Love Songs: The Wrong Note - A Collection of Short Stories

8

The music was fast and loud. The drinks were stronger than her body was used to. Thank goodness, she wasn't a mouthy drunk. More like the quiet, peaceful kind.

But that wasn't the main reason for the disastrous nosedive her evening took.

Out in the middle of the dance floor, flooring everyone within arms length with her smooth and graceful moves, the unthinkable started happening.

Her dress began coming apart.

Literally.

She sobered up quickly when she realized what was happening.

Too much time spent basking in the sun's glowing rays. The material was dry rotten.

Mel couldn't control his laughter. It was so loud, echoing and hitting her ears like the pneumatic high-volume pulse of an amped-up jackhammer.

She exited the place as fast as she could, stopping at the bottom of the steps to try to compose herself.

"Your entrance was alright, but I really loved the exit. Here," a man said, handing her a handkerchief. "You look like you could use it."

"Thanks, uh . . ."

"Bobby," he said. "Bobby Colt."

Bobby's cubicle was four down from hers. They may have exchanged hellos, but she wasn't sure. She really looked at him for the first time.

He's like me, she thought. Invisible.

"Take this," he said, draping his jacket over her shoulders. "Wanna coffee?"

"I could use some super glue," she said.

"All out at the moment, but I can give you a lift home," Bobby said.

She was silent on the drive. He stopped his car at her door.

"You know," Bobby said, "I was really serious."

"About the exit," she said, smiling in spite of herself.

"About the coffee," he said. "Why not dinner, too. Tomorrow night, if you're free."

She smiled and shook her head yes.

"But you'll excuse me," she said, "if I make a mad dash to the door before the threads disintegrate, and I'm left without a shred of decency."

"I'll pick you up at seven. Just wear jeans and a shirt. Nothing fancy," he said. "I only own one coat, and it's spending the night with you."

She laughed.

Bobby Colt was far from invisible.

In fact, he was downright cute.