Free So Different by Ruthie Robinson

additional property that her brother wanted. Seems like Junior D.D.S. had traded in one assumption about her for another one, but the bigger question was what she was going to do about it.
    She was sure he’d be worth it, but was she up for it? He was so not her type. He wasn’t serious about her, or anyone for that matter, but particularly her. Back to their differences again. She had heard about the ex fiancée—the polar opposite in looks and life from her.
    Did she want to be the one night—or many night—stands for Junior D.D.S, just kicking it, having fun? She was past all of that, wasn’t she? She thought about it, rolling it around and around in her head. To screw or not to screw? That was the question? She just didn’t know the answer.

CHAPTER FOUR
    Last Saturday in March
    Brass Knuckles vs. Prissy Missies
    Adam made his way to the front of the Rail Yard a week later. He learned since his last trip to leave early, and as a result he’d procured a nice parking spot near the front of the building this time. He needed to pick up his ticket from the will call window, so he’d allowed extra time for that, too.
    Was he excited? Was that the name for this low humming, this current of eagerness that ran though his bloodstream? He looked around as he walked and, like his first trip here, the crowd caught his attention. This time he noticed the others besides the rockers with the brightly colored hair . There were people here dressed liked him; families with children; couples; a mix of ages, mostly white, and a few people of color all making their way to the front doors.
    He spotted the will call line; not too long—ten people max. He made his way over to it. He could hear the band, loud from outside. The line was moving surprisingly fast, and ten minutes later he was handing his ticket to a derby girl sitting behind the glass. She was wearing a tight-fitting top and shorts and the fishnet hose that he was rapidly developing a fondness for.
    Two minutes later he was at the front of the line to enter the building, noting for the first time the other derby girls on duty—two at the door, one taking tickets, the other with her stamp pad, placing a stamp on the back of the patrons’ hands, his included.
    The place was about half full, he noted, looking around at the crowd. Same crowd inside as he’d seen outside, families and couples—some same-sex, some not. Playing for the other team had never bothered him, although he’d always preferred the opposite sex. He also recognized that some thought his singular preference for quiet, tanned blondes with small-to-medium breasts was a little troublesome, so he tried to avoid judging others.
    He entered and stood for a second, then spotted his dad with two of his buddies. He quickly stepped back, surprised to see them, suddenly remembering his dad’s comment about being a regular. He laughed as he recalled his dad’s trickery again. Adam stepped further into the shadows. His ticket wasn’t in their area, so maybe he’d be safe. He found a spot near the wall, where he could see but not be seen.
    “Hiding from someone?” Casper asked, looking down into his eyes.
    “Casper,” he said.
    “You remembered. Yes, it is, or would you prefer Boo?” she asked and laughed.
    He smiled at her teasing. “Not hiding, exactly. Well, maybe a little…from my Pops. I forgot he was a regular.”
    “You can hide if you want to,” she said, grinning now. “Good to see you back.”
    “So your friend is playing tonight?” he asked.
    “My friend? I’ve have lots of them here. Which one would you be referring to?”
    “Mariah,” he said.
    “You’re interested in Mariah?” she asked.
    “Not interested. Just curious.”
    “Now that you know she’s not an abuse victim,” she added, laughing again.
    He joined in. “You and she been friends a while?” he asked after their laughter died down.
    “We go way back, since third grade. We grew up close to each other, took the same