Chapter 2

Josie and her friends danced and twirled and drank the night through until the bar shut down at two a.m.

“I’m not even tired!” a very drunk Allie yelled as they walked toward the street where an Uber would pick them up shortly.

“Of course you aren’t,” Ver slurred only slightly. “You’ll crash shoon though.”

Smiling, very little of her favorite Scotch in the bottom of the bottle in her bag, Josie opened the back of the mini-van she’d ordered to take them back to her place. The drive was quick and as predicted, Allie had to be elbowed up and out of the Uber when they arrived.

“It’s quiet, no barking, where’s Tux?” Ver asked peering through the dark as if the malinois would run to greet them in the driveway.

“Out with the trainer for the weekend for a brush up, he’ll be home tomorrow.” Josie reported as she punched in the code to the door and another for the alarm system. “Come on in, usual bedrooms await!”

“Mmmmph” was all they got out of Allie as they dumped her into the bed, removed her shoes, and tucked her into one of the back bedrooms. Ver and Josie made their way back into the kitchen and grabbed bottles of water and aspirin. “One sec, I’m going to put some near Allie’s nightstand.” Josie walked back into the kitchen and saw Ver looking at the artwork on the walls. “Whatcha thinkin’ chicken?” she grinned using Ver’s childhood rhyme and poking her.

“I’m thinking I should have gone home with that cute guy at the bar . . . or you should have!”

“Which guy, there were quite a few cuties to go around. I’m not sure I’m ready for anything just yet, but if you’re up for it, what stopped you?”

“I’m on a guy-vacation but well, yeah, that’s why I suppose. Trying to prove to myself that I can meet someone and not jump into bed with him.”

“Nothing wrong with that if it trips your trigger.”

Ver thought before she answered, “It’s been a while since my trigger has been tripped, you know? I’m looking for Mr. Right, though, not Mr. Right Now.”

This is far more serious than Ver had been in a while. “Ver, you always seemed happy enough with your choices, what’s going on?”

“Biological clock, I guess. Nevermind, forget I said anything. I’m headed to bed.” Ver walked down the hall to one of the other back bedrooms while Josie turned the air conditioner down to a decent sleeping temperature, made sure all of the doors were locked, and turned off the lights. Without her dog, Tux, sleeping in the old leather recliner her room seemed even emptier than usual. Given all Josie had to drink that night she knew she probably wouldn’t sleep, but she got undressed and into the bed anyway. Her mind played a highlight reel of the evening and she smiled, she really did have the best friends.