Debbie

I was having what was possibly the best night of my life. I couldn’t believe I’d actually won the costume contest and I’d met the most interesting guy, not to mention the sexiest, that I’d ever seen. Of course I thought the same thing about Daniel when we’d first met, but being with Paul tonight had opened my eyes to a whole other world. Daniel may have been right in calling off the wedding. The fact that I’d met Paul so easily and quickly reminded me of how unpredictable life could be and that maybe at twenty-three I hadn’t experienced enough life yet to know exactly what I really wanted. I mean how many more guys like Paul were out there waiting to sweep me off my feet?

Paul was certainly doing that. The whole thing had my head spinning like crazy. I mean, he was sexy, charming, funny, and also mysterious. He was the total package. And I loved that he had a bit of the bad boy in him. I was trying to distance myself from bad boys, but I had a feeling that they were my drug and I’d always be with one. I wasn’t sure why, but unless a man had that darkness to him, that little bit of something naughty, I found him boring and I just didn’t have that attraction to him. I don’t know why. I was sure it was going to get me into trouble one day, but for now I was just trying to move on with my life and leave that jerk Daniel off in the dust behind me.

“So, what was it like?” Lara asked.

“What?” I replied.

“That kiss with Paul.”

I glanced around to make sure that Paul was still in the men’s room.

“It was magnificent. My toes actually curled under,” I said.

“Wow, I’m so jealous. That guy is great,” Lara said. “I can’t believe he really wants to do this McNare dare.”

“I know,” I said. “He sounds like the type of guy who is always up for anything. I think he is going to be a lot of fun to be with.”

“Be with? Are you already thinking that this is a long term thing? You’ve known the man for like two hours.”

I rolled my eyes.

“No, I’m not saying we are going to be dating long term or anything heavy. I just have a feeling that I would like to see him again in another setting, like a regular date or something.”

“Is that your way of saying you wish we weren’t here right now?” Lara teased.

“That’s funny,” I said. “But no. That is not what I mean. I just hope that Paul and I have some more fun together.”

“Are you going to go home with him tonight?” Lara asked.

“What? When have you ever known me to go home with a guy I just met?”

“Never. That’s why I think you should do it.”

“You are crazy as hell,” I laughed.

“See? I tell you that every day,” Mark said.

“Shut up,” Lara snapped. “Stop listening to our convo. This is girl talk.”

Mark giggled and went back to talking with Greg.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“You have always been the good girl. You’ve never done anything crazy like that. How much can you possibly know about yourself if you’ve never had a one night stand?”

“I’m not having a one night stand. That statement makes no sense. Besides, I just told you I hope Paul takes me out on a proper date sometime. That defeats the purpose of the one night stand.”

“What? Now you are going to lecture me on that?”

“Yes. You and Mark have been together since right after high school. So, I doubt you’ve had that much experience.”

“True, but I read a lot of dirty romance novels and I watch a bunch of trashy TV. I know things,” Lara said.

I laughed so hard that I almost choked on my punch. Lara said the most outlandish things sometimes. She was the funniest person I knew, but I had a feeling Paul might be giving her a run for her money.

“I don’t think we are hooking up tonight,” I said, “but if something were to happen I’d be glad to fill you in on it.”

“Well, I would think you would fill me in on it. That kind of goes without saying.”

“How is Daniel taking all of this?” Lara asked.

“I don’t know,” I said. “Taking all of what?”

“Well, you probably haven’t been watching him, but Daniel has been giving you and Paul the stink eye all night. I think he is so jealous.”

“Good,” I said. “But why would he be jealous? He broke up with me. He wanted to chase everything in a skirt.”

“Well, maybe he is realizing that he can’t really do better than you, or even half as good. I mean you’ve seen the stupid skanks he’s been hanging with. And he hates that you are doing better than him. Paul is one of the finest looking guys I’ve seen around here in forever. I mean, every woman in here has been checking him out. Including the girl Daniel is with.”

I looked over to where Daniel was sitting with his date. After a moment he looked over at me and I saw something odd in his face. Was that regret? Shame? Or just a bit of anger? He quickly looked away before I could tell.

Oh, yeah. He was watching me and did not want me to realize it. The thought was very comforting. I hadn’t set out to make Daniel jealous, but I thought it was hilarious that I had. I was loving every minute of this.

“That is so classic,” Lara said.

“I know, right?” I replied.

“I’ll bet Daniel tries to get it up later and fails,” Lara said.

“What?” I laughed. “Why is your mind always in the gutter?”

“Because it’s where I live, I guess. But you know I’m right.”

“No, I don’t know that.”

“Well, he is going to be there trying to give the old heave ho to Pollyanna over there and he is going to be thinking about you and Paul getting it on possibly at the same time and he is not going to be able to see straight. He is going to be distracted and he is going to lose his wood.”

“Does she talk about stuff like this with you?” I asked Mark.

“Yes, non-stop, even though I beg her to stop.”

“That’s messed up,” I said. “You need help, Lara.”

“I’m aware of this,” Lara said in her usual deadpan style. “Tell me this isn’t funny to think about.”

I thought about it a moment and could not hold back the laughter. She’d planted the image in my mind and it was perfect. I really hoped she was right. At any rate, I’d succeeded in meeting a great guy and pissing off my stupid ex all in the same evening. There was definitely a God.

“Alright,” Paul said arriving back at the table and sliding into his seat. “Did you miss me?”

“Always,” I replied with a grin.

“Great. Now when are we doing this thing? I’m pumped and ready for it.”

Lara and I looked at each other, reading each other’s mind as if the same thought was going through our heads.

This is going to be epic.