Who You Know by Theresa Alan Page A

agree to this arrangement and devour the cookie happily, miraculously not spilling a single crumb.
    â€œLike this week she knew I was really busy at work and didn’t have time to go out to lunch, so she made my lunches. Isn’t that sweet? Today it was tuna fish on wheat and an apple. She’s just really supportive, you know? We just can’t wait until the kid gets here. It’s going to be so much fun. I mean it will be work, we know that, but we both just love kids.”
    I nodded. All at once I ached to be a part of a “we,” to be the other half of a good-looking man’s “we.” I wanted a man to pack a lunch for, the kind of man who hours later would still appreciate the gesture.
    â€œIs it hard that she travels so much for work?” I asked.
    â€œOh, it’s awful, but, on the other hand, whenever she gets back from a trip, we fall in love all over again. It keeps our relationship fresh. She hasn’t been required to travel as much lately, and we both hope she won’t have to start traveling a lot again when the baby arrives. She talked to the VP about sticking to the Colorado and Wyoming areas for a while. He wasn’t too happy about it since she’s one of the top salespeople, but he doesn’t want to get an anti-family rap, so it looks like he’ll let her stick to local gigs, at least for a while.”
    Over Dan’s shoulder I saw Sharon coming back from the bathroom. She stopped at the pool table to tell Mitch something. I watched Mitch put down his pool stick and start walking back to the table with Sharon. Just then, Jen came behind me and announced there was a good-looking guy up at the bar who would be perfect for me.
    â€œWho?”
    â€œJust come on, trust me.”
    When we were far enough from the table she said, “I can’t believe you almost foiled my getaway plan for you. I saw Sharon was about to make her return, and, being the kind of friend I am, I swooped in for the rescue.”
    â€œThere’s no guy?”
    â€œDon’t be such an ingrate. There is a guy, but I have dibs on him.”
    â€œLike you need another guy. Both Les and Tom are totally hot for you.”
    â€œYeah right. Do you see Tom here?”
    â€œHe had plans with his friends, he told you that. But he’s into you, I can tell.”
    â€œHe would have changed his plans if he was into me. Blue shirt,” she whispered as she sat next to a nice-looking blond guy in a blue shirt.
    The guy was not my type, so it was no loss that Jen flirted outrageously with him while Les cast unsubtle glances at her from the table.
    Since Mitch and Jen had abandoned the pool game, the others had returned to the table. I sat beside Jen on the barstool, quietly sipping my margarita, watching from across the bar as Dan lovingly rubbed Lydia’s shoulder.

JEN
    Catastrophes
    I woke up with a searing headache. As I pried my eyes open, I had the strangest feeling there was someone else in bed with me.
    Must focus.
    How much did I drink last night? I’d never hallucinated before. That couldn’t be . . .
    Les opened his eyes and smiled. “Good morning beautiful,” he said.
    My tired eyes shot open. I realized with horror that I was naked, and, worse still, it appeared that Les was naked, too.
    â€œLes?”
    â€œIsn’t it a beautiful day?” he asked, and leaned toward me, as if to kiss me. I reared back.
    â€œLes? What happened last night?”
    He laughed. “You’re joking, right?” He tried to tickle me, but I slapped his hand away.
    I rolled over on my back, setting off a maelstrom in my head. I gripped my palm to my forehead in an effort to keep it from exploding. What on earth had happened? Les had given me a ride home from the bar because I’d had too much to drink. Okay, I remember that . . . I invited him in for a drink . . . I got us each a beer . . . He sat down on the couch, and I lay down on the couch