Two hours and eight stitches later, Shane took Dana home.

Dana wearily opened the truck door, thanking Shane for the ride.

“Take care of yourself, Fairbanks,” Shane said softly. “Get in the house and let Tonya take care of you.”

Dana just nodded and shut the truck door behind her.

Shane watched her get safely into the house and then put the truck in reverse. Just as she pulled into the street, her cell phone rang. Shane glanced at the caller I.D., then flipped the phone open. “Hey, Alice.”

“Shane, did you take Dana home? Why didn’t you answer your phone earlier? Is Dana okay?” Alice’s voice rang through the phone.

“Whoa, one question at a time, Al. Alright, I took Dana to the hospital earlier, which is why my phone was off. She needed eight stitches in her arm. Said it was a kitchen accident, but I have my doubts, since you and I both know how that girl is in the kitchen.”

Alice was silent for a moment, so Shane went on. “I told her to let Tonya be her little nursie tonight. That kind of ***** is right up her alley.”

“Um, they broke up today. Tonya moved out,” Alice informed her.

“What? She didn’t ***** tell me that. What happened?”

“I’m not sure. I think I kind of had something to do with it, though,” Alice admitted quietly.

“Al, what the ***** did you do?” Shane demanded.

“I kind of, um, well, I…,” Alice stammered.

“Spit it out already,” Shane interrupted.

“Alright, alright. I went to her house at 4 a.m. and told her not to marry Tonya, and then I kissed her,” Alice revealed.

“You did what??” Shane nearly ran a stop sign in her surprise. “What the ***** did you do that for?”

“I don’t know. Then we had a bit of a…moment in the bathroom at Milk,” Alice told her.

“I knew you two were gone too long! Come on, Alice, spill it,” Shane demanded, maneuvering her truck through a right turn.

“I followed her into the bathroom, locked the door, and things got a little hot. I haven’t ***** like that in ages.” A giggle escaped from Alice with that statement.

“And? You got her off?”

“No. She told me that she broke up wiht Tonya and I just kinda…walked away.”

“What the ***** for? You just left her high and dry?” Shane asked in disbelief.

“Well…I’m sure she wasn’t exactly ‘high and *ahem* dry,’ if you know what I mean,” Alice replied slyly. Shane could practically see her eyebrows wiggling up and down.

Shane pulled into her driveway and shut the truck off, but didn’t get out. “So, are you in love with her or something, or is it just *****?”

There was a long pause. “I love her as a friend for sure. I mean, she’s hot, but I guess I kind of just really wanted to find a way to convince her to leave Tonya, because she wasn’t right for Dana. I don’t know; it’s confusing.”

“So, basically, you’re just ***** with her mind and emotions,” Shane accused, anger creeping into her voice.

“No, it’s not like that. I mean…,” Alice trailed off, collecting her thoughts, and began to continue her statement, but it didn’t matter. A dial tone rang in her ears as she realized Shane had hung up.