alphabearshiftera2014 by Writer Page B

made a fool of herself. He was already smiling at her, eyeing her up like a piece of meat. If he was so interested tonight, why did he tell her he was finished last night?
    Sydney quickly intervened, wrapping her arm around Tara’s. “Excuse us, we have some business,” she shot out as she dragged Tara away.  “What the hell are you thinking?” Sydney whispered sternly.
    “ I know, I know, but my libido. You know I have trouble…” She turned her head. She could sense his size, lumbering behind them. Tara swallowed hard. “Carter?”
    Sydney turned and looked up at the large, burly man behind them. Her knees wanted to buckle. Sure, she reacted like the other girls, how could she not, it was biology, but she’d be damn if she’d show it. She wasn’t like the other girls, willing to fawn over beef cake. So he was eye candy, big deal. She wanted somebody with a brain. Somebody she could talk to, not somebody to show off to her girlfriends.
    “ Is there a problem?” He was looking directly at Sydney.
    “ No, no problem here. I’m just trying to save my friend from heartache,” she said. “Your friend over there apparently has a ‘love them and leave them’ policy.” She spun around to face him, glaring. She let go of Tara and crossed her arms over her chest. She refused to let Mr. Sexy-Pants make her feel intimidated.
    “ They were just talking,” he said.
    “ Is that what you’re calling it these days? I’ll have you know we’re here drowning her sorrows in beer because of your friend’s swell and charming moves. He apparently can’t stick around. You know how it is, right?” Her hands shifted to her full hips.
    “ Here, let me help knock that chip off your shoulder,” he said mocking her, and pretending to push a boulder off.
    Sydney rolled her eyes at the beast. “Whatever. I don’t have time for this.” She spun back around and realized Tara was already over by Grant’s side, batting her eyelashes and leaning in too close.
    Sydney sighed. “What’s the point?”
    Carter turned to see what she was commenting about and decided Grant and Tara obviously had things to discuss. Grant wanted to be a ‘love them and leave them guy’, but for some reason, this Tara chick got under his skin. “Mind if I join you for a while, so they can talk?”
    “ Help yourself,” she said, perplexed at the new circumstance.
    ***
    “ So you’re trying to tell me, you think that the analysis is wrong?” Sydney laughed at his brazen attempt.
    “ I’m not saying it’s wrong, I’m saying it’s close minded. There’s so much undiscovered science, how can they conclude that? We’re expanding our knowledge daily, making great strides thanks to a vast array of exciting, new technologies.” Carter shook his head and laughed at where the conversation had gone.
    “ Ahem,” Tara said, clearing her throat again. “I don’t mean to interrupt you guys, but Grant and I are heading out for a while. I’ll catch up with you later.”
    “ Right,” Sydney said, barely looking over. Her sights were on Carter. “What’s with the feeble attempt to throw technology into the mix? Where do you think all that technology comes from? It all circles back to brain power and the time invested in learning new things.”
    Carter barely glanced over his shoulder and waved. “Have fun.” He turned his attention back to Sydney.
    For the third time, the guy sitting on the other side of Sydney brushed against her plump thigh, only this last time it was no accident. He made it seem like an accident earlier. Carter saw him leering at her when she wasn’t looking.
    “ Hey,” she spun around to address the man. “Watch your hands!”
    Carter stood up, his size becoming more apparent. His large figure and glaring stare made the man beside Sydney nervous.
    “ Yeah, umm, sorry about that.” He played it off like an accident, but Carter knew it wasn’t. The jerk decided to play the man card, trying to be Carter’s buddy.