One Swinging Summer Read Free Page B

asking, didn't she?"
    "I don't know, you were walking away. She did look surprised though, it was kind of funny. She looked really confused." He said with a laugh.
    "Well, I hope you weren't offended, it really wasn't personal. I just don't trust charming."
    "Ah, you have issues."
    I laughed and said, "Haven't you heard? Women are nothing but trouble."
    "Isn't that the truth? Some of you are even worth it."
    "Hmm," was my response again, as I thought about my recent ex, the reason I do not trust charming, and added, "I wish I could say the same for your gender. Women are nothing but trouble, but men? You guys are a piece of work."
    "Not me." he stated smugly.
    "Not you, huh? What makes you so different?"
    "You will have to find out for yourself, go out with me, and I'll show you."
    "Go out with you? Like on a date? And this conversation was going so well."
    "Is that a no?" He gave me the elbow to the side again and said, "If tonight is any indication of the things that happen when we hang out together, how can you resist?"
    I smiled and said, "Yeah, but seriously, you don't want to go out with me right now. I'm damaged goods."
    "Damaged goods?"
    "Yep, I am not seeing anyone right now, and I don't plan to. Not for a while. I'm taking a break. You guys are killing me. Really, the only reason I'm here tonight is for Julie's birthday. I don't see her very often, or I wouldn't have even come tonight. I'm done with men for a while."
    "I can't even call you?"
    "Nope."
    "And after all we've been through," he said with a sad, melodramatic sigh.
    I laughed at him, and spotted Julie. She was looking for me. "I'm sure you will survive. I must admit though, it has been a pleasure to talk with you tonight. Hanging out with you was the highlight of my night, but it is time to drive the birthday girl home."
    "The pleasure was all mine," he said as I got up and left him sitting on the golf cart.
    CHAPTER 4
DANCING
    "Friday night, finally," I think as I walk into my bar. I wait in line with my ID out. It's a short line thankfully, the night is still young. It's ladies night, so I don't have to pay. A quick hello to the front door guy and I'm in. I tuck my driver's license and my car key down into my bra, where I always keep it. As I stand in a longer line, this time for my bartender, I catch myself thinking that there were no police officers outside yet. I smile as I remember why I would notice if the cops were here. I have thought about Charming a few times in the two weeks since I've been here, but not a whole lot. Real life and work has a tendency to get in the way. I'm usually here every Friday, but last week I had family duties to attend to, and I couldn't make it. No wonder I'm so glad it's finally Friday, I missed one.
    You would think I wouldn't have to refer to him as Charming, but I never did catch his name, even though it had to have been right there on the silver bar on the front of his uniform. Oh well, another fond memory from this place. It's not like I'm likely to see him again, this place gets pretty packed.
    There are three people ahead of me at the bar when I see Lana, my bartender, notice me. She mouths hello, and before I know it she waves me up to the bar around everyone else, hands me a Jameson and Coke, takes my credit card off my hands and starts a tab, all while the three ahead of me give us dirty looks. I love Lana, and I tip her well at the end of the night.
    As I walk toward the dance floor I see a friend of mine, Gary James. I half hug him hello, trying not to spill our drinks, and then visit with him for a few minutes. As he introduces me to his new girlfriend, I remember the night I first met him.
    I had been hanging out with a group of the regulars, and they had been laughing about one of their latest exploits that involved using their 'bar names.' When one of them would be in a situation in which they did not want to use their real names for whatever reason, they would use the name Gary. All three of them. Just