Shirley was sitting on the couch dropping back a shot of tequila, salt and lime included. Greg and Mike walked in just in time to see the liquor-shine on her lips.

"Hey, it's a party." Greg said.

Mike immediately began examining the walls, "Holy shit! You did this?"

"Yup." Greg said bashfully, his thumbs in his pants.

"All of it?"

"That's right."

"It's amazing."

Shirley jumped up, sliding her hands in her cover-all pockets, "It is amazing. It floored me, literally. I sat in that yellow bean bag for two hours." Shirley hesitated a bit realizing she didn't knoweither Greg or Mike, who looked at each other with a sly smile. Shirley flushed, but continued, "I'm Shirley, Fran's friend."

Greg raised his eyebrows, "Oh, Fran's friend," insinuating romance.

I blurted out, "Oh shut up."

Shirley couldn't stop herself. "So you're Greg? God, you are really good."

"Thank you." He said seriously.

I didn't want him to hurt Shirley's feelings by making her think that she and I were an item---or that such a possibility even existed. I mean...well, you know what I mean. Shirley's nice and all, but she's like, you know...a sister. And a real sister, not at all like my bitchy blood sister.

Shirley reached for the bottle, "You all up for a shot or two?"

"Always!" Greg grabbed the bottle, shooing away her offer of lime and salt and sucked back a long shot straight from the bottle. I asked him to save some for us and he pulled the bottle away from his lips.

Mike took a shot and handed it back to Shirley. "What, I don't get any?" I took it from Shirley, but before I shot it back she cut a fresh piece of lime and poured the salt on her own hand. I licked the salt,shot back the tequila, and sucked on the lime. Shirley smiled and the warmth of the liquor relaxed me.

Shirley went to the john and I when I looked up Greg and Mike were grinning at me, "What?!" I exclaimed.

While Mike laughed, Greg said, "Please! Cover-alls?"

"When did you become such a snob? Besides cover-alls are in."

Mike went to the kitchen looking for food. Greg wasn't going to let this go, "Over-alls are in, not cover-alls Ms. Fashion Expert and besides I'm not a snob, I just never figured you with the blue collartype."

"Well, you figured right. We're just friends."

"Who are you kidding?"

"I swear I'm not dating her. We're just hanging. That's all."

Mike came back in the room. "I don't know, seems to me she could be the perfect type for you."

"Hey!" I tried to get them to seriously listen to me, "I AM NOT DATING HER. WE'RE FRIENDS." Mike and Greg stared at me as if worms were squirming out of my mouth and when I turned I saw Shirley standing in the doorway. She looked hurt.

"We're just friends." She said with a shrug of her shoulder. "That's all." The tension was thick and I realized maybe we couldn't be friends. Perhaps she liked me too much in that special way and Ihad no intention of hurting anyone. I had been at the wrong end of that tango too many times.