Chapter One
It was just more proof that the universe continually had too much fun at her expense. Somewhere along the line, for reasons yet unknown, the Joker had stacked the deck again and given her the number that lived in infamy.
867-5309
Chere Palmer wrote her new cell phone number on the back of her business cared, handed it to her so-called best friend, and waited. Brandi's laughter, for once, grated on her nerves.
There wasn't any point in saying anything until Brandi finished crowing. They'd been best friends since the sixth grade and Chere knew her buddy pretty well. She leaned back and settled in against the rich, warm leather of the bench and glanced out O'Malley's darkly tinted windows at the orange and purple sunset.
"Try not to lose the card or forget where you put it, Brandi."
"Lose it?" Brandi fell off into another fit of laughter, falling over sideways in their booth and holding her stomach, gasping for air. "I won't forget it. That's just too funny."
Chere put her hands on her hips, giving Brandi her very best glare. This signaled the beginning of what would surely be a long, downhill slide. No doubt about it. Even her mother would get that the joke was on her.
Brandi finally took a deep breath and wiped the tears that streamed from her eyes. "Didn't you ask them for another number?"
"Of course I did. Jeez. I even threatened not to renew my contract with them so they tossed in free activation of my new cell phone and one month free." She dropped her face into her hands and rubbed her temples.
867-5309. She'd heard all the horror stories of someone being given an infamous phone number. No amount of pleading, whining or threats had been effective to convince her cell phone company to issue her a different number. The computer had generated that number and she had to take it.
"Look on the bright side, Chere. Maybe some guy will call you."
"That's what I'm afraid of. Just think of the kind of guy that would call the number for giggles and laughs." She smiled up at the waiter as he handed her a menu. Brandi started flirting. Imagine that.
Chere scanned the menu specials. The Friday specials and the Bloody Mary's were why she and Brandi ate at O'Malley's every week. That and the incredible atmosphere created by a mix of highly polished old barn wood flooring, lots of leather, stylish lighting, and a top of the line sound system. They ordered their drinks and watched the waiter swagger off.
"I bet he gets good tips." Brandi sighed and shook her head.
"His butt is too skinny for my taste. And he's too young. He's probably working here to pay for tuition."
Brandi laughed at her again. "What? Like we're old and washed up at thirty-one? I don't think so, Chere." Her attention shifted back to the young man setting their drinks on the table.
Chere sighed. The waiter appeared to be maybe all the way to the ripe old age of twenty. She wanted something different, something older and more experienced. She didn't want to have to housebreak another man. Her success record with that could not be called successful. Nope. She didn't want anyone named Donny, Tommy, Johnny--no more average Joeys for her.
Damn. Had she finished that whole drink already? The waiter hadn't even been back for their order. She'd be tipsy if she sucked down too many of those. They were just too good with the perfect amount of seasoning and hot sauce to tease the palette and not so much vodka that you choked.
They sat and talked for a while, not paying attention to the time until Brandi checked her watch.
"We've been here an hour. I'm going to ask the hostess what's going on." She slid out of her seat and bounded towards the lobby.
Chere leaned back and closed her eyes. She didn't have anywhere else to go tonight. Nowhere else to go or no one else to see. Boring best described her life.
Her cell phone rang, jarring her from her reverie. Who'd be calling her? Only Brandi had the new number and she could see her friend chatting with the hostess. It had to be a wrong number and the caller would realize that when they heard her recorded message.
Brandi's schmoozing proved successful. The hostess came over and gave them each a free Bloody Mary and told them their dinners would be reduced. Chere shook her head after the woman walked off. Trust Brandi to be able to pull off getting a freebie.
The band finished setting up before they were finished their dinners. They knew one of the guitarists and the gregarious Brandi went over to say hello while he tuned.
Chere's cell phone rang again, and she continued to ignore it. She ran her fingers through her hair, annoyed. She'd go back in to the wireless company tomorrow and beg, or better yet, she'd take Brandi along and let her buddy work her magic.
The band knew their stuff, especially the lead guitarist, making Chere content to stay until the very last number. The room clapped and cheered as they hit the last chord. Brandi excused herself to go to the ladies room.
She jumped when the cell phone rang yet again. Enough was enough. Just how Brandi managed to perpetrate this little joke, she didn't know, but it was time to tell her to stop trying to be funny. She grabbed her purse intending to follow Brandi and spotted her friend's cell phone lying on the table.
Great. Just great. It was some stranger trying to be funny. Well, she wasn't amused.
She picked up Brandi's phone and met her as she was coming out of the restroom.
"Come on. We're leaving. I'm beat."
Brandi didn't argue as they walked out into the muggy air of a summer night. "Me, too. Have you given any thought to what we talked about?"
Damn. She'd hoped Brandi had forgotten her proposal that she and Chere move in together to share expenses. The offer was tempting. Brandi had a great condo in a swanky neighborhood, but Chere enjoyed her privacy.
"Yeah, I have, but my lease still has seven months to go. I'd forfeit my security deposit if I moved out now. But I'm thinking about it. Besides, Wimp-boy called you three days ago. What if you two get back together?"
"I'm not taking him back. You'd make a much better roomie. You'd never cheat on me."
"Very true." Chere hugged her friend as they reached their cars. "Call me tomorrow. Maybe we can take in a movie."
"Okay. See ya!" Brandi hopped into her car, fired up the engine and sped away. Chere sighed.
"Thanks for waiting to make sure my car started," she muttered at the rapidly disappearing taillights. She unlocked her door and dropped into the driver's seat. Her blasted cell phone rang again.
She almost didn't answer, but this time it really could be Brandi. She flipped it open.
"Hello?"
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