Free Between Dreams by Cynthia Austin Page A

the radio,” I rationalized.
    “Well, yeah that could be the case…” Chrissy slowly began.
    “But…” I prompted her.
    “But it says that he’s now friends with someone named Lilly Lavelle.” She held up her phone showing the screen of Ray’s new friend status.
    I snatched the phone out of her hand and pressed my finger against the girl’s name on Facebook. Instantly her profile appeared. It was private but it allowed me to see her profile picture. She was tall with long red hair flowing down her back with those devious green eyes shimmering like sensual lake waters on a moonlit night. My heart sank to my stomach. All this did was confirm my suspicions that he was with her tonight.
    I threw the phone in Chrissy’s lap and grabbed my own phone out of my purse. I called Ray but got his voicemail on the first ring. I sat there in the truck. My mind now racing, I calculated my next move to play in this little game we call love. With my phone, I logged into Facebook. I went to Ray’s new friend status with “Lilly Lavelle,” and clicked “Like.”
    Satisfied with my move, I smiled, “Now he knows that I know.”
    I turned my phone off and frowned at Chrissy. “I think I just want to go home and go to bed.”
    I was suddenly exhausted and dreaming of the green-eyed stranger sounded much more appealing than putting on a charade of happiness.
    Chrissy vigorously shook her head. “Uh-uh. I don’t think so. I’m done putting up with this B.S. You’ve been my best friend way too long and most of the time I have to share you with that jerk Ray, but tonight I refuse because it’s your birthday, dammit, and tonight we’re going out and forgetting about Ray. Tonight we’ll toast to new beginnings!”
    She held up an invisible wine glass as if clinking it to another invisible glass. I threw the truck in reverse, did a three-point turn, and headed off laughing loudly.
    “Tonight, we shall paint the town red!”
    As soon as I said it, Lilly’s red hair flashed in my mind. I verbally rebounded, “No, red reminds me of that home wrecking slut Lilly. Black…black is the new red.”
    “Cheers to that!” Chrissy agreed as we clinked our invisible glasses in the air once again.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    Bulletproof Heart
     
    Chrissy and I decided to hit up a bar downtown and cut loose. It was well needed after that episode with Ray and his social media site. Of course I was little nervous since this was my first time at a bar. The undisputed fact that Chrissy and I were both under the legal drinking age was seared in my mind. Chrissy assured me she knew the bouncer and that gaining entry would be as easy as stealing candy from a baby. Of course she was right.
    As we walked down the narrow sidewalk towards the entrance there was a big, burly guy with a shaved head wearing a jean vest displaying a giant Misfits patch on the back.
    Once he saw my sexy girlfriend his entire face lit up and I knew we were in. Chrissy had that effect on guys.
    “Hey Davey,” Chrissy greeted him with her arms open.
    “Chrissy, baby! Long time no see,” he said as he swept her up into his big arms for a bear hug. He lifted her completely off the ground as Chrissy squealed with delight. She bent her knees up, making sure her heels didn’t fall off. She loved being the center of attention.
    He grinned and pointed to his cheek. “Give me some sugar, baby.”
    I squished my nose like I just smelled dog shit.
    W hat a creep .
    But Chrissy knew the game well and she placed her big red lips right on the side of his face and let out a loud smack. She stepped back to inspect her work. Two perfect lip marks adorned his cheek.
    “I’m gonna get this permanently tattooed one day,” he joked.
    “Yeah, yeah, you say that every time, Dave. I’m still waiting!” she cracked back. “So what’s going on tonight…you’re not gonna try to make my friend and I pay a ridiculous cover charge to get into this dump, are