through these cryptic, meandering letters that somehow manage to predict exactly what you’re thinking or doing. How is that possible? Now, granted, I’ve gotten my share of love letters and I’ll give the guy points on style, but please – if for no other reason than as a favor to your best friend – do not get caught up in the idea that this stranger is a harmless romantic pen pal, because I’ll guarantee you… he isn’t.”
Allie punctuated her point by draining the full glass of wine and thumping it loudly onto the bar. The men on both sides of her glanced over curiously before returning to their conversations.
“Are you done?” Jeri asked flatly.
“Done? Oh hell, sweetie. I’m just warming up.”
Jeri rolled her eye s and grabbed the empty glass. “With the wine, Allie – are you done or do you want another glass?”
Allie flashed her a radiant smile. “Like I said, I’m just warming up.”
Jeri nodded her head. She grabbed the wine and poured slowly, filling Allie’s glass only half-full before pushing it back in front of her.
“What… I don’t get a respectable pour now?” Allie asked as she stared at the glass with dismay. “Are you punishing me?”
“No, Allie– don’t you see? I’m just looking out for you,” Jeri shot back. “Funny how looking out for someone can be mistaken for punishment though, huh?”
Allie nodded reluctantly. “Touché,” she said quietly, absently swirling the wine in her glass. She looked up at her friend with a soft, sad expression. “Look Jeri, I know exactly what’s happening here. And I know I’m the last person who should be giving you advice on men, but trust me. This one is different. This one is dangerous.”
“He could be,” Jeri retorted, stabbing the air with a shaker as she mixed a drink . “But you don’t know that, Allie. You’re basing that opinion on your own jaded view of men, and it’s not fair. What if he’s a great guy? What if he’s completely normal and simply hasn’t found the right person? Maybe the odds are against it, but the fact is I don’t know that – and neither do you.”
Allie clenched her jaw and sat straight up in her barstool. “You’re right, I don’t know what this guy is all about,” she said defensively. “And yes, I have a jaded view of most men, but I also think I’ve developed a pretty good ability to read people, and what I’m reading from this guy is funny, smart, and very dangerous.”
She paused and leaned into the bar.
“So if you want to ignore your best friend’s concerns and advice, that’s fine… but don’t say I didn’t warn you when this guy shows up one day and you find yourself in serious trouble. And let’s be clear about something–” Allie paused and put a hand on the shoulders of the men on each side of her. Both turned and looked at her quizzically. “I’m not talking about the normal ‘ I’m drunk and want you to sleep with you ’ kind of trouble you’re used to from these harmless local pansies. I’m talking about the ‘ I’m chaining you to the floor of my van so we can honeymoon in my basement in Des Moines ’ kind of trouble that you won’t be able to talk your way out of.”
Jeri smiled at the two men who had just been insulted by the attractive blonde between them. “Please excuse my friend. She has a flair for the dramatic.” The two men shrugged indifferently and went back to drinking. Allie shrugged and took a sip of her wine.
“You’ve made your point Allie, for probably the tenth time,” Jeri replied as she angrily wiped down the bar top. “Can we drop this subject now?”
“Sure sweetie… let’s talk about something more fun. Oh! I have to show you something!” Allie immediately reached into her purse and found her cell phone. “A new broker was just hired at my real estate office… he’s young, hot, and deliciously single. Here, take a look.” She held her phone out to Jeri with a devious smile stretched across her
Allie punctuated her point by draining the full glass of wine and thumping it loudly onto the bar. The men on both sides of her glanced over curiously before returning to their conversations.
“Are you done?” Jeri asked flatly.
“Done? Oh hell, sweetie. I’m just warming up.”
Jeri rolled her eye s and grabbed the empty glass. “With the wine, Allie – are you done or do you want another glass?”
Allie flashed her a radiant smile. “Like I said, I’m just warming up.”
Jeri nodded her head. She grabbed the wine and poured slowly, filling Allie’s glass only half-full before pushing it back in front of her.
“What… I don’t get a respectable pour now?” Allie asked as she stared at the glass with dismay. “Are you punishing me?”
“No, Allie– don’t you see? I’m just looking out for you,” Jeri shot back. “Funny how looking out for someone can be mistaken for punishment though, huh?”
Allie nodded reluctantly. “Touché,” she said quietly, absently swirling the wine in her glass. She looked up at her friend with a soft, sad expression. “Look Jeri, I know exactly what’s happening here. And I know I’m the last person who should be giving you advice on men, but trust me. This one is different. This one is dangerous.”
“He could be,” Jeri retorted, stabbing the air with a shaker as she mixed a drink . “But you don’t know that, Allie. You’re basing that opinion on your own jaded view of men, and it’s not fair. What if he’s a great guy? What if he’s completely normal and simply hasn’t found the right person? Maybe the odds are against it, but the fact is I don’t know that – and neither do you.”
Allie clenched her jaw and sat straight up in her barstool. “You’re right, I don’t know what this guy is all about,” she said defensively. “And yes, I have a jaded view of most men, but I also think I’ve developed a pretty good ability to read people, and what I’m reading from this guy is funny, smart, and very dangerous.”
She paused and leaned into the bar.
“So if you want to ignore your best friend’s concerns and advice, that’s fine… but don’t say I didn’t warn you when this guy shows up one day and you find yourself in serious trouble. And let’s be clear about something–” Allie paused and put a hand on the shoulders of the men on each side of her. Both turned and looked at her quizzically. “I’m not talking about the normal ‘ I’m drunk and want you to sleep with you ’ kind of trouble you’re used to from these harmless local pansies. I’m talking about the ‘ I’m chaining you to the floor of my van so we can honeymoon in my basement in Des Moines ’ kind of trouble that you won’t be able to talk your way out of.”
Jeri smiled at the two men who had just been insulted by the attractive blonde between them. “Please excuse my friend. She has a flair for the dramatic.” The two men shrugged indifferently and went back to drinking. Allie shrugged and took a sip of her wine.
“You’ve made your point Allie, for probably the tenth time,” Jeri replied as she angrily wiped down the bar top. “Can we drop this subject now?”
“Sure sweetie… let’s talk about something more fun. Oh! I have to show you something!” Allie immediately reached into her purse and found her cell phone. “A new broker was just hired at my real estate office… he’s young, hot, and deliciously single. Here, take a look.” She held her phone out to Jeri with a devious smile stretched across her
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