Free Wherever the Dandelion Falls by Lily R. Mason

"But these things happen. And I'm enjoying getting to know you."
    Then he winked. He winked . Even though ninety-nine percent of the time I think a guy winking is tacky or creepy, when Vance did it, I loved it.
    I was halfway through telling him everything I knew about the neurobiological process of being drunk when I was distracted by someone sitting at the bar.
    She had long black hair and a trim little waist, legs crossed as she perched on her stool. In her manicured hand adorned with a sparkling tennis bracelet she held a glass of red wine.
    Faye was sitting not twenty feet from Vance and me.
    I flushed cold, caught off guard. As if on cue, Faye looked over her shoulder and saw me. Her hand tensed around her wine glass, but then she gave me a forced smile.
    I fixed my gaze on Vance and started muttering about losing my train of thought as I put my hand to my cheek, hoping to conceal the flush Faye had caused. He just smiled and told me that I'd been talking about neurons and alcohol and that he thought I looked cute when I talked nerdy.
    I was relieved that I had a reason to blush as I said, "If there's one thing I can do, it's talk nerdy."
    "I like it," he said, leaning toward me and lowering his voice. "I like smart girls."
    I blushed deeper into my wine glass.
    Then there was a delicate hand on my shoulder.
    "Hey, Riley," Faye said.
    I forced myself to make eye contact, feet squirming under the table.
    "Oh, hey !" I said, forcing cheer into my voice. "How was your trip to Sacramento?"
    She tilted her head, amused and possibly offended by how fake I was being.
    "Fine. Are we still on for tomorrow?" she asked, glancing up at Vance.
    "Yeah," I stammered. "Definitely."
    "Great." Her expression was victorious and disconcertingly sly. Then she looked directly at Vance and gave him a smile I was pretty sure was fake. "I'm Faye, by the way," she said, extending her hand, tennis bracelet flashing as she overrode my lack of introduction.
    "Vance," Vance said, standing and accepting her handshake. "Pleasure to meet you."
    She maintained her exaggerated smile, then folded her arm back into her body.
    "I better get back to my drink," she said, twisting her torso toward the bar but still looking at us. Then she looked directly at me, giving me a pat on the arm as she said, "Enjoy your work thing." Then she walked away without further comment.
    I didn't know which was more humiliating: Faye catching me in my lie, or the way she had treated Vance, appearing polite and friendly while mocking him.
    I took a big sip of wine.
    "Friend?" Vance asked.
    I nodded, not wanting to say any more or have to explain why Faye had referenced my date as a "work thing." I knew I deserved to feel bad about lying, but that nagging disappointment of having a great date ruined made me a little angry.
    I put all my effort into my conversation with Vance, desperately avoiding looking at Faye. Her presence loomed huge in my peripheral vision, but I didn't turn to look at her once, focusing on Vance and how beautiful he was. I probably asked too many questions, but he didn't seem to mind.
    After our meal, I allowed myself a single glance at the bar where Faye was seated. I noticed that she was sitting with another woman. The woman was tall and had long, wavy blonde hair and sparkly silver earrings. In the moment I stole that glance, Faye reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind the woman's ear, leaning into her as though she wanted to fall into the woman's cleavage.
    And without knowing why, I burned. I was so angry at Faye. With sudden energy and determination, I turned to Vance.
    "Want to grab another glass of wine somewhere?" I asked, sounding too forceful.
    "Sure," he smiled. Then, cautiously, he suggested, "My hotel has a nice lounge, if you like."
    And because going back to his hotel with him felt like the surest way to escape my anger at Faye, I agreed.
    We walked down Columbus at least a mile. We talked about books we'd recently read. He seemed