“Not at all.”  Ro smiled and winked at Jing who was now at ease and Ro turned to walk away back to the table.  Abby grabbed her hand and spun her back around.  Ro stumbling because of the tug, Ro’s hand falling on Abby’s hip as she righted herself.  She stood her full height about an inch taller than Abby.

            “Where do you think you are going?”  Abby asked with a laugh and Ro looked back at the table with an odd look on her face.

            “To sit?”  Ro asked and Abby put her arms around her neck and moved her hips, “What are you doing Abs?”  Roberta asked in a throaty voice and Abby’s eyes flashed.

            “Dancing.”  Abby said feeling drunk even though she hadn’t had a drop to drink.  “Come on they all know I’m straight and you are *****.  It’s just a dance.”  Abby offered to her and Ro was to drunk to fight with her.  Ro left her hand on her left hip and used her fingers to pull her closer, her eyes glazing over with something hungry and Abby’s breath was caught in her throat.  Jesus she’s beautiful Abby thought to herself and then threw the thought away.

            “You’re as pale as a dead woman.”  Ro said to her with her smoky voice that suddenly had that faint accent again and Abby laughed nervously.  “That’s better.”  Robbi chuckled and held her close with her hand; Abby found her fingers caressing the flesh on the back of Ro’s neck.  The song changed but they didn’t stop dancing, Pratt and Jing were still just a breath away from them.  Neela had finally gotten Ray to dance, a woman had sat down with Kerry, and they were chatting.  A slower version of Sean Paul’s Get Busy the Jamaican beats infectious. 

            Abby was feeling light headed and as Robbi’s other hand moved to her arm, letting the back of her fingers caressing the skin on the underside of her arm.  The fingers drifted down her side and settled on her hips.  Abby couldn’t breathe any more something inside her swelled and Ro broke away from her just then, seeing the hot look in Abby’s eyes.  Ro then reached down grabbing at Abby’s jeans and pulled her towards her whispering into her ear.

            “Swing batter, batter swing…”  Robbi released Abby and walked back to the bar to get something to drink.

ERERERERER

            “You invited me with the hopes of getting Roberta and I together?”  Kerry asked Abby as they walked from the bar and Abby hung her head sheepishly.  She hadn’t exactly recovered from the dance with Robbi but she was covering well.

            “Yeah.”  They were silent, “I know it was stupid.”

            “Yes it was.”  Kerry snapped back, “Sweet but stupid.”  Kerry was at her car and Abby stopped rocking back on her heels with her arms crossed over her chest.  She was beginning to realize that getting people together would be a full time job.

            “I just know how hard things have been since…”  Abby stopped remembering Sandy’s face when Henry had been borne.  The look of joy in her eyes and Kerry holding him for the first time washed over Abby.  Tears swelled in Abby’s eyes and Kerry reached out to her and took her hand quickly.

            “I lost Sandy.”  Kerry finished for her.  Abby nodded.  “I know your heart is in the right place Abby.  I’m getting along just fine.”  Robbi jogged up and slung an arm around Abby, smiling warmly at Kerry.

            “I’m going to Marty Tangs, are you ladies following?  I’m paying.  Or rather, Robert is paying since all affairs of his death have now been settled.”  Robbi smiled eyes flashing with jest.  “No worries, Ray and Neela are coming too.  Pratt and Jing are off to…”  They all turned to see Jing-Mei kissing Pratt on the cheek.  “Have ***** I imagine.”  Kerry scoffed and Abby laughed.

            “I have to be up early in the morning but thank you for the offer.”  Kerry said smiling and Robbi nudged Abby,

            “Are you coming?”  Robbi said in a deep voice and Abby flushed, Ro was acting as if they hadn’t been dancing together only an hour before.

            “Sure…”  Robbi waved to Ray and Neela, “She’s in.  Night Kerry see you at work in the morning.  Or rather afternoon.”