Shane and Dana looked up and Shane handed the photographs to Tina. She flipped through, looking at a joyous Shane staring back at her, alongside Fred.

Shane was just telling me how she ended up with Fred. Dana said.

Care to join us? Shane asked patting the couch.

I suppose a happy bedtime story would do us all some good. Alice said, as they sat down, passing the pictures around. Shane sat back, a slight smile on her face and took a deep breath. She found it ironic that after all this time, she was the one with the happy in love story.

After I moved to San Diego I got a job at a salon and lived without a care in the world. I went from woman to woman, bed to bed. I was the same old Shane, just in a different city and without friends. I always went out to the same bar where I usually picked up women. The bartender was a struggling college student, trying to graduate while working her way through school. Night after night I saw this woman. We always chatted while I waited for my drinks, but it wasnt anything big. After about a year, our conversations grew, but six months after that she disappeared for a year.

Shane stopped briefly and showed them a picture of her and a woman at a bar, smiling.

Fred? Shes the bartender? Bette asked.

Shane nodded and continued. I asked around, but all I gathered was she took off after her graduation to travel. I thought Id never see her again, but I kept up with the normal routine, eventually finding some friends. Nothing like you guys, though. Anyway, a year later I went to the bar just like every other night and Fred was behind the counter, smiling at me. Eventually after time, we ended up becoming good friends. We hung out and did stuff together. It wasnt until about a year later the fireworks hit.

***

Hop in. Fred said as she pulled up next to the salon Shane worked at as she just finished her shift.