slowly changed into something just as valuable, a real friendship.
The whole idea of him breaking her heart had been a bit of canny PR, one he was happy to keep feeding to “journalists” like Gina LaBun.
In reality, she was his best friend in the whole world.
She was one of his emotional foundations, and he always consulted her whenever he made a life-changing decision.
Like reconnecting with Luke Carter, for example.
As soon as Mindy picked up the phone and drawled “hello?” in a thick Georgia accent, Mikey immediately felt better.
“Hi,” he said. “It’s me, Mikey.”
“Honey, I know who it is,” she said. “I do have your number saved.”
He blushed a bit, as he always did when she pointed something obvious out to him.
“Yeah, I guess I knew that,” he said.
“And I think I can guess why you’re callin’,” she went on. “You’re going after Luke Carter, aren’t you?”
“Um…yeah, I guess I am,” he said. “And I guess I wanted to call you and make sure it was a good idea.”
“Oh, sugar plum,” she said, and the fact she was leaning into the southernisms told him she was going to start giving him advice, “I’ve been waitin’ on this day for years. I’m surprised it took you so long to realize Luke was the one who got away, but better late than never, I suppose.”
“Wait, how did you know?”
Mikey knew it was a dumb question right away. Mindy Mace knew him better than anyone.
“Honey,” she said. “I’ve known you had it bad for Luke Carter from the moment we got together.
You might not remember it, but he's all you talked about. I mean, I don’t doubt you loved me, but I knew one day the two of you would get together.
And Mikey? I’m happy for you, really. I know you don’t always see it, but you deserve to be happy with the one person in your life and if I’m right, which I usually am, Luke Carter is that person. ”
Mikey loved this about Mindy. She not only understood him: she respected him, something very rare in his life.
“Thank you,” he said simply. “Truly. You’re a gem.”
“I know I am, baby,” she said, and he could practically see her megawatt smile through the phone.
“Now get off the phone,” she said, “and go after that man of yours. Besides, I’ve got a hair appointment to get to. It takes a lot of time to look this fabulous.”
“Are you saying a hair appointment is more important than your best friend?” he asked playfully.
“Yep,” she said brightly. “Bye, babe. Go get your man!”
“Love you,” he said.
“Love you, sugar plum,” she said and hung up.
Mikey couldn’t help but smile as he held the phone in his hand. That was the magic of Mindy. She always knew how to make him feel like a million bucks.
Well, he thought. Let’s do this. Let’s go get Luke Carter.
.