” She smiles and you and she orders two shots of fireball. As they are being poured you start to say, “I don’t know how to say this-” “Then... don’t.” she laughs cutting you off as the bartender pushes the glasses towards you, “Salud,” she says picking hers up and clinking it against yours. You take the shot and savor the burn of the alcohol as it goes down. She pulls you in for another hug, her body is pressed against yours and she holds you there with her mouth by your ear and says, “I’m glad. Mark’s meetings were later in the day, so we agreed to meet at the restaurant. I arrived first and after awhile Mark walks in. I stand up and give him a kiss and then we both sat down. Mark orders some wine for us. We are drinking it, and the conversation is flowing. I am feeling a little tipsy. His leg is brushing against my leg. We are sipping our drinks. Mark is smiling, and he moves closer to me. We are talking and laughing and sipping our drinks. Mark’s hand is now on my thigh, and he is. * * *Now, standing across from the Hertz rental counter, Marcia felt on thebrink of a major panic attack. Why hadn't she told Claire that Phoebe hadrun away? Was it really just that she was afraid of her ex's reaction orwas it more complicated than that? Was it actually possible that a smallpart of Marcia wanted to see Claire again? It must be a pretty smallpart. Microscopic. As in atomic microscope. See her again? Whatever for?Perhaps to prove to her that Marcia had done just fine for. "You are beautiful, Jordie. I think I can honestly saythat you are the most beautiful boy I ever met."That caused Jordan to smile broadly, blush and turned away. "I'm notas beautiful as you. Not by a long shot."Melissa chuckled at that. "I don't always feel beautiful, you know,Jordie. I'm a lot taller and even broader than a lot of girls. A lotof people look at me like I'm weird because of that. Like I'm...." A freak," Jordan interrupted."... a freak," Melissa finished her thought and smiled a.