Sorority Sisters by Claudia Welch Page A

good at denial.
    Stan’s hands are on my back, holding me close as Bread’s “Make It with You”
fades out, and I’m not going to comment on the perfection of that song in this moment, when I step on something behind me, twist my ankle slightly, and turn, an apology already half out of my mouth.
    It’s Doug. He has his hand out, holding me by the elbow, and he had to let go of Jenny to do it. It’s not very nice of me, but I’m thrilled.
    â€œEasy,” Doug says. “You okay?”
    â€œGood hands,” I say, looking into his blue eyes. That was a mistake because now I can’t look away, and no one with 20/20 eyesight could look away from Doug Anderson. “Nothing that a pair of crutches and a hot toddy won’t fix,” I say. “I’ll get right on that, Mr. Anderson.”
    â€œWait,” Doug says, staring hard at me. “Ryan, Diane?”
    â€œAffirmative, Anderson, Douglas.”
    That’s how bad I look in my ROTC gear. He doesn’t even recognize me with my ears covered and my curves on display in my thin black jersey, which is a thought I can’t help but run with.
    â€œYou . . .” he says, looking startled and, dare I hope, delighted, “look great. You’re a Beta Pi?”
    â€œAffirmative,” I say, grinning, looking at Jenny to see how she’s taking all this. She seems to be taking it very well. She must be blitzed on her ass. “Doug Anderson, ROTC, Jenny Van Upp, Beta Pi, meet Stan Jaworski, fellow Spartan.”
    â€œNice to meet you,” Stan says with a friendly nod. “How about another drink?”
    â€œNo, thanks,” Doug says, meeting Stan’s eyes in that friendly, slightly dismissive guy way.
    â€œSure!” Jenny says on a squeak of laughter, leaving Doug’s side to loop her arm through Stan’s. She really must be plastered to leave Doug for any reason, including alcohol.
    In a matter of seconds, not only am I alone—okay, not actually alone since there are one hundred other people around, but more alone than I’ve ever been with Doug before—but the song that comes through the stereo speakers is another slow one, “The Best of My Love” by the Eagles.
    The lighting is dim. I’m looking sexy. The right music is playing.
    Look, it’s not like I planned this, but when the Great Pumpkin drops a bag of Halloween candy in your lap, what’s a girl to do but take a bite?
    Okay, so that might be the three vodkas talking, but after three vodkas do I really care who’s talking?
    Damn straight I don’t.
    â€œAre you with him?” Doug asks, nodding in the direction Stan has taken with Jenny.
    â€œJust for tonight. How about you?” I ask.
    â€œThis is our second date.”
    â€œHow’s it going?”
    â€œBetter and better,” Doug says with a grin.
    I lick my lips and smile back. Free candy, that’s what he is. A pile of chocolate, mine for the taking.
    Except I can’t take him, no matter how much I want to. He’s the nicest guy, and the most gorgeous guy, but the nicest guy. Really. I sit three rows behind him in Seamanship class so I’m practically an expert on the guy. Of course, I don’t have any hands-on experience. Not yet.
    Yeah, definitely the three vodkas talking.
    â€œI love this song,” I say, universal code for
Ask me to dance
.
    Doug smiles wider, offers me his hand, and says, “Would you care to dance?”
    â€œHow nice of you to ask, seeing as I’ve been temporarily ditched by my date. I’m trying not to sob. Please, no pity or I’ll break down completely,” I say, grinning as I put my hand in his.
    â€œNo pity,” he says, leading me to the dark edge of the patio. “I promise.” And then he takes me in his arms and from that instant on it’s the best night of my life.

Laurie
    â€“ Fall 1976 –
    â€œWhere are we going?” I