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number.”
    “Y’all were just meant to be,” Payton said with a winsome smile.
    Ryann looked away and nodded. “What type of woman are you looking for?”
    “Is your inner matchmaker asking, or is it curiosity?”
    “The latter,” Ryann said with an impish grin.
    “Looks are important.” Payton put up her hand. “Don’t judge too quickly, I mean that I’d like to be attracted to her physically, but personality is really the key. I’d like someone who knows who she is, who isn’t afraid to self-analyze. Of course, that comes from experience after what Courtney did. When she came back, she said she really didn’t know why she did what she did and claimed that she never stopped loving me. I never could get her to admit why she felt unhappy. Maybe if we had talked before she took off, whatever was going on inside of her could’ve been worked out. I want a woman who isn’t afraid to talk about what she’s feeling. I want to be comfortable enough with her to do the same.” Payton tapped the bar with her index finger as she thought. “My work is important to me. I need someone who will understand when inspiration hits, I need time to work on it. That’s kind of hard to jam into the hours between nine and five. A sense of humor is a must and a good work ethic. I can cope with many things, laziness isn’t one of them. Is my list too long?”
    “No, not at all. You know what you want, that’s important. Most of what you just said would make a provoking profile on a dating site.”
    “Oh, don’t you start,” Payton said with a laugh. “Jana was trying to talk me into that on the ride over here.”
    “I won’t deny that there are a lot of people who misrepresent themselves on those sites, but look at the pair behind us.”
    Payton peered over her shoulder again. Jana and Melanie held hands as they talked. Jana’s face was alight with happiness, and Melanie seemed just as enamored. Payton was genuinely happy for her best friend because she’d gone through a great many oysters until she found what looked like a very promising pearl.
    Ryann regarded Payton as she gazed at the couple. Payton appeared to be a good catch. She was certainly good-looking. Had Ryann been single, she would’ve picked Payton out of a crowd in a heartbeat. She liked what she considered Payton’s daring hairstyle. It was dark blond, so short on one side it bordered being shaved, and on the other was a shock of messy curls that hung down to her jaw. Her blue eyes were dazzling even in the muted light of the bar. Her sense of style was certainly appealing. Beneath a blazer, she wore a lightweight sweater, the tails of an oxford shirt hung halfway down her thighs. She wasn’t wearing any makeup, but Ryann could tell that Payton took care of her skin. Lines were faint around her mouth and eyes. She smiled easily, and Ryann liked that.
    “You’re studying me,” Payton said as she slowly turned and faced Ryann.
    “Yes,” Ryann admitted without hesitation. “I like your hair.”
    “Oh, thank you. My hairdresser talked me into this. She said my look was too dated and suggested something edgier. I was in a mood for change, so I just let her do her thing. I nearly hyperventilated when what looked like a two-foot pile of hair hit the floor. My hair’s naturally curly, and honestly, I did look like a poodle that had been electrocuted. She wanted to add what she called subtle highlights, but it was too much change in one day for me.” Payton patted the short side of her hair. “I’m still trying to get used to this.”
    “I really like it. I feel like my look is matronly. My boss knows I’m a lesbian, but it’s frowned upon to ‘advertise’ it in my line of work, according to him. By that, he means nondescript hairstyles and clothing. The more you blend in, the more relaxed everyone is, which I think is stupid since we’re supposed to ‘gently teach’ equality. It’s a private school, and Mr. Barnes doesn’t like to make