“Oh, yeah. I know what you mean, and I like how you think. Maybe I’ll get my doc in Minnesota to give me a test and I’ll bring my results home to you.”
“I’d like that a whole lot.” Andhewould like the fact that she’d only have PMS four times a year instead of twelve! Thatand“Buns” were his surprise.
Merry and Roz sat together at the dance club with long faces. Apparently, the guys had decided that Roz was Merry’s wing-woman and they approached in pairs. The ugly dude asked Roz to dance, while the guy who thought he had a shot with Merry seemed to expect her to jump at the opportunity to dance with him.
So far, everyone paled in comparison to Jason. They seemed way too young. Lots of college students lived in the area. The older men were either drunk or sleazy or both. Merry had refused repeat dances with everyone and was running out of excuses. Her feet hurt, she was tired, she was starting to sweat and hated sweating, etc.
“I’m thinking about leaving, Roz,” she shouted over the loud music. “Are you with me?”
“One hundred percent.”
They grabbed their evening bags and headed for the exit. When they had escaped outside, Merry’s ears were ringing.“Jeez, that music was loud.”
“What?”
She raised her voice and spoke into Roz’s ear. “Is this an off night, or are most clubs like this?”
“I’m sorry to say, this is fairly typical. You won’t find many Jasons in the world, let alone in a place like this.” Roz’s words seemed muted and far away.
Merry stuck her finger in her ear and wiggled it. “I hate to say this, but I’m maybe an eight and all these threes and fours think they’re God’s gift. Am I delusional?”
A couple of men passing by gave her a once over. One of them called over his shoulder. “You’re a ten, babe. If only I wasn’t married…”
Oops.She must have been talking louder than normally, but who could tell?
Roz shook her head and chuckled. “No. You’re not delusional, except that you think you’re an eight. You’re a solid nine, and the only reason you’re not a ten is because you’re moping.”
“I am moping, aren’t I?”
“If your face were any longer it would hit the sidewalk.”
Merry sighed. They continued to walk in silence until they reached Roz’s car. Once inside, Merry sagged against the seat.
“I’m an idiot, aren’t I?”
Roz glanced in her direction as she turned the key. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, I thought this whole living in the city experience would be so much different. I admit, I’m not as excited as I should have been tonight, but honestly, where were all the good-looking GQ models? Do they go to different clubs or what?”
Roz laughed. “Yeah, honey. The gay bars. Listen, I’ll tell you something my mother once told me. ‘For every perfect-looking guy, there’s at least one woman who’s sick of putting up with hiscrap.’”
Merry chuckled. “Your mother is probably right about that.”
They pulled into the busy street and drove back to Merry’s neighborhood. On the way, they passed Brookline Ave. Merry remembered her tour of Fenway Park and the wonderful man who’d not onlyforgivenher jealous outburst, but made sweet, tender love to her on the couch in a luxury box.
“Did I ever tell you about our trip to Fenway Park?”
“Yes, and did I ever tell you how envious I am?”
A sigh escaped, then hot tears threatened to surface from the corners of her eyes.Oh, no. Don’t react like a big baby over this.
It wasn’t as if she needed her boyfriend’s consent to go dancing with a girlfriend. In a way, she was glad she did. Now, at least she knew what shewasn’tmissing. Still, she felt guilty.
“You won’t tell Jason about this, will you?” Roz asked.
“Why not?”
“Why would you? He doesn’t need to know you visited a club out of curiosity. It would only hurt him, and it certainly didn’t amount to anything—except maybe cure you of your ridiculous idea about what single life in the city is like.”
