Free Love Thy Neighbor by Janna Dellwood

anything happened. I made
her leave because you're the one I want. For whatever reason, I can't
take my mind off you. I don't know why. This... I never felt
this way about anybody before.”
    No lick of response formed within her mind. No resolve. Any trace of
rationale dissolved away. This was a new kind of brain fart. Words
could not express the confusion brimming within her. Should she be
more angry? Was he lying? Was this some sort of trick? Had he had his
way with that girl and now wanted to sample another dessert?
    “ Janna?”
    Speaking never seemed more difficult. Words did blurt out, but she
was hardly aware of what she was saying or if they made any sense. “I
don't know, Baron. I just... don't... think that...”
    Then she remembered Judge Judy saying: “Too bad! You have to
pay Ms. Parker for her services, Mr. Baron .”
    She remembered the kiss.
    Remembered his hand creeping up her dress.
    Remembered watching his tush jiggle as he jogged down her porch
steps.
    Remembered how glorious his smile was to look at.
    Remembered she was supposed to have given up on romance.
    “ Why did you
leave last night?” He smirked a comforting smirk that made her
feel at ease. “You know I'm not going to treat you like that
jackass did. You can give up on us guys—that's your choice. But
don't shut the whole world out because of the bad.”
    Shit! He's telling the truth, I just don't want to hear it. “Where
did you go tonight, Baron?” She took down her guard a little.
    “ The
Lounge. It's—“
    “ I
know where it is. It's a club.”
    “ Have
you been there before?”
    “ No...
not until tonight. If they're still open, that is.” She smiled
and blinked and dropped her guard to the floor.
    He held out his hand. “I'd be honored to take you there. It's
only one now. I don't think they close till two-thirty or three. I
got wheels now, too.”
    She gladly took his hand, stepped outside with him, and shut the door
behind her. Together, they walked toward the parked SUV across the
street. Minutes later, they were on the road.
    ***
    The Lounge was a large brick structure located between the Denburg
Fire Department building and Piker's Running Trail, a five-mile
stretch of blacktop that ran from one end of town to the other. The
Lounge, the biggest, most booming club in the area, boasted itself
with big, bright, blinking neon letters that blinded some drivers
when nights were especially dark. Tonight, the gravel parking lot was
clustered with rows of vehicles spaced barely feet apart. The place
was intimidating to Janna as Baron turned onto Vixon Street, braked
at a red light, and continued when it turned back to green. There
were so many people, so many bright lights. She could hear the
thundering music blaring from half a block away. It was a lot for her
to handle, but she was going to swallow her fears and deal with it.
She was going to finally have fun like a normal person.
    Baron noticed her big, awed eyes. “You all right?”
    “ I
think so.”
    “ You'll
be fine. I'll be with you to take care of you, and if any asshole
lays a hand on you, I'll punch him in the face again.”
    “ Sounds
good. Oh boy.”
    “ Don't
worry. It'll all be okay.”
    It'll all be okay ...
those words were as unfamiliar to Janna's ears as sand was to a
penguin.
    “ Well,
here we are,” Baron said, parking the car and turning the
ignition. “Shall we?”
    “ Uh...
I guess.”
    “ Did
you ever get out? I mean, out of your house? Were you always
reclusive?”
    “ No.
I used to be an outgoing busybody. But that was in junior high.”
    “ Maybe
you just never had someone to show you how.”
    She smiled. Under the glow of the powerful neon lights, she, in
Baron's eyes, looked more beautiful than a full rainbow or a colorful
sunset or a cascading waterfall. No supermodel on her best day could
look so appealing.
    “ Let's
go,” he said.
    She opened her door. He opened his. They both got out and walked
toward the entrance, where,