Greg and I had already downed a few tequilas at Girl Bar when I saw Shirley and the new one, Betsy, stroll inside. Shirley had her arm around her like a vise. She wasn't letting this one get away.

They didn't see me and sat at the round table in the corner. They pulled up and sat in the only two chairs left.

Greg smiled as he saw the object of my attention, "Uh-oh."

"What?"

"There's something about her that you're interested in."

"Please, I'm much more interested in Betsy. Now she's hot." I watched Shirley order from the waitress and excuse herself for the bathroom. I stood predatorily.

"What are you doing Fran?" Asked Greg.

"For once, going for what I want."

"That's never been a good idea for me."

I quickly stared at Greg, "I'm not you. I've tried to do things by the book forever and you know what, it don't work cause nobody else is using the book. I'm tired of being respectful and nice. I want to be alluring and sexy."

"Fran, you can be all those things together, but just maybe not with a half of a bottle of tequila in your veins."

"You're one to talk." I said, wondering what I meant by that. I headed straight for Betsy and our eyes met as I approached. "Remember me?"

"Sure I do." She said. "Shirley's in the bathroom. She'll be happy to see you."

"Are you happy to see me?"

"Sure I am."

I pulled my chair closer and whispered, "I mean really happy."

She pulled away, getting nervous, but I continued, "I think you're beautiful and I was hoping that maybe we could, maybe you'd meet me sometime."

"Fran, I thought Shirley was your friend."

"She is, but come on, maybe she doesn't realize how beautiful you are."

I turned, seeing Shirley now standing next to me. "What she wants to know Betsy is why is someone as beautiful as you are with a dog like me."

"That's not what I meant."

"You're drunk Fran so I'm going to let this go, but I'll tell you this, if there ever was a chance for the two of us, I think it's gone."

Betsy stood, "What's going on babe?"

I sneered, "Babe?!"

"She's fucking around with us, that's what's going on. Let's go." Shirley pulled Betsy out who sweetly waved back to me.

I walked back to my grinning friend Greg at the bar. "Shut up!" I said before he said a word.

"That was fabulous. I feel completely vindicated. I'm not the most pathetic soul, YOU ARE."

"All right, all right, already. I just want to know one thing. What does that girl see in Shirley?"

"I never knew you were such a bloody idiot. Shirley is a really lovely person who has something to offer."

"I've been stupid, huh?"

"Hello?"

"Well, you're not Mister Perfect." Lolita, the bartender poured two more shots and we sucked them down.

"I may not be Mister Perfect, but I'm pretty damn close. Fran?"

"What?"

"I think you have to get Shirley back."

"I never had her."

"Well, get her. I've known you for a long time. She's great for you. She'll keep you STRAIGHT." He guffawed at his own joke, which was contagious, and kept us smiling the rest of the night.

*****

I woke up the next morning thinking about Shirley and continued thinking about her all day. How do I get her away from Betsy? Romance, I thought. I could give that a definite shot.