The Spinster's Club

AMY: SIX

With a sigh of regret, Amy threw the last Toberlone in the trash. It landed with a dull thud on top of the box of Swiss Miss cocoa. That was it, she was officially done with anything Swiss.

At least she could be comforted that nobody would ever see the damned tattoo. If her life sucked before this ridiculous challenge, it was even worse after. Rumor around the hospital was that she had been chasing Dr Izambard and he shut her down so she looked like a dumb, desperate loser.

Cece wasn't answering her phone, all calls were going to voicemail. Romy was threatening Amy with death, "By chocolate?" Amy said hopefully and Romy disconnected the call.

Cass was the only one of her friends who had time for her but even Cass was in the dumps.

"Ames, my Ames." Josh stuck his head around the cubicle. "Help a girl out?"

She couldn't even pull up her usual snark. "Sure. Whatcha need?"

The surprise on his face made her feel a little better. "Oh. Well. I was wondering if you'd be willing to go out with me to Barrons tonight. It's the last night of the karaoke competition and my friend John is in the finals. We need some vocal supporters."

Barrons? It took a moment to remember why that was familiar and then Amy nodded. "I'd love to go. Just make me a promise."

"Anything."

"Do not let me drink. Bad things happen when I drink."

**

Josh pulled together a small crowd from the hospital and they carpooled to the club. Amy had never been there before and was pleased to see it was larger and nicer than she expected. It was also not catering exclusively to the youth market with ear splitting music and migraine inducing lights.

"Come on Ames," Josh said taking her arm, "we're going to push some tables together. No man left behind."

They were welcoming words. For all her outward confidence, she always felt ill at ease in groups. She was too short, too wide and not pretty enough. Most men didn't seem to want a woman like her and the ones who did...

She'd had some lovely boyfriends, truth be told. Men who saw curves as voluptuous, who saw the humor in her snark and the sassiness in her attitude. She'd been loved and appreciated and sometimes she thought that made it worse because she knew what she was missing.

"You look sad."

"You're here?"

Seb took the chair next to Amy's. "I wasn't going to come but Josh said you'd be here. I haven't seen you recently."

"My reputation is taking a beating right now." Amy looked down at her hands. "I'm getting a little tired being me right now."

"I'm sad to hear that. I like you."

His words shot right through the self pity. "Thank you Seb. I like you too."

"I'm glad to hear it." He reached over and laid his hand on top of hers. "Maybe we can both start working from that."

"Hey lovebirds, are you cooing over there?"

Amy winced at Josh's question and waited for Seb to withdraw his hand. Instead she felt his fingers slide to grasp her hand better and give it a small squeeze.

"I thought you had the best gossip line in the hospital, "Seb said. "Because Amy and I have been dating for weeks, how did you not know?"

"You're dating her?" a nurse Amy didn't know asked. It was a direct shot and it hurt.

"Yes." Seb turned back to look at Amy. "I am and aren't I lucky?"

"Be careful," Amy said quietly, "you could make a woman believe what you're saying."

"Can't have that, can we?" he asked leaning in closer. He gave her a small wink and leaned even closer, his lips whispering across her cheek. "Let's keep our secrets just a little longer, ok?"

Was he talking about their fake dating? Amy nodded but wasn't sure what she was agreeing to.

Seb didn't let go of her hand and it was a nice feeling. She ordered ginger ale and felt virtuous.

Conversation ceased when the emcee announced the finals of the karaoke contest. "We're down to our final three," he told the crowd. "We have the dulcet sounds of Sara Lee Sweeney," a cheer arose from one side of the room, "the rock and roll rowdiness from Mr. John James," a huge roar erupted from their table, "and the sexy Spanish baritone of Senor Carlos Marin", a group of women screamed and squealed and everyone laughed.

"Two rounds and the crowd decides," the emcee said, "now let's get to singing!"

When she told Cass later about the evening, she didn't know how to explain the ways the experience came together for her. Seb holding her hand loosely, the singing, the joy in the room and even the refreshing taste of the ginger ale on ice.

The night was a palate cleanser after all the catastrophes that seemed to be fallowing her.

And the singing might have been karaoke but it was equal to a concert by true professionals. The girl singer vamped the crowd amid wolf whistles and laughter, Josh's friend played the tight leather pants and open shirt appeal of a rock and roller, and the Spanish baritone grinned and winked and then blew the crowd off their feet with his deep baritone.

"They're wonderful," Amy said to Seb, "they all deserve to win."

"I agree." He smiled and Amy felt a small flutter in her stomach. 'Remember he likes the other team' she reminded herself.

"I think I was a little jealous," Seb continued.

"Of what?"

"You seemed to like that Spaniard a lot. Should I be worried?"

Wow. That felt nice.

"My bestie Cece met him," Amy confided, "and they had one of those disastrous meetings that had some sparks. You know what I mean?"

His eyes warmed. "Oh, I know exactly what you mean."

"So I was just scoping him out, that's all."

"I hope that's all," Seb said.

"Watch it doc, you're starting to sound like a real boyfriend."

"Can't have that, can we?"

"I wish we could' was the surprising thought.

When the emcee took the stage, Amy found herself part of the collective energy that had built around the contest. She'd walked in not caring about any of the three singers and now she was heartbroken thinking two of them wouldn't win.

"In third place," the emcee announced, "and trust me, this was almost a three way tie, is the beautiful Sarah Lee."

Moans erupted from the audience. "She can always console herself with delicious treats from the frozen aisle," Seb whispered and Amy giggled, thinking of her own Sara Lee Fudge cake in the fridge.

"So folks, did you vote for rock and roll or Spanish song stylings."

People started screaming names and Amy squeezed Seb's hand. She didn't know who she wanted to win and she was breathless from it.

"Our winner," the emcee announced, "by the narrowest margin imaginable, by barely a whisper, is..."

"Get on with it!" Amy yelled and Seb laughed as did everyone at the table.

The emcee laughed. "Our winner is ... John James!"

Their table erupted in screams, people surging to their feet. Josh ran to the stage and grabbed John in a hug.

Amy was bouncing on her feet and Seb gave her a one armed hug. "That was wonderful." His eyes were alight with happiness. "Another one for the Swiss."

"What?" Amy froze.

"John is from Switzerland. Isn't it great how well they're represented?"

Suddenly her ass hurt.