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"I did You’ve got a great set of sconces" I smiled sweetly and looked directly at his crotch

"Sconces?" hehis throat

"Occupational hazard So where are you headed, anyway? Overseas, I ed my eyes deliberately back up to his, and noticed his were nowhere neara bunch of coastal spots for Condé Nast, and then going into soaze back to mine

It was nice to see hielse?"

"A pot of gold? And a shaift shop," he muttered

"And then when you come home, I’ll do a little Irish dance for you!" I cried and started laughing at the lunacy of this conversation

"Aw, Nightie Girl, did you just offer to dance fora little closer

And just like that, the balance of power shifted

"Siso near "We’ve been over this I have no desire to join the harem"

"What makes you think I’d ask you?"

"What makes you think you wouldn’t? Besides, I think that would hed

"Mmm, the truce," he said

Just then I heard steps on the stairs below "Simon? Is that you?" a voice called up

At that he leaned back, away fro toward each other on the landing throughout our exchange

"Hey, Katie, up here!" he called down

"A hareht," I said softly

"Stop it She had a hard day at work, and we’re heading out to a hed If ere going to be friends, I ht as well meet the harem, by God

A moment later ere joined by Katie, who I, of course, knew as Spanx I hbor, Caroline," Simon said "Caroline, this is Katie"

I offered my hand, and she looked curiously between Simon and me

"Hi, Katie Nice to meet you"

"You too, Caroline You the one with the cat?" she asked, a twinkle in her eye I looked at Siue that, in fact, he is an actual person"

"Oh, I know My dog used to watch TV and bark until I put on so she liked What a pain in the ass she was" She set a little aard

"Okay, kids, I’a Siossip froood I’ll be gone a while, but hopefully they won’t get in too much trouble while I’m away" He chuckled as they started up the stairs

"I’ll keep my eyes on them Nice to meet you, Katie," I said, headed down

"You too, Caroline ’Night!" she called back to me

As I walked down the stairs, htie Girl’s pretty"

"Shut it, Katie," he fired back, and I swear he swatted her on the butt

Her yelp a second later confirmed it

I rolled my eyes as I pushed the door open and headed out to the street When I got to the gy

"I’ll have a vodka ht up with three olives, please" The bartender got to work as I looked around the crowded restaurant, taking a break fro about all these fabulous double dates, I’d agreed to go out with them and turn thereat tiht I needed a break People-watching at the bar was a great way to get so couple: silver-haired gentleer than I ho had newly purchased tits Good girl! You get yours I er boobs too

I never thought I’d enjoy being alone, but lately I was finding I did pretty ithout a asms aside, I did occasionallyplaces solo I could travel alone, so why not? Nevertheless, the first ti to be weird--the likelihood of running into soles of Costa Rica was sliles of San Francisco? Odds were greater--but it was great! And a restaurant alone was also just fine Turns out I’ht withThe way these t couples circled each other was fun to watch Mied themselves the men they’d cultivated in their heads as the perfect ht and gorgeous red hair setting her apart even a hundreds Hot restaurant, and even hotter bar, this place was packed with people and pretention

I could see her chatting with someone, and off to the side I found Mimi and Ryan What was odd? Neil, not Ryan, seemed to be Sophia’s conversation partner Ryan appeared coh the air and punctuating statements with her toothpicked olive as he listened, fascinated From where I stood, the distance afforded me perfect clarity I couldn’t help but sht they wanted, but now they each seerass was always cuter, right?

Sophia glanced over and spotted me at the bar, and shortly thereafter, she excused herself and headedfun?" I asked as she perched on the stool next to reat time," she mused She then told the bartender exactly how to ht?"

Her eyes lit up briefly, and then she seereat, doesn’t he?" she covered, gesturing over to where we’d left our group, and where Mimi and Ryan were still deep in conversation Ryan did indeed look good in jeans and a shirt that exactly htedly on Ms Miood tonight too," I tossed out, refocusing on the brawny sportscaster Charcoal sweater, chinos--he was every inch thea bit of salt froled and placed a hand on her aret you back to your perfect roup

I departed a little before ain I’d spent an evening alone and lived to tell the tale I wondered if other single wo it To not have to uy you’d been set up with, to not have to worry about so to force his wiggly tongue down the back of your throat, and to not have to explain to that sa a cab hoht over there

I’d enjoyed--or should I say h school, but hadn’t really been in love for a long tie And since that fell apart, I’d had just a series of casual flings, never really feeling fully invested in anyone Henceall the parts to line up seeot older, and the process could be exhausting Lower Caroline ht be on board, but Brain and Heart always seemed to have reservations Plus, now that

As I hts, headed home in a cab, nize

Have a good time?

As I waited for the reply, I leaned down and slipped off my shoes Fantastic heels, but daain, and I read

Soer

I hated myself a little for the way er, huh?

Wait a et irls They were really pushing it lately

I can’t reveal ht?

Okay, I can play this game

In fact I did On my way home now

How is the Emerald Isle? Lonely yet?

It’s beautiful actually, just having breakfast

And I am never lonely

I believe that Did you buy ht one

Yes, please giveto respond to that one…how’s that puy of yours?