As the eighties were coming to a close, Rich and I were enjoying our new-found prosperity on a grand scale. Rich had also become quite smitten by Lauren. They were going steady. It was probably the first time Rich had a steady girlfriend in his life. It is amazing how a girl like that can have an effect on a guy. I had gotten together with Lauren a couple of times after the incident at Lolas, and maybe I'll tell you about it sometime. We both thought it best we ended that, though. Lauren was as serious about Rich as he was about her and of course I was engaged to Kim by this time. So we all had a lot at stake. You might say the stakes were never higher.
Kim and I were quite the ideal couple in many ways. We both shared a lot in common. We both liked to go out to see rock bands. We both liked to try new restaurants. It is hard to imagine she would turn into such a boring housewife twenty years later. At this time though, she was really my closest friend. Her and Rich, of course. I thought I knew everything about her, since we spent so much time together. So, you can imagine my surprise when she told me about her old friend from high school.
"My friend Kate is coming to town next week." She casually mentioned.
"Oh." That was about as much excitement as I could muster at the news.
"She was my best friend back in high school." She added.
"Oh, that's nice." I was just so excited.
"I want you to be nice to her. She is having some problems." She said flatly, "I want you to be understanding."
"You know me baby. Understanding is my middle name." I stated with assurance, "What kind of problems?"
"She is an addict." She said in a serious tone.
I thought about that one. That didn't seem to be a problem. I mean, half my friends take the train to work because they lost their licenses from DUI convictions and frankly I have had my own problems in the distant past.
"Girl, you know I have no problem with that." I said in a compassionate tone, "What is her problem, drugs, alcohol?"
"No, she belongs to SLAA." She said flatly.
"SLAA?" I asked quizzically.
"Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous. She is a sex addict."
I had to pause and take this in slowly. I repeated the words in my head a couple of times. Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous. Hmmm...I had heard something about sex addiction in a Playboy issue or something and some of my friends made some jokes but I have never actually met one. My mind started to race.
"I expect you to be nice to her. She really is having a hard time right now." She stated, "She is really quite vulnerable."
"You know I am always nice to your friends." I added cautiously.
OK, maybe I was stretching the truth here. I have just never been told that my girl's best friend is a sex addict before.