Katy, another friend who’d gotten married herself six months ago, jumped up from the table, quickly walked over to where we stood, and pulled on my hand to lead me to the table all our friends were seated around. In turn, I pulled on Aerin’s hand to drag her with me.

“You brought a friend, Harley!” Katy exclaimed, after we’d taken a few steps, upon seeing me latch onto Aerin with my other hand.

“Yeah, Katy, I’d like you to meet Aerin …” I started to say.

“Hi!” Katy said in a cheery voice.

“So Jack’s in that charity thing in Beverly Hills, huh?” Rachel, another friend, asked, from where she sat around the mid-section of one side of the table.

As I nodded at Rachel, out of the corner of my eye I saw Aerin scanning the table confusedly. I looked around the table also, and saw what she saw. All of my friends were mostly blonde. Katy was the only one with dark hair; I was the only one with red/copper hair. I looked around the restaurant also – lots of blondes around tonight, a few dark-haired people, but no other ginger.

Not a multicultural picture, the way one would expect things to be in a state renowned for the multiplicity and mix of races. Instead, the restaurant scene tonight was a quintessential blonde Southern California, beach crowd.

Before I could say anything I was pulled into an embrace by Thad, Annie’s fiancé, who’d stood up and walked around to my side after we’d paused while Katy and Aerin introduced themselves to each other.

“C’mon big guy, you and Harley were over a long time ago, remember?” Annie’s voice cut through the noise again, directed at me and Thad with a bit of an edge. Thad released me with a laugh, stepped back, and then turned slightly to look at Aerin. I saw his eyes pop.

“Mmmm …. mmm …. Harley. Who is this beautiful creature?” Thad, engaged to Annie yet still the inveterate flirt.

“Hi, I’m Aerin,” Aerin said with a chuckle.

“Well I’m in love,” Thad answered, and crooked his arm out at Aerin and smiled expectantly. “Come, let me introduce you to everyone …”

Katy led me to the opposite side of the table, towards a chair next to hers.