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girl is growing up. I was totally expecting jeans to come out of that bag.”
    “I know you better than to think I could get away with that.”
    She smiled at me then looked back at the outfit.
    “Wow, Ray is going be totally after you in that outfit,” she said.
    “Who?”
    Guilt spread across her face and she bit her lip.
    “Spill,” I said.
    “Well, you know me and Kevin got back together. We were talking the other day , and I mentioned needing to set you up with someone so he offered to introduce you to his friend Ray. They are supposed to meet us at nine, and we’re going to the club together. You’ll like him Avy. He’s a cop too.”
    My anger management instructor suggested counting backward from ten in situations like this. When I got to zero I was still pissed.
    “You told me we were going to the club together. You guilt tripped me into this outing and now I find you’re setting me up on a blind date? That’s it. I’m not going.”
    I turned toward the door.
    “Avery Gwyn Tywella. You will get your ass back here. We are going to this club and two good looking guys are going with us and you will enjoy yourself Gods damn it!”
    “Don’t you go pulling the ‘three names’ card on me. You should have told me about this ahead of time.”
    “I didn’t tell you ahead of time because I knew you would make up some excuse to cancel.”
    She knew me too well.
    “Then you should have kept it just the two of us. We would have more fun without them. I don’t even like Kevin. He thinks he’s the Gods’ gift to womankind. And, if I know anything about men, it’s that most assholes tend to stick together, which means his friend has an eighty-five percent chance of being just as much of an asshole as he is.”
    “Then you will ignore him and flirt with every other man at the club. I don’t see what the big deal is. You owe me. How many times have you canceled on me at the last minute for work? Do you ever stop to consider what I have to do then?”
    “I know what you do. You call up one of your numerous other friends and go out with them.”
    “Not always. There have been times that I have stayed home alone because you canceled on me. You promised me you would go out with me tonight. I will not try to force you to get with Ray, but you will at least put forth an effort to have fun.”
    I sighed. I really didn’t want to have to deal with some jerk all night long , but knew she would hold it over me for a really long time if I bailed.
    “Alright. Let’s do this. But , do not hold it against me if I tell your boyfriend’s friend to fuck off.”
    “I wouldn’t expect anything else. You never know though he might be one of the fifteen percent that aren’t assholes.”
    I just looked at her with one brow raised.
    “Okay. I’m going to take a quick shower. You had better be here when I get out.”
    I nodded and she headed off for the bathroom.
    I really had been looking forward to going out tonight. My case had come to a standstill and I was hoping I might find out something at the club. Plus, it had been a really long time since I had went out , and I was ready to blow off some steam. I just wished I didn’t have some loser thinking I was fair game to hit on because I was supposed to be his date for the evening.
     
    Then, as if in answer to my problem, Temmy’s phone rang. Since she was in the shower, I answered it.
    “Hello, Temmy’s house. Th is is Avery.”
    “Avery, how have you been ? It’s been so long since I saw you last,” Saundra said.
    “Hey Saundra. I’ve been good. How about you?”
    “I was doing great until tonight. The bastard I was supposed to go out with went and caught the flu and canceled on me. Can you believe that? Anyway, I was hoping you had room for one more at the club tonight.”
    Cha-ching! It really was the answer to my problem. I mean , as a good, caring person I couldn’t turn her down in her time of need. The fact that I knew Saundra would take the asshole