Joy Argento - Carrie and Hope Read Free

her open her eyes and look at the person who sat down in the chair next to her.
    She looked into Mike’s beady eyes. His hair looked even greasier up close. “Hey,” Mike said. Carrie saw the wink again. “I just wanted you to know that I noticed you and I’m a good listener if you want to talk about your grief or yourself or anything. I’m really good at umm, listening . If you get my drift.”
    Carrie couldn’t believe her ears. “No, thank you.” She shook her head.
    “Oh, come on. Don’t be like that. I’m just offering my services to help in your time of need.” he flashed her a grin that made her stomach lurch.
    “Services?” she grimaced, sorry that she asked as soon as the words were out of her mouth.
    “Yeah, you know what I’m talking about.”
    Carrie wasn’t rude by nature but didn’t see a way out of this but to be blunt. “Well, I’m not interested.”
    “Oh come on, baby, we could be good together. I just know it.” Carrie couldn’t believe the nerve of this guy.
    “Really. Not. Interested.” Carrie said a little more harshly than she intended. Mike got up without another word. Carrie watched him strut over to the woman she had talked to outside the door. She watched the animated conversation. The woman took a step backwards away from him but he moved forward each time she stepped back. Unbelievable . Carrie thought. I should go over and rescue her.
      Carrie forced herself to her feet and headed for Mike and the friendly brown-eyed woman. “Excuse me, Mike. I need to speak to ummm …” Carrie realized she didn’t know the woman’s name. “… er , um, this beautiful lady here.”   Oh my God, I can’t believe I just said that.
      “Will you excuse me?” the beautiful lady said to Mike as Carrie pulled her away by the elbow. She turned to Carrie. “Thank you so much. I couldn’t seem to get that guy away from me.” Her smile spread across her face. “I owe you one.”
      “I was actually thinking of leaving. I am not sure this is the group for me,” Carrie confessed. She shrugged her shoulders.
      “How about I buy you a cup of coffee somewhere? I don’t feel much like staying either. My name is Hope by the way.” She put out her hand. “Hope Garret.”
      “Carrie Martin,” Carrie said, shaking Hope’s extended hand. “I would love to go get coffee, or maybe a drink? I feel like I could use a gin and tonic about now. I think there is a quiet little bar that we could walk to just down the street. If that’s okay with you.”
      “Sure, that would be great. Should we say something to Eric, or just leave?”   Carrie looked at Eric. He was engrossed in a conversation with two women.
      “I say we sneak out,” Carrie answered in a low husky whisper.
      “Then let’s do it,” Hope said. She grabbed Carrie’s hand and headed towards the door. She dropped her hand as soon as the door closed behind them. Both women burst out laughing.
      “Oh my God. That was intense. Except for that Mike guy. He was just gross. You didn’t have to leave with me. But, I’m glad you did,” Carrie said, tucking a stray lock of her blond hair behind her ear. A blush crept into her face giving her normally pale skin a pink glow.
      “No, I was glad to leave. I really didn’t want to be here in the first place. Now let’s go find that bar.”
      The early evening air was unusually warm for mid-September. The weather in Western New York could vary greatly in late summer but the past week had been unusually sunny and warm. The women made small talk as they walked the two blocks under the bright streetlights to the small bar on the corner of Monroe Avenue and Club Street.
      Carrie held the heavy, wooden door open for Hope. She blinked several times as they entered to let her eyes adjust to the darkness inside. A few booths with thick green cushions, lined the wall to the right and small tables with chairs were set around the center of the room. Shelves of alcohol,