Heteroflexibility by Mary Beth Daniels

participate. It prevents people from coming just to feel out the market.” Lila pursed her thin lips, lined in pink. “This is going to mess up our evening, the odd number. Can I have your card, please?”
    I pulled the card to my chest. “Why?”
    “You aren’t eligible, my dear. Give it over.”
    “Why is that an option to check then?”
    “It’s my little test.”
    I turned my body and she reached around to grasp the corner of the form. She couldn’t take it! I glanced around to find Fern, but she was merrily talking to Sebastian herself. Rock star sat alone, drumming his fingers on the table.
    She got a firm grip on the card and yanked. I felt the sharp edge slide along my palm and let go with a yelp. A line of red welled up. Bloody paper cut.
    “Feel free to stop by again once your proceedings are over,” she said gaily, as if we were ending some friendly chat. She tore my card into pieces.
    I watched the paper come apart and despaired. My head felt like it might explode. I had driven, but Fern could take a taxi home. Or go with the rock star. Or bartender man.
    Mark sneered at me as I passed. Something internal snapped, and I crossed between the tables to pause beside him.
    He looked at me, bemused. “Need my number? Woofer?” he asked. “Bow, wow?”
    I turned to him, sitting back in his chair, legs crossed, arm casually thrown over the seat back. “This is for all the dogs you’ve undoubtedly kicked around,” I said, and released my fury with a fist into his belly.
    He bent over with an “oof.”
    And I strode out of the bar without looking back.

 
    Chapter 14: Rainbows & Cadillacs, and Heterobashing Music
    The cool air of Fifth Street was a welcome change from the stuffy bar. Since it was still early, only tourists and a rare couple meandered along the walkways. A few bouncers had begun to stand, randomly calling out, “No cover!” On the corner, a ratty van parked illegally while three t-shirted boys frantically unloaded a drum set.
    I slipped my jacket on and pulled it tight around me. My palm was screaming. I could go into any of the bars and have another drink, but I might get approached by early birds trying to get started on their pick up lines, and I didn’t want to deal with that. In fact, as I shuffled down the sidewalk, I averted my eyes from any man I saw, as if their Y chromosome might reach out and poke me.
    Two girls ran across the street ahead of traffic, holding hands. I slowed down, squinting, wondering if it might be one of the Hoebags or someone I met at Dog & Duck.
     They turned down the sidewalk and headed straight for me. Before I could even register who it was, one of them squealed, “Zest!” and began dragging the other in a rush.
    Jenna and Mary. “So you decided to come with us?” Mary asked.
    Come? Shit. Nikki did ask me to join them at some bar to dance. “I just—I met a friend for dinner.”
    “Well, you have to come with us now!” Mary’s face flashed red and yellow from a neon sign in a bar window.
    “I—well, I—”
    Jenna threaded her arm through mine, and we began walking. “Of course she will. Nikki would never forgive me if she knew we let you get away. She was hoping you’d come.”
    I allowed myself to be pulled along for the second time that night. “Where are we going again?”
    “Rainbow Cattle Company. They teach dance lessons on Wednesday nights and all the Hoebags are supposed to practice, so we don’t embarrass ourselves at the reception.”
    “I should have brought a camera,” I said.
    Mary laughed. “I don’t think they’d let you take pictures at Rainbow.”
    Jenna led us beneath an overhang and up to a large wood door. The roar of music blasted us as we passed into the bar. A youngish guy with his sleeves rolled up checked our IDs. I hadn’t quite gotten my bearings when a shirtless man in a camouflage cowboy hat jumped from behind the bar and shouted, “Welcome to Rainbow! What can I get for you?” Jenna headed