I rubbed my temples again, trying to figure out the polite way to tell them I was sure that Harley was toxic to me.

Before I could say anything, Sheryl turned to Harley, “Why don’t you give me your keys, and I’ll drive your car to my place. Aerin can drop you off at your place later on tonight, right?”

Frying pan to the fire.

“C’mon Aerin, go meet people your own age. Make some friends. Get to know Harley,” she reached over to pat my hand as well. “Everything will work out. Trust me.”

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Harley

The cabin of Aerin’s car was surprisingly cool when we boarded it. I’d apologized profusely to Sheryl earlier after she’d gotten into my own car, and I could see the first thing she did was roll the windows down, since I’d had to park in the one spot in the street where the sun had still been shining brightly.

I watched Aerin get into the driver’s side seat gracefully, silently admiring those long, slim legs, encased in barely-there jeans. She adjusted one of the spaghetti straps of her dark tight top and tossed her silky, brunette hair that fell in layers like a curtain down her back. She had “rich girl” stamped all over her and threw off an alluring vibe that probably attracted hordes of men … wait she’d mentioned women partners earlier … ok, hordes of women to her like bees to a very sexy honey pot. She was like some kind of human, brunette, Barbie, come to life.

She was thumbing through the satellite stations, and then rechecking the rear view mirror, graceful in all her movements, while I continued to look.   She suddenly flicked a glance at me, and those big brown eyes queried me silently.

“Am I underdressed for that get-together with your friends? In that Italian restaurant?”

She startled me with the suddenness and faintly absurd nature of her question. Aerin, like a chic Parisienne, you could show up at a wedding in jeans and a leather jacket and still convince everyone there that you’d nailed the right look and belonged.

“Should I change out of my clothes or something?” she asked again, when I’d hesitated to answer.

“Don’t be silly, Aerin. You look great,” I started to say, and smiled at the faint blush that crept over her cheeks. “And that haircut really suits you.”