“I’m serious.  You’re gonna have women throwing themselves at you tonight.  I might even be one of them.”

“Ha ha.  Come on.  Let’s go.”

“Ok, ok.  Keep your pants on.  Or rather, you could take them off.  Ch-ch,” she said, winking.

“Alice!”

“All right,” she said, feigning disappointment.  “Let’s go Peabody.”

The ladies arrived at the club at just the right time.  Had they been just a couple minutes later, they would have been stuck standing in line outside.  Helena found a small table in the corner while Alice ordered drinks at the bar.  On her way to the table, she spotted Carmen and made her way over to say hi.  They hadn’t spoken since the wedding.  Carmen felt awkward around Alice, being that Alice had been Shane’s “best man.”  She didn’t think she would be able to hold her tongue if Alice were to defend Shane or make excuses for her.  Alice sensed that Carmen felt this way and wanted to reassure her that she did not approve of Shane’s actions.  She just hadn’t gotten a chance to say as much.  She knew that this was neither the time nor the place for a heart to heart, but she wanted to at least touch base.

While a song was playing and Carmen was waiting to mix in the next piece, Alice tentatively tapped her on the shoulder.  Carmen turned around to see a very sheepish Alice.  “Hey Sweetie,” she said, a bit forced.

“I just wanted to say ‘hi.’  I actually…I came with Helena.  When you have a break, we’re at the table in the corner over there if you want to join us,” she sputtered nervously.

“Yeah, ok.  About a half hour,” she agreed.

Back at the table, Helena filled Alice in on her and Carmen’s plans to move in together.

“That’s great, Helena!  I think it’ll be really good for both of you.”

“Yeah.  I’m a bit nervous.  I haven’t lived with another person for years.  But it should be fine.”  She shook off her feelings of apprehension.

As Alice had predicted, many of the women at the club had been eyeing Helena and one made her way over to their table.  She was attractive enough.  She had wavy light brown hair and hazel eyes.  Alice actually found her quite beautiful and was about to introduce herself when the other woman interrupted.